Unknown Narrator

But that sense of helplessness stayed with us. We'd been so clueless, so close to tragedy, and it was pure luck that we stumbled out unscathed. There's a certain guilt that comes with surviving when someone else obviously didn't, and that guilt settled over us like a heavy shroud. Even now, if the topic of late-night hiking comes up at a get-together, Mike and I exchange knowing looks.

But that sense of helplessness stayed with us. We'd been so clueless, so close to tragedy, and it was pure luck that we stumbled out unscathed. There's a certain guilt that comes with surviving when someone else obviously didn't, and that guilt settled over us like a heavy shroud. Even now, if the topic of late-night hiking comes up at a get-together, Mike and I exchange knowing looks.

Our friends have no clue about the dark secret we share. Sometimes they'll ask if we want to go on a group camping trip, but we always find an excuse. They don't understand why we refuse, and I hope they never have to. These days, I don't think about it constantly, but every once in a while, something, like a news story or a flicker of movement in my peripheral vision, will jolt the memory back.

Our friends have no clue about the dark secret we share. Sometimes they'll ask if we want to go on a group camping trip, but we always find an excuse. They don't understand why we refuse, and I hope they never have to. These days, I don't think about it constantly, but every once in a while, something, like a news story or a flicker of movement in my peripheral vision, will jolt the memory back.

I'll be transported to that moment on the trail, the darkness pressing in, my stomach nodding in a sudden surge of alarm as my foot grazes something indescribable. And I'll recall the stark truth. In those moonless hours, a twisted mind lurked just out of sight, watching our every step. We left with our lives. Someone else never made it out.

I'll be transported to that moment on the trail, the darkness pressing in, my stomach nodding in a sudden surge of alarm as my foot grazes something indescribable. And I'll recall the stark truth. In those moonless hours, a twisted mind lurked just out of sight, watching our every step. We left with our lives. Someone else never made it out.

We'll carry that knowledge with us, silently, for the rest of our days. I crawled out of my bunk at the ranger station hours before sunrise, feeling a flicker of anticipation in my chest. Early mornings in Yellowstone usually give me a calm kind of thrill, like the park is mine alone for just a little while. I did a quick gear check under the buzzing fluorescent light.

We'll carry that knowledge with us, silently, for the rest of our days. I crawled out of my bunk at the ranger station hours before sunrise, feeling a flicker of anticipation in my chest. Early mornings in Yellowstone usually give me a calm kind of thrill, like the park is mine alone for just a little while. I did a quick gear check under the buzzing fluorescent light.

Water, snacks, my radio, a small first aid kit.

Water, snacks, my radio, a small first aid kit.

everything seemed in order a couple of colleagues were sipping coffee nearby but we just nodded at each other we all had our own plans for the day and i was already focused on getting out to the lamar valley the drive to the trailhead was quiet no tourists at that hour no long lines of cars just the open road and the promise of solitude when i finally parked and started walking the sun began its slow climb

everything seemed in order a couple of colleagues were sipping coffee nearby but we just nodded at each other we all had our own plans for the day and i was already focused on getting out to the lamar valley the drive to the trailhead was quiet no tourists at that hour no long lines of cars just the open road and the promise of solitude when i finally parked and started walking the sun began its slow climb

painting the sky with gentle streaks of pink and gold. The air tasted fresh, and a few bison dotted the far edges of the valley. I remember thinking, this is what I love about this job. Everything felt peaceful in that moment. I covered the first few miles at an easy pace, scanning the horizon for wolves or elk. The grass was long, shifting in waves that made the landscape look almost alive.

painting the sky with gentle streaks of pink and gold. The air tasted fresh, and a few bison dotted the far edges of the valley. I remember thinking, this is what I love about this job. Everything felt peaceful in that moment. I covered the first few miles at an easy pace, scanning the horizon for wolves or elk. The grass was long, shifting in waves that made the landscape look almost alive.

normally i find that movement comforting but something nagged at the back of my mind a kind of tension i couldn't quite name the only sounds were my own footfalls and the soft rustle of wind no faint hum of other hikers no distant vehicles It felt like the valley and I were the only two things in existence. Around eleven miles from the nearest road, the trail opened up into a wide clearing.

normally i find that movement comforting but something nagged at the back of my mind a kind of tension i couldn't quite name the only sounds were my own footfalls and the soft rustle of wind no faint hum of other hikers no distant vehicles It felt like the valley and I were the only two things in existence. Around eleven miles from the nearest road, the trail opened up into a wide clearing.

That's where I saw it. At first, I assumed it was a large rock half buried in the dirt, but stepping closer revealed the unmistakable shape of a deer's head. A doe, to be exact. It lay right in the middle of the path, as if it had been placed with precise intention. My pulse thudded heavier in my ears as I moved in for a better look.

That's where I saw it. At first, I assumed it was a large rock half buried in the dirt, but stepping closer revealed the unmistakable shape of a deer's head. A doe, to be exact. It lay right in the middle of the path, as if it had been placed with precise intention. My pulse thudded heavier in my ears as I moved in for a better look.

I'd seen plenty of wildlife remains over the years, carcasses torn apart by wolves or bears, half eaten by scavengers. This was different. No blood pooled around it, and the neck ended in an unsettlingly smooth line. The doe's eyes were wide open. appearing almost alive if you didn't stare too hard. No marks, no ragged fur, nothing.

I'd seen plenty of wildlife remains over the years, carcasses torn apart by wolves or bears, half eaten by scavengers. This was different. No blood pooled around it, and the neck ended in an unsettlingly smooth line. The doe's eyes were wide open. appearing almost alive if you didn't stare too hard. No marks, no ragged fur, nothing.