Page 11 of Enter the Lair

Sarah looked at the map closely.“It’s circling the lodge?Is there a food source here?”

Hunter shook his head.“The only food is in the pub.”

Devon looked at his brother.“It doesn’t matter why, it’s here, we have to put it down before it can hurt anyone else.”

Sarah glared at Devon.“There’s nowein this case.I put the animal out of its misery, not you.”

Devon stared hard at his mate.“If you get the shot.You take it, but if you are in any danger whatsoever all bets are off.”

After a lengthy silence, Hunter cleared his throat.“We need to get going.The animal’s in bad shape.”

“Let’s scout the last known location first and track from there.”Sarah adjusted the rifle on her back and started walking toward the trees.

“She isn’t one for small talk, is she?”Hunter said.

“No,” Devon replied.

Hunter gathered up the map.“You two must get along famously then.”

Devon didn’t reply as he followed Sarah.He noticed she was still favoring her ankle, not allowing it to slow her down.Still, he caught up to her quickly.“Let Hunter go first.”When she glanced back with a dirty look he added.“You have the only weapons.If it ambushes us, like it did last time, you need time to set up the shot.”

He could tell she wanted to find a fault in his reasoning.But since there was no good reason for her to disagree, she halted to let Hunter take the lead.They reached the site quickly and were soon tracking the cougar’s trail.

Hunter kneeled down and gently touched an imprint in the ground.“This animal is all over the place.The depressions are shallow in one place and deep in another.”

Sarah took the rifle off her back and held it loosely in her hands.“It’s jumping and walking in circles.”She surveyed the forest.

Hunter looked at Devon.“She’s right.”

“He’s here,” Devon said, staring into the forest.Hunter and Sarah followed his gaze.

“I can’t see him.Are you sure?”Hunter replied.

“He’s hiding behind a grove of trees.He’s scared and in a tremendous amount of pain,” Devon said.

Hunter looked perplexed.“How do you know that?”

“He’s coming toward us now,” Devon said as Sarah raised her weapon.

The acrid smell hit them before the cougar emerged.Devon couldn’t believe the thing was still alive.There were massive holes in its sides, the fur so rotted away that sinew and tendons showed through the puss oozing from the sores.Its eyes were sunken, the surrounding skin drooped low on the animal’s face.It drooled as it growled and hissed.

“Jesus!”Sarah said.“Have either of you seen anything like this before?”

“Yes,” Devon said.

“Is it some kind of flesh-eating disease?”

Hunter glared at Devon.“No.”

“I’m taking it out.”She aimed her gun, as the cougar shifted.

The naked diseased man continued to growl and spit, causing the open sores on his body to gush fresh blood.Devon saw the gun in Sarah’s hand, shake.

“Daniel is that you?”Hunter asked.

The man paused.He looked like he was trying to remember something.Then he shook and started to advance on Hunter.

“Don’t move.”Sarah’s face was as white as her knuckles gripping the gun, but her voice was firm and unwavering.