"You might think that fear is staring into darkness wondering if anything's staring back; but true fear...the kind that is permeated into the deepest parts of the mind, is staring into the darkness and knowing that something is staring back."
That's what it's like hunting apex predators. Apex predators of a new category, supernatural. Creatures only named in legends. Werewolf, vampire, dragon, demon and giant. All of these things existed, they've just been eradicated from this world. When humans fear something, they destroy it. I should know, I spent the first couple hundred thousand years of my existence hunting the things I most fear. That poses an interesting question, how have I been alive for that long?
To pretend that the answer is complicated or deep would be stretching it. It's very simple, to defeat a monster, you yourself must also be a monster. Now I'm telling the tale of a man, I once was, and the story of the monster I've become.
...
[Some time during the 1600's]
Two young men stood at the entrance of a cave, looking deep into its darkness. The smaller minnow-like one urged the bear of the two to go inside and check if the wolf man was there or not. In their village there was a legend of a man who could turn into a standing wolf, and had the strength of a hundred men. There were many other things that could be said about the supposed creature that was rumored to inhabit their mountain range. Some said it was as fast as a mountain lion and was the size of a cave bear. Whatever was actually true, the two boys had come to the cave to figure out for themselves.
"Tsula,you're much bigger than I am, if it's in there you'll be able to fight it off." Said Ama.
Tsula only seemed to take offense to what Ama had to say so he immediately tried to put him into a headlock. They wrestled for dominance only to find that one was too fast and the other was too strong. There would be no point in a continued fight. After they cooled down, both found themselves to be hungry. It was in that moment that they completely forgot why they were there at the cave, and what could possibly be inside. So in ignorance they sat down right in front of it and began to eat the dried meat they'd brought along for the trip. After hiking around in the mountains for hours, they'd built up a thirst, and they drained their canteens of what water they had. As the sun went down the boys found themselves quickly asleep. Prey to the darkness of the night.
From inside the cave, miles deeper, in places no human had ever entered, a beast opened its eyes. It had been sleeping, but fully aware of what was going on outside of its lair. Before rage could manifest, the beast felt confusion.
Since when does anything living tread his territory
No bear, wolf, cougar, or bobcat dared enter those mountains. They could immediately sense what lived in the caves. Animals had a way of understanding death, and their sense of self preservation was far too great to risk encroaching on such dangerous territory.
The creature, which could stand a full head above the biggest bears, was as nimble as the smallest rabbit. So he raised his body from the hole he'd made and shook himself loose of a week's worth of grime. Sleep was always a welcome feeling to this creature, for only then could it find peace from the unending poison of rage that coursed through its veins. Even while doing something as simple as grooming himself, he could feel the most bottomless pit of rage in his stomach. Something built like a monstrous animal, but with the despair and existential crisis of a human. He wondered to himself why he was always so angry. Only then did the thought present itself.
I'm a man, I've always been a man, I'm Shaoli Li.
Not always did this creature find itself in a state of rage; but sometimes, it found itself being a he. When rational thought explored its head and he came out of the capsule of rage it found itself inside.
In that very moment, the two seemingly different personalities began to fight. The man fighting for control, to be able to feel peace. The beast tearing at his consciousness, wanting to rip and tear at anything with breath in its body. It stumbled back, underneath a hole in the cave ceiling. Shaking in rage it closed its eyes and roared.
From the extremities of the wilderness, a deer immediately raised its head up. It had heard the bestial, evil roar. A sound that could only come from the deepest darkest parts of hell, where even hellfire didn't burn. Trees shook, their roots desperately holding onto the soil. Whether or not they would've actually fallen over is up for debate, but the fear was there. Not very far from the caves, a pack of wolves turned tail after carefully considering what they'd heard. Beyond doubt, an apex predator was claiming its dominion. Such had the claim been, so powerful and deafening that within the confines of a village, warriors shook as they heard it. All of them put their fur robes up around their ears. One of them ran through the tents of families, elders, and even burst through a group of playing children. He fell to his knees in front of the villagers leader.
"Gawonii! My boy and his best friend are out there. They haven't come back yet!"
Gawonii immediately motioned for a group of drum players to begin the calls. Within seconds the sounds of a multitude of rolling drums began to fill the air. Men clad in fur rushed for their weapons, wives kissed their husbands, and looked deep into their eyes not sure if they'd ever see them again. There was an ominous tone to those drums, a tone signifying the encounter of man and death. No ill intentions in mind, the village had stumbled across the land of a Standing Wolf. This wolf was not like any other beast of the land; for it killed for the sheer joy of killing. It chose its actions based on sheer anger. Nothing was safe in the lands of a Standing Wolf. Tonight they would defend themselves against it.
.....
"Tsula we need to leave, now!" Said Ama.
Tsula stood at the entrance, frozen in fear of what he had just heard. Even in the deepest state of sleep he'd heard the rumbling roar of the Standing Wolf. He didn't know whether he should stand bravely and raise his bow and arrow into the dark abyss; or if he should turn tail and run in fear. Maybe his body would run fast enough out of sheer fear. Dread filled him instantly, unless he was faster than a mountain lion, the Standing Wolf would catch him in moments.
Also realizing the situation they were in, Ama grabbed Tsula's arm and pulled on it as hard as he could. Nothing would stop him from saving his friend's life.
They both took off down the slope, sliding most of the way, dodging rocks and bushes filled with thorns. From behind them they heard yet another roar. This time, it fueled their bodies to the point where they forgot how to do anything other than run and breathe. Twisting and weaving, they found themselves making a considerable distance from the cave entrance. Both jumped over the river, wider than both of them combined in height. Ama looked at Tsula, and nodded, laughing.
"It's not as fast as the legends, probably cause of how big it is."
In that moment as Ama laughed, Tsula was slammed into a tree, knocked out cold. Blood slowly dropped out of his eyes and mouth. His nose had been destroyed by the impact. As he fell, Ama saw the giant slashes on his back. Claws that had cut deep into Tsula, even as a glancing blow. Ama, shivering, turned around and faced the culprit. From his perspective it was as tall as a tree and as filthy as a rats den. Dust fell from its fur, and blood dripped from its claws. It's open maw was hanging over Ama's head, and in that split second Ama caught a glimpse of it, he was dead.
The Standing Wolf stood there, savoring the blood of the smaller child. It was sweet, and it made him feel a buzz higher than any other thing he'd ever felt. It relieved his anger momentarily and made him feel utter bliss. The floor beneath him vibrated rhythmically, the river flowing. He noticed the trout that jumped in the river, only to land on a concave rock and get stuck. In that moment there was peace and understanding. Behind him, a multitude of men ran from the trees and raised their bows at him. They notched arrows and aimed.
"FIRE!"
A salvo of arrows penetrated the beasts hide and it snapped out of its trance like state. Pulling a handful out, it roared yet again and darted off into a group of trees. The man who had spoken to the Chief earlier, stepped over his sons body and dropped to his knees. He kneeled there as blood soaked into his clothing. The dread he felt was incomparable. Nothing could be done, he was too late. The Chief, Gawanii stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Listen, we will avenge your boy, we will make this right Asu"
"I no longer have a name, do not call me anything, for I've failed my only son. Just as I failed his mother."
Gawanii sighed, and removed his hand,"Very well son, we should start tracking the beast, it's what your son would've expected."
The grieving man, now nameless, stood straight as a pillar,"Let's kill this damned thing."