{"id":376,"date":"2014-10-28T20:52:38","date_gmt":"2014-10-29T03:52:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/?p=376"},"modified":"2014-10-28T20:52:59","modified_gmt":"2014-10-29T03:52:59","slug":"hunters-moon-ch-02","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/?p=376","title":{"rendered":"Hunter’s Moon Ch. 02"},"content":{"rendered":"

The two friends explore the nearby area to watch the Hunter’s Blood Moon but accidentally awaken something deep within the caves.<\/em><\/p>\n

Part 2 of 3<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“How long are you going to stare at them?” Heather asked.\u00a0 The young woman tightened her backpack’s strap against her chest.\u00a0 A sudden cold wind knifed through the folds of her coat and she shivered.\u00a0 Heather turned, sniffing the air lightly.\u00a0 The wind was sharper than the evening air and she wondered if a storm was far behind.\u00a0 “It’s cold, Teri.”<\/p>\n

“I may never get a chance to see lanterns in my life, Heather,” Teri said.\u00a0 They both stood outside the inn.\u00a0 Two outdoor hurricane lamps swung on hooks above the door, creaking slightly as the gust of wind pushed at them.<\/p>\n

“Home Depot has them.\u00a0 Probably on sale right now.\u00a0 Back home,” Heather added.\u00a0 “They probably have a sale on them since Mr. Edison just came out with his fancy light bulb invention.\u00a0 I know you don’t read the news but everyone<\/em><\/strong> is talking about it.\u00a0 Come on, Teri.\u00a0 They’re just lamps.\u00a0 Charlie’s back near my apartment has some on his bar.”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

“But Charlie’s isn’t a rustic old village with shutters<\/em><\/strong>, Heather.\u00a0 Do you think they have village dances here?\u00a0 Everyone dressed up in heavy dresses and vests and those funny wooden shoes and funny curly hats kicking their heels up and dancing around a pole?\u00a0 Not like a stripper pole but those one poles?\u00a0 You know?\u00a0 From the movies?”\u00a0 Teri made vague pole shaped motions with her hands while she spoke, trying to show the width and length and circumference of the imaginary pole.<\/p>\n

“I’m pretty sure wooden shoes were a Dutch thing,” Heather answered.\u00a0 She turned slightly to the side to hide her smile.\u00a0 She’d learned long ago that if Teri caught her smiling, she’d just embellish whatever story she was trying to tell.\u00a0 “I don’t know about poles.\u00a0 Mayfair poles?\u00a0 That rings a bell for some reason.”<\/p>\n

Teri turned and Heather hid her face away.\u00a0 With a sly grin, Teri continued.\u00a0 “I bet that’s where stripper poles originated from.\u00a0 Villages like these with their lanterns and shutters and beef stews.\u00a0 Some enterprising young woman was dancing around it and thought, ‘You know, I just bet<\/em><\/strong> I could swing on that thing.’\u00a0 And then she climbed right on up and started gyrating on it.\u00a0 Boobs probably plopped right out of her crazy dress.\u00a0 And a tradition was born.\u00a0 The men were all ‘Hushaw!’ or whatever they say around here.\u00a0 And, look Heather, look.\u00a0 No really, look.”<\/p>\n

Heather held her sides.\u00a0 “I… I can’t… Stop, please…”\u00a0 The young woman’s pale face reddened as she tried to hold back her laughter.<\/p>\n

“The men probably danced like this around the enterprising young stripper.\u00a0 Look, Heather.\u00a0 Looooook.”<\/p>\n

Heather turned to watch as her friend lowered her hips and spread her arms.\u00a0 Teri shook her whole body while turning in a circle.\u00a0 Her heavy clothing did little to hide her wide hips and large breasts as she gyrated around in front of the inn.\u00a0 “Hushaw!” the young woman cried out.<\/p>\n

Heather choked back her laughter and tears.\u00a0 “Stoooop,” she pleaded.<\/p>\n

“I need tassels for this.\u00a0 Oh!\u00a0 And, and then,” Teri continued.\u00a0 With her legs still spread and her hips dropped, she rested her hands on her knees.\u00a0 “Heather, look.\u00a0 And then the old men were like this and saying ‘Oi, meshugh!\u00a0 This new strange dancing wears me out.\u00a0 I must rest.\u00a0 But… but I cannot stop dancing!’\u00a0 And so, twerking was born.”<\/p>\n

Teri, still in the same position, frantically worked her ass up and down while randomly crying out “Oi! Oi!\u00a0 Hushaw! Meshugh!”<\/p>\n

“Oh my god.\u00a0 Oh my god, I can’t even.\u00a0 You made it so I can’t even, Teri.\u00a0 And you know I hate not being able to even.\u00a0 It’s not a real thing.\u00a0 Just some weird teenager thing.\u00a0 I’m leaving.”\u00a0 Heather took a deep breath.\u00a0 Her cheeks ached from laughing at her friend.\u00a0 “Come on, crazy.”<\/p>\n

“Don\u2019t worry, Heather,” Teri told her.\u00a0 They both walked through the empty streets in the direction Elena had pointed out earlier.\u00a0 “Puberty will come to you some day and then you’ll finally fill out and get your own set of hips.\u00a0 In the meantime, you just keep doing all those… those things you do without hips.\u00a0 I dunno, like, tapping your feet awkwardly at the club?\u00a0 Nodding your head?\u00a0 What do non-hippy people do?\u00a0 Don’t worry.\u00a0 You’ll be a woman soon.”<\/p>\n

“I hate you,” Heather said, smiling and wiping away the last of her tears.\u00a0 “I do just fine without those saddlebags you call hips.\u00a0 I’m just more lean than you are.\u00a0 Taller.\u00a0 It evens out.\u00a0 I can reach the cookie jar and I don’t have to go to special stores for crazy bras.\u00a0 Life finds a way, Teri.”<\/p>\n

“Oh.\u00a0 My.\u00a0 God.\u00a0 That just gave me a great idea.\u00a0 For Halloween.\u00a0 We’ll go as Master Blaster!\u00a0 From Mad Max!\u00a0 It’s perfect.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/strong>I’m brilliant and short and you’re dumb and gangly.\u00a0 We’ll get that leash you keep in that little chest in your closet and-”<\/p>\n

“That’s-!\u00a0 I don’t-!\u00a0 I lock <\/strong>that chest!”<\/p>\n

Teri looked at her friend with pity.\u00a0 “Heather, I basically live with you.\u00a0 I can pretty much read your mind and I look through all your stuff.\u00a0 I play a game called ‘Find Heather’s secrets’ whenever you go to the bathroom.\u00a0 Keeping your key under your mattress isn’t exactly the best hiding place.”<\/p>\n

“I’m never letting you into my apartment again,” Heather fumed.\u00a0 Dirt crunched beneath their boots as they left the village.\u00a0 Dark clouds hid the bright, full moon but, beyond the clouds, an amazing array of stars filled the night sky.\u00a0 A huge, foreboding forest lay to their right while smooth, grass hills curved around to their left. The two women followed the dirt road that led to the hills, connecting Cuciulata to its neighboring village.<\/p>\n

“Oh, Heather,” Teri said, her eyes large.\u00a0 The young woman patted her friend’s arm.\u00a0 “It’s so cute that you think I didn’t steal your spare and make a copy.”<\/p>\n

The two women bickered happily back and forth while they stomped along the road.\u00a0 Tall, green grass and short stalks of winter wheat fell in waves against the increasingly heavily winds.\u00a0 Occasionally, an animal cried out.\u00a0 Hunting or playing or running.<\/p>\n

“I wonder if the rest of these hills have old artifacts,” Teri asked.<\/p>\n

“Probably,” Heather answered.\u00a0 “I’m surprised they haven’t closed the whole place off to look around.\u00a0 I kind of wish we had a metal detector.\u00a0 That’d be a lot of fun.”\u00a0 Heather sniffed at the air again.\u00a0 “I think we better find a spot to sit or you’re going to miss the moon.\u00a0 Clouds are coming in pretty fast.\u00a0 Kinda feels like it wants to rain.\u00a0 I don’t really want to be caught out in it.”<\/p>\n

“I know,” Teri frowned.\u00a0 “Here’s just as good as any place.\u00a0 I really just wanted to sit out for a bit with you.\u00a0 Away from everything else and out in the ‘old country’ before we do anything else.”<\/p>\n

Heather bumped her hip against her friend.\u00a0 She found a dry spot on the slope of the current hill and then sat with her knees up against her small chest.\u00a0 Teri settled beside her, crossed-legged.<\/p>\n

“Ah.\u00a0 Feels good to sit a bit,” Teri sighed.\u00a0 She looked back at the village.\u00a0 “I’m surprised how far we went.\u00a0 I’ll be honest, I thought it’d feel scarier out here but it doesn’t feel that way at all.\u00a0 Just feels homey.\u00a0 All these farms and everything, I guess.”<\/p>\n

“Yeah.\u00a0 I wonder if it’s the same way back home?\u00a0 Around the farms.\u00a0 Or if it’s just because of all the history here.\u00a0 It’d be interesting to find out.\u00a0 I wish there were some cows.\u00a0 Or horses or something.”<\/p>\n

Teri looked up.\u00a0 “Hopefully they put them inside at night.\u00a0 How come the moon isn’t red? \u00a0Or gigantic?\u00a0 I mean, I guess it’s a little bigger?\u00a0 Maybe?\u00a0 But it’s just a full moon.\u00a0 That’s a little disappointing.\u00a0 I’m sorry.\u00a0 I hoped for some huge dramatic red full moon.”<\/p>\n

Heather shrugged.\u00a0 “Aw, I don’t care.\u00a0 I’m glad I came anyway.\u00a0 You’re crazy but I love you and I probably would’ve found a way to come along anyway.\u00a0 You’d be lost out here by yourself.\u00a0 Or broke in a day.\u00a0 Don’t tell yourself but, you’re right.\u00a0 This was worth it.”<\/p>\n

Teri smiled, leaning gently against her friend.\u00a0 They both sat beneath the open sky, watching as the moon was swallowed by the rolling dark clouds.\u00a0 Trees far in the distance swished and swayed against the increasing wind.<\/p>\n

“How far away is the next village?” Teri asked.\u00a0 “I can’t see any lights.”<\/p>\n

“A ways,” Heather answered.\u00a0 “I think Elena said it’s an hour’s drive.\u00a0 Something like that.\u00a0 I-”\u00a0 A single drop of rain fell against the woman’s air.\u00a0 She wiped it with a finger.\u00a0 Another fat raindrop hit her shoulder.\u00a0 “Aw, hell.”<\/p>\n

Thunder rumbled in the distance but, before it finished, lightning forked down just beyond the forest.\u00a0 Another, louder peal followed.\u00a0 More raindrops fell from the edge of the oncoming storm.<\/p>\n

“Should we head back?\u00a0 We’re gonna get soaked,” Teri complained.<\/p>\n

“I think, hey, yeah, look.\u00a0 That next hill has a big ass rock.\u00a0 We can hide under it until it passes.\u00a0 I didn’t want to sleep tonight anyway.\u00a0 Let’s go, Master.”<\/p>\n

“Noooooo.\u00a0 You’re supposed to say it right.\u00a0 And I’m supposed to have the kinky leash!”<\/p>\n

Heather stood and walked away without another word.\u00a0 Teri struggled to stand and the followed.\u00a0 Rain began to fall in waving lines as the storm moved over them.\u00a0 The two women ran the rest of the distance until they were under the huge rock topping the hill.\u00a0 The dark gray stone jutted out of the hill like a giant’s overgrown fingernail and a small tunnel lead into the hill itself.\u00a0 Teri stared into it.<\/p>\n

“No,” Heather said, reading her friend’s mind.<\/p>\n

“What if there’s treasure?” Teri asked.<\/p>\n

“Or wolves.\u00a0 Or spiders.\u00a0 Or snakes.\u00a0 No.\u00a0 Hell no.\u00a0 I’m not going in there.”<\/p>\n

“What if the Ark of the Covenant is in there?\u00a0 Or, oohh!\u00a0 The Holy Grail!\u00a0 Isn’t it supposed to be in Europe?\u00a0 What if this leads to some knight’s tomb and the Grail is clasped in his old, dead hands?”<\/p>\n

“Teri,” Heather said with a sigh.\u00a0 “These people have lived here forever.\u00a0 You know how kids and-”\u00a0 Heather glanced over at Teri.\u00a0 “Some adult kids are like.\u00a0 Every square inch of this area has to have been explored.\u00a0 I hate to burst your bubble but unless you have an excavator or your last name is Jones, probably the most exciting thing we’re going to find is a pretty rock.”<\/p>\n

Teri sat quietly for a moment.\u00a0 “Well.\u00a0 I like pretty rocks.”<\/p>\n

The rain hammered the stone above them.\u00a0 Both women pulled their coats closer as the wind picked up, howling around the rock and throwing rain nearly sideways at them.<\/p>\n

“Maybe,” Heather said, her teeth chattering against the harsh, cold wind and rain.\u00a0 “Maybe just a little further in is okay.”<\/p>\n

“Yeah,” Teri said.\u00a0 “Now I bet you wish you weren’t such a Mayfair stripper pole now, do you?\u00a0 Still, yeah, the rain’s a bit much.”\u00a0 Teri followed Heather as she stepped deeper into the small cave beneath the stone.<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Deep within, small black creatures shifted uneasily.\u00a0 Tiny wings fluttered as furry bats moved in the darkness.\u00a0 Below them, the ground split apart.\u00a0 A large red claw reached through the opening.\u00a0 A pale, nearly pink arm with a leathery black flap emerged.\u00a0 Several of the younger bats panicked and flew deeper into the cave.<\/p>\n

The moon sang to the emerging creature and another clawed arm reached out.\u00a0 It pulled and a furred snout appeared.\u00a0 Huge, feathery ears twitched as it listened to the moon. The remaining bats shrieked and then fell quiet as the creature coming from the ground called to them.\u00a0 The red-limbed creature resembled the bats in a rudimentary, ancient way.\u00a0 Almost completely hairless and twice as large as the largest of the cave bats, it pulled itself completely free and hugged the ground with spread arms.\u00a0 Not a single bat twitched as the newcomer surveyed the area.<\/p>\n

Deep black eyes set within a red, hairless snout turned towards to entrance to the cave.\u00a0 It couldn’t remember the last time it’d been called out but it could remember the smell of its prey.\u00a0 The creature shook itself and flapped powerful wings until it hovered briefly in the cave.\u00a0 It called soundlessly to its cousins and they responded mindlessly, unable to refuse.<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Teri shivered and gasped and, beside her, Heather did the same.\u00a0 The temperature had suddenly dropped and she’d felt like she’d been dunked in a freezing cold pool.<\/p>\n

“M- maybe the… the rain… isn’t… s- so bad.\u00a0 M- maybe we-”\u00a0 Teri stuttered.<\/p>\n

The young woman’s words were lost as an immense cloud of bats burst from deep within the cave.\u00a0 Both women shrieked, instinctively covering their heads as they were enveloped by the rushing swarm.\u00a0 Teri and Heather were driven to their knees from the continuous impacts.<\/p>\n

Heather felt a sharp pain lance through her exposed neck.\u00a0 She tried to scream but a strange sense of euphoria filled her, replacing every pain and ache.\u00a0 The warmth flooded her body and she collapsed to her side.\u00a0 Her fear of the bats was gone.\u00a0 Her thoughts were gone.\u00a0 Everything was gone.\u00a0 Two small claws held her head away from her neck.\u00a0 Blood flowed easily through a large cut on the side of her throat.\u00a0 The ancient red creature clamped its jaws against the young woman as it feasted on her.<\/p>\n

A small moan escaped Heather’s lips.\u00a0 The warmth brought pleasure as it suffused her lower body.\u00a0 She tried to focus but her mind was buzzing and all she could think of was how okay everything was.\u00a0 How right<\/em><\/strong> everything was.<\/p>\n

The small red creature looked up.\u00a0 The stream of bats was slowing and it knew its time was short.\u00a0 With a sharp, fierce cry, it took flight and streaked through the dark night, surrounded by a cloud of black.<\/p>\n

No trace of blood or wound remained on Heather’s neck.<\/p>\n

“Oh god.\u00a0 Oh god oh god oh god oh god,” Teri repeated.\u00a0 The young woman’s hands explored her own body, sure that some bat had found a hidden spot to take residence.\u00a0 Her short, curly hair was in disarray.\u00a0 “Heather?\u00a0 Are you-\u00a0 Heather!”<\/p>\n

Heather was still on her side.\u00a0 She felt like she was floating in the night.\u00a0 Although the feeling was retreating, she still felt warm and happy.<\/p>\n

“Heather!\u00a0 Are you okay!\u00a0 Hey!”\u00a0 Teri yelled.\u00a0 She reached for her friend and then bit her lip.\u00a0 Am I supposed to move her?\u00a0 Oh god, Heather would know what to do.\u00a0 <\/em>“Please, god, please.\u00a0 Heather, you’re okay, right?”<\/p>\n

“‘m fine,” Heather said.\u00a0 She smiled and moved her arm slightly.\u00a0 “Fine.\u00a0 ‘m fine.”<\/p>\n

“Did you faint?\u00a0 Are you okay?”<\/p>\n

“Shhh,” Heather said.\u00a0 “I-\u00a0 Ugh.\u00a0 Oh Jesus, my head.”\u00a0 Sudden sharp pain crashed beneath Heather’s eyes.\u00a0 The pleasurable warmth was immediately gone.\u00a0 The young woman pushed herself up to sit against the cold wall of the cave and then cursed herself for moving.<\/p>\n

“Did you hit your head?\u00a0 What do I do, Heather?\u00a0 Wait.\u00a0 Your eyes, I’m supposed to check your eyes or something,” Teri said.\u00a0 She rubbed her hands and licked her lips, her own fear gone as she worried for her friend.<\/p>\n

“No, I just, maybe?\u00a0 Maybe I hit my head.\u00a0 I’ll be fine.\u00a0 It just really hurts.”\u00a0 Heather gently massaged her neck and head.\u00a0 The pain shot down from her eyes to her neck and along her back.\u00a0 It throbbed deep within her, in time with her heartbeat.\u00a0 Suddenly, she hunched over and vomited.<\/p>\n

“Oh god, Heather, oh god.” Teri gently rubbed her friend’s back in a small circle.<\/p>\n

“I’m.\u00a0 Fine,” Heather gasped.\u00a0 Her stomach burned as it tied itself in knots.\u00a0 The cave spun around her and only Teri’s arm around her shoulders kept her from slamming against the floor.\u00a0 “Think.\u00a0 I think.\u00a0 I just.\u00a0 Need to-”<\/p>\n

Heather heaved again and Teri hid her face, willing herself not to throw up.\u00a0 The smell combined with just the sound of her friend throwing up made it nearly impossible to resist the urge.<\/p>\n

“Better,” Heather said weakly.\u00a0 Her face and lips shined with cold sweat.\u00a0 She shook as a sudden fever rode through her body from her temples to her toes.\u00a0 Rather than making her feel worse, it cleansed as it passed through her.\u00a0 “Feel better.\u00a0 Headache’s going away.\u00a0 Think.\u00a0 I think I got stew.\u00a0 On my coat.”<\/p>\n

“You big dummy. \u00a0You had me scared.\u00a0 Oh god, Heather.\u00a0 Just don’t move until you’re all the way better.\u00a0 That’s right, isn’t it?\u00a0 For people with concussions?”<\/p>\n

Heather shook her head weakly.\u00a0 “I don’t think.\u00a0 Don’t think it’s a concussion.\u00a0 I feel better.\u00a0 Feeling better.\u00a0 Just let me rest for a minute.\u00a0 Just let me rest.\u00a0 You’re warm and soft.”<\/p>\n

Teri hugged her friend tightly.\u00a0 “It’s because I have hips and a little belly.”<\/p>\n

The two women sat together against the hard, cool cave wall.\u00a0 The rain slowed above them, the roar changing to an erratic staccato before stopping completely.\u00a0 Teri had her eyes closed, thinking of all the happy thoughts she could – her form of prayers.<\/p>\n

“I think I’m okay now,” Heather said.\u00a0 She still felt weak but it felt more like a shaky weakness after throwing up than anything else.\u00a0 “Help me try to stand up.”<\/p>\n

“Are you sure?” Teri asked.\u00a0 “I don’t mind sitting for a while longer.\u00a0 If it helps.”<\/p>\n

“No,” Heather said.\u00a0 And then, more strongly.\u00a0 “No.\u00a0 I think I’m okay.\u00a0 Come on.\u00a0 I don’t want to be in here any longer than I need to be.”<\/p>\n

Teri stood, bent at the waist as she gave her shoulder to her friend.\u00a0 Heather pushed against the wall and rose, leaning against Teri.\u00a0 Her legs felt shaky but solid enough to stand.<\/p>\n

“All right.\u00a0 Now, let go.”\u00a0 Teri stood away and Heather continued standing.\u00a0 “Yaaaay.”<\/p>\n

“Are you sure<\/em><\/strong>, Heather?”<\/p>\n

“Yeah.\u00a0 Yeah.\u00a0 Just gimme a second and I’ll be able to walk.\u00a0 Standing is definitely helping.\u00a0 Fresh air will help even more.\u00a0 Here we go.”\u00a0 Still holding onto her friend’s shoulders, Heather took a hesitant step and then another.\u00a0 By the time they exited the cave, Heather was walking by herself with Teri standing nearby, ready to catch her.<\/p>\n

“The rain’s stopped,” Teri said.\u00a0 “We could just sit here for a while until you’re all the way better.”<\/p>\n

“No,” Heather said.\u00a0 She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.\u00a0 “I want a bath and a bed and sleep.\u00a0 I’m sorry, Teri but I’m really done for the night.”<\/p>\n

“Oh!\u00a0 Don’t – don’t apologize.\u00a0 I totally understand.\u00a0 If you’re sure, we’ll just walk back and go to bed.\u00a0 I’ll even tell Elena we’ll need an extra night and we can go to the castle the day after tomorrow.\u00a0 It’s okay.”<\/p>\n

“No.\u00a0 No way.\u00a0\u00a0 You’re set and you have a schedule.\u00a0 We’ll go tomorrow.\u00a0 I’m feeling way better.\u00a0 The headache is gone and everything.\u00a0 Just my stomach feeling a little off and I bet sleep will wipe that away.”<\/p>\n

“Promise?” Teri asked.\u00a0 “Promise you’re feeling better and you won’t lie tomorrow just to make me feel better?”<\/p>\n

“Yeah.\u00a0 Totally.\u00a0 If I’m not up to it, I won’t go.”<\/p>\n

Teri nodded but still stayed close to her friend as they made their way back to the village.\u00a0 Neither woman said anything while they walked.\u00a0 Elena met them when quietly entered the inn and the older woman’s smile faded slightly as she looked between the two.<\/p>\n

“Is everything all right?” Elena asked, her voice warm with concern.<\/p>\n

“Yeah,” Heather replied.\u00a0 “Just.\u00a0 Bats gave us a scare.\u00a0 We were up at a cave on one of the hills and they suddenly just all flew out at once.\u00a0 I think they knocked me over and I banged my head a little.\u00a0 I’m okay, though.”<\/p>\n

“Oh dear,” Elena said with a frown.\u00a0 “Were there any bites?\u00a0 I don’t want to alarm either of you but bats have been known to carry rabies and other unsavory diseases.”<\/p>\n

“Rabies?” Teri asked, her face pale.<\/p>\n

“I don’t think so,” Heather answered.\u00a0 “We’ll check, though.”<\/p>\n

“Well, we have a local doctor and I’d be more than happy to go with you and translate if you need it.\u00a0 I’d feel terrible if anything were to happen.”<\/p>\n

“Right now I just want a bath.\u00a0 A nice warm bath.”<\/p>\n

“I understand,” Elena said.\u00a0 “I live right down the hall there.\u00a0 Please don’t hesitate to wake me up if you need something.\u00a0 I have the doctor’s number and can have him come over.\u00a0 It’s one benefit of living in such a small area.”<\/p>\n

“Thank you so much!” Teri said.\u00a0 The small young woman gave the older woman a quick hug before following her friend up the stairs.<\/p>\n

The evening passed quickly.\u00a0 Both friends checked each other for bites and were enormously pleased to find neither scratches nor bite marks.\u00a0 Heather took a long bath and then stumbled into her bed to fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The two friends explore the nearby area to watch the Hunter’s Blood Moon but accidentally awaken something deep within the caves. Part 2 of 3 “How long are you going to stare at them?” Heather asked.\u00a0 The young woman tightened Continue reading Hunter’s Moon Ch. 02<\/span>→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[277,278,53],"class_list":["post-376","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-status-updates","tag-adventure","tag-halloween","tag-horror"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p42NMN-64","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/376","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=376"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/376\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":378,"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/376\/revisions\/378"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=376"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=376"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=376"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}