Unknown Narrator

Just a head that looked untouched by teeth or talons or anything else. Even the local ravens, which would normally swoop in, were nowhere to be seen. I crouched down, trying to keep my voice steady in case I needed to radio back to headquarters. But my radio only hissed static. the valley blocking out a clear signal.

Just a head that looked untouched by teeth or talons or anything else. Even the local ravens, which would normally swoop in, were nowhere to be seen. I crouched down, trying to keep my voice steady in case I needed to radio back to headquarters. But my radio only hissed static. the valley blocking out a clear signal.

My hands trembled a bit as I snapped a few photos, the camera lens focusing on every unsettling detail. Part of me wanted to check for the rest of the body, but the logical side of my brain knew it would be close by if a natural predator had been responsible. There wasn't a single track, no drag marks in the dirt, no sign of a struggle.

My hands trembled a bit as I snapped a few photos, the camera lens focusing on every unsettling detail. Part of me wanted to check for the rest of the body, but the logical side of my brain knew it would be close by if a natural predator had been responsible. There wasn't a single track, no drag marks in the dirt, no sign of a struggle.

stepping around the area felt like i was tiptoeing through some kind of forbidden zone the sun was still shining but the scene radiated a strange darkness all its own i glanced toward the tall grass half expecting to see movement Maybe a lurking animal or a person crouched out of sight. My unease swelled with every second. Eventually, I decided I'd gathered all I could.

stepping around the area felt like i was tiptoeing through some kind of forbidden zone the sun was still shining but the scene radiated a strange darkness all its own i glanced toward the tall grass half expecting to see movement Maybe a lurking animal or a person crouched out of sight. My unease swelled with every second. Eventually, I decided I'd gathered all I could.

My radio still crackled uselessly, and the notion of returning to a better vantage for a clear signal felt urgent. Before I left, I took one last long look at that severed head, burned the image into my mind. I'd handled my share of bizarre situations as a ranger, but this one felt beyond bizarre.

My radio still crackled uselessly, and the notion of returning to a better vantage for a clear signal felt urgent. Before I left, I took one last long look at that severed head, burned the image into my mind. I'd handled my share of bizarre situations as a ranger, but this one felt beyond bizarre.

There was a deep sense that something wanted me to see this, as if the valley itself had decided to show me something it kept hidden from everyone else. I turned away, heart pounding, and started back along the trail, wrestling with too many questions and too few answers.

There was a deep sense that something wanted me to see this, as if the valley itself had decided to show me something it kept hidden from everyone else. I turned away, heart pounding, and started back along the trail, wrestling with too many questions and too few answers.

my usual comfort in the solitude had evaporated the wide-open landscape felt oddly suffocating and i knew as i moved further from that horrifying sight that i wouldn't rest until i found some explanation no matter how impossible it seemed I made my way back along the winding trail with a knot in my stomach, replaying every moment I'd spent crouched beside that severed deer head.

my usual comfort in the solitude had evaporated the wide-open landscape felt oddly suffocating and i knew as i moved further from that horrifying sight that i wouldn't rest until i found some explanation no matter how impossible it seemed I made my way back along the winding trail with a knot in my stomach, replaying every moment I'd spent crouched beside that severed deer head.

The air felt colder than it had an hour ago, even though the sun still glared overhead. Each step kicked up dust that settled on my boots, but I hardly noticed. My eyes were glued to the horizon, scanning for any sign of movement. It felt like something could be watching from behind the swaying grass. The path began to climb steadily, and I fought the temptation to pick up the pace.

The air felt colder than it had an hour ago, even though the sun still glared overhead. Each step kicked up dust that settled on my boots, but I hardly noticed. My eyes were glued to the horizon, scanning for any sign of movement. It felt like something could be watching from behind the swaying grass. The path began to climb steadily, and I fought the temptation to pick up the pace.

It wasn't just the shock of what I'd found. It was the weight of all the unanswered questions crushing my nerves. The dull crackle of static on my radio finally began to morph into a faint buzz of chatter as I cleared the ridge. My heart gave a leap.

It wasn't just the shock of what I'd found. It was the weight of all the unanswered questions crushing my nerves. The dull crackle of static on my radio finally began to morph into a faint buzz of chatter as I cleared the ridge. My heart gave a leap.

grateful for even a sliver of connection to the outside world i paused on a rocky outcrop steadying my breath and lifted the radio to my lips base this is ranger shelton i said my voice trembling more than i wanted come in the silence was agonizing punctuated by a hiss of static Then, a voice crackled through, low and cautious. Shelton, this is Bass. We read you. Everything okay out there?

grateful for even a sliver of connection to the outside world i paused on a rocky outcrop steadying my breath and lifted the radio to my lips base this is ranger shelton i said my voice trembling more than i wanted come in the silence was agonizing punctuated by a hiss of static Then, a voice crackled through, low and cautious. Shelton, this is Bass. We read you. Everything okay out there?

I almost laughed at the question. I, uh, I need to report something. Unusual, I managed. My mouth felt dry, my tongue thick. How could I possibly describe what I saw? There's a deer head, a doe. It's been, cleanly severed. No blood, no tracks, no body. Eleven miles in. A heavy pause stretched over the connection. Say again? The voice asked, clearly uncertain.

I almost laughed at the question. I, uh, I need to report something. Unusual, I managed. My mouth felt dry, my tongue thick. How could I possibly describe what I saw? There's a deer head, a doe. It's been, cleanly severed. No blood, no tracks, no body. Eleven miles in. A heavy pause stretched over the connection. Say again? The voice asked, clearly uncertain.