Page 10 of Savage Giant

Mastorr’s expression softened, and I sensed compassion rolling off him. “Brutus’s human mate doesn’t eat slugs, remember? Human appetites are different from that of Montikaans. Also, the female might not understand that the items you drop off are gifts, or that you are leaving the basketsbecause you are courting her. You should’ve talked to her first and explained your intentions.”

“It’s true—humans don’t eat slugs or worms or insects. Not usually, anyway, according to my mate. Was today the first time you revealed yourself to the female?” Brutus asked, a knowing look in his pale eyes. “She appeared shocked as she gazed down at us from the window, as though it were her first time glimpsing a Montikaan.”

Heat seared my face. “Yes,” I admitted grudgingly. “It has taken me a while to come to terms with… with the blaze and Sashona’s passing. Today was the first time I felt confident in revealing myself to the human female.” I didn’t admit that my reason for remaining hidden for so long was the guilt that plagued me over Sashona’s death.

If only I’d reached the clearing sooner and put out the flames, she might still be alive. The others who’d perished that day might still be alive too.

Was I ready to take a mate?

Yes, I thought I was. Finally. Maybe.

But with the impending snowfall, the timing was terrible.

What if the female did not come with me willingly to the cavern, even after I explained my intentions to her?

“Do you feelcalledto mate with the female in the cabin?” Brutus asked.

“Yes,” I said. “Yes, I do. Ever since I first laid eyes on her.”

Brutus placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me a serious look. “Return to the cavern by nightfall, brother, and bring your human female with you. Or stay in the cabin with her. But you must seek shelter—and soon.”

CARI

My boots crunchedover the frozen ground, and while I wasn’t an expert on weather, I was pretty sure the dark clouds gathering on the horizon heralded an impending snowstorm. Something more intense than the fresh dusting I’d awoken to this morning. Just my luck.

It was an eight mile walk back to town, and I seriously hoped I made it before darkness fell. Which unfortunately came rather early during the winter months. I heaved my pack higher and increased my pace as I followed the road back to civilization.

I still couldn’t believe my solar truck wouldn’t start.

Oh yeah, I also couldn’t believe that Sasquatches were real.

Every strange noise had me on edge. I was convinced one of the hairy beasts would jump out of the forest at any moment.

I didn’t have any weapons. Well, I had a pocket knife, but little good that would do me against the huge dark beast stalker.

Too bad Grandpa hadn’t left any of his old rifles in the cabin. He’d sold them to a friend not long before his passing.

I tried very hard to remember all the stories regarding Sasquatches that he’d told me over the years, and my fear deepened as his words whispered through my mind.

They live in various tribes all over the Cascade Mountain range.

Most like to live in caverns, though some build nests and sleep in the open forest.

They can communicate with one another from great distances with different howls, but they also have their own spoken language.

Those in the nearest tribe can speak English. Would you believe an ancestor of my friend, Thomas, taught them how to speak our language?

Oh, I believed, all right. I’d seen the beasts with my own eyes.

What else? I knew there was more. Sasquatches had been one of my grandfather’s favorite topics. When I’d asked my father if the stories were true, he’d simply smiled and said, “I’ve never seen one for myself, but your grandpa isn’t the only person I know who swears they are real. A few fishing buddies of mine claim they’ve seen and heard unusual things in these mountains.”

I suddenly remembered another important fact.

Sasquatches called themselves by another name. Something that started with an ‘M’ that I couldn’t quite recall. But I did remember the name of the tribe nearest to the cabin—the Starblessed.

Were the three Sasquatches I’d glimpsed today members of the Starblessed tribe, or were they from a tribe that lived farther away?

I supposed it didn’t matter. All that mattered was reaching Newhalem and finding shelter and a job. Maybe I could approach the largest, nicest looking house, and ask if the occupants needed a live-in housekeeper and/or a cook? In my desperation, I wasn’t too proud to beg for work and a place to stay.

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