One Day in the Woods

Won -- 7/25/05

ID: 896794   (Rated: 13+) Daily Flash Fiction Challenge  Enter your story of 300 words or less. Note new starting time! by arakun the twisted raccoon

         “OK,” Emily said as she sat down. “Let’s hear it, and it had better be good.”

         Peter looked at her and shrugged, “Please, Em, don’t be mad. I don’t know how to begin.”

         “Lets start with where were you last night?”

         “I don’t know. I spent some time fishing at the brook, but I wasn‘t having much luck so I started home. I remember walking down the path from the brook. I felt a sharp pain in my hip. I tried to keep walking but everything began spinning and then went black. The next thing I knew, I woke up lying in the middle of the path and I came home.”

         “You leave me and the little ones alone all night and this is the best you can do to explain.”

         “Honest, Em, that’s what happened.”

         Emily leaned closer to him and sniffed. There was a scent she could not identify. “What’s that around your neck and on your ear?”

         “I don’t know. They were there when I woke up.” He rubbed his ear, “Ow, my ear feels like it has a thorn through it. I know it’s crazy but I can’t explain it.”

         Mean while at the ranger station, the two naturalists discussed the results of their work the day before. “Subject number one, male brown bear approx four years old. OK, we have a strong tracking signal coming through from his collar.”


234 words