January 17th 1830
Frozen wilderness, United States of America, Border of Canada.
Personal Journal of Leon Wagner.
Sixth Entry.
I now know what creature I will face. These two have provided the final piece of the puzzle and tonight I embark to face it with one of them as my guide.
Gliding Hawk began his story as we sat around the fire in the snow. Telling me the beast was actually multiple creatures. An entire family of monsters which had been cursed to devour any who entered through these lands. His story was enthralling and full of despair. I shall never forget it.
"We Iroquois have watched these lands for thousands of years. But when the settlers first started to arrive with their guns and diseases many of our people were wiped out over the years. Now there are so few of us left in these mountains to fight against the creatures we have dealt with for centuries."
"What do you mean?" I asked him heavily interested.
Gliding Hawk reluctantly informed me that long ago these lands had been cursed by a savage being. So that any man who eats the flesh of another would transform into a beast vile and cruel. Losing all sense of humanity they would roam the forests in the dark of night in an eternal hunt to appease their never ending hunger till the end of time or its own demise.
Mountain Wolf smiled as he looked down at me while leaning against the frozen tree. Almost amused by what he was about to say.
"The Wendigo." He grinned. Gliding Hawk Hushed his son's arrogance in anger and continued.
"Months ago at the start of last winter, a family of settlers in their wagon were attempting to pass through the valley on their way up north. Unbeknownst to them this valley and it's only entrances freezes and fills with snow during the long winters. They were trapped for weeks on end with no food and fresh water, unable to escape the blistering cold. Mountain Wolf smiled. Much to the rage of his father. He continued.
"We watched from the cliffs as they slowly starved. I reluctantly decided to help them and offer them shelter throughout the winter in our longhouse. Most of my tribe wished to let them starve for all that their people had done to mine, leaving me and only a few others to make the difficult climb on our own down the mountains to meet with them in person. But by the time we reached the frozen wagon however, the father of the family refused immediately as I spoke briefly with him. Saying he would rather die than accept our kind of help. I asked his wife and children what they desired to be their fate. But they Kept silent in his presence entirely."
"He was an abusive man I could tell. His wife's scars and bruises were numerous across her face and arms she tried to hide under her blanket. His family were scared of me but they were terrified of him far more. I begged him to reconsider, warning him terrible things would happen to his family and others if they remained here with no food throughout the harsh winter. But his mind was tragically unflinching in its decision. I left saddened knowing that his pride had sealed his families fate. They ate the horses first. Then their dog. Over the next few weeks their youngest son became ill and passed on. Without food they.."
Gliding hawk sat there in silence for a full minute almost in tears as his part in the story was coming to an end.
"I am ashamed to say I left them to their growing desperate hunger, knowing full well of what they would become in the coming weeks as the snow began to melt."
"Good." Mountain Wolf whispered angrily. "They got what they deserved."
"No one deserves a fate such as that!! We abandoned them when they needed us!"
"They didn't want our help! So why should we care for them if they hate us?!" Mountain wolf replied sternly before standing to tower above his father. I looked upon the argument in silence unable to interrupt as Mountain wolf's ferocious eye's locked in conflict against his father's.
"Would they have done the same for us father? They are murders and rapists. How many of us have been slaughtered because of them? How many broken promises have they violated time and time again? But thanks to the Wendigo's there has been no settlers encroaching on our territory in months! If we just remain quiet and leave them be to deal with other invaders who come here. Our home will once again be ours as it should be. Then we will deal with the monsters after."
Gliding hawk looked toward his hate filled son disgusted.
"How many more innocent people will die if we stand by and do nothing any longer?" Is this what we've been reduced to? Relying on cursed children to protect us? They must be laid to rest and freed from their torment. They are suffering son.
Mountain wolf scowled enraged.
"And we aren't? We have suffered far worse thanks to their kind. They are not our people, they are animals. And now that they are trapped in their true hideous forms, we can continue to use them to kill our enemies as recompense for their crimes. Have you forgotten what they did to us? To mother?
Gliding hawk suddenly struck his son across the face. I was stunned by the sudden action. The old warrior then roared at him with a voice consumed by grief and anger.
"Of course I have not forgotten! I loved her but she would be ashamed and appalled by what we have done! It is our responsibility to deal with these creatures and instead we have been leaving them alone to consume the flesh of the innocent in droves! You say they are not our people. But you are as far from the truth as you could ever be.
All people are our people. And our greatest enemy has and always will be the Wendigo, and the thought of you, my own son calling cannibals our allies makes me sick. What happens when there are no more settlers? Are you really so foolish as to think they won't turn their sight toward the longhouse next? I will not risk the safety of what is left of our tribe any longer just so you can enjoy watching these poor people suffer! Your thirst for revenge has become a shroud over your eyes my son, as it was once mine. Please. We must bring an end to this now. It has and always will be our responsibility as human beings to look after one another no matter our differences. We are all people. Those monsters are not. My decision is final. We leave now."
Gliding Hawk turned to me and asked if he could accompany me in order to lead me to the site where the wendigo family slept during the day. Mountain wolf kept quiet crossing his arm's and clenching his fists enraged as he looked toward the ground.
I noticed the young warrior was beginning to reach for his bow slowly. I was hesitant but I drew for my pistol and aimed it toward Mountain Wolf's head. Telling him not to move another muscle. Gliding hawk looked toward his son appalled. Asking how he could even think of something so dishonorable. He replied with just three words before hastily reaching for his weapon.
"Because you won't."
I began to pull the trigger of my pistol to stop his arrow, but before I could fire, mountain wolf stopped in place as the sudden sound of a loud thump filled the air. I slowly glanced downward and saw that a bloodied tomahawk had become logged straight through his heart.
I saw in sadness as the young warrior fell to the earth dead in the snow at the hand's of his own father.
Gliding Hawk laid by his son's body for hours after in tears. I remained silent as sunset began to shower the frozen valley in darkness. I asked the old warrior what he wished to do. Gliding hawk stood disheartened and coldly told me to prepare my weapons. Telling me the wendigo's will immediately be drawn to the smell of his son's flesh. I realized that I no longer had to bother in finding the creatures.
They would find us both first.
Gliding hawk wishes to stay by his son's body to guard it until it can buried safely in the morning. Saying it is his responsibility to help me however he can in ending this nightmare he helped birth into the world. He is as unflinching in his decision as a stone against the wind so I have reluctantly complied with his wishes.
I have spent the last hour loading my gun's, sharpening my sword, setting traps, and preparing my crossbow for battle while he feeds and strengthens the fire to aid us. Informing me that Wendigos despise heat immensely for they are creatures of pure winter. A fact of knowledge that will prove crucial in the coming skirmish.
This will be my first quarry and it is not at all what I expected. I wished to do this alone without innocents in harms way, but have chosen to fight along side Gliding Hawk in order to keep him and his son's body safe with all my efforts.
I owe them that much.
Until then I lie under the tree waiting and writing in this journal. My hand nervous and shaking. I hear their inhuman call getting closer by the minute throughout the cold night air above. The snowfall is as intense as ever.
They will soon be here.
But I will stay by his side no matter what happens next.