Derek

Not human, but something trying to appear human and failing. I froze completely, scarcely breathing. The figure remained utterly still, half hidden behind the trunks of lodgepole pines. Slowly I reached into my jacket pocket and withdrew my phone, my hands trembling as I aimed it upward. The shutter clicked softly. The figure was gone when I glanced up again, nothing but fog and empty trees.

Not human, but something trying to appear human and failing. I froze completely, scarcely breathing. The figure remained utterly still, half hidden behind the trunks of lodgepole pines. Slowly I reached into my jacket pocket and withdrew my phone, my hands trembling as I aimed it upward. The shutter clicked softly. The figure was gone when I glanced up again, nothing but fog and empty trees.

A distant hum slowly broke through my panic, the unmistakable sound of an approaching helicopter. Relief flooded my veins as I signaled frantically. Within moments, the helicopter hovered briefly, a rescue team descending rapidly via ropes, shouting commands muffled by the rotor wash.

A distant hum slowly broke through my panic, the unmistakable sound of an approaching helicopter. Relief flooded my veins as I signaled frantically. Within moments, the helicopter hovered briefly, a rescue team descending rapidly via ropes, shouting commands muffled by the rotor wash.

tomas was swiftly secured into a stretcher lifted carefully up toward safety a ranger called out to me offering to haul me out as well but stubborn pride and perhaps an irrational need to remain alert made me shake my head i'll hike down i shouted barely audible above the helicopter noise The ranger hesitated but finally nodded, ascending after Tomas.

tomas was swiftly secured into a stretcher lifted carefully up toward safety a ranger called out to me offering to haul me out as well but stubborn pride and perhaps an irrational need to remain alert made me shake my head i'll hike down i shouted barely audible above the helicopter noise The ranger hesitated but finally nodded, ascending after Tomas.

The helicopter vanished quickly, leaving me alone. Adrenaline faded rapidly, exhaustion weighing heavily now. I trudged downhill, ears tuned sharply to every sound, eyes flickering toward every shadow. By the time I reached the ranger station at the trailhead, nightfall had settled fully, deepening the quiet of the empty building. A ranger greeted me, his face lined with concern.

The helicopter vanished quickly, leaving me alone. Adrenaline faded rapidly, exhaustion weighing heavily now. I trudged downhill, ears tuned sharply to every sound, eyes flickering toward every shadow. By the time I reached the ranger station at the trailhead, nightfall had settled fully, deepening the quiet of the empty building. A ranger greeted me, his face lined with concern.

I showed him the photo from the trail cam and recounted the strange circles, the tracks, and finally, reluctantly, the figure I'd glimpsed. His expression shifted noticeably. "'You're not the first,' he said quietly, averting his eyes." What do you mean? I pressed urgently. He hesitated, shook his head softly. Just forget it. Some things out here, we don't talk about. Go home. Be glad you made it.

I showed him the photo from the trail cam and recounted the strange circles, the tracks, and finally, reluctantly, the figure I'd glimpsed. His expression shifted noticeably. "'You're not the first,' he said quietly, averting his eyes." What do you mean? I pressed urgently. He hesitated, shook his head softly. Just forget it. Some things out here, we don't talk about. Go home. Be glad you made it.

Back in Boulder a few days later, safely distant from the mountains and their cold mysteries, I reviewed the photos I'd taken. At first glance, they appeared ordinary. Landscapes, trees, snow. But one image stopped me cold. The one I'd snapped at the treeline above Thomas. Zooming carefully, my blood ran cold. There, partially obscured behind the lodgepole pine, stood the tall, blurred figure.

Back in Boulder a few days later, safely distant from the mountains and their cold mysteries, I reviewed the photos I'd taken. At first glance, they appeared ordinary. Landscapes, trees, snow. But one image stopped me cold. The one I'd snapped at the treeline above Thomas. Zooming carefully, my blood ran cold. There, partially obscured behind the lodgepole pine, stood the tall, blurred figure.

Its limbs were distorted, elongated, subtly wrong. It stood perfectly still, undeniably present. My breath shook slightly. Quickly, I attached the image to an email, intending to send it to the ranger station. But as soon as I clicked send, my laptop screen flickered sharply and went black. The computer rebooted itself, the message and photo nowhere to be found.

Its limbs were distorted, elongated, subtly wrong. It stood perfectly still, undeniably present. My breath shook slightly. Quickly, I attached the image to an email, intending to send it to the ranger station. But as soon as I clicked send, my laptop screen flickered sharply and went black. The computer rebooted itself, the message and photo nowhere to be found.

Frantically, I searched through my phone, but the image had vanished, leaving no trace. Yet sometimes, late at night, my phone will flicker oddly. Just briefly the screen flashes the image, too quick to capture, too fleeting to confirm, but unmistakably clear. The blurred figure in the trees, watching silently from behind the pines at the edge of Sky Pond.

Frantically, I searched through my phone, but the image had vanished, leaving no trace. Yet sometimes, late at night, my phone will flicker oddly. Just briefly the screen flashes the image, too quick to capture, too fleeting to confirm, but unmistakably clear. The blurred figure in the trees, watching silently from behind the pines at the edge of Sky Pond.

She ate.

She ate.

She ate.

I also have a dog tattoo.