Red Snow

Red Snow

It was late before Jim had returned to the cabin he had just finished gathering food and chopping wood to ensure survival during the annual weeklong snowstorm up in the mountains. He sat in an old rocking chair by the fireplace sipping warm coffee soaking in the warmth of the crackling fire. He read the tale of an englishman exploring the arctic and his troubles along the way. Soon his weary eyes grew heavy and he drifted to sleep.

He drempt of his wife and daughter. There presence now marked by two makeshift crosses on the edge of the treeline. He kissed them both goodbye as he set out to chop wood as they needed more of it to stay warm at night. As he returned he noticed the cabin door open finding this odd he approached carefully rifle in hand as he approached the cabin door a lone lean wolf ran out blood coated it's muzzle after firing at it he ran inside.

He woke with a jolt the winds from the approaching storm grew louder the creaking of the trees bled through the wind like the sirens of a bomb raid. He wiped the tears out of his eyes as he stood up making sure the windows were shut tight so no snow would come in and the door locked so nothing would get in. He then sat down in his rocking chair with the heavy sigh after staring at the fire for sometime his eyes slowly closed as he drifted back to sleep.

In the shadows of the tree line a creature lurked pacing around stalking the cabin sensing it's warmth. It moved closer it's thin humanoid body covered in rotting flesh and its canid skull with a pair of horns. As it approached the cabin it peered into the windows fogging up each one as it moveed closer to the front door. Once it reached the front door it tried to fit its large hands around the handle to open it. Finding it locked it starts scratching at the door and making whimpering sounds like a dog leaving claw marks gouged deep into the wooden door.

The man woke with the stir he looked around and noticed the windows were fogged but paid no mind to them. As he relaxes and closed his eyes he was disturbed by the sounds of whimpering and scratching at his door. He reached for his rifle and pointed it at the door approaching carefully.

The creature moved away from the door sensing movement inside and hid around the corner.

Jim opened the door rifle in one hand and lantern in the other and peered around looking for the source.

Seeing nothing he went around the cabin after closing the door behind him. The creature seeing an opportunity followed the man silent as death.

The man feeling a presence behind him drops his lantern and wheels around bringing his gun up to his shoulder. The snow extinguished the lantern his only light came through the cabin windows which silhouetted the creature lightly. He fired at the creature blindly missing it. The creature knocks the gun out of his hand and jumps on him pinning him down. Rotting flesh hung from it's teeth as it screeched triumphantly before biting his throat and ripping it out painting the snow red. With tears in the man's eyes he knew he was going to see his family again.