American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 134 Wolf Pack Attack!

When they stepped back into that familiar cave, a feeling of coming home welled up inside them.

The cave is dry and quiet, keeping out the mountain breeze that begins to rise in the evening, creating a sense of security.

The campfire still bears the marks of its last burning, indicating that no other animals visited it.

The three of them unloaded their incredibly heavy backpacks, let out a long sigh of relief, and felt as if their bones were groaning.

Old George and Stan began skillfully packing their sleeping bags and sleeping mats, preparing to set up a comfortable temporary campsite.

As Lin Yu'an looked at the pile of mutton, as bright as rubies, placed on the sheepskin, a bold and tempting idea suddenly popped into his mind.

What would it be like to enjoy an authentic Chinese hot pot lamb meal in the Alaskan wilderness?

He began, “George, Stan, how about we try something new tonight? Let’s taste the flavors of my hometown.”

Stan turned his head curiously: "Oh? What tricks have you up your sleeve this time? Is it that food that doesn't need to be heated with fire again?"

Lin Yu'an smiled mysteriously. He opened his large backpack, pretending to rummage through it, but in reality, his consciousness had already sunk into the system space.

He waved the red-packaged Prairie Red Sun sauce in his hand and said with a smile, "Look, I almost forgot I brought this with me. This is a secret dipping sauce for mutton from my hometown."

Old George and Stan curiously approached; they had never seen that unassuming packet of sauce before.

"This can taste good?" Stan asked skeptically. In his opinion, the best lamb only needs salt.

"Believe me, this will open the door to a new world," Lin Yu'an said confidently.

He set up the gas stove, washed their only small iron pot, and poured in purified water.

While waiting for the water to boil, he began to prepare the mutton.

He selected the tenderest, fascia-free part of the hind leg, known as the "lamb hind leg groin".

Then, with his incredibly sharp hunting knife, he began to demonstrate his superb knife skills.

He held the piece of meat steady with his left hand, and with his right hand, he wielded the knife, using the weight of the blade and the skill of his wrist to slice off even pieces of meat a few millimeters thick with a push and a pull.

Lin Yu'an's technique is the hand-cutting skill that the master chefs of old Beijing copper pot hot pot are most proud of.

These meat slices are not as flat as frozen meat slices; instead, they have a natural texture that comes from being hand-cut.

Stan and old George watched from the side, and couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

They can easily debone and butcher a whole sheep, but to cut the fresh meat so evenly and neatly is beyond their skill level.

Soon, the water in the pot began to bubble and gurgle.

Lin Yu'an took it out.

"I don't need to mix this dipping sauce myself. It's one of the most popular hot pot dipping sauces in China, and everything is already included."

He tore open the packaging of the Prairie Red Sun brand and squeezed the already prepared, thick, dark brown sauce into three small bowls.

A rich, complex aroma, a blend of sesame, chive blossom sauce, fermented bean curd, and more than a dozen spices, instantly filled the cave.

The aroma, mixed with the fresh scent of pine from the campfire and the wild aroma of mutton, gave Lin Yu'an the feeling of celebrating the Lunar New Year at his teacher's house.

Lin Yu'an used two tree branches to make chopsticks, picked up a piece of fresh mutton, and dipped it into the boiling water, counting, "One, two, three..."

In just three to five seconds, the bright red slice of meat changed color and curled up slightly.

Because it is freshly cut, it doesn't shrink into a small ball like frozen meat slices, but retains its stretched shape, making it look very meaty.

He quickly scooped out the slices of meat, rolled them in the thick sesame sauce, and then handed them to old George's bowl.

“Try it, George.”

Old George looked at the piece of meat covered in a strange sauce with some hesitation, but still put it in his mouth with a spoon.

The moment the slice of meat entered his mouth, his eyes widened in surprise.

The texture of the mutton completely exceeded his expectations, with a firm yet extremely tender and elastic feel.

The unique nutty flavor and the sweet aroma of alpine herbs are perfectly brought out by boiling water.

What's even more wonderful is the sauce, with its rich sesame aroma and just the right amount of saltiness, which doesn't mask the pure meaty flavor of the lamb itself.

Instead, it's like a perfect partner, elevating the meat's freshness to several levels and leaving a long, mellow aftertaste in the mouth.

"My God... This is incredible! This is what meat tastes like!"

Old George chewed vigorously a few times, his face full of enjoyment.

Seeing this, Stan couldn't wait any longer and asked Lin Yu'an to quickly put a piece on his plate. After tasting the first bite, he immediately let out a muffled exclamation of praise, and then he couldn't stop eating it.

The three of them stopped talking and sat around the small iron pot, eating slices of mutton hotpot one after another.

Since neither of them knew how to use chopsticks, Lin Yu'an cooked a large pot of mutton at once and then served it to each of them separately.

The blue flame of the gas stove flickered steadily, steam rose from the pot, and a cold wind howled outside the cave.

This extreme contrast transformed this hot pot meal, filled with exotic flavors, into an unforgettable experience and taste.

After a satisfying meal, the piping hot mutton and soup made Lin Yu'an feel completely comfortable.

They cleared away the dishes, sat around the now-burning campfire, and burped contentedly.

Stan leaned against the rock wall, patted his belly, and said, "Kid, this sauce is simply God's invention! I love it! I can't eat lamb without it from now on!"

The night is getting darker.

The valley was completely silent. It wasn't raining outside today, so we needed to take turns keeping watch.

Just as Lin Yu'an was keeping watch for the first half of the night, and the campfire was blazing, a howl that sounded very close came on the mountain breeze.

"Awooo!"

Lin Yu'an's heart jumped into his throat, and he immediately woke up Stan and old George from their sleep.

“Wolves!” he said in a low voice.

Old George and Stan instantly woke up, all sleepiness gone.

They grabbed the guns beside them, listened intently, and a few seconds later, another howl rang out from a different direction.

“They’re here.” Old George’s expression turned extremely grave.

"It seems the smell of our hot pot travels farther than just the smell of blood. These guys were attracted by our feast!"

The rich aroma of hot pot mutton and the warmth of the campfire still linger.

But the air inside the cave became heavy because of the approaching wolf howls.

"Ouch - ow -"

The howls grew closer and closer, rising and falling, as if unseen enemies were everywhere.

Stan immediately got up and stoked the campfire until it blazed brighter. The firelight illuminated the cave and made the darkness outside seem even deeper.

He checked his hand cannon magazines and said in a deep voice, "There are probably quite a few of them."

"Don't panic," Old George's voice was unusually calm.

"Let's set up some fortifications first. Lin, turn on your headlamp and shine it on the shadowy area to the left of the cave entrance. Remember, don't shine it directly; use your peripheral vision." "Stan, use your Red Eagle to defend within ten meters. If anyone gets close, shoot them down immediately!"

Upon receiving the order, the two immediately sprang into action.

Lin Yu-an and Stan occupied the two sides of the cave entrance respectively, using the rocks as cover. Lin Yu-an shone the beam of his headlamp into the distance.

Old George stood in the middle to the back, where he had the best view, and set up his Remington 700 to search for his target.

With the help of the dim light, they finally saw the invading enemy.

About fifty meters in front of the cave entrance, on a gentle slope, a series of eerie green lights flickered and moved in the darkness.

Those were the eyes of wolves! Lin Yu'an roughly counted at least seven or eight points of light! They formed a loose fan shape, silently approaching the cave entrance step by step!

"Hold on, let them get a little closer."

Old George's voice was very low, as if whispering in our ear: "They are smart, they are testing us. Don't fire the first shot unless absolutely necessary."

Time seemed to stand still; the only sounds in the cave were the crackling of the campfire and the steady breathing of the three people.

Outside the cave, there was the soft rustling of wolves' footsteps on the gravel, and their panting sounds as they excitedly walked on the rocks.

The atmosphere was extremely tense.

Finally, a slightly larger wolf couldn't hold back any longer and ran a few steps forward from the right, trying to bypass the headlamp area and rush into Stan's defensive zone.

"Now! Stan, strike at its feet!" old George roared.

Without the slightest hesitation, Stan unleashed a torrent of fire from his already locked-on hand cannon. "Bang!"

The bullet missed the wolf, but struck the ground in front of it precisely, kicking up a cloud of dirt and gravel.

The wolf was startled by the sudden loud noise and impact, let out a scream, and immediately tucked its tail between its legs and retreated.

The gunshots had a deterrent effect, halting the wolf pack's offensive.

But they did not retreat; instead, they regrouped, lingering and observing from afar, searching for new weaknesses.

"They're waiting!"

Old George analyzed, "Wait until we relax, or until our fire goes out. It's a test of patience."

He looked at Lin Yu'an and said, "Kid, your shotgun is our trump card!"

"Remember, unless a wolf charges within twenty meters, do not fire lightly. Every bullet you fire is a solid line of defense!"

"Understood." Lin Yu'an nodded.

The next hour turned into a long standoff.

The wolf pack made several attempts to harass and probe from different angles, but each time, they were forced back by Stan's accurate warning shots.

They were like experienced chess players, defusing the opponent's attacks time and time again with minimal cost.

However, the wolves' patience and cunning exceeded their expectations.

After yet another failed attempt, the wolf pack suddenly changed their strategy.

The largest wolf, the alpha, suddenly let out a short, high-pitched howl.

Immediately afterwards, the three wolves, like soldiers receiving orders, launched a simultaneous charge from three completely different directions!
Instead of probing, they increased their speed to the extreme, transforming into three gray lightning bolts that rushed straight towards the cave entrance!

"Here it comes!" Stan roared, his gun quickly locking onto the one charging towards him from the right front.

Old George's gun was firmly aimed at the alpha wolf in the center.

"Lin! You're the one on the left!"

"boom!"

Stan fired first, and the bullet accurately struck the wolf's foreleg on the right. The wolf staggered and fell to the ground, letting out a painful howl.

"boom!"

Old George's Remington 700 roared in anger! The wolf that charged in the lead rolled over and died on the spot!
On the left, the wolf had already charged within twenty meters! Its jaws were wide open, and it was about to pounce into the cave entrance!

Lin Yu'an displayed astonishing composure at this moment! Without the slightest panic, he steadily held the shotgun and pulled the trigger!
"boom!"

The shotgun emitted a dull yet ferocious roar, completely different from that of the rifle!

The death fan formed by the No. 00 buckshot instantly enveloped the wolf at close range.

The wolf seemed to have crashed into an invisible wall in mid-air, and was slammed to the ground by the enormous impact, never to make a sound again.

Three shots, and the three-headed wolf falls to the ground!

This lightning-fast, perfectly coordinated, and deadly counterattack utterly shattered the wolf pack's will to fight.

After the wolf alpha let out a mournful howl, the remaining wolves immediately turned around, tucked their tails between their legs, and disappeared into the darkness without looking back.

Silence returned to both the cave and its interior.

"ended."

Old George put down his gun and let out a long sigh of relief, but his tense body did not completely relax.

Stan leaned against the rock wall, his face beaming with post-battle excitement: "Well done! We worked together like one!"

Lin Yu'an also felt his heart pounding wildly in his chest, and his blood boiling!

Looking at his two comrades beside him, an unprecedented feeling of camaraderie welled up within him.

They are no longer just hunting partners, but comrades who can entrust their backs to each other.

"Don't let your guard down," old George interrupted their excitement.

"No one can say for sure whether they will come back. Tonight, no one will get a good night's sleep."

He glanced at the three wolf carcasses on the ground in the distance and said, "Drag them in first, cover the bloodstains with soil. Leaving them here will only attract more trouble. Who knows if the smell of blood will attract bears."

"Then we took turns keeping watch, two hours each, until dawn."

In the following time, one person stood guard with a gun, while the other two worked together to drag the three-headed wolf's carcass deep into the cave.

The fatigue of battle and the drowsiness of night watch kept creeping in, but no one complained.

They sat around the campfire, drinking hot water, talking about the thrilling few seconds they had just experienced, and reviewing each other's shooting.

George patted him on the shoulder: "Lin, you've hunted a real game in Alaska today, officially becoming a true Alaskan hunter!"

"You possess exceptional hunter talent, are calm, decisive, and trustworthy. I am proud to fight alongside you!"

The campfire remained lit that night.

The three figures at the cave entrance took turns guarding this small, warm sanctuary.

Their bond was forged into an unbreakable one through the shared battles and long periods of vigil.

They knew that from now on, they could rely on and trust each other completely in this harsh land!
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

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(End of this chapter)