Unknown Narrator

I took a deep breath, doing my best to sound calm. A severed deer head, intact. It's right in the middle of the trail. There's no evidence of a predator. All right, the dispatcher finally replied. Copy that. We'll send someone to check it out. Stand by for further instructions. The click of the radio going silent rattled me more than I expected.

I took a deep breath, doing my best to sound calm. A severed deer head, intact. It's right in the middle of the trail. There's no evidence of a predator. All right, the dispatcher finally replied. Copy that. We'll send someone to check it out. Stand by for further instructions. The click of the radio going silent rattled me more than I expected.

I'd hoped for an immediate explanation, some kind of logical solution. But nothing came. Instead, I had the echo of my own words in my head, sounding more absurd by the second.

I'd hoped for an immediate explanation, some kind of logical solution. But nothing came. Instead, I had the echo of my own words in my head, sounding more absurd by the second.

i continued up the ridge the silence closing in again the bright sunlight felt at odds with the dark unease that clung to me and i realized i'd been walking with my shoulders hunched tight as if bracing for something behind me my mind wouldn't quit circling the same questions what could sever a head so neatly out here in the middle of nowhere who would go to such lengths just to leave it on a path and why a doe with no antlers or anything of worth to a poacher

i continued up the ridge the silence closing in again the bright sunlight felt at odds with the dark unease that clung to me and i realized i'd been walking with my shoulders hunched tight as if bracing for something behind me my mind wouldn't quit circling the same questions what could sever a head so neatly out here in the middle of nowhere who would go to such lengths just to leave it on a path and why a doe with no antlers or anything of worth to a poacher

By the time I reached my camp that evening, I could barely keep from pacing. In the soft glow of my flashlight, I scrolled through the photos I'd taken, zooming in on each bizarre detail. The eyes still looked alive. I found myself staring at the smooth cut, hoping to see some clue that might have escaped me out in the field. Every angle just drove home how unnatural it was.

By the time I reached my camp that evening, I could barely keep from pacing. In the soft glow of my flashlight, I scrolled through the photos I'd taken, zooming in on each bizarre detail. The eyes still looked alive. I found myself staring at the smooth cut, hoping to see some clue that might have escaped me out in the field. Every angle just drove home how unnatural it was.

My mind darted back to fireside rumors I'd heard from fellow rangers in the past. Stories of strange figures glimpsed at the edge of the woods. Unearthly sounds echoing through canyons at night. I'd always thought they were tall tales, something to spook new hires. But tonight, I found it harder to dismiss them. I called it an early night, but sleep refused to come.

My mind darted back to fireside rumors I'd heard from fellow rangers in the past. Stories of strange figures glimpsed at the edge of the woods. Unearthly sounds echoing through canyons at night. I'd always thought they were tall tales, something to spook new hires. But tonight, I found it harder to dismiss them. I called it an early night, but sleep refused to come.

I kept tossing, half lost in nightmares of severed animal parts scattered around the park. Each time I drifted off, I'd jerk awake with the sensation that something had brushed past my tent. The wind outside rustled the branches, but it might as well have been claws scratching at the fabric. The next morning, despite feeling like I'd barely slept, I was wide awake before dawn.

I kept tossing, half lost in nightmares of severed animal parts scattered around the park. Each time I drifted off, I'd jerk awake with the sensation that something had brushed past my tent. The wind outside rustled the branches, but it might as well have been claws scratching at the fabric. The next morning, despite feeling like I'd barely slept, I was wide awake before dawn.

A colleague, Ranger Peters, had overheard my radio call and offered to come along for a second look. We set off together, packs slung over our shoulders, the sky a weak gray that hinted at sunrise. Peters was taller than me, broad-shouldered and calm, just the kind of presence I needed after my rattled night.

A colleague, Ranger Peters, had overheard my radio call and offered to come along for a second look. We set off together, packs slung over our shoulders, the sky a weak gray that hinted at sunrise. Peters was taller than me, broad-shouldered and calm, just the kind of presence I needed after my rattled night.

We hiked briskly, barely talking, as though words might invite some unseen force into our conversation. It took a solid couple of hours to reach the spot I'd marked on my map. I led the way, my heart hammering in my chest. With every step I waited to smell that metallic scent of fresh kill or see a flash of white fur in the grass. Nothing.

We hiked briskly, barely talking, as though words might invite some unseen force into our conversation. It took a solid couple of hours to reach the spot I'd marked on my map. I led the way, my heart hammering in my chest. With every step I waited to smell that metallic scent of fresh kill or see a flash of white fur in the grass. Nothing.

When we finally reached the exact location, my breath caught in my throat. The deer head was gone. The trail was empty, the grass unruffled. Not a single trace of anything unusual. I even recognized the same twisted tree trunk I'd used as a landmark. But the path before it was spotless. I knelt and ran my hand over the ground. No stains, no scuffs.

When we finally reached the exact location, my breath caught in my throat. The deer head was gone. The trail was empty, the grass unruffled. Not a single trace of anything unusual. I even recognized the same twisted tree trunk I'd used as a landmark. But the path before it was spotless. I knelt and ran my hand over the ground. No stains, no scuffs.

It looked like nothing more gruesome than a gentle morning breeze had passed through here. Peters frowned and glanced at me. I saw doubt flicker across his face. But I quickly pulled out my phone and showed him the photographs. He studied them intently. Could it have been a coyote or something dragging it off? I shook my head. There wasn't a single footprint when I found it and it was too clean.

It looked like nothing more gruesome than a gentle morning breeze had passed through here. Peters frowned and glanced at me. I saw doubt flicker across his face. But I quickly pulled out my phone and showed him the photographs. He studied them intently. Could it have been a coyote or something dragging it off? I shook my head. There wasn't a single footprint when I found it and it was too clean.