The Fish

Albert walked up the hill his breath heaving and sweat dripping down his face. His back aching from carrying the two heavy baskets up the hill with him. The baskets were whicker which meant the smell of the fresh fish didn’t stay in the basket. Stopping before he started his descent down the hill he looked all around him and let the beauty of the sight around him sink into his bones. The clouds that kept the sun from overpowering the day. The red and white sails of the boats that dotted the rippling waters were collecting fish and voyaging off to the passage that would bring them to the sea. The forest with the trees that bent in the wind was turning red with changing of the season.

He felt apart of the community and at the same time, he felt like he was just starting his adventure which in a way he was. He picked his baskets up again and turned to descent down the hill at an angle that would best drop him off at the mouth of the forest. The wind picked up a bit cooling him off a bit and making him wish he had pulled off his shirt before he had started the walk so he could feel the wind against his bare skin. Making it to the bottom was easier than making it to the top had been which left him with extra energy to pick up the pace to make it home.

The forest was quiet but not devoid of the sounds of the birds or the streams nestled in the forest. The safety and clarity that came with the crisp air and whispering winds were not disturbed by the crunching of leaves under his feet. It felt like no time was passing and the smell of the fish stopped bothering him after a while. Slowly a house of wood and stone peeked out at him from beyond the trees warmly welcoming his return.

The promise of fresh food that came with the smell of bread that wafted in the forest surrounding the house perked him up even further to the point that despite the weight of the baskets and the exhaustion hammering into his muscles he was jogging to the house. Opening the door he kicked off his shoes and looked around the house noticing the distinct absence of his two favorite people.

“Bourbon!” His voice was warm as he called out to his dog. The blue tick hound mix would have been eagerly waiting by the door or underneath the feet of Graham who should have heard Albert come home. “Graham!” The silence of the home only interrupted by the sounds of birds. Walking into the kitchen and setting the fish off to the side of the table Graham had made for their home once they moved in he noticed a note that said Bourbon had run off into the woods to chase a fox so he was out to find her before she stepped in a bear trap or got in a fight with the fox.

This wasn’t the first time she had done this so he wasn’t too worried about their safety. This was their woods so he wasn’t concerned about them getting lost. However, after waiting long enough for the oven to go cold he went out to look for them. Taking a flashlight in case they stayed out. The nights here were always beautiful so he could see them wanting to spend some extra time outdoors. The stars were gorgeous out here and the moon’s light made everything look magical and romantic.

The night hadn’t fallen yet but the sun was turning orange and dousing everything in golden light as it warned of its descent into the sea. Ahead of him, he noticed a long tail wagging and shortly after heard barking. Running out Bourbon was obviously chasing after a fluffy bear cub. Whistling a few times he was able to get her attention but not able to get her to come over to him. Jogging forward he lopped the dog leash he brought with him in his hands trying to get close enough to get her in it. Not noticing the metal gleam of a trap his foot slammed down on it as he lunged catch his dog once he heard the sound of something much bigger heading their way.

Snap!

“Ahhhh!” Falling to ground he laid still for a moment slapping his hand over his mouth hoping to stop any further noise that would draw attention to them. Bourbon stopped chasing the cub and bounded over to her human parent’s side walking over to his ankle and licking it. The bear cub had stopped running and looked like it was waiting for something. Look over he noticed the large mama bear that was moving towards him.

Bourbon started to growl and her hackles rose as the bear took another step toward them.

She lunged forward the minute the bear made another large step and got clawed across the chest sending her flying into a tree with a crack. The bear looked at him briefly before picking up her cub and running off into the woods. Albert’s hand that was over his mouth started to shake as he sobbed from the pain he was in. The smell of fish smothering his senses but he didn't care. His ankle bled into the forest’s soil but he didn’t care.