After The Blast: The Diary of Oz and Maxx

September 01, 2000 - 12:30 p.m. - ATB (After The Blast)
Diary entry #1: Day 1
Looking out my window, there is thick, red dust everywhere. Can't see anything. Wait.....something is moving. Can't make out what it is yet...it looks like peolpe! But something is wrong. They are......they are just wrong somehow. Horribly wrong! We have to get out of here!
Grabbing some food, what weapons I could find, and Maxx, we flee away from this horror, not sure what we may find ahead. Maxx will warn me of any approaching danger. He seems to see better in this dust than I. We will seek better cover. Wish us luck......we will need it!

Diary entry #2
Maxx and I have put about 50 miles behind us now. So far we haven't run into any of those "creatures." A few times Maxx burred up and growled, but it was nothing...just some branches falling out of the trees. We have seen a few animals here and there and unaffected, so maybe there are people too. We are in a heavily wooded area now and it is getting dark and hard to see and my watch is no longer working. The red dust seems not to be as thick here in the woods. We had to stop and rest awhile and this looks like as good place as any to make camp for the night. This big backpack and the supplies I threw in for Maxx and I is heavier than I expected. Clothes, water, food for the both of us, extra weapons and ammo was all that I had time to gather before we fled. The next town we come to, I will need to find a few medical supplies, maybe a small backpack for Maxx to carry a few things in, and replenish our water supply.
What is it Maxx? Is something out there?
Yes, I hear it now too. Stay boy.
What a creepy sound! Nothing human could sound like that.....could it? There! I can just barely see something moving, down the hill, in that brush. Maybe if we keep still it will not see us....or smell us.
Quiet Maxx! I don't want to have to go stumbling thru the dark, running from something that I cannot see, and right now I am to tired to run anyway.....unless I have to.

Diary entry #3
Last night's scare turned out to be a very hungary wolf and her 2 pups looking for food. I was glad we were up hill and down wind of her. After seeing her and those 2 hungary little pups, I took 2 of the rabbits Maxx had caught and circled way around and laid them where she would find them. We all had rabbit for supper. I know she will find more food for them as I have seen deer tracks criss-crossing throughout the forest floor.
We found a monsterous hollow tree that turned out to be a very safe place to sleep for the both of us. We started out at sunrise after a light breakfast. The next town can't be to far...I hope.
Maxx...do you hear that? What is is? We topped a hill and looked down into a large valley. There was the source of the noise we heard. Maxx was fascinated as a big herd of the most beautiful horses went thundering past below. Each one casting it's own shadow as they ran past, seemed to blend into one large one. It reminded me of a friend I once had and hoped to meet again.
Then suddenly we saw the reason for their wild escape. Emerging from the tree line behind them was the most awful looking thing I have ever seen. A huge, plated skinned beast, slathering from the mouth over the meal he realized had just slipped his grasp. The horses were just too fast and were now safe from harm. He stopped, threw back his head and gave out the most spine splitting scream I have ever heard. Even Maxx cringed behind me almost begging to go. Maxx started whinning at the sound, which I'm sure was hurting his ears even more than mine.
The beast stopped, lowered it's massive head and seemed to be resting. Slowly the fang filled mouth pulled back, to expose even more razor teeth, and swung slowly in our direction. When those yellow eyes settled upon us, a cold sweat and shiver overtook me. I could not stop shaking. Maxx was pacing nervously back and forth in front of me in a protective manner. I didn't need much encouragement to run, and run we did. We could hear it behind us, grunting from the chase. Suddenly, there were buildings around us. We had been running blindly for miles and hadn't noticed the city until we were in it.
Maxx, we need to find a place to hide, I screamed, just as the beast emerged 2 blocks away and swung in our direction.

Diary entry #4
As we ran, I glance over my shoulder and notice that he was no longer in sight. Hopefully he was wearing down and would give up. That's good, we need to find a place to hide and catch our breath. There! That bank. That will have to do. Hopefully the doors will be unlocked and we can get inside. YES! They're open. We went inside and settle down behind the counters where we couldn't be seen. There are a few dead bodies in here too, like we saw in the streets, but the skin is all leathery and there is no smell of death. Very odd. I did a quick check of the vault, thinking maybe we could get in there and hide, then decided it was not such a good idea. After all, who would have let us out if it had locked? We ate a few pieces of jerkey and drank some water, and I took enough time to make this diary entry. Maxx laid his head in my lap and napped and I was so glad that he was with me. I was tired too, and also closed my eyes...just for a little while I thought.
Suddenly Maxx jumped up and started growling, looking towards the street. I peeked over the counter and saw the thing down the street, sniffing at every building he came to. He was tracking us. He must have slowed down after we lost him, but he had not lost us. We need to leave....now! I found a back door, but it was bolted and locked and no key in sight. Now what? We can't use the front, he's too close. Just then he picked up our scent at the door and threw his head back once again and screamed. He knew and I knew that he had found us. Maxx, let's go...now! We ran to the rear of the bank and saw no way to escape. Wait...that window. Maybe. I've seen it done in the movies and if they can do it so can we. That was it, there was no more time to think as the beast came crashing thru the front plate glass windows. I ran for the window, and covering my face as best I could, I crashed thru, landing in the alley beyond. Maxx was right behind me. Getting to my feet, I was relieved to find nothing broken. That would have been bad, very bad.
The beast reached the window and was trying to push thru, but he was having trouble. Maxx, lets go! We ran down the narrow alley about 500 yards and stopped. The thing had gotten thru the window, and was now wedged in the alley and was having a hard time moving forward. He was stuck! But for how long? Here was our chance to finally loose him for good. We wasted no time . I adjusted my backpack and we left, leaving the beast behind screaming in anger.

Diary Entry #5
We have kept to the alleyways as much as possible, and are now across the city. So far there has been no sign that our big friend has followed. We discovered a big department store where I found a better backpack, some extra clothing, boots, medical supplies and some much needed dry and canned provisions. We found a huge amusement park where I took a very long, warm shower and changed clothes. Maxx even got all wet after I was done and then shook himself dry all over me. Dogs!
We then walked around a bit looking at the now still rides and empty stalls. It was very eerie to see a place usually so full of noises to be so quiet. There was a huge rollercoaster called Dannies Dream. The air smells of salt here, so I am thinking we are near the ocean. We need to find a secure place to sleep tonight and then tomorrow we can check it out and maybe have some fun.
We chose The House of Mirrors as our safe haven for the night. If we do get any unwanted visitors, it would be difficult for them to find us right away in all the reflective glass. Maxx saw himself in the mirrors and thought it was other dogs and it took me forever to get him to stop barking at himself. After I showed him it was only us, we spent an hour or more playing hide and seek among the mirrors. I got the short end of the stick in that game! He only had to sniff me out. After his shower, I could no longer smell him.....which actually was a good thing. Whew! So we bedded down for the night and slept very well....for once. I even dreamed of our trip to the ocean tomorrow and what or who we might find there. Maxx was dreaming also, because I got kicked hard several times in the back. I wondered what he was chaseing. I hope it was nothing more than bunnys.

Diary Entry #6
We awoke this morning refreshed and ready to see what this new day would bring. We ate, then I showered and dressed while Maxx wandered around marking off his doggy territory. Then we left the park, walking briskly into the breeze that smelled so wonderfully of the sea.
About an hour later, we arrived. What a wonderful and peaceful sight. The sand, the waves, the sound! Maxx had never seen sand before and was a little shy of it at first. He tried sniffing it and went into a sneezing fit. He didn't do that again! I had already went out on the beach and spread a blanket to lay on and he just stood there looking at me like, "well, aren't you going to come carry me down there?" I ignored him, and finally he gave up hope and came barreling onto the blanket, throwing sand all over me. Typical male at the beach, I suppose.
As we were eating some lunch, Maxx warned me of someone near. I looked down the beach and there was a woman dressed in brightly colored fabrics, throwing something into the water. Her appearance reminded me of a gypsy woman I had read about in a story once. But they were mostly forest people, and I thought it odd to find one here. Smiling, I told Maxx that this one must be an ocean gypsy. As we watch her throw things in the water, I noticed something out in the waves. Maxx saw it too and ran down to the surf wagging his tail and barking. At first I thought it was a shark and called Maxx back, but as I watched closer I saw it was a dolphin. It was eating the little fish that the ocean gypsy tossed to it. He was all grey and shiny and very graceful. I asked her what she was feeding him. She said they were called chovies and they smelled bad, but he seemed to love them.
We left the beach and walked back towards town. We came to some railroad tracks and walked to the deserted station. There we found a water fountain and refilled all our canteens with fresh water. Maxx marked more territory. Must be a guy thing. Needing a faster way to get around, we found an old pumper car and decided since no one else would be needing it, we would borrow it. It would be better than walking. I loaded our gear and off we went with Maxx sitting across from me looking unusually smug. He must have thought it quite a treat just to be able to sit there while I was doing all the work. Getting this thing to move wasn't as hard to do as I'd thought it would be so we made pretty good time and put the city far behind us.

Diary Entry #7
As the sun sinks lower towards the mountains, we stopped to look for a good place to set up camp for the night. I found a thick stand of soft needle pines and the ground underneath them was littered with fallen needles. We would sleep comfortably tonight. There was also a fresh bubbling spring nearby for bathing and drinking. Since I seemed to be the only one worn out, I told my smug and perky looking companion to go see what he could rustle up for supper while I set up the tent and got a fire going. Maxx knew from the look on my face that whatever he found, it better be good! The fire was blazing warmly, and I put on a pot of water. I needed some coffee...bad! I was so glad I had grabbed some when I gathered our supplies. Any day without coffee was sure to be a disaster all in itself. I was on my second wonderful cup when "The Great Hunter" returned from forageing. He had managed to catch several pheasants, and although I was not looking forward to cleaning them, my mouth was already watering with antisipation for the treat to come, and as I looked at Maxx, I had to laugh. He seemed to be thinking the same thing as I, but it was a little hard to tell with all those feathers sticking out of his mouth. Maxx, spit those out, you look like a big black and white chicken! I made a stew with the pheasant meat, some morel mushrooms I found growing by the spring, some wild turnips, a few herbs, and some rice. We ate till I thought we would both pop, then turned in for the night, leaving the stew to keep warm near the fire.
I was awakened by Maxx's low growling. I laid there listening carefully to the sounds around us, afraid to move. I told Maxx to hush. Then I heard it too....footsteps. And they were getting closer with each breath I took. I slowly reached for my backpack, and pulled out the first thing my fingers touched.

Diary Entry #8
I slowly pulled the tranquilizer pistol from my backpack and made sure it was loaded. It was modified with a 10 round load chamber, and I made sure it was fully loaded. I grabbed the extra dart pouch and clipped it to my belt. These darts will drop a large man in seconds, and if it is anything bigger, I'll just shoot it twice! The only thing was...how were we going to get out of the tent without being heard. Maxx was becoming anxious and I knew I would not be able to keep him quiet much longer.
I grabbed my hunting knife, that I keep strapped to my boot and quietly cut a slit in the back of the tent. Maxx was the first one out, and he headed for the trees surrounding our campsite. I knew that he was going to circle the camp in the darkness so he could come up behind whatever or whoever was here.
I slid quietly out of the tent, then knelt...listening. I could hear noises coming from near the campfire. Metalic sounds, scrapeing noises,...chewing?...belching? Something was eating our food and apparently enjoying it too, from the sound of those belches.
I swallowed hard, took a deep breath and swinging the pistol up in front of me, I leaped clear of the tent. I took aim at the figure crouched near the fire and pulled the trigger.

Diary Entry #9
The figure stiffened in surprise and started to rise, reaching for the dart that was lodged between the shoulders. I could then see that it was a man. Not being able to reach the dart, he started to wobble and stagger slightly as the tranquilizer took affect. He collapsed face down near the fire and went still. Maxx moved in and gave him a going over with his nose, raised his head, looked at me and started wagging his tail. He seemed to think this man was ok....I wasn't going to be so easily satisfied.
I drug him to the nearest tree, took the knife from his belt and bound his hands behind his back then tied him to the trunk. It was still very dark, so I decided to head back to the tent, or what was left of it and try to get some more sleep. Maxx...you sleep out here and keep an eye on our friend in case we have any more unexpected company. I knew it would be at least 8 hours before the drug started wearing off, so I would have plenty of time in the morning to prepare myself with questions for this person.
I arouse to a beautiful day in the mountains. Up here the air was clearer and fresher. Maxx was already up too, and looking for a handout from what was left of last night's stew, so I gave it to him, since he had stood guard all night. I made myself some coffee and sat back to study this person tied to the tree. He was dressed in camouflage clothing and boots. He had black hair, greying slightly at the sides, a beard and mustache and looked to be about 40 maybe. He carried no wallet, but then, what good was one anyway? He had a slingshot and a large pouch of marbles and steel balls hanging from his belt. Maxx had found his backpack just outside the fringe of the camp and had drug it in. I went thru it but found nothing suspicious. It contained some clothing, food, matches, and some fishing line and hooks. The usual things for survival, nothing more. As I was returning his things to the backpack, Maxx whinned and I looked up to find him awake, free from his bonds and staring at me curiously. I stared back and pulled my knife free from my boot. If this guy was going to give me trouble....I was going to be ready!

Diary Entry #10
He rose and took a few steps closer. "You'de better stop right there or you may find part of that mustache missing"...I warned. He stopped and smiled at me and said, "I was only wonderin' if you had any more of that coffee left. I sure could use a cup or two to help get rid of this pounding headache I seem to have." I looked over at Maxx, who had not moved from where he was sitting wagging his tail. I trusted his instincts, so I put my knife away and poured a cup and handed it to him cautiously. He accepted it and sat down on the other side of the fire. After a few sips, he looked up smiling, extended his hand and said..."My friends call me the poacher...and whom might you be?" Warily, I shook his hand and said..."I'm Oz and this is Maxx." Nice to meet you Oz. Hello Maxx.
Maxx wagged his tail faster and barked.
After we ate lunch, we walked down to the spring to get more water. While Maxx went off chaseing what I hoped would be our supper, the poacher and I sat down and started talking. He told me he had a cabin and a mine up in the mountains where he lived, and went on to tell his story.
I had been digging deep in the mine for several days and was running short of supplies, and decided to go down into town to buy some. When I got there, it seemed deserted, no traffic moving, no kids playing, no one on the streets. It was like a ghost town from the movies. Then I started finding bodies everywhere. Their skin was black and leathery looking...like mummies, only without the wrapping. I gathered what I thought I would need and returned home. I have been trying to figure out what happened and why I am still alive, and the only thing that makes any sense is that I was deep in the mine and was somehow protected from whatever happened. So, I decided to go out looking for others that might have survived also, and after weeks of searching and seeing nothing but animals, I had started to accept the fact that maybe I was all alone out here. I had run out of food days ago and had set some traps hopeing to catch my food, but something else was always getting there first. That's when I saw the smoke from your fire and came to investigate. Then when I discovered the stew, my brain said, "eat first, ask questions later." That turned out to be my first mistake, he said smiling, rubbing his apparently still throbbing head.
I studied the poacher long and hard as he told me his story and decided I could trust him. If he had any intentions of harming us, he could have already, but he didn't seem like that kind of person. I began telling him then about what happened to Maxx and I.

Diary Entry #11
I am a paleontologist and I work...or did work in a large museum where I studied and catalogued fossil artifacts. The museum director and staff took a special liking to Maxx, so he was accepted as the museum's mascott, guard dog, and friend, and was allowed to accompany me to work everyday.
The museum had four levels of sub-basement storage where all the artifacts and records were kept. That day Maxx and I had arrived earlier than usual, and went straight down to sub-level 4 where I had been working for the last few days marking and logging specimens for shippment to another museum. I had taken our lunch, as I always did when working in the lower levels, because it saved a trip up to the cafeteria which was usually pretty crowded during lunch time.
The day progressed as usual, and when Maxx started whinning over the discarded lunch sack in the waste basket, I knew it must be past supper time. I looked at my watch, but it had stopped. I gathered my notebooks and we headed upstairs to my office. The museum seemed unusually dark and quiet. I looked at Maxx and said jokingly...."everyone must have died while we were working so hard." I wish now I had never said that.
We walked thru the long dark halls to my office. The farther I went, the weirder I felt. Maxx was on edge too. We reached my office and went inside. I put my books down on the desk and glanced at the wall clock......stopped. What is it with all these clocks? Just then Maxx started growling and went to the window. I walked over to see what was wrong and that's when I saw the red mist. The more I looked at it, the more nervous I got. Then we saw movement. Just glimpses here and there, but enough to know that while we had been deep below ground, something horrible had taken place. That's when Maxx and I fled.
I told him everything that has happened up until the present time, then we returned to camp to see if Maxx's hunting trip was successful. When we got there, the campsite was destroyed, literally torn apart! We made a mad scramble for some weapons and prepared for the worst.

Diary Entry #12
We checked the camp and found nothing of the intruder except for some footprints in the dirt. Maxx sniffed at the footprints and growled. The poacher said that the prints looked the same as the ones he had found around his empty rabbit snares and traps. I had the feeling that it was following me, maybe because of the traps and knowing it could get a free meal from them, but I thought I had lost it days ago when I quit setting them. That's why I was so hungary when I found you and Maxx. I hadn't been trapping my food for days hopeing it would give up and look elsewhere for a meal. Apparently I was wrong.
Well, whoever or whatever it was is gone now...but the hair on my neck was still standing up and I coundn't help feeling that our uninvited guest was still out there...watching. Maxx was paceing nervously also which confirmed my feelings further that it was time to go.
We gathered up our belongings and got ready to move on. The tent was worthless now, so we left it. The poacher suggested we hike back up to his cabin. He had more supplies there and we would at least have a solid roof over our heads while we decided what we would do next. If we leave now, and keep up a steady pace, we can be there before dark. It sounded like a good plan to me and Maxx seemed just as anxious as I was to put this place behind us, so we set out at a quick pace up the mountain.
The hike up the mountain was extremely tireing. Walking constantly uphill is not fun! Even Maxx was showing signs of fatigue when, just as the sun was setting, we finally arrived. The cabin was in a small clearing and built right into the side of the mountain. I asked how far away the mine was, and he just smiled and said...you'll see. We stepped up onto a large porch that even had a swing hanging from the rafters and entered the cabin. The inside of the cabin was much larger than it looked from the outside. There was a living-room, a den with bookshelves that went to the ceiling, filled with hundreds of books, and a well equipped kitchen downstairs. Upstairs, there were 2 large bedrooms and a big bathroom. I asked him where he got his water from and he explained that it came from the underground river in the mine. He was solar powered as well and only needed the generators as a backup.<<<< We were all exausted, so we ate a quick meal and turned in for the night...and on a real bed too! We could explore more tomorrow.

Diary Entry #13
The next day was filled with more surprises than I could keep track of. We slept in late, then ate an amazing breakfast of wild berry filled flapjacks with berry syrup, home cured bacon, fresh eggs, and fresh goat's milk.
The poacher showed us around the property, then we went to look at the mine. We went back inside, which made me curious. He took us into the den and as I watched in amazement, one of the bookcases slid aside and there it was.....the entrance to the mine shaft. He explained that with the entrance concealed as it was, no one would ever even suspect it was there.
We lit some flourescent lamps, donned some hard hats and in we went, watching the door slide closed behind us. The air inside was like 40 degrees, and gave me goosebumps. And the smell! It was wonderful! I have always liked the smell of caves. It's a cool, crisp, fresh smell that you never forget. Maxx had never been in a cave or mine before, so he stayed very close to me. We seemed to walk for miles and I noticed that we were gradually going down more all the time. We entered into a large chamber where the poacher showed me the veins of gold he was extracting. I had never seen this much real gold before and just stood stareing at the walls. Just from the light of the lamps, the room seemed to glow with it's own power. We exited into a narrow side tunnel where we had to walk single file and continued on for another 15 minutes or so, then suddenly, as if the world had fallen away, we entered into the largest cavern I had ever seen in my entire life. Even on full power, the glow of the lamps could barely illuminate the area we stood in. Once my eyes adjusted to this new place, I could begin to judge the size of it. The poacher said that he'd bet 4 football stadiums could fit in here with room for parking. Maxx had went off chaseing a cave lizard that had dared to cross his path. When we heard him barking off in the distance, we went towards the sound and that is when I noticed the river. An underground river! The water was so clear, you could see the bottom. It didn't look very deep, but the poacher said he had guaged it at about 25 feet. There was a dock with a very large boat tied to it. The boat had a small cabin built in the center, and could have easily held 25 people. Backup transportation was all the poacher would say when I asked him why the boat was here.

Diary Entry #14
We explored the cavern for a few hours more, then went back to the cabin for an evening meal. After we ate, we all went outside to enjoy the last of the day on the porch and drink some coffee. The poacher said he needed to feed the animals yet, so I offered to help him before it got dark. We followed a path thru the side garden to a good sized barn with a fenced in lot. Inside there were stalls with several goats that Maxx was eager to check out until the billy showed him that sticking his nose near his nannies was NOT a good idea. We fed them some grain and gave them fresh water. There was a chicken coop also that housed about 25 or 30 hens and a few roosters....thus, the fresh eggs. Maxx followed us inside the coop as we gathered the eggs that were there and offered his help by checking the nests...another bad idea! One of the hens was sitting on her eggs when he tried to look and went into a squacking, flapping rage at the intrusion, which alerted the rooster, who immediately came after Maxx with a vengence. Maxx tried desperately to shake off the feathery, pecking thing on his head, and finally the poacher had to extract the rooster by hand. We laughed till the tears came as I checked Maxx's head for injury. He did have several nasty bumps where the rooster had made his point very clear, but he would survive to fight another day....just not with any more chickens.
With the feeding done, we headed back to the porch for more coffee. As we neared the porch, I noticed a dog house that I had not seen before. Maxx had found it too and was trying to get inside...no...he was trying to back out. He's stuck I said grinning in frustration, and we went to get him out. I didn't see a dog around....do you have one? The poacher told me that last winter, he was chopping wood near the barn when he heard something and turned around to find a coyote sitting there stareing at him. It was a female and she was very thin and scruffy looking and I thought she was going to attack at first, but when I raised my ax, she rose and limped a few steps toward me. I saw that her front paw was bleeding badly so I kneeled down and started talking to her quietly and offered her my hand to smell. She seemed shy at first, and after checking my scent, she licked my hand and limped closer. I carried her into the cabin to get her warmed up and to attend to her injury. Then I fed her and made her a bed by the fireplace. She healed quickly and we became instant friends, so she stuck around. She comes and goes as she pleases. She was in the mine with me that day, so I suppose that is what saved her. I still haven't figured out why the goats and chickens escaped harm. Maybe it has someting to do with the barn being made from steel....I just don't know.
Well, does she have a name?
Yes, I call her Rachel...Rachelcoyote.

Diary Entry #15
Wakeing to the aroma of coffee, I got up and showered, then headed downstairs for a cup. The poacher was just putting the breakfast fair on the table when I walked into the kitchen. "Have you seen Maxx this morning?" I said.
No, but his food dish was empty when I came in to fix the coffee, and if he is not with you, then I'm sure he let himself outside to investigate things. Don't worry, he won't go to far, and if he stays away from the barn, he shouldn't get into any trouble.
We ate, then headed outside to feed the animals, and there sitting on the front porch were Maxx and Rachel. "Well, it looks like they have introduced themselves already," I said. "Looks that way doesn't it," said the poacher. We started for the barn, but stopped when Rachel and Maxx wouldn't follow. They started whining, then growling and paceing back and forth near the edge of the yard. They were looking down the hill in the same direction as the path we had used to come here a few days ago. "What's wrong?" I said to Maxx. The poacher walked over to the ledge where the path down was and stood motionless, listening. "I don't like this," he said. Something big is moving down there and sounds like it is headed this way. We don't have much time. It could be here in an hour...maybe two. We need to get out of here...now! The poacher ran to the barn and turned the animals loose.
We raced inside and upstairs, and each of us threw what clothes we could grab into dufflebags, then met back downstairs. "What are we going to do? Is that path the only way down? I said. "Yes, unfortunately it is, and we aren't going to get past whatever that thing below is" said the poacher. We'll have to take the boat in the cavern. It's the only way left. It's stocked with enough supplies to last at least a week, maybe more, and I don't think we have any other options. We can't go up, it's to steep and we'd need climbing gear, and we can't climb with the dogs...so we'll have to go for the boat. "Sounds good to me" I said. Let's go. We went into the den, grabbed the lanterns and opened the passageway to the mine shaft. The dogs raced in ahead and we followed, closeing the panel behind us. After going about 20 yards, the poacher stopped. "What are you doing, I said. "I boobytrapped all the passages with flash bombs and a few other little surprises, just in case something like this were to happen. I'm activating them now. If our guest happens to find the panel and the way in here, he will trip them and become momentary blinded every 20 yards or so, which will slow him down, and the other little surprises, will make him very, very angry to say the least" he said grinning.
We reached the dock to find Maxx and Rachel already aboard and waiting anxiously. We prepped the motor and started loading our gear. We were putting the last of our things on board when we heard the first flashbomb go off, followed shortly by a very angry howl.

Diary Entry #16
Another bang...then another...and another...and another. From the increasing flashes, angry howling, and crashing noises inside the tunnel entrance, I could tell that whatever it was, it was getting closer and madder as the minutes passed. The poacher was trying desperatly to get the motor going, but was having trouble. As I nervously eyed the entrance to the cavern, something huge stepped thru and straightened up to full height.
As I watched the beast trying to untangle itself from the last of the poacher's boobytraps, I could not believe what I was seeing! This is impossible...it just can't be! But there it was and there was no mistakeing it.
It was a Megantereon...a prehistoric Sabertooth cat. I remembered a display in the museum of one...but this was no typical Megantereon. It was over 6 feet tall and had the body of a man...but that was all. His head, hands and feet were that of a sabertooth cat...not a man. The claws were at least 3 inches long and the fangs looked double that. His whole body was covered in golden fur.
The poacher was still struggling with the motor, and I realized that if I didn't do something now, we were all going to be kitty food. I noticed a huge cargo net with heavy lead weights hanging from a pulley system just beyond the dock and a plan started to form. I jumped from the boat back onto the dock. "Poacher...give me your slingshot and pouch...I have an idea." "Are you crazy! You can't defend yourself with a slingshot and a pouch full of marbles!" he said. I don't plan to, just hand it over. I need to be ready before he gets himself free.
I ran to the stack of crates near the cavern wall where the rope was tied, knelt down and got the slingshot ready. This had better work, he was almost free. I grabbed a large marble, put it in the sling and took aim. Well...the first one missed and broke on the opposite cavern wall, but the sound made him turn and look. I loaded another and fired. It hit him on the leg and he swung back to my location and growled. I needed to manuever him under that net and take his attention away from the boat. I fired another shot that hit him in the chest, stood up and yelled...HEY YOU, OVER HERE! He took a step closer. Just then, the motor backfired loudly and he swung toward the boat and started towards it in a rage. Suddenly Maxx and Rachel leaped onto the dock and raced towards the advancing beast, growling, biting and snapping at his legs, then ducking out of reach as he swiped at them with his deadly claws.
NO I screamed, as Maxx and Rachel dashed in for another attack.

Diary Entry #17
I grabbed a steel ball bearing this time and snapped it off just as the dogs raced in for another attack. It struck him square in the nose as he bent to slash at Rachel's head. He howled painfully, rubbing at his eyes and staggered a little from the impact. Maxx and Rachel were just outside of his reach, growling and paceing back and forth in an aggressive manner, drawing his attention once more. He lunged towards them...they retreated. He advanced again...they retreated. Every time he struck out and missed one of them, he would howl with rage. Now I could see what they were doing. They were useing themselves as bait to drawing him towards me...and the net. And it was working. All his attention was focused on them now. They had challenged his superiority and he was very angry.
The poacher signaled a thumbs up that all was ready, and that was all I needed to know. Maxx and Rachel were only a few yards away now and I decided that it was time to end this game. This time, I grabbed one of the tranquilizer darts and carefully took aim. It lodged deep in his neck near the main artery. As he was trying to pull it out, I whistled for the dogs. Rachel ran to me, clearing the crates in one smooth leap. Maxx circled wide and came in behind the Megantereon and waited. I loaded another pellet, aimed, and released it. It struck him in the forehead and he howled in anger. He raged towards me with a killing intent. I whistled at Maxx and he raced in from behind, slamming into the Megantereon's back, knocking him face down on the cavern floor directly under the net. When I saw Maxx was clear, I pulled the knife from my boot just as the beast was attempting to rise and cut the rope holding the net.
The net fell on him and he went to his knees under the unexpected weight. We made for the boat and jumped aboard. The poacher started the motor as I untied the ropes that secured it to the dock. I grabbed an oar and pushed us away from the dock and out into the slow moving current. As we headed down stream, we all watched with relief as the Megantereon continued to struggle in the net and knew, that at least for now, we were once again safe. I sat down exausted in the bow of the boat with the dogs curled up next to me and marveled at the beauty that was now surrounding us and as I fell asleep I wondered what new mysteries and dangers might lay ahead.

Diary Entry #18
I was awakened as the boat jolted to a halt. The poacher got out and secured the bow rope around a stalagmite near the water's edge. "How long have I been asleep and where are we?" I asked. "You've been asleep for about eight hours, and as to where we are...all I can say is that we are about eight hours farther down river than we were about eight hours ago." the poacher said grinning. Let's get some coffee going, fix us some food, and then we can have a look around this place. Maxx and Rachel are already out snooping around, but they will be back when they smell food cooking, that much I know for sure.
I helped the poacher get a fire going. Oddly enough there was driftwood here, and although I could not explain it, I didn't complain. We started the coffee then got a nice pot of stew going with some dried meat and vegatables from our supplies. We freshened up in the river, then sat down and had some coffee while the stew simmered.
Maxx and Rachel returned and we settled down to a much needed meal. After cleaning up, we decided to look around a bit. This place intrigued me. There was sufficient light to see by and it was warmer than any other cavern I had ever been in. Even the water was warmer than it should have been. Maybe it was volcanically heated. There were stalagmites all across the cavern floor and it looked like a forest of rock. We saw side tunnels leading off here and there, but decided that exploring those was not really a good idea. We rounded a bend and found several hot spring pools, sepatated by a jut in the cavern wall, and the temptation of having a hot bath was to much to resist, so the poacher took one side and I took the other.
We headed back to the river, loaded up, and pushed back out into the current. We would find a night camp farther down the line.

Diary Entry #19
And so...we floated on, stopping occasionally to investigate some new wonder. Everywhere we looked, there were unexplained and wonderous new sights. Huge clusters of fungi of all types and shapes, amazeing mineral formations, pools of water that were so crystal clear, you had to touch it just to make sure it was actually water. There were odd looking lizards, insects, and small animals that I had never seen before...possibly no one ever had...until now. Passing one spot, we saw an immense, unoccupied spider web that caused my heart to remain in my throat long after it was out of sight. I HATE SPIDERS!!
We rounded a bend in the river and entered into a fairly large lagoon or bay of sorts. At the far end, we saw what looked like steps, so we oared over. They were steps, carved right into the rock wall. They dissapeared below the surface of the water then spiraled up and ended at an opening in the wall above us. This was just to good to pass up, so we secured the boat, grabbed our backpacks and some torches, and started up.
At the top of the stairs we lit the torches and entered the tunnel. The dogs stayed just ahead of us at the edge of the light. We walked about 500 yards, then had to duck through the next opening. We emerged from the tunnel onto a wide ledge. There was another flight of stairs off to the left that led down this time. We walked to the edge and peered over. "Do you see what I see?" I whispered. "Uh huh." was all the poacher could mumble. Below us, in a big valley like setting was an entire city. A city, the likes of which I had never seen before, lay sprawled below us on the cavern floor.

Diary Entry #20
We sat down and ate a quick cold meal while I drew a rough map of the city's layout from an overhead view. It might come in handy as a guide if we were to become lost. I marked places that looked like homes, a place that may have been a central plaza area, a large structure that might have been a meeting or worship place, and shetched in what looked like the streets that wound throughout. From this vantage point I did not see any rear exits, unless they were concealed, so as far as I could tell, this was the only way in and out. Then we proceded down.
The steps down into this unknown city were worn smooth from the many feet that had climbed them over the years...maybe millenia. Upon reaching the valley floor, I noticed a layer of dust and small rock debris laying everywhere. Our footprints may be the first in who knows how long to disturb this place. As we entered the city proper, I noticed small skitter marks here and there in the dust layer that had probably been made by lizards or some kind of insects, but nothing larger...yet. Maxx and Rachel seemed uneasy and stayed at our sides instead of running ahead to investigate. I wasn't sure if that comforted me or worried me, but I suggested we proceed slowly, quietly and causiously.
The first structures we came to looked like personal dwellings. They were constructed entirely of rock. Some were made from flat slabs and some were more igloo shaped. There were remnants of woven heavy fabric covering some of the doors. Inside, they were all one roomed with a fire pit against the back wall. Each rear wall had a natural opening in the rock above the cooking pit for the smoke to escape. There was no furniture, but we did find the remains of what may have been tools or weapons of some kind.
As we walked on, I would mark our location and progress on the map. We turned a corner and came to what appeared to be the central plaza and stood stunned at the sight before our eyes.

Diary Entry #21
There was gold and jewels and treasures of all kinds laying everywhere! Some of it was in neatly stacked piles about knee deep, some was spread across the floor where the weight must have caused it to avalanche. We moved closer to get a better look.
I could see emeralds, rubies, sapphires, pearls of all colors, and diamonds. The poacher found plates and goblets, gold chains, shields and swords, coins of some kind, and gold jewelry. There were baskets of it. There were chests of all sizes, some opened and overflowing with it, some closed. It was a treasure hunter's dream come true. The legend of the lost treasure of King Solomen's Mines passed briefly through my thoughts.
We found some space in the middle of the floor, sat down and just looked at what surrounded us. Where could it have all come from and why was it here and not hidden away somewhere? Did it once belong to pirates that somehow found this place, and used it to stockpile their loot? There were to many possibilities and few answers.
We rested and ate our meal on golden platters. Even Maxx and Rachel were given the royal treatment, but they didn't seem to notice or care.
After resting, we rummaged around for useful things. We aren't theives, said the poacher, but if we can use something here, I say go for it. Somehow I don't think it will be missed, I said smiling. The poacher found a short sword that he thought might come in handy. I picked up whatever I thought we could use and put it in my pack. I also found a heavy gold chain that just went over Maxx's head and one for Rachel also that was studded with a single, large topaz that matched Rachel's eyes perfectly. They didn't seem impressed with their new collars and immediately sat down and started scratching at them.
We gathered as much useful stuff as we could find, then worked our way back through the city, up the stairs, through the passage, and back to the river. We pushed off and once again let the current take us where it may.

Diary Entry #22
We awoke one by one groggy and disoriented with a strange, blinding light in our faces. What was this and just where were we? With alot of squinting, groaning and peeking occasionally through parted fingers, our eyes finally started adjusting to this unknown assault.
Squinting through parted eyelids, fuzzy images and colors started coming slowly into focus. Green...trees and grass? Blue...sky and water? Purple and pink and yellow...flowers? Were we no longer underground? Is this just a dream? But I feel warm sunshine and I smell flowers. Were we finally out? No more dark, dank, cold underground cave?
We must have all been thinking the same thing, because we just stood there in the boat stareing dumbly at each other, like... ok, who's gonna be the first one to step overboard and get soaking wet and ruin this wonderful dream.
Before either of us could decide who was going to be the preverbial guinea pig, Maxx and Rachel dived over the side of the boat...landed on solid ground and immediately started barking, rolling, running in circles and happily checking all borders of our new surroundings, not yet wanting to stray to far away from us.

Diary Entry #23
We camped here at the river's edge for 5 days. We hunted and ate much needed fresh food and exercised to build up our strength once again. We relaxed in the warm sunshine, and just generally enjoyed the feel of the land once again. Spending that much time on a boat can do really strange things to your land legs.
We cleaned and readied our weapons, made repairs to other equipment, then started packing things up and planning out our next move.
We headed out the next morning. The air was crisp and clean. We felt refreshed after our rest at the river and thoroughly enjoyed the change back to walking. As we went, we collected herbs and mushrooms, nuts and berries and hunted and dried a variety of meat to add to our store of supplies. Maxx and Rachel could always catch a meal anytime, but our diets were different. Besides that, we knew from our experiences so far, that things could change in the blink of an eye, so we always had to think ahead and stay prepared as best we could.
On the fourth day into our journey, we came across a farm. The poacher and I held back at the edge of the trees and let Maxx and Rachel use their best feature....their noses. If there were any dangers to be found ahead, they would alert us to it quickly.

Diary Entry #24
We waited about an hour before Maxx and Rachel returned.
The surrounding area and the farm showed no signs of immediate danger, so we gathered our things and headed in. The house was not in any condition to offer any shelter. It had been gutted by a fire and only one wall remained standing, and it didn't look to sturdy. What had caused the fire, we didn't know. Maybe a lightening strike during a storm or maybe someone had set it. It was hard to tell.
We settled into the barn. It was spacious and dry and since it had started raining, it was a relief knowing we were not going to get soaking wet setting up camp outside.
We rested here for 2 days. The 3rd. day brought with it feelings of restlessness and a sense of urgency that we couldn't seem to shake off. Even Maxx and Rachel seemed to be experiencing the same feelings, so we packed up and left the farm behind...moving out at a quick pace.

Diary Entry #25
As we made our way thru the surrounding rocky area, feelings of being watched or maybe stalked settled down upon us like a heavy weight. Maxx and Rachel were nervous and edgey too and even the Poacher and I seemed to be looking over our shoulders more than usual. The hair on the back of my neck stood at constant attention and my spine was crawling. I think the Poacher was feeling the same sensations, but tried not to show it. As late afternoon came upon us, we decided upon finding an early camp.
We chose a narrow, dead end canyon, scouted it out quickly, and then climbed up to a ledge at the end where there was a solid wall face behind us. We wanted the best vantage point possible. If we were being hunted, here was our best chance for a good defense.

Diary Entry #26
That first night.....we ALL took turns on guard duty, and although all remained quiet, except for the normal sounds of the night, the feelings of being watched did not subside.
Dawn.....and all was the same in the narrow canyon below as it had been the day before. I prepared a quick breakfast of oatmeal and fried bacon while the poacher fed Maxx and Rachel. As the day wore on, we double checked our position and defenses, set traps and alarms, made sure all weapons were at the ready, and also discovered and checked out a rear escape route that we hadn't seen the day before. Satisfied that all had been done that could be done for the time being...we tried to relax. The poacher prepared our packs in case we had to make a hasty departure, while I caught up on my diary entries and sketched out a rough map of our journey here and the surrounding area.
Nightfall.....with a large fire roaring, and our evening meal out of the way, we settled in behind some boulders and waited. Maxx and Rachel were on first guard watch when they suddenly became agitated and started pacing the ledge and growling warnings into the darkness beyond. Judging from the position of the moon it must have been about midnight or possibly after. Whatever they heard, it was still beyond our range of hearing, but we readied ourselves never the less, trusting their instincts to the fullest.

Diary Entry #27
A heavy, fog like haze lay over the area below. Wisps and tendrils of mist pulsated and swayed back and forth in the faint breeze almost as if it had a life of it's own and the almost full moon overhead gave it an eerie, ethereal glow. If it had been another time, and another place, it might have been a relaxing and hypnotic experience.....but not here...not now.
Slight movements, at the edges of the mist. Glimpses of something black. Sounds. Deep, gutteral growls and barks mixed with quieter, almost sad whimpering.
Suddenly, something emerged from the mist and moved forward to the edge of the fallen boulders below us. It was black as night and it's skin looked leathery and old but the body was slim and muscular. Perhaps the leader or an elder. The head and face were wolf like, it's yellowish eyes gleemed with an almost humanlike intelligence. Strong legs and forearms...again wolf-like, but devoid of any hair. Some underlying reason, maybe instinct, told me it was a female. It seemed to be a little taller than the poacher, and walked upright, although the build of it's body suggested that it could also harness the power of all four limbs at once...and quite efficiently.
Maxx and Rachel had stopped growling and seemed to be listening to the voice below. Cocking their heads from side to side...they would occasionally bark, yip or whine in response. They seemed to understand what the creature below was communicating.
As I stared intently into the eyes of the creature below, an odd sensation washed over me and I felt as if I might pass out. The poacher caught me just as my legs gave way and sat me down slowly. Disoriented and weak...but curious, I was drawn back to the eyes. Suddenly, an intense and powerful rush of jumbled feelings and images exploded through my mind.
Strength, family, peace. Forest, home, hunting. Birth, joy...death, sorrow. Enemy...attack, fighting. Many wounded. Little ones stolen...aching sadness. Help us! Help us!

Diary Entry #28
When I awoke, the poacher, Maxx, and Rachel were all hovering over me like mother hens. My head was pounding and I felt dizzy and unfocused. Some coffee and a couple of aspirins soon worked their magic and I began telling the poacher what had happened.
Telepathy...thought transference...whatever it was, it was a powerful and urgent plea and we have to help them all we can. They had been following and observeing us for over a day when we came into this canyon and set camp. They seemed to be drawn to Maxx and Rachel. They refered to them as Kinkind, and apparently decided that since Maxx and Rachel seemed so strongly bonded to us, that they could trust us as well.
I told him the rest of what I had seen and heard in my mind, made the final decision to help, then started packing our things. I climbed down to where the lone female still sat waiting. I slowly reached out my hand and laid it on her cheek. She in kind, laid her's upon mine. I closed my eyes and let my thoughts flow out to her. I told her that as soon as we packed our things for travel, we would be down and ready to go. She sent back that she understood and would be waiting.
The poacher had repacked all our medical supplies into one pack, so we wouldn't have to rummage for them. We shouldered our backpacks and started the climb down. It was still dark and foggy, so we had each grabbed a torch from the fire before putting it out. We started back through the narrow canyon and just on the other side...they were waiting. There were about 10 others besides the female that had approched us. We were positioned in the center of the pack before going any further. To protect us, I assumed. After a few hours of walking, we entered the deep woods that was their home.

Diary Entry #29
These woods had to be ancient. Huge, massive trees with boles so big around that I couldn't even imagine how many hands it might take to encircle one, and an upper canopy of branches that intertwined and overlapped to form a roof like top over the forest floor below, yet let in enough sunlight for other things to grow. Glades of beautiful ferns and rose briars and patches of wonderful, edible mushrooms and wild berry bushes of all kinds grew everywhere.
We rounded several natural springs and crossed several streams that were probably fed from the mountain range ahead. They were teaming with fish and looked most inviting, but we had more important things on our minds. We entered a clearing in the woods, and at the base of a high ridge just below the mountains were their caves.
We tended immediately to the wounded, working with the most injured first. Some were still frightened of us even after the leader female introduced us, so Maxx and Rachel would approach them first and offer yips, whines and nuzzles of assurance. They seemed to understand and let us continue with what we had to do. We did the best we could with what we had, and after several hours, we were finally done.
As evening set in, we were given an empty cave to rest in. We prepared a meal then set about making plans for the next day's task......hunting down the creeps that had done this.

Diary Entry #30
And that in itself was a fairly easy thing to accomplish, since they left tracks and open signs of their passage everywhere. It almost seemed that they didn't care in the slightest that they might be leaving a trail that even a blind man with a limp could follow. At the time, I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but follow them we did. With Maxx and Rachel scouting ahead, and the Poacher and I only having our weapons packs to carry instead of the cumbersome backpacks we usually had with us, we covered alot of ground by the end of the day.
Just about dusk, Maxx and Rachel returned with Maxx carrying something in his mouth. He brought it and dropped it at our feet. It looked like a piece of broken bone attached to a piece of wood. I was about to reach down and pick it up when the Poacher stopped me.
Don't touch it. See how the tip of the bone looks yellow? It might be tipped with poison of some kind. That was all I needed to hear to give it a wide bearth. The Poacher carefully picked it up, quickly examined it, and then shoved it into an rotted out tree trunk nearby.
Just then we caught the faint smell of smoke.
With darkness decending, we moved quietly and causiously ahead. In the gloom ahead, we could see points of light that we knew were campfires. As we crept closer, we could see the grass roofs of huts and the faint outline of the wall surrounding their encampment. The wall was about shoulder high and constructed of stone. Possibly a long forgotten settlement that they were useing for the night.
We retraced our steps back into the cover of the trees and decided to wait until all was quite before we made our next move.

Diary Entry #31
The kidnappers prepared and ate a meal. They rested around the fires for a few hours, with some throwing out their bedrolls to sleep and others talking quietly among themselves. A few milled about talking to others, but all in all they remained in the center of the camp, which gave the Poacher and I a clear view of the activities.
Then suddenly about an hour or two before dawn the group gathered together and exited the encampment. Possibly another raid had been planned around the warmth of the campfires. We weren't sure and we didn't really care, as an opportunity was now presenting itself.
After giving ample time for the main group to get well out of range, we crept closer so as to estimate the remaining force.
It was easy to determine their numbers by the light of the campfires still burning. There were only 2 remaining patrol guards and one at the hut where the captives were being held.
It was now or never, and never was an option that didn't even crossed our minds.
With a glance and a silent nod, Maxx silently entered the camp and went left and Rachel took the right. We waited until they had downed the two patroling guards as they passed behind huts and then we rushed the remaining guard. They never knew what hit them.
What a surprise the main force would have when they returned, only to find 3 drugged, gagged and trussed up comrades where their prisoners had once been.
The camp, save the one hut, was destroyed completely as a sign to the others that vacating the area permanently would be a most excellent idea on their part.
As the sun was cresting the horizon, we returned to the Kinkind's home with our extended party in tow.
The excited calls of our return went out across the camp and we were swarmed upon by joyous parents and other clan members. The feelings of gratitude, relief and affection washed over us like waves upon a beach. We had become friends and allies forever and that would never change or be forgotten.....by them or us.

Diary Entry #32
We rested a few more days among the Kinkind, then gathered our things to leave. Our new friends were sad to see us go, and tried to persuade us to stay longer, but we knew we had to be on our way.
Forward was the only direction that may reveal some answers. Whatever had happened was still a mystery and we had just barely scratched the surface.
It was time to do more scratching!

Diary Entry #33