Page 201 of Hunters and Prey

Even so, I didn’t want to linger here long.

I’d decided to follow my original plan and head north, following the ocean. Luckily, there were enough hills in that direction, I should be able to stay on relatively dry land. I still had no idea if there was any way across that black stone wall, or dyke, or whatever it was, that had replaced the Golden Gate Bridge––but I had to try.

Getting to that city on the other side of the bay still pulled at me, at my light.

I worried about getting trapped if there was no way across, though, in what used to be the Presidio, or even up on that high ridge of stone itself, at the edge of the water where the ocean used to meet the bay.

I suspected if I was forced into either the ocean or that San Francisco lake, I’d likely die.

Still, I didn’t see any other good options.

Taking a last breath while leaning against the trunk of a tree, I rose shakily back up to my feet. I looked around at the branches, then plucked off one of the big, flat leaves and struggled awkwardly to tie it around the bite on my forearm. The fibers were strong, more like cloth than regular leaves, so I was able to use it as a makeshift bandage.

I did the same with my cut foot, using two leaves tied together.

I considered trying to bind my breasts with leaves, too, to make running easier, but I was starting to get nervous about being up there too long, trees or no.

I could already feel it. I’d been here too long.

After test-walking on my leaf-bandaged foot, I decided it was time to go.

I would try walking at first, look for a place to hide.

Conserve my strength.

Taking a breath, I walked to the edge of the thicket of trees on the south side.

Looking down the slope, it struck me that I hadn’t heard or seen a single bird. Despite the suffocating heat, I hadn’t seen or been bitten by any flying or buzzing insects. I hadn’t heard anything alive here at all, apart from the moans of pain of those skeletal creatures when I hit them hard enough.

The realization was disturbing.

It was like I’d trespassed into a mass grave.

Shoving the thought aside, even as it brought a heavier beating to my heart, I stepped out from behind the first tree.

As soon as I did, I heard a low growl.

I froze.

The hitching, discordant growl grew louder.

My eyes and light sought the source, even as I kept my head and body as still as I could.

I found it then.

Like the humans that weren’t really humans, it wasn’t really a dog… or a bear… or a wolf… or a giant lizard. It was some unnerving combination of all those things.

Black, scaled skin covered most of it, decorated in odd patterns with tufts of black and reddish-brown fur. That same fur decorating half of its face. Black lips drew back from long, shockingly white teeth, thin and razor sharp-looking.

It was taller than a horse.

Staring at it, seeing the flat, shark-like, predatory stare, that clear, focused, Black-like part of my mind told me I was dead.

I looked up. My only hope was getting up one of these trees.

I backed into the shadows, and turned, aiming for a trunk in the middle of the densest part of the thicket, thinking the trees ringing that part of the hill would at least slow the thing down, given its size.

Given the claws I’d seen on its bear-like feet, and its long tail, I guessed it could climb. I also guessed I couldn’t outrun it, so climbing still seemed like my best option.

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