To Hunt A Wendigo - Short Story
Marshal Taylor went missing looking for the Wendigo. He wasn't the only one. One reseacher is trying to piece it all together this is their findings.
Hi all, I wanted to share with you a short story I wrote ‘To Hunt A Wendigo’. Hope you enjoy this tale, I had a lot of fun working on it.
To Hunt A Wendigo
Researcher Dr. Windog has been studying the Minnesota forest for most of their life. They have a theory that a creature a Wendigo lurks deep inside. Their research intensified after Marshal Taylor entered the forest. This is their researcher.
September 1807
Man, Spots Beast in Woods
In the afternoon of yesterday a prospector claims he was attacked by a creature. Prospector Henry Calling was finishing a scouting mission in the Northern Minnesota forest when he was attacked and left with severe injuries.
When he was found by hikers covered in blood, he described his attacker as a beast that stood on two legs about 7ft but had antlers like a deer but the ferocity of a bear.
When he was found however there was no evidence such a creature existed. The local sheriff is said to be looking for a bear in relation to the attack, stating that Calling’s story is a result of shock and booze.
***
October 1807
Beast Spotted Again, Killing Hiker.
It has been two weeks since Mr. Calling claimed to see a beast in the forest. Since that initial sighting, there have been three sightings from hikers looking to see if the beast is real. One such hiker Ricardo Smith was found dead by a local blacksmith three days ago.
The blacksmith who did not want to be named claimed to have seen a beast prior to uncovering the body. He and the locals now believe this beast is a Wendigo. This is the fourth sighting with locals now fearful of entering the woods.
***
April 1978
Hunter Attacked by Wendigo
A hunter claims to have been attacked by a Wendigo while hunting deer. Lawrence Stevenson was in the forest alone over the weekend when he saw a large creature standing on two legs. He says he first believed it to be a bear scratching its back in a tree until he noticed the bear had antlers. He also revealed that the creature had broad shoulders and a human-like build.
Mr. Stevenson states that the sight of the beast made him uncomfortable and filled with fear. He tells us that at one point he believes to have made eye contact with the beast. “I felt like I was looking at evil as the fear pierced my whole body.”
He tells us that shortly after making eye contact the beast began to charge at him. Fearing for his life he fired three rounds at the beast before hiding in a tree until the area was safe.
“I knew right then that my gun was no match for them and in a plea to save myself I threw my gun to the ground and climbed an oak tree to hide from the beast. I was there for four hours before they gave up. There is no doubt in my mind that it was a Wendigo that attacked me.”
Mr. Stevenson believes he is lucky to have survived and vows to stay away from the woods.
***
February 1999
Mystery of the Minnesota Missing
In the Spring of ‘98, six people vanished in the Minnesota forest, their whereabouts have never been uncovered.
The six individuals are believed to have nothing in common with each other apart from the place they were last seen. They were all seen in or around the Minnesota forest, some have put this down to a coincidence, but others believe something more sinister.
Since 1807, there have been reports and sightings of a Wendigo roaming the woods. These sightings range from unexplained sounds to vicious attacks. Many within to science community believe these sightings are the native black bear. While some locals and cryptozoologists suggest otherwise.
Whatever happened to these six is still a mystery, with cryptozoologists hiking the terrane in search of evidence that the missing were victims of the Wendigo.
***
July 2003
Hunt For the Minnesota Six Continues
In the spring of 1998, a total of six individuals vanished in a three-month period. Their bodies have never been found and their connection remains a mystery.
Five years after the event known to the locals at the Minnesota Missing, a small police unit, continue to hunt for the truth. They believe that even though the missing had no knowledge of each other there is a connection they are missing.
Jennifer Johnson was the first to go missing on March 27th, 1998. Her friends claim she was hiking the dead man’s trail, something she does every Saturday. On the day of her disappearance, her husband claims she left a strange message saying she loved him.
A few days later couple Heather Clemmons (30) and Matthew Gomez (36) became the second and third person to go missing that spring. They were known to enjoy hiking the trails, but they were known to do it with friends. Matthew was relatively new to Minnesota, moving to Thief River Falls two years before his disappearance.
Maya Nelson would become the last known person to go missing in the spring of 98. She was also the youngest at 23, a recent graduate of Northland Community & Technical College. She is not known to be a hiker and the missing person case caused the locals to look for patterns and explanations.
There have been many theories as to what happened that spring from them getting lost in the trails to something more sinister like becoming a victim of the haunted Dead Man’s trail. Whatever the reason, a police unit is determined to uncover the truth.
If you have any information that could help in the investigation, email us at Minnesotamissing@gmail.com.
***
[Missing person posters for some of the Minnesota Missing]
Missing
Since April 2, 1979
Name: Jennifer Johnson
Age:26
Description: Jennifer is 5’6” with sandy brown hair that goes down to her lower back. She is 130Ibs with a slender build, but she was wearing a few layers of clothing on the day she went missing. She was wearing a turquoise shirt to match her eyes, along with a pastel pink sweatshirt and a maroon scarf. She also had on dark blue skinny jeans and light brown boots.
If you see her left arm, be on the lookout for a tattoo of a feather. The tattoo is placed on the inside of her arm near her armpit. She also has a tattoo of a pentagram on her right ankle.
Please if you see her call – 0-800-333-9824
***
Missing
Since March 27, 1979
Names: Heather Clemmons
Age: 30
Description: Heather is a slim woman who is 4’8” and 128Ibs. She has sandy blonde curly, shoulder-length hair. She normally parts her left side behind her ear, exposing a crow earring her grandmother bought her. She is Caucasian with ocean blue-colored eyes and was last seen wearing lipstick, burnt red in color.
She was last seen walking the tail with her boyfriend and wearing acid-washed blue ripped jeans and a plain white t-shirt. She also had a red jacket with her that she had tied around her waist and black casual shoes.
If you have seen Heather or know where she is, please call – 0-800-777-7339
***
Missing
Since March 27, 1979
Name: Matthew Gomez
Age: 36
Description: Matthew is a 5’8” male, weighing 158Ibs with an athletic build. He has short black hair that he styles into a faux mohawk. Hispanic, with hazel eyes and a nose ring. Matthew was last seen wearing a beige t-shirt and black jeans with black casual shoes.
He was last seen with his girlfriend Heather Clemmons walking along the Dead Man’s trail when they disappeared. He has a scar on his right shoulder from an incident in the gym.
If you see Mr Gomez please call – 0-800-777-7339.
***
Missing
Since May 31, 1979
Name: Maya Nelson
Age: 23
Description: Maya is 5’8” and 140Ibs with a stocky build. She is of Mexican heritage. Miss Nelson has wavy brown hair that goes to her lower back when down but she usually has her hair tied up, sometimes in braids. On the day she went missing her hair was tied back into a ponytail. She also has heterochromia with her right eye blue and her left eye hazel brown.
She was last seen wearing a red and pink flower blouse, with egg-white pants. She also had silver stud earrings a black ring on her middle finger of the right hand and a white ring on her left middle finger.
If you have seen or know where Maya is, please call – 0-800-444-9173
***
September 2005
Woman Claims to See Ghost on Trail
Dead Man’s Trail in Thief River Falls, Minnesota is no stranger to ghost stories.
April 1996, Heather Simms walked on a summer road trip with her friends along the ‘‘Dead Man’s Trail’’ near Thief River Falls. The unpaved path is said to be home to many spirits, including the one Heather alleged she saw.
Heather claims that just after one they were approaching the old red bridge on the trail when they started to hear a baby crying. Fearing a child had been separated from their parents they began searching for the child only to come across a woman crying by the riverbank.
They claim that the water by the river was rapid, and they worried for her health. They began to call for her to check she was okay and to alert her to the potential danger she was in. When they go her attention is when Heather claims things ‘shifted’.
“When we to her attention things shifted, the tone, atmosphere, everything just felt odd. She turned to us, but her stare felt cold as if there was nothing there. She then started to walk into the river before disappearing.” Heather Simms told us.
Heather claims what she saw was the ghost of the crying woman. There is a legend surrounding the trail that a woman lost her child to the river and cursed the land. She now appears crying as she lures lost souls to their watery graves.
Some say this is the reason behind the many disappearances in Minnesota.
***
June 2017
Bones of Unidentified Animal Found in Woods
A group of hikers has found bones belonging to an unidentified animal.
The bones were found by a group of experienced hikers who have walked in the Minnesota forests for over twenty-five years. In that time, they have come across a host of wildlife and man-made marvels but this discovery is believed to be the first of its kind.
Hiking group leader, Erin Olson believes this discovery is proof that Wendigos do indeed reside in the forests surrounding Minnesota. She claimed, “There have been sightings of the creature dating back to the 1800s and these bones prove that what they saw was indeed a Wendigo.”
The discovery has generated discussion as to the authenticity of the bones with some sceptics stating that this is just a prank to bring in tourism into the country. This wouldn’t be the first time someone faked a cryptid discovery. In 2008 a frozen gorilla suit was used to fake the discovery of Bigfoot.
The bones have been sent to a lab for authenticating and to identify what animal if any the bones belong to. Miss Olson is confident the DNA collected from the bone samples will legitimize her theories.
***
July 2017
Man Goes Missing Hunting Wendigo
Marshal Taylor, 35 has been missing for six days after entering the Minnesota forest.
It is believed that Mr. Taylor entered the forest in search of the cryptid, Wendigo. His friends say that he became fascinated with the Wendigo a month ago after the discovery of bones in the woods. He believed that there were probably more of them out there and he wanted to see one for himself.
It is believed he entered the forest last Friday at 5:37 p.m. and has not contacted anyone close to him since. He was reported missing two days later with the police still conducting active searches of the forest. His friends were worried as Marshal was not a trained hiker and only had enough supplies for a day’s hike.
He was last seen wearing beige cargo pants, a blue t-shirt with a navy fleece jacket. If you know anything or see Mr. Taylor, call 800-222-8477.
***
August 2018
Marshal Taylor’s Body Found
The body of missing hiker Marshal Taylor has been found.
Marshal Taylor went missing 13 months ago when he went into the Minnesota forest in hopes of seeing a Wendigo. His body was found by the search team before he was identified by close friends. His death is not believed to be suspicious, but they are investigating to determine a cause of death.
The legend of the Wendigo in Minnesota forest has claimed many hikers’ lives, as they search for something believed to be roaming the woods since the 1800s. There has been a recent resurgence of interest after hiker Erin Olsen discovered some unusual bones that are currently being tested. Some including Mr Taylor believed these bones belonged to a Wendigo.
***
September 2018
Man Killed by Bear
The cause of death for hiker Marshal Taylor has been revealed.
Marshal Taylor went missing in July after entering the Minnesota forest in search of the Wendigo. He was found deceased 13 months after going missing with a cause of death at the time unknown.
The Minnesota PD has now revealed they have uncovered the cause of Mr. Taylor’s death. The police department revealed in a press statement that an autopsy revealed that Mr. Taylor suffered injuries consistent with a bear attack. While this brings some relief to his family and friends, some in the cryptozoology community believe this is a cover-up.
A friend of Marshal Taylor, Antony Lopez, has called for claims the cause of death is a cover-up to stop and show more respect. “We understand the interest, but we ask that Marshal’s friends and family are allowed to grieve in peace.”
***
April 2019
Journal to Hold Clues to the Wendigo
A journal believed to belong to Marshal Taylor may hold the key to the existence of the Wendigo.
Marshal Taylor was found deceased in the Minnesota forest in 2018. He is believed to have entered the forest in an attempt to search for the Wendigo after mysterious bones were found.
His cause of death was ruled accidental with his injuries coming from a black bear attack. To his family and friends, this brought some closure. However, a select few in the cryptozoology community, believe this is a cover-up to hide the absolute truth.
They believe Mr. Taylor did indeed encounter a Wendigo and ultimately did not survive the encounter. There had been no evidence to support this claim until now. A journal believed to belong to Marshal Taylor has been uncovered in the forest by a local hiker. The contents have yet to be revealed but some believe it holds the key to understanding what really did happen.
***
4th July 2017
Journal entry 7
I’m reaching the end of my first day hunting the elusive Wendigo. I have so far not had a sighting of the creature, but I have seen evidence it is close by. As noted in my earlier entries I came across a deer that had met an unnatural fate.
I am currently setting up camp near the edge of the lake, where I will spend the first night. I now have one camera running by a tree above the tent just in case there is a sighting while I sleep. A trick I learned from the monster hunting programs.
***
Journal entry 8
I don’t know what time it is but it’s dark and there’s something close by. A can on a wire was activated and woke me. It could just be a deer, but I don’t want to take the chance. I am going to take a look.
There’s shrieking, someone of something is shrieking not far from the tent. Wendigos are known to create these sounds when they have uncovered...oh shit I have to go.
***
16th July 2017
Journal entry 9
It found me; I don’t know how but it found me. Two nights ago, I was attacked by a creature. I have never seen something so horrifying in my life. I think it was the Wendigo.
The stories you read in the papers don’t do it justice. This thing was tall 7 – 8 feet and its fur was short but not prickly. It was smooth like silk. That’s all I remember before the claws oh god the claws.
If you are reading this then I didn’t survive the attack. I’m currently bleeding out from a gash on my stomach. I am too weak to move but have found refuge in a cave.
My supplies are limited, and I fear this is my last entry. If that is the case, I want to the world to know some things I never got to say. Natalie, we have been friends for the longest time, but I never had to courage to tell you how I really felt. I’m sorry.
Whoever finds this, please don’t let my death become another conspira—
***
January 2020
Wendigo Spotted in Woods
The elusive Wendigo, that has staked the forests of Minnesota has been spotted again by a group of cryptozoologists.
The group from New York believes they have proof that Wendigos exists. They state that a photo one of them took contains the elusive beast. The image has brought criticism from the skeptic community for its blurred quality. This however hasn’t stopped those in the cryptid community from claiming it as a victory in the hunt for a Wendigo.
“This is a huge discovery and shows that the stories dating back to the 1800s were indeed true.” Group leader and head cryptozoologist Steven Windog said on social media.
***
[Photo by the New York Cryptid Society depicting the Wendigo.]
***
January 2020
Scientist Goes Missing After Claiming to Prove Wendigos Exist
One week ago, the cryptozoology world was rocked by the announcement of proof the elusive Wendigo exists. This announcement was made by a group in New York led by cryptozoologist Steven Windog.
Now a week on from the announcement Dr Windog has disappeared, he alledgly caught the image of the creature. Dr. Windog was walking the Dead Man’s Trail in hopes of capturing more images to strengthen the evidence he had that the Wendigo exists. However, the renowned scientist never returned from his trip with his fellow cryptozoologist believing his disappearance was no accident.
Fellow colleague Dr. Wendy Mudd believes Dr. Windog has been killed as a warning to those in the cryptozoology field. She believes that certain agencies don’t want the truth out there and silenced Dr. Windog.
“We uncovered something we shouldn’t and now Dr. Windog paid the price for that discovery. They don’t want the truth to get out.”
Others don’t believe the X-files theory and think Dr. Windog isn’t really missing, and that this is a PR stunt to legitimize his “Evidence.” While others believe the disappearance is just a twisted coincidence.
What do you think happened to Dr. Windog? Let us know at talesoftheunexplained@gmail.com.
***
February 2020
Cryptid Hunter’s Journal Found
Cryptid hunter and scientist Dr. Steven Windog was found a month after they disappeared.
Dr. Windog had become deeply fascinated with the legend of the Windigo in the Minnesota forest after the disappearance of Marshal Taylor. Their quest for answers led to the discovery of a photo he believed of the cryptid. A week later Dr. Windog disappeared.
Now almost a month after disappearing their journal has been found. Inside the journal, there are believed to be newspaper clippings depicting the history and connection the forest has to the Wendigo.
These clippings and journals are now on display at the New York Cryptid Society inspiring others to hunt for the Wendigo.
* * *
Credit - Photos before edits from Unsplash. Artists used - Sebastian Unrau, Colton Sturgeon, Devon Divine, Cecilia Jørgensen, Marjan Blan, and Markus Spiske.