Fangs and Claws

By Cameron Joseph

Ballard Stone sends his nephews to set up a timber camp in the wilderness of Tennessee. The trouble begins immediately.  Upon arrival they  are confronted by  supernatural forces determined to protect an old growth forest.    

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cameron Joseph
• Release date: Oct 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9781540199942

Cameron Joseph

Cameron Joseph loves to write.  Cam is a lifelong resident of West Virginia. Born on a gray January day in 1965, he loves music, movies, the outdoors, and telling stories. Cam holds both readers and writers in the highest regard. And he thanks you for clicking on his page and for your interest in his books.

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FANGS and CLAWS

by

Cameron Joseph

11/29/2018

Copyright © 2018 by Cameron Joseph

All rights reserved

Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ONE

DEEP IN THE WILDERNESS of Tennessee, there stands an old growth forest, full of old trees and old spirits.  Unfortunately, Ballard Stone an arrogant, greedy, profiteer, discovered this stand of trees. Then he managed to get a deed for five hundred acres of land including part of this hidden old growth. His private ownership of the land allows him to cut any tree he chooses. Thousand- year- old sentinels of the Earth stand at his mercy.

He intends to cut every tree on his five- hundred acres. A little blackmail and a few bribes always reward him exactly what he wants. He is thorough in his corruption of anyone who stands in his way. Ballard anticipates any obstacles and plans carefully before he deploys his minions. He is an expert at finding hidden old growth forest and cutting them down.

This time, however, the old growth trees will not face Ballard alone. In this old forest, there lives a witch named Raven Shadow. Snatched by the wizard Oberon Claw she was brought there as a child. Where he raised her as his own daughter.

Her magic was as black as her piercing eyes and waist length hair. She was thought to be stolen or devoured after trappers found her parents remains among their cabin’s ashes but no sign of her. Raven’s training began in the summer of 1780. She grew strong and wicked. She had no sympathy for man or beast. Crossing her path was deadly. She called a small cabin in the swampy bottom below the forest her home.

One day, she discovered a wounded man in the forest. His name was Adam Pryn. She found him near death after he fell while hunting. She nursed him back to health, once he regained his strength he built her a cabin and dug her a well. He was strong young and handsome, long blonde locks, a golden beard, and sparkling blue eyes. Raven thought he was beautiful.

She decided to keep him. Three months passed by, Adam needed to get back to his wife and children he told her he wanted to return home. Raven sensed his love for his family. It enraged her.  She screamed she growled, she hissed and cursed Pryn turning him into an abomination. He stood seven feet tall upright like a man. On his huge broad shoulders sits the head of a saber-toothed cat. His hands are huge claws. His stench of rotting flesh is overpowering and his roar deafening. A slave to Raven he does her bidding without remorse. 

Seth Stone started his day as usual with a cup of black coffee and vitamins. He was not a big breakfast eater. Seth twenty-five and his older brother Duncan twenty-seven struggled to earn a living. They received an eviction notice the day before.  Seth’s shoulder length blonde hair, baby face, and piercing blue eyes, were not enough to convince employers in southern Ohio that he would be a good hire. Duncan like Seth had the looks and the brains but no luck finding work. Except for Duncan’s beard, you could hardly tell them apart. They had two hundred dollars between them, that was eighteen hundred less than they needed.

Seth packed his belongings three days ago, he knew they would not have the money to stay in their apartment. He waited for Vicki to call him, he hoped she would go with them. Seth was in love with Vicki. Vicki Keating was twenty- two, her auburn hair and round figure kept Seth captivated. She had the girl next door look, she was an idealist, Vicki had a warm smile on her face most of the time.

Vicki met Seth while he and Duncan worked at a construction site near her home. Tabitha Frost, Vicki's best friend, and volleyball teammate happened to be with Vicki the day she met Seth.  Tabitha and Vicki were in the same high school class together. Tabitha was beautiful she wore her long black hair in a ponytail most of the time. She was five foot nine inches tall, a full six inches taller than Vicki.

Seth waited hoping that one of the girls would call. Duncan was still sleeping. He passed out about three A.M. He managed to lose a hundred dollars in a poker game. They desperately needed that money to have gas and food on the way to wherever they headed next. Seth knew that Vicki would offer him a place to stay, but not Duncan. Vicki did not like Duncan. He turned on the television for the local news and the phone rang. He was hoping it was Vicki.

Hello.

Seth, is that you Seth Stone?

"Yes, this is Seth Stone.'

This is your uncle do you remember me?

Yes, Ballard I remember you.

I guess Duncan is drunk probably still sleeping it off. Roll his ass out of bed and put me on speaker I have work to offer you. While Ballard was talking Duncan came in and poured a cup of coffee. The sound of Ballard’s voice enraged him.

"Duncan is