Winter Prey

by T. M. Simmons

  Gagewin held out a hand with no hesitation, and Caleb shook with him. "Sir, it's an honor to meet you."

  The tone of respect in Caleb's voice evidently satisfied the Grand Midé. He said, "Keoman has mentioned you. It is good work you do, and you are welcome to join us as we once again fight the windigo."

  "Thank you, sir."

  "I thought maybe Keoman would be here," Kymbria said.

  "He is," Gagewin told her. "He's inside, and I must join him now. We need to see if there is anything to help us understand why the windigo chose Jane. I will ask you all to wait out here until we're done."

  Kymbria hadn't noticed Hjak walk over to them, but at his huff of frustration, she realized he was right behind her.

  "I need to get in there myself, Gagewin," the sheriff demanded. "This is first and foremost a crime scene."

  Gagewin shrugged. "Then come."

  He strode toward the house and disappeared inside, leaving the door open behind him. Hjak took one step before Caleb stopped him by clasping the sheriff's arm.

  "What is it, McCoy? I need to get inside the house. He's used one excuse or another to keep me out since I arrived."

  "Just one thing, Sheriff. Are you sure you don't need some help here?"

  "Hell, yes, I do. But what difference does it make?"

  Nodinens gave Hjak a gentle shove. "Go, Mr. Lawman, before Gagewin changes his mind."

  Hjak turned toward the house, but as he walked away, he said over his shoulder, "We'll talk more as soon as I'm done here, McCoy."

  The sheriff closed the door this time, and Nodinens pulled out another cigarette. As soon as she had it lit, she took four different drags of smoke in and blew them out as she turned in a circle, one stream of smoke in each direction, north, east, south, then west.

  Kymbria explained in a soft voice to Caleb, "She's honoring the spirits of the different directions. Hoping to perhaps diffuse some of the lingering horror here. And also asking the spirits to be with Jane and Tom."

  Next Nodinens blew a stream of smoke at the ground, then overhead.

  "We believe there are also spirits that need honoring in those directions," Kymbria explained in the same quiet, respectful voice.

  "So you see," Nodinens said with a sly grin, "it is not just the addiction I have to these nasty cigarettes."

  Caleb laughed. Nodinens led them over to her snowmobile and climbed onto the machine sideways to face them. "Now, I will provide you with some more information, Caleb McCoy. But then I want you to answer something for me."

  "Of course," Caleb agreed.

  "As I told you back at Amber's, the woman the windigo took is of the Marten Clan." Kymbria caught her breath at the fact Nodinens, a woman who was also known as a seer, did not speak Jane's name. But before she could interrupt, Nodinens continued, "And I will even tell you further, Caleb, the only clan with the mark you were so interested in on both Jimmy and Amber's faces is the Marten Clan. So tell me what conclusion you have come to regarding this."

  "I think the windigo's only after people in the Marten Clan," Caleb replied without waver. "Len was of the Turtle Clan, but we've already determined he was shot before he was…eaten."

  "I think you are a smart man." Nodinens nodded and puffed her cigarette. On her exhale, she continued, "But no, I can't tell you why that is. Even though we believe it's very important to pass our history down through the years, much of it gets garbled or lost."

  "I think we need to track this history back to its inception," Caleb insisted. "I think it might be extremely important."

  Nodinens stared at him closely. "Do you believe it might help us find a way to kill the monster?"

  "Damned if I know," Caleb admitted in a harsh tone. "But it's a direction to go."

  Kymbria wandered away as they continued to talk. She'd heard most of Jimmy's story about how the windigo had attacked Jane and Tom. It had come from the left side of the house. She glanced down as she walked, saw the pink stains in the snow, and shuddered. Blood. Probably Jane's blood here, out in the driveway, Tom's over there beside the rock flowerbed boundary.

  She clutched her arms across her chest and shivered in dread as she visualized what had happened — a young mother attacked while her husband and one child watched in horror. Violently taken by a demon from hell, away from the children and husband who loved and needed her. Whom the mother loved beyond all else. If they didn't find her, Jane would never see her son graduate. Never help her daughter plan her wedding. And she faced a fate easily worse than a quick death.

  Nodinens is already not speaking her name, as though she knows Jane is already dead.

  Nodinens had to be wrong. They had to find her!

  And why was this…this thing becoming so much a part of her own existence? Why was it trying to contact her, if that was what was going on? What the heck was Niona hiding from her? Why wouldn't her mother share what she knew, in case it might help in the hunt to kill this beast?

  At the corner of the house, Kymbria dredged up enough stoicism to reinforce her shaky stability in this place of horror and studied the snow. It stretched ahead of her to the end of the area Tom had cleared around his house, to the deep woods. Not one track marred the pristine surface, not even snowmobile tracks or any from a wandering animal. There had been additional snowfall, though.

  But not this morning.

  Jimmy had said the monster was taller than his daddy. It had to have left tracks behind. How could it not?

  Caleb said that thing can travel like lightning. Perhaps leave no tracks.

  It definitely had passed through here. This wasn't a fantasy or nightmare. Tom lay in the hospital and Jane was gone. Carried off by a huge, hairy monster, according to Jimmy. She believed the boy. Although she hadn't set eyes on this beast yet, she now had a better picture of it in her mind. A picture she would have given nearly anything not to have.

  She recognized the footsteps crunching behind her on the snow. They were too loud to be made by tiny Nodinens.

  "Are you all right?" Caleb asked.

  "Why didn't it leave any tracks?"

  "Windigo's don't. Unless they want to."

  She turned with a frown. "How?"

  "You heard Jimmy's story?"

  "Yes, most of it."

  "Remember what he said at one point? The monster was beside the house when he first saw it. Then the next thing he knew, it had his mommy. He hadn't even seen it move."

  "It can really move that fast?"

  "Faster," Caleb assured her. "From what I understand, a windigo can just about wish itself somewhere and be there."

  "How can we fight something like that?"

  "Kymbria, there's no we about this. You're going back to Duluth. There's no sense in you taking a risk that beast will mess with you. You have to think of your daughter."

  "I'm not Marten Clan," she murmured. "I'm Wolf."

  She heard his exhale of relief.

  "And I'm damned glad of that," he whispered.

  She lifted her gaze to the woods. Somewhere out there was the entity's lair. And it had Jane. Perhaps…perhaps preparing to eat her. Odaminowin. Cannibal.

  "We need to figure this out, Caleb. Why is it only after members of the Marten Clan?"

  He grasped her shoulders and turned her to face him. "Again, damn it, there's no we. You have to leave. It's not safe for you around here."

  "It's not," she agreed, and surprise at her honesty crossed his face. "I'm the first person to admit I have no business staying here, given my shaky mentality. But how can I possibly walk away if there's even a slight chance I might be able to do something to kill this thing? How can I be like my mother…ignoring the fact I might know something to help stop this…this ghastliness?"

  "There are plenty of other people already working on killing the windigo. The Elders. Your entire tribe. Hjak. Me."

  "And this has to be especially dreadful for you, Caleb," she whispered.

  "It has to be done. It has to. Maybe I'm what's needed this tim
e to tip the scales."

  And maybe that person's me. But she buried the thought as soon as it had the audacity to surface.

  "Ah, Caleb," she said with a touch on his arm. "But, remember, they haven't been able to destroy it in centuries. And yes, you're new to the cast of combatants, but will that help? Enough? And why is my mother so determined she and I not be a part of this?"

  "Your safety is of primary importance to Niona. And remember, you have a daughter depending on you. A daughter who loves you and needs you."

  And your wife and son aren't alive to depend on you.

  Kymbria turned back to the woods, and Caleb stepped closer. She sighed, leaned back into his body, and didn't protest when he curved his arms around her waist.

  "You've been braver than hell so far," he said. His arms tightened. "And this is something else I need you to think about. You could also be a target. There's some reason this thing is trying to communicate with you." She gasped and tried to turn, but Caleb held her in place. "You're trying to hide it, honey, but I've been aware of it. Your body language is clear to someone who's getting to know you. And care about you."

  "I'm Wolf Clan!" she insisted again rather than address his other comments. Now wasn't the time to think about the attraction flaring between them.

  "I know what clan you are."

  "Then why? Why is it also targeting me?"

  "I don't understand, either. Yet I am starting to comprehend that I'll be able to think more clearly about how we're going to kill this thing if you're not around distracting me."

  She placed her hands over his and pushed them aside to turn. He met her gaze directly, his arms still wrapped around her. So he'd been experiencing it, also, this pull between them. She'd wondered if that, also, was a possible figment of her mind. It was far too soon for her to even think about another man in her life, a relationship. She had so many problems needing addressed and overcome, most importantly, her goal to be the best mother she could to Risa. A goal she'd never thought would be a part of her life: a child of her own.

  Yet when he bent his head, she kissed him back.

  Chapter 24

  Caleb didn't give her even a second to contemplate the kiss. Instead, as soon as he lifted his head, his words chilled the tiny flame of flickering desire.

  "You need to know something else. Nodinens doesn't believe Jane's coming back."

  She gasped and shoved against him. "What were you doing? Kissing me before telling me something like that? That…that was cruel, McCoy!"

  "I didn't mean it that way," he whispered before another voice broke in.

  "He's telling you the truth, Kymbria."

  Keoman stood behind Caleb, stone face in place. For an instant, though, Kymbria thought she'd caught a hint of darkness in the Midé's eyes. Jealousy? Or something else? She and Keoman had never had that sort of relationship, only friendship. Yet…whenever she'd returned to the Northwood, he had made it a point to spend time with her.

  "Did you find anything in the house?" Caleb asked.

  "Nothing. At least, nothing to help us. She and her husband do not practice the Old Ways much, except they do proclaim their clan."

  Kymbria inwardly shuddered. Keoman, too, was already adhering to the custom of not speaking the name of the dead.

  "Is anyone out looking for the monster's lair?" she asked.

  "Many," he said. "But we won't have any luck, as before. It doesn't leave tracks. How can we follow it?"

  "I don't know, damn it. Can't we…perform a ceremony or something? Ask our spirits to tell us where it's hiding?"

  She knew better, of course. One didn't make demands of the spirits, only requests. Keoman's expression confirmed his evaluation of how ludicrous her idea was.

  "Then what about at least identifying everyone from the Marten Clan and making sure they're on alert. Not wandering off somewhere it's easy for them to be taken."

  "Kymbria," Caleb said, "it took Jane right in front of her family. It doesn't seem a bit reluctant to reveal itself this season." He continued to Keoman, "Always before, from what I understand, it took pains not to let anyone see it. Took as its prey people whose absence wouldn't be discovered right away."

  "Something has changed this time," Keoman agreed.

  Kymbria couldn't stop her mind. God, please don't let my being here be what’s changed.

  "Besides the fact it's hunting a month early," Keoman finished.

  A thought flickered across Caleb's face, but before Kymbria could ask him about it, Keoman went on, "There's a meeting of the Elders and our tribal government in an hour, so you and I can't meet as planned, McCoy. You're welcome to join us. I've confirmed that with Gagewin. Hjak will be there, too."

  "I'll be there," Caleb responded. "Where?"

  "Our tribal headquarters building, behind the casino. Instead of stopping in the parking lot, keep going a half-mile or so."

  "I need to get back to Amber's," Kymbria reminded him. And on the drive back, she intended to get to the bottom of that kiss.

  ~~~

  Kymbria climbed off the back of Nodinens' snowmobile in front of Amber's house and pulled off the ski mask the elderly woman had loaned her. "Thanks for the lift. I guess."

  "I understand," Nodinens said with a chuckle. "But when Gagewin speaks, it's a demand, especially in times like this. He decided to have them adjourn to the headquarters now, not an hour from now. If Mr. McCoy wanted to be with them, he had no choice. Us women are dismissed to do women's work."

  "Are you coming in?"

  "I believe I will join the tribal meeting. Gagewin will not dare refuse me, since I'm also an Elder. First, though, I must go home and change vehicles. For some reason, the town council banned snowmobiles on the streets, and I need to put in an order at the grocery store. We'll be feeding the volunteers soon."

  Kymbria stared at the door to Amber's house, knowing she needed to walk in there. The vehicle that Anna and George had arrived in — a bright yellow SUV — was still parked in the driveway, so at least Amber had them with her. Dread filled her — and shamed her. She'd counseled hundreds of traumatized soldiers over the years, men and women who had experienced things just as horrible as this. None of them had been close friends or people near to her own blood, though. Amber had been there for Kymbria during the trauma after Tina's death. Had stayed with her when Kymbria wanted company, left her alone when she didn't. Would have been there for her after Rick's death, had she asked her friend rather than wallow in her grief, guilt and PTSD.

  Amber would even have understood about Risa. Risa, whose tiny body filled a hole in Kymbria's heart she hadn't acknowledged in years. Risa, whom Kymbria longed to hold right now — a longing she would for now fight with everything in her, for the good of her daughter.

  Jane Lightfoot's daughter and son might grow up without motherly love. Kymbria refused to honor the custom of banishing the name until Jane's death was confirmed. Jane, whom Amber was close friends with and to whom Amber had come here to offer aid and friendship. Amber, to whom Kymbria needed to offer support and friendship right now….

  Friends don't only laugh and share the joy with you, they cry with you. Many times Kymbria had counseled a patient as to just that. It meant so much to have your friends with you in troubled times, and she would be there to assist Amber as much as possible. She steeled herself to take the first step toward the house, wishing desperately Caleb had been able to accompany her. She'd come to depend upon him far too much during this short time.

  However, despite her insistence she would disregard Gagewin's admonishment and join the men at the tribal government building, Nidonens lingered. A lighter clicked, and the wrinkles around the tiny woman's mouth deepened as she drew on another cigarette, then loosened as she exhaled smoke.

  "Is there something else you want to say to me, Grandmother?"

  "Is there anything you want to ask?" Nodinens replied.

  "So very much, Grandmother! But now isn't the time. Is it?"

  Nodinens he
ld out her arms and Kymbria wrapped herself around the frail figure inside the heavy snowsuit and buried her face on Nodinens's neck. She smelled cigarette smoke and age, a hint of medicated salve. Nodinens flicked the cigarette away and it sizzled for a second in the snow as she caressed Kymbria's hair.

  "Daughter, sometimes there are more questions than answers. When you have reached my age, you understand one thing. We are here for each other in this life. Sometimes we do not know why our paths cross with those of others, why we — as you young ones say — click with some, but not with others. Many times the paths we travel, and the decisions we make, do become clear, when something later happens in our life or in the lives of those we care about."

  Kymbria pulled back and wiped her hands across her face. No tears flowed down her cheeks, but they were built up in the troughs and corners of her eyes. Nodinens shimmered in the glaze.

  "I don't think I could have gotten through the guilt I felt over Tina's death without Amber. And of course, Adam. In fact, Amber was the one who insisted I talk to Adam. She went with me on my first visit to the Grand Midé."

  "As I am sure Keoman's father told you, guilt was not yours to experience back then. It was Tina's time. Had that not been so, something would have saved her. You suffered your own loss, the loss of ability to bear children." She smoothed an age-softened palm down Kymbria's face. "It was not retribution for failing to rescue Tina. It was what your life path called for."

  Again, Kymbria thought of Risa. Would she have been so quick to adopt her husband's love child, had she been able to bear her own children? Would Rick even have cheated on her if they'd had a son or daughter to fill out their family?

  Many times the paths we travel, and the decisions we make, do become clear, when something later happens in our life or in the lives of those we care about.

  "That's what Adam finally made me believe — that it was my life path. Yet…." Kymbria hadn't spoken of this even to her mother, but something compelled her to be open with Nodinens.

  "Rick…" Damn, she admitted to herself. I did still care. Was thinking of insisting we go through counseling before I agreed to the divorce.