Streams and small rivers meander through the wilderness. Their clear, cold water rushing over rocks, creating a soothing, constant echo.

Previously, the wildlife and vegetation of the desolate forest was rather abundant, but as of now, the deeper they walked into the desolate forest, the scantier the animals became, and the more desolate the environment appeared to be.

Being experienced hunters, they easily identified a path—a section of the forest which the animals were strangely avoiding. They followed the absence of bird songs and animal tracks, moving closer to a place where nature itself seemed disturbed.

"Here," Xavier calls out, his hand placed on a scorch mark, which successfully garnered Klaus's attention.

A yellow bright scorch mark used by a Wendigo to warn other supernatural creatures from nearing its habitat. Klaus easily recognized the scorch mark.

"Seems we are closing in on its hideout," he said with narrowed brows, eyes moving towards a rock that had the same scorch mark.

Further into the distance, various trees and rocks bore these same scorch marks.

Xavier nodded in affirmation, as both brothers slowly walked further, moving into the depths of the eerie forest. A few minutes clocked by before the scorch marks slowly started reducing, now being replaced by symbols—symbols that represented the Wendigo.

An antler, a skeletal figure mixed with snowflake or ice patterns. According to the lore on Wendigos, the antler carved into the trees or rocks can be a warning of the Wendigo's territory.

The skeletal figure drawn or etched onto surfaces symbolizes the emaciated and haunting figure of the Wendigo. Whereas the snowflakes or ice patterns show the Wendigo's connection to winter and coldness.

All these symbols assured them that they were on the right track. Making use of the symbols, they slowly walked into the depths of the eerie, desolate forest.

Seconds turned into minutes and minutes into hours. It had been over two hours since they had started trailing the clues to the Berserker Wendigo's hidden hideout. Yet, they hadn't arrived at its hidden lair.

"Don't tell me this creature carries its victims from the outermost section of the forest and drags them into the depths of the forest." Klaus said, his voice laced with disbelief.

"That would take hours even with its insanely fast speed."

"That's probably for the best." Xavier sighed lightly.

Receiving a frown from Klaus.

He chuckled lightly before he added, "If it were closer to the outer regions' of the desolate forest, who knows just how many lives would have been lost.

The consequences would have been nothing short of disastrous, to say the least."

Klaus nodded consecutively, seemingly pondering on it.

"That's true."

He suddenly realized that the coldness was starting to ascend at a frigid cold pace with the temperature rapidly plummeting to a bone-chilling state.

The deeper they walked, the more obvious this signs' became, prompting them to believe they were finally nearing the Wendigo's hidden hideout.

A few minutes passed by, with both brothers walking in a mind-wrenching silence, with the chilling coldness not helping out in anyway.

If nothing, it only worsened the situation and heightened the dread and trepidation that loomed over them.

Xavier suddenly came to a stop, eyes darting to his left.

His actions prompted Klaus to halt.

"What's that?" He questioned, looking to see what had made Xavier come to a halt.

Xavier slowly walked towards a rock. A few feet to the rock's left, subtle signs of a big rock once seated there could be faintly outlined by both brothers, who easily traced it to the rock that stood before them.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

Their eyes moved away from the rock, trailing the line to the ground beneath them. They bent down, easily assessing the patches of earth that had been overturned. These marks, though subtle, were important clues that led them closer to the Wendigo's hidden hideout.

The chilling coldness reached even greater heights. It was almost as though invisible ants were gnawing on their skin with the faint echo and murmurings of a waterfall continously reverberating into their ears.

WHOOOSSH!!! TIIINK!!!!

They walked for a few minutes before a waterfall finally appeared in their line of sight.

Scraps of clothing, old camping gears and even bones were scattered along their path. This was more than enough to prove that they had finally arrived at the Wendigo's hidden lair.

"The hidden lair should be nearby," Klaus muttered, his eyes scanning the area for any sufficient clue.

'Yet he couldn't find anything. It was almost as though the victims had suddenly disappeared after reaching here.

Is it not here? No, it's definitely here. All the clues so far point towards this place. But if it isn't here, then where could it be?'

Klaus pondered, his brows tightly knitted together.

"There," Xavier pointed towards the waterfall.

"Hmm." Klaus raised a brow, tracing his brother's hand to a cave system nestled within a rocky outcrop and hidden behind the thick waterfall.

"It would have been hard to notice under normal circumstances, but every single clue we have found so far, points to this place.

"Most importantly, didn't you notice? All the trails ended right here...almost as though the victims had suddenly vanished."

Xavier walked forward, pointing at the edge of the land; next to the stream beneath the waterfall, before he continued.

"With all this, I could be more certain that the victims were taken somewhere else, a place that can easily remove any trails left behind."

Xavier chuckled lightly. "And what better place than a cave situated behind a waterfall."

Klaus listened to Xavier's words, a light smile slowly settling on his face.

"Seems like I did a good job in teaching you.

"Or don't you think I did a great job?" Klaus added with a smug expression.

"Yes indeed. You did a great job." The sarcasm couldn't be any more obvious.

Klaus smiled, lightly shaking his head before exhaling sharply.

"Alright, I guess we should get climbing then."

Xavier nodded before both brothers proceeded to head into the waterfall.

Thirty minutes later, both brothers were inside an eerie desolate cave, the pungent smell of blood threatening to choke them. The chilling wind howled ferociously, with a palpable sense of death lingering in the air.

Before them lay an eerie, dark sacrificial altar filled with blood and flesh, with dried-up bones strewn across the floor.

The scene before their eyes was both strange and mystifying!

A supernatural creature was worshipping something... most probably another supernatural creature!

This seemed to have clearly shaken the brothers who were finding it difficult to accept the grim reality that had unfurled before their very own eyes.

How the hell is that even possible!

They were plauged with various questions.

Amongst many would be: What's this supernatural creature? And secondly, why is the Berserker Wendigo worshipping it?

This seemed to be the most crucial set of knowledge or information amongst the many that threatened to completely overwhelm their mind in the versatile visage of shock and horror and the hidden meaning that such a thing encapsulates.

They pondered for a few minutes before finally giving up.

Since they didn't know anything about it, thinking any further wouldn't really help out.

They sighed in exasperation before walking towards the depth of the cave.

They had only walked for some couple of seconds whilst being filled with the constant urge to puke, as a result of the mind wrenching stench that assaulted their noses before seeing two figures tied to a tree.

Well that's what they could call it anyways.

"Seems like these are our survivors."

Klaus breathed a sigh of relief, receiving a nod from Xavier. Both brothers stepped into a muddle of blood and dried up bones, walking towards the unconscious survivors.

"I will carry Alex, you carry the other guy,"

Xavier spoke, his voice a mix of relief and joy.

He was indeed happy for Selina. Though they didn't have high hopes that Alex would be among the survivors after watching the recorded video.

But seeing him now, filled them with an indescribable sense of joy.

Klaus nodded before backing Seraph.

Xavier also backed Alex, before both brothers proceeded to descend the eerie, terror-inducing moutain.

A few hours of a strenous journey easily passed by.

The moon was already in the sky, blanketing the earth in a strikingly dreadful crimson glow.

Both brothers finally caught sight of Selina, who sat at the door's edge, already fast asleep.

Light footsteps mixed with heavy breathing resounded in Selina's ears, jolting her awake. Her heart skipped a beat, thinking the ghost of the wild animal had come to haunt them.

Filled with fear, her eyes slowly moved towards the figure who stood before her.

She saw the two detectives then the figure behind the detective.

When she saw the figure behind the detective!

She covered her mouth, tears streaming down the corner of her eyes as Xavier put down the now-conscious Alex.

Klaus also did the same.

Before moving towards the edge of the door and collapsing onto his butt.

Fuck...today was definitely strenuous. He grumbled, his face laced with displeasure.

"Alex," Selina whispered, crystal -like teardrops streaming down her face. Alex also had teardrops in his eyes as both siblings rushed towards each other.

They proceeded to hug each other, as Selina wrapped her hands tightly around Alex, allowing him to rest on her bossom.

The siblings cried to their hearts content as Selina promised herself to never let her brother away from her line of sight... never again!

Crystal-like teardrops streamed down the corner of the siblings' eyes as the emotive feelings of: fear, dread, anxiety and a hint of hope had now blossomed into a tale of dread, sorrow, horror and finally... joy.