Samantha (Corrections Officer)

I eased the jeep toward their campsite, headlights off to keep our approach silent."

I eased the jeep toward their campsite, headlights off to keep our approach silent."

stopping a good distance away we slipped out and quietly shut the doors the path under our boots was damp from an earlier drizzle which made our footfalls softer but also gave the soil a perfect texture for stamping fake tracks one by one we planted oversized paw prints in the mud making sure to press deeply near the tents every so often we paused to listen

stopping a good distance away we slipped out and quietly shut the doors the path under our boots was damp from an earlier drizzle which made our footfalls softer but also gave the soil a perfect texture for stamping fake tracks one by one we planted oversized paw prints in the mud making sure to press deeply near the tents every so often we paused to listen

worried someone inside might stir and peek outside, but all we heard was the faint crackle of a dying fire. Next, Jim propped the lion pelt onto two sturdy sticks we'd duct-taped together. Seen straight on, it was eerily convincing. Massive head, snarling mouth, and the kind of glassy eyes that appear to stare into your soul.

worried someone inside might stir and peek outside, but all we heard was the faint crackle of a dying fire. Next, Jim propped the lion pelt onto two sturdy sticks we'd duct-taped together. Seen straight on, it was eerily convincing. Massive head, snarling mouth, and the kind of glassy eyes that appear to stare into your soul.

I caught myself glancing over my shoulder, half expecting an actual animal to emerge, drawn by the uncanny shape. With the pelt set up, we turned to the other part of our plan, the roars. We'd preloaded the PA system with a series of snarls and growls from real mountain lion recordings.

I caught myself glancing over my shoulder, half expecting an actual animal to emerge, drawn by the uncanny shape. With the pelt set up, we turned to the other part of our plan, the roars. We'd preloaded the PA system with a series of snarls and growls from real mountain lion recordings.

jim started them at a low volume from across the clearing the first noise rumbled through the darkness like a threat and i could almost sense the campers tensing in their tents a second roar followed echoing off the surrounding trees making it sound as if multiple predators were encircling the area

jim started them at a low volume from across the clearing the first noise rumbled through the darkness like a threat and i could almost sense the campers tensing in their tents a second roar followed echoing off the surrounding trees making it sound as if multiple predators were encircling the area

I slipped back into the jeep and carefully flicked on the headlights, aiming them so that they backlit the pelt. From the angle of the beam, it looked like a living, breathing cat pacing along the outskirts of the camp. Jim shouted from behind a bush, Though his voice shook with just enough panic to convince anyone he was facing a genuine attack.

I slipped back into the jeep and carefully flicked on the headlights, aiming them so that they backlit the pelt. From the angle of the beam, it looked like a living, breathing cat pacing along the outskirts of the camp. Jim shouted from behind a bush, Though his voice shook with just enough panic to convince anyone he was facing a genuine attack.

she's moving around us he hollered layering more drama into the moment then he bellowed there's another one the reaction inside those tents was instant i heard muffled cries frantic rustling and the scrape of tent zippers being yanked shut again My own heartbeat thudded as I realized how convincing this whole thing probably looked and sounded from their perspective.

she's moving around us he hollered layering more drama into the moment then he bellowed there's another one the reaction inside those tents was instant i heard muffled cries frantic rustling and the scrape of tent zippers being yanked shut again My own heartbeat thudded as I realized how convincing this whole thing probably looked and sounded from their perspective.

In the glare of the headlights, the pelt's silhouette shifted, as though it was preparing to leap at any second. I killed the lights in one sudden click. Darkness swallowed the campsite.

In the glare of the headlights, the pelt's silhouette shifted, as though it was preparing to leap at any second. I killed the lights in one sudden click. Darkness swallowed the campsite.

jim dropped the sticks and we rested the lion pelt free in under a minute we tore back to the jeep adrenaline hammering through every vein once inside i started the engine and didn't hold back kicking up gravel as we made our getaway Over the rumble of our tires, I thought I detected one final roar playing through the PA system, echoing behind us like a last warning.

jim dropped the sticks and we rested the lion pelt free in under a minute we tore back to the jeep adrenaline hammering through every vein once inside i started the engine and didn't hold back kicking up gravel as we made our getaway Over the rumble of our tires, I thought I detected one final roar playing through the PA system, echoing behind us like a last warning.

When dawn finally broke, the camp's radio chatter indicated that nobody had poked their head out until well into the morning. From our station windows, we could imagine their pale faces and wide eyes discovering the huge paw prints scattered around, some alarmingly close to their tent doors.

When dawn finally broke, the camp's radio chatter indicated that nobody had poked their head out until well into the morning. From our station windows, we could imagine their pale faces and wide eyes discovering the huge paw prints scattered around, some alarmingly close to their tent doors.