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In To the Wilderness

Chapter One

© Cederwyn Whitefurr

19th September, 2024

All Rights Reserved.

As the afternoon sun dipped below the horizon, casting the last of the golden hue over the forest canopy, Daniel slowed down and flicked his car's headlights on. The crushing weight of his recent heartbreak pressed heavily on his shoulders, and the city lights seemed a distant memory. Here, in the seclusion of the wilderness, he hoped to find solace and perhaps a semblance of peace.

Arriving at the small, rustic cabin, Daniel stepped out of his car, his breath forming small clouds in the crisp evening air. The forest around him was a tangle of shadows and whispers, daytime animals bedding down and nighttime animals beginning to move and stir. It was all a stark contrast to the vibrancy and chaos he had left behind. He took a deep breath, inhaling the earthy scent of pine and moss, then unlocked the cabin door and stepped inside, shutting it quietly behind him, eager to start this new chapter of solitude.

*

Early the next morning, after a hearty breakfast, Daniel dressed and set out to explore the forest around his cabin. The dense trees and winding game trails beckoned him, and he was eager to immerse himself in the natural beauty that surrounded him. His heart, still heavy from recent heartbreak, sought solace and comfort in the tranquil wilderness.

As he ventured deeper into the forest, the sound of a waterfall guided him towards a small clearing. The sunlight filtered down through the canopy, creating a dappled pattern of shadow and light on the forest floor. It seemed like the perfect place to take in the serene beauty of nature. He followed the sound of the water, moving cautiously towards the edge of the clearing.

When he finally reached the clearing, he stopped in his tracks, his breath catching in his throat. The sight before him was unlike anything he had ever imagined. The waterfall was majestic, and the clearing was beautiful and serene.

What caused his heart to thunder in his chest and his breath to catch, was the creature he saw bathing in the waterfall. The water cascaded over the powerful, naked bipedal form, the droplets glistening on its tawny fur. Its impressive antlers, partially submerged as it tilted its dark-furred head, created an otherworldly silhouette against the shimmering water.

It looked like an elk... that dark hood, that thick chocolate mane, the tawny fur on the rest of the body, the woodland brown of the gloves from mid-forearm too its...

It's got hands, three-fingered hands?

As the elk turned about, revealing itself it tilted its head back, scrubbing at its head.

Not it... him. It's a male, and -quite- a male...

A buck...

A bipedal bull elk...

Daniel's eyes widened in disbelief. The bull elk's presence was both majestic and surreal, and his powerful physique, combined with the primal grace of his movements, seemed to defy reality. It was an elk, but elk didn't walk on two legs, they didn't have three fingered hands.

For a few moments, Daniel stood frozen, his mind unable to comprehend what he was seeing. The forest had been a refuge, a place to escape his pain, but this encounter was something far beyond his comprehension. He'd heard about such beasts, but believed them to be mythological, make believe – the stuff of fantastic stories in books and movies. They weren't real, they couldn't be real...

Panic surged through him, his heart pounding as he struggled to process the situation. The sight of this—beast--, so intimate and unguarded, was overwhelming. The realisation that such beings might exist—and were in the very place he had sought for solitude—was too much for him to bear.

Without another thought, Daniel spun on his heel and fled back towards the cabin. The forest seemed to close in around him, the trees and shadows blending into a chaotic blur. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his mind was a whirl of fear and disbelief. He burst through the cabin door, slamming it shut behind him, and leaned against it, his chest heaving as he tried to steady his racing heart.

The room was dim and quiet, but Daniel could still feel the echo of what he had seen, the image of that creature bathing in the waterfall haunting his thoughts. He sank to the floor, trying to calm himself, his mind refusing to accept the reality of that anthropomorphic bull elk. The encounter had shaken him to his core, and he couldn't shake the feeling he had stumbled upon something both extraordinary and terrifying.

As the sun set outside, casting long shadows through the cabin windows, Daniel's mind raced with unanswered questions and a deep sense of dread. He had come to the forest seeking peace, but instead, he had found something that challenged his very understanding of the world.

He doesn't exist, he can not exist, my mind... I'm losing my sanity, my grip on reality... Daniel began to weep, pressing his head against his hands.

*

Daniel awoke on the cold, hard floor, exhausted, uncomfortable and mentally overcome. The dim light filtering through the cabin windows hinted at the early morning, but it felt like a weight had settled over him, thick and heavy. He sat up slowly, rubbing his temples as memories of the previous day flooded back—especially the encounter with that bull elk.

His heart raced at the thought, a mix of awe and confusion swirling within him. What had he seen? It felt surreal, almost like a dream, but the image of that powerful form, glistening under the waterfall, lingered vividly in his mind.

His grandfather had once shared stories of how some forests held secrets—good and evil, as humanity perceived it—but in nature, such concepts were irrelevant. Nature transcended human morality. The way his grandfather spoke, his unwavering belief in every word, echoed in Daniel's thoughts.

“Grandfather...” Daniel whispered, longing for a sign that his departed spirit still lingered. “I never believed your stories. I thought they were make-believe...told to entertain me and enrich my imagination. You were right all along...”

Taking a deep breath, Daniel forced himself to stand. The chill of the wooden floor sent shivers up his spine, and he wrapped his arms around himself for warmth. He needed to clear his head, to escape the confines of his own thoughts.

As he stepped outside, the crisp morning air hit him like a wave, invigorating yet daunting. The forest loomed around him, an endless sea of green and brown, whispering secrets he was desperate to understand. He took a few tentative steps into the woods, each crunch of leaves beneath his feet grounding him in reality and the present moment.

He wandered aimlessly at first, allowing the sounds of nature—the rustling leaves, the distant call of a bird—to guide him. The beauty of the forest was breathtaking, a stark contrast to the emotional turmoil that he felt inside. As he ventured deeper, his thoughts returned to the waterfall, to that impossible, imaginary creature. It was unlike anything he had ever imagined, and the mix of fear and fascination gnawed within him.

“He's not real, it was my grief and stress and mind playing tricks on me, those creatures don't exist, my grandfather made up those stories!” Daniel muttered, head down as he aimlessly wandered, reassuring himself once more it was just his imagination.

After a while, unconsciously, he found himself at the edge of the waterfall clearing once more. Standing behind the trees that screened it, he hesitated, recalling the moment when he had first seen it. He took a deep, shuddering breath, closing his eyes and forcing himself to calmness.

“They don't exist, I saw an elk, my mind played tricks on me, elk exist, what I saw wasn't real...” He kept repeating like a mantra, forcing himself to believe it, as he pushed through a thicket and into the clearing.

Opening his eyes, his breath coming in a rush, he looked around. The sound of the water cascading down the waterfall and splashing in the crystal clear pool below greeting him like an old friend. The sight was as beautiful as he remembered it from yesterday. Ancient, timeless, captivating in its simple beauty. The water mist sparkled in the morning light.

There was no bipedal bull elk.

There never was... Daniel's mind reaffirmed his beliefs.

For a moment, relief washed over him. Perhaps he wouldn't lose his mind after all. He walked over, kneeling down and gazing into the clear water, seeing his reflection cast back at him as the water rippled and flowed.

His sense of calmness turned into disappointment. There was something about that creature that stirred a longing within him, an inexplicable connection he couldn't ignore.

Some forests hold secrets...I should know, I'm one of them...

The thoughts, not his own, made Daniel turn white, as his breath caught in his throat. As he twisted about, he looked up and seen the creature.

THAT bull elk.

He was larger than life and undeniably real. The morning light gleamed on his tawny fur, accentuating the powerful muscles beneath. His antlers, majestic and regal, framed his face, giving him an otherworldly presence.

Daniel's heart raced, a mix of fear and awe flooding his senses. “You're... you're real,” he stammered, struggling to comprehend the reality that walked gracefully towards him.

The elk's eyes shimmered with a depth that seemed to see right through Daniel's facade, his cloven hooves sinking softly into the loamy soil. With a grandiose gesture, the elk waved a hand. “You've felt it too, haven't you? The pull of the forest, the connection to something greater? However, forgive me. I am Thorne. May you do me the honour of your own name, human?”

Daniel swallowed hard, his mind racing. “I thought... I thought I was imagining things. That it was just...just my grief and...playing tricks on me.”

Thorne shook his head, a gentle smile breaking through his imposing demeanour. “Nature has her own way of speaking. Sometimes, it calls to those who are lost, guiding them towards their true selves.”

As Thorne spoke, his voice rich, deep, powerful and dominant, Thorne reached out and gently placed a three fingered paw against Daniel's trembling cheek, holding his gaze with a look of warmth and understanding.

“Tell me, nameless one, do I feel real to you now?” Thorne asked, his smile tender and compassionate.

“Da...Dan...” Daniel stuttered, his eyes wide and throat constricting. He couldn't deny the feel of the elk's hand? Paw? On his cheek, the warmth of it, the smell of earth and musk and pine that seemed to emanate from the elk's pelt. “Daniel... my name is Daniel... What...what do you mean? Who...what...are you?”

“I am a guardian of these woods,” Thorne replied, his voice low an soothing. “You, Daniel who is human, have been summoned here for a reason. The forest has secrets to share with you, and in return, you must embrace your own truths.”

Daniel's heart raced as he processed Thorne's words. A part of him was terrified, the sheer size of this elk, nearly ten feet tall, towered over him. The musculature, the primal strength and dominance this creature exuded, those razor-like tines on the antlers, the powerful muscular legs and the cloven hooves.

“If I wanted to harm you,” Thorne's voice was tinged with amusement, warm and comforting, but definitely amused. “You wouldn't have made it past the edge of the forest. Now, please...”

Thorne dropped the paw on Daniel's cheek, holding it out in a gesture to assist Daniel up off the ground.

Daniel gently placed his hand in Thorne's, and with minimal effort, Thorne lifted him to his feet, Daniel's gaze inadvertently taking in the pale furred scrotum and the large, intimidating sheath as he was lifted to his feet.

Thorne merely flicked an ear, his lips twitching slightly in a smile at the human's overt glance, but he made no further reaction.

“What...do I need to do?” Daniel asked, gazing up into the dark muzzle of Thorne.

Thorne stepped closer, tenderly placing both paws on Daniel's shoulders, their bodies almost touching. “Trust in yourself. Let go of your fears, and allow the forest to guide you. Together, we can uncover the mysteries that await you.”

With those words, and the tender touch, Daniel gasped, feeling the weight of his loneliness beginning to drain away from within him, it was subtle, perceptible, like water draining out a plughole. A shiver rippled through him as what was left was a cool, comforting presence, like a refreshing breeze weather change on a hot day.

“How... what did you do to me?” Daniel gasped, wide eyed and trembling.

“I?” Thorne asked, quirking an eyebrow. “It was not I who did it, it was the woods themselves. They are offering you that which you deny yourself. Let go of all that burdens your heart, your mind and your spirit.”

Daniel shuddered, losing himself in the elk's deep brown eyes. A new calmness filled him, finding strength in the elk's presence and calm, non-judgemental gaze. “Okay,” Daniel whispered, his voice steadying. “I'm ready to see what lies ahead.”

Thorne's smile spread wider, his antlers catching the sunlight like a crown. “Then together, let us begin our journey into the wild.”

*

Days passed, Daniel found himself immersed in the beauty and wonder of the woods, guided by Thorne. He learned where to find fresh, safe berries to eat, how to find clean water that was safe to drink, and even discovered a cosy shelter in an old cave. Each day spent in nature peeled away the layers of stress and anxiety from his former life, leaving him feeling more tranquil and at peace. He began to feel less like a visitor and more a part of this natural wild world, disconnected from the hustle and stress of the city life he had once known.

One evening, they settled together on a fallen log, the flickering light of a small fire casting warm shadows. As the chill of the night crept in, Daniel shivered. Without a world, Thorne draped an arm around him, drawing him close. At first, Daniel stiffened, unsure of this sudden intimacy, but the warmth radiating from Thorne was inviting. Slowly, he melted against the elk, seeking the comfort he had long craved.

“It's alright,” Thorne murmured, his voice deep and soothing. “You may place your hand on my thigh. I'm not going to bite you!” His words held a playful edge, mixed with a gentle dominance that made Daniel feel safe.

“How did you know...” Daniel whispered, his heart racing as he cautiously placed his hand on Thorne's thigh, feeling the warmth of the fire and the natural heat of the elk's body mingling together. He couldn't help but admire Thorne's strong, muscular form. The elk was undeniably attractive, and the thought sent a thrill through him, coupled with an underlying fear of pushing boundaries.

“You're curious. It's a trait in humanity I've always admired,” Thorne's reply was thoughtful, as he tilted his head down to look at Daniel, his eyes glinting in the firelight. “I, however, do not share your emotions the same way. Mine are more primal—rooted in survival. Fear, anger, hunger—these drive a creature like me.” He shuddered slightly, as if unearthing thoughts he had long suppressed within himself.

“I wish I could understand,” Daniel said softly, leaning his head against Thorne's muscular chest. “It must feel like such a...simple life. A pure life, living in harmony with nature as you do.”

Thorne signed, a low rumble resonating through him. “Human's possess a capacity for good that I find admirable. Kindness, generosity—these can coexist with nature. I've kept myself apart from humanity, yet I wonder what it would be like to explore these... thoughts?”

Daniel felt a mix of empathy and curiosity. “I think I understand why,” he whispered, tenderly stroking Thorne's tensing thigh, sensing the elk's inner turmoil. “It's hard to bridge that gap.”

“I have also seen the worst of your kind,” Thorne confessed, his voice heavy with regret. “How they come to hunt the forest mother's children. Whilst some do it for sustenance, I respect that. It is the natural way. But those, those who hunt without purpose...cruelty and darkness in their hearts, seeking trophy's and their own...”

Thorne's hooflets dug into the log, gouging at the rotting timber, before he shuddered and forced himself back to calmness. The desire to pull Daniel closer, to explore the connection Thorne felt between them, battled with his instincts to protect and understand the human beside him.

Daniel looked up, meeting Thorne's gaze. “It must be difficult. Being both protector and witness.”

Thorne flicked an ear, attempting to brush off the heavy thoughts. He looked down, then gently placed his paw on Daniel's thigh in return, gazing deeply into his eyes. “I sense none of that in you, hum...Daniel...” His voice was quiet, gentle, alluring. “Yet your heart is burdened all the same.”

Daniel swallowed hard, caught between admiration and fear. Thorne was quite a buck, and the allure of exploring this connection tempted him, but the fear of doing something untoward held him back. His fingers trembled on Thorne's thigh, a gentle caress that spoke volumes, but he remained cautious, unsure how far he could venture.

“You hesitate,” Thorne's warm breath tickled Daniel's right ear. “Your scent betrays your thoughts, just so you know...” The teasing lilt in Thorne's voice sent a shiver down Daniel's spine, mixing embarrassment with the thrill of intimacy.

Daniel's heart raced as he pulled back slightly, searching Thorne's gaze for reassurance. “I—“ he began, his words faltering. The connection between them was there, he knew it, he could feel it, yet the fear of overstepping boundaries loomed large in his mind.

“Fear not, Daniel,” Thorne said gently, his eyes softening. “It is natural to feel uncertain, especially when the heart is involved.” The elk leaned closer, the warmth of his body enveloping Daniel like a protective cocoon. “But you must also allow yourself to feel. To explore what it is blooming between us.”

Daniel swallowed hard, his pulse quickening. Thorne's closeness was intoxicating, stirring desires he had barely acknowledged. Thoughts of his boyfriend filled his heart and mind, the romance, the passion, the love they had shared together for years... how it had slowly changed, morphed, become twisted and dark...cruel and violent at the end. “I want to,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “Yet I do not want to ruin this... whatever it is that we have. You're a...a elk, I'm a human and as such...”

Thorne merely raised an eyebrow and flicked an ear, gazing steadily down at Daniel.

“It'd not be... be right, for us to take this where...” Daniel's voice broke, and he tried to look away, but Thorne's eyes captivated him, filled with understanding and warmth.

“You are afraid, I understand that,” Thorne murmured, his hand on Daniel's thigh slowly moving upwards with sensual and tender movements. “This is a journey, Daniel. One we both tread carefully. Emotions can be wild, but they can also lead to profound connections.” He paused, his dark eyes searching Daniel's face. “You intrigue me, and I sense you feel the same.”

The sincerity in Thorne's eyes, and his gentle, calm touch, made Daniel's breath hitch in his throat. He couldn't deny the pull he felt towards the elk, the mix of admiration and yearning swirling within him. Yet, the weight of his past lingered, making him cautious. “I just... I'm afraid of what it might mean. Others, people—they would not understand...” he confessed, his voice trembling.

Thorne nodded, understanding. “Every new bond carries risk, but it is through these risks that we find growth,” His gaze intensified, filled with a fierce tenderness, his paw ever so carefully placed against Daniel's groin, subtly rubbing and caressing. “You are safe with me, Daniel. I will not push you to anything you are not ready for.”

In that moment, the fire crackled softly beside them, the world around them faded into the background, Daniel felt an overwhelming sense of comfort in Thorne's presence, yet the tension simmered, a potent mix of longing and uncertainty.

With a deep breath, Daniel's own hand slowly crept towards ever so tenderly caressing the elk's furred scrotum with his fingertips, his touch carefully growing more assured. “Then let us take it slow,” he suggested, a hint of a smile breaking through his apprehension.

Thorne's expression softened into a genuine smile, a mixture of his own interest and delight. “Slow is a pace I fear we buck's are unfamiliar with,” he replied, leaning in slightly closer, the warmth between them igniting in an exhilarating spark of possibility. “However, for you, I will try my best...”

TO BE CONTINUED...