Quiet Place

I got my rugsack packed with the necessities for a few days even though it's only going to be a day hike. Water, food, a tarp for a quick shelter, flint and steel, a small wet stone and my trusty knife. My years in the military have turned me into a prepare for anything guy. 

Today is a rare occasion of a day off and sadly my girlfriend is working so I'm taking to the nearby mountains. I know the area well but I have a map, pen and compass. Always be prepared.

I head for the center of town to the waypoints. It's nice to be able to pop up part way up a mountain or at least the foot of it. I can get more hiking time in than trying to walk or ride an animal to the mountain. 

A yellow flier catches my eye. It's a missing person paper, the guy is from a few towns over. The picture is a dark haired mid forty's man. Says he told his family he was going hiking around their home town. He didn't return home a few days ago when he said he would. His name is Frederick Ton and to contact his daughter Fiona with any info. 

"That's no good. Hopefully they found him. I can see why they didn't ask our town to help search since that town is a bit aways from here." I say out loud to the flier before finishing my walk to the waypoints.

Curiosity gets to me and I search my arm translator to see if he was found. Search came back saying he was still missing. I debate for awhile on if I should go to the area he was supposedly hiking or to go to the mountains like I had planned. 

A sigh escapes my lips as I stand on the waypoint. "Crestfallen mountain foot hold." I give the command and the fire dances around the waypoint. Now I'm standing in the woods at the foot of the mountain I wanted to hike.

 "If I'm needed Aba will send me a mission to report to anyways. The guy is probably fine anyways. Right?" I say to the trees. A golden scroll poofs from flames in mid air. I grab it and read it.

You are correct on that I would have summoned you if you were needed.

"Your responses are impeccable. You know that right?" The old scroll bursts into flames and then a new one appears.

That I do. Worship me.

I chuckle and throw the scroll over my shoulder for it to also be engulfed in flames and disintegrate in mid air. I start my hike up the mountain with some weight lifted off my shoulders.

The cool air from the mountain lightly pulls on my pants and coat. It tousles my short brown hair. My boots squish quietly in the peat of dead leaves, moss and dirt. In the far distance there is the sound of a bubbling creak. I munch on some salted almonds I had packed. The incline of the mountain becomes steeper in a short distance ahead of me. 

Tap.

Tap? I look down to where my boot made a tap sound. There under my foot is a book. I look around before squatting to look it over. The cover is leather and we'll worn. What is written on the front? I wipe it off the best I could.

Fr-de--ck

"This is the missing guys journal isn't it." I rhetorically ask Aba. I hold my hand out for him to reply.

None came.

"Really? You didn't send me anything because you knew I was coming here." I look up to the sky.

A golden scroll about hits me in the face.

I knew I could count on you to look for him! Many thoughts and prayers are with you!

Love, Aba

"Has anyone called you cruel?" I ask.

Another scroll appears.

More than you know.

I sigh and toss the scroll. I look the cover over better,  there is a gouge on the front from a claw or nail. I untie the straps keeping it closed. I flip through rather quickly to see what the last entry says and see how old it is.

Most of the pages are filled. About 3/4 of the way though I start seeing blank pages. I go back a few pages. The last entry is 3 days ago.

XX/XX/XXXX

Day 10

I can't believe I made it is long. The beasts that roam these mountains are no laughing matter. I'm trying to not use my last protective barrier scroll till I absolutely need to. If I keep the fire going it will ward off the shadow lurkers. I'm being followed by them. I know it. They want to feast upon me. What if they aren't following me but are driving me? Like cattle to slaughter. No! I will not let that happen! I must make it back to Fiona! I will head back the way I came. 

I close the book and pinch the bridge of my nose between my eyes. It doesn't relieve my headache. 

"Frederick is being stalked by shadow jumpers. Usually harmless if you don't pay them any mind but this guy sounds like he is feeding them so they probably manifested into a physical figure. Not to mention werewolves run this forest. And tonight is a full moon. Wow everything is going from good to bad to worse." I close my eyes and tilt my head back.

"Let me guess. Rain is going to start falling just as fast as the sun is setting. Hmmm?" I peek a look with one eye. The sky is clear with no cloud in sight and it's mid day still. I begin knocking on a tree in hopes I was not jinxed from my last comment.

He said he is going to head back the way he came. I look the ground over. I see where he had a built a fire a few nights ago. Finding where he came or went was difficult due to him looking far and wide for fire wood.

"Ah!" After the 50 plus trails, I had found one that doesn't have a returning track. Let's find this guy.