Unknown Narrator

If something dragged it away, I'd expect signs of that too. Peters exhaled, scanning the horizon. The valley stretched out, calm as ever, bison ambling in the distance like this was just another quiet day. But now that I'd witnessed that disturbing spectacle, the idyllic scene felt like a facade. I couldn't shake the sense we were trespassing in a place that didn't want us here.

If something dragged it away, I'd expect signs of that too. Peters exhaled, scanning the horizon. The valley stretched out, calm as ever, bison ambling in the distance like this was just another quiet day. But now that I'd witnessed that disturbing spectacle, the idyllic scene felt like a facade. I couldn't shake the sense we were trespassing in a place that didn't want us here.

We spent the better part of the morning searching the immediate area, peering into every hollow and patch of grass. I even walked a wide circle around the spot, hoping to find something. Broken twigs, fur, hidden bones, absolutely nothing turned up. The further we looked, the more oppressive the silence grew. Peter's finally broke it. "'Look,' he said quietly. "'I believe you. This is weird.

We spent the better part of the morning searching the immediate area, peering into every hollow and patch of grass. I even walked a wide circle around the spot, hoping to find something. Broken twigs, fur, hidden bones, absolutely nothing turned up. The further we looked, the more oppressive the silence grew. Peter's finally broke it. "'Look,' he said quietly. "'I believe you. This is weird.

Let's get back and see if anyone else has come across anything like this.' He shot me a worried glance, and for the first time since I'd found that head, I felt a sliver of relief. At least I wasn't alone in how unsettled I felt. We started our trek back to the ridge, exchanging uneasy theories. Maybe there was an unknown predator, or some deranged individual roaming the park.'

Let's get back and see if anyone else has come across anything like this.' He shot me a worried glance, and for the first time since I'd found that head, I felt a sliver of relief. At least I wasn't alone in how unsettled I felt. We started our trek back to the ridge, exchanging uneasy theories. Maybe there was an unknown predator, or some deranged individual roaming the park.'

Even as we spoke, our words felt hollow. None of it explained how the scene was so meticulously clean, or why the head had vanished without a trace. By late afternoon, I was back at camp, my boots dusty and my mood tenser than ever. Peters had gone on to file a report with base, while I lingered, unsettled by the nagging feeling that this was only the beginning.

Even as we spoke, our words felt hollow. None of it explained how the scene was so meticulously clean, or why the head had vanished without a trace. By late afternoon, I was back at camp, my boots dusty and my mood tenser than ever. Peters had gone on to file a report with base, while I lingered, unsettled by the nagging feeling that this was only the beginning.

i knew i wouldn't rest easy that night or any night soon until i found an answer but the truth seemed to be buried somewhere in those rolling hills hidden by the endless sway of grass and an unsettling hush that said some things are meant to stay unknown I tried to tell myself it was a freak occurrence, an unexplainable quirk of nature I'd stumbled upon.

i knew i wouldn't rest easy that night or any night soon until i found an answer but the truth seemed to be buried somewhere in those rolling hills hidden by the endless sway of grass and an unsettling hush that said some things are meant to stay unknown I tried to tell myself it was a freak occurrence, an unexplainable quirk of nature I'd stumbled upon.

But as the sun set behind the mountains, washing the sky with orange and crimson, I felt the weight of a darker possibility, one that whispered maybe, just maybe, we'd stepped into territory far beyond our understanding, and that was a reality I didn't know how to face. I was fifteen, just trying to bag a few squirrels on a crisp October morning.

But as the sun set behind the mountains, washing the sky with orange and crimson, I felt the weight of a darker possibility, one that whispered maybe, just maybe, we'd stepped into territory far beyond our understanding, and that was a reality I didn't know how to face. I was fifteen, just trying to bag a few squirrels on a crisp October morning.

That hollow had been a gold mine a few days before, so I headed in again, feeling pretty confident. Within minutes, I spotted a half-dozen squirrels hopping from branch to branch, chattering away and rummaging for acorns. Everything seemed totally normal, until they all froze. Their quick barks echoed for a heartbeat, and then every single squirrel vanished in an instant.

That hollow had been a gold mine a few days before, so I headed in again, feeling pretty confident. Within minutes, I spotted a half-dozen squirrels hopping from branch to branch, chattering away and rummaging for acorns. Everything seemed totally normal, until they all froze. Their quick barks echoed for a heartbeat, and then every single squirrel vanished in an instant.

no rustling leaves no errant chatter nothing i stood there scanning every tree wondering what could possibly have spooked them so quickly that's when this roaring crash echoed from a nearby gully like someone or something tearing through brush without trying to be discreet

no rustling leaves no errant chatter nothing i stood there scanning every tree wondering what could possibly have spooked them so quickly that's when this roaring crash echoed from a nearby gully like someone or something tearing through brush without trying to be discreet

i glanced toward the noise and noticed a tall figure stepping through the undergrowth at first i squinted thinking maybe it was my dad who was somewhere in the area but as my eyes adjusted to the dimness i realized it was towering broad-shouldered and moving with a casual ease most people don't have in rough terrain

i glanced toward the noise and noticed a tall figure stepping through the undergrowth at first i squinted thinking maybe it was my dad who was somewhere in the area but as my eyes adjusted to the dimness i realized it was towering broad-shouldered and moving with a casual ease most people don't have in rough terrain

It was hard to tell details, long arms, strange gait, but it never once dropped to all fours the way a bear might. It stayed on two legs, like a person who was perfectly comfortable walking upright through rugged country. My nerves were in overdrive. I remember calling out, Hello, because my brain insisted this could be a lost hiker.

It was hard to tell details, long arms, strange gait, but it never once dropped to all fours the way a bear might. It stayed on two legs, like a person who was perfectly comfortable walking upright through rugged country. My nerves were in overdrive. I remember calling out, Hello, because my brain insisted this could be a lost hiker.