Gladys groans. “No. Absolutely not. We are not doing this today.”
But Jonah’s joke lands a little too hard.
Everyone laughs—Jonah, Gladys (begrudgingly), even me. But my laughter catches halfway. My chest tightens, like a string pulled too taut.
Big.
Humanoid.
Silent.
Present.
The memory flashes again: warmth, strength, movement, a voice rumbling close to my ear.
No. Impossible. Plus, I saw naked skin.
I shake myself. I’m concussed. I’m imagining things. The bear incident scrambled my brain.
Still….
“What do you think they are?” Jonah asks me.
I clear my throat. “Could be melt distortion. A hiker with weird shoe treads. A prank.”
“But they’re huge.”
“People buy novelty winter boots,” I say weakly.
Gladys claps her hands sharply. “All right. Mystery solved. It’s mud and stupid footwear. Jonah, go log it so the archivedoesn’t yell at me later. Dr. Hart, eat something before you pass out again.”
Jonah leaves. Gladys leaves. The room feels bigger and smaller at the same time.
I stare at the photo once more before setting it aside. It’s ridiculous. It’s impossible. It’s?—
I exhale shakily.
I need to get out of here.
An hour later,Gladys pronounces me “stable enough to supervise a toddler” and starts gathering things.
“Ranger Hargrove and I will drive you as far up the maintenance road as we can,” she says. “From there, we’ll walk you to your station.”
“I can walk,” I insist.
“You’ll walk with supervision,” she corrects. “Unless you want to spend another night in my infirmary listening to the generator wheeze.”
I shut my mouth.
The ride out is quiet. Sam keeps glancing at me from the passenger seat like he wants to speak but isn’t sure whether it should be charming or medical. Gladys drives carefully, avoiding potholes.
When we reach the trail access point, they help me unload my pack.
Sam offers me his hand as I hop down from the truck bed. I take it because refusing would be rude, and also because I subtly need it.
The forest smells incredible—damp earth, cold air, cedar. Like it’s been waiting for me.
Gladys eyes me critically. “Any dizziness?”
