Tracking the tracked

After thirty minutes of trying to follow this guy's foot prints, I'm about to loose my mind. Is he not looking while he walks? Several prints stop right infront of a tree. I'm going to loose a lot of time if I'm playing the which way he went game. He is constantly zig zagging. He might be looking behind himself the whole time? That would explain the constant direction changes and angle of some of these prints.

I'm so happy to have thoughts and prayers with me instead of a tracking spell. I forcibly think up to the clear blue sky waiting for Aba to strike me with lightning.

Nothing.

I let out a sigh, closing my eyes. One could poke a bear.

Lightning hits a tree beside me.

"(Insert your favorite curse word because James just said multiple.)" I shout. "I'm sorry for poking the bear!"

I grab the golden scroll mid air again.

Here's that tracking spell you asked for. 

My thoughts and prayers are with you, 

Aba

"You're enjoying messing with me aren't you?" I say to the scroll. At the bottom more words burn onto the golden paper.

Ps. Perhaps

I chuck the scroll at a nearby tree but it disappears before giving me the thwack I wanted to hear.

I go to the lightning struck tree. It's engulfed in flames but not burning. I reach in and grab the scroll in a branch of the tree. The fire dissipates once the scroll is removed. I open it to find the one time use tracking spelling. I squat down and hold it to the guys footprint. Red auras dance around and begin lighting up the path the guy took.

It was a very painstakingly zig zagged path. I slap my hands together and bow my head.

"Thank you Aba!" I am beyond happy to have this spell. If not I would be the one lost in the woods.

I begin jogging through the trees. The guy has a three day head start. He might not be going in a straight path but his steps were hurried. I pick up the pace a little. I hope I find this guy before sundown.

~     ~     ~     ~     ~

I have been running for a few hours now. My body is begging for rest. I have awhile before the tracking spell runs out. With that I pull out a piece of jerky and Frederick's journal before sitting on a fallen tree.

I flip through the journal. The few entries I stopped on where him pondering what his ex-wife and daughter thoughts or his "adventures" of fishing and seeing a mouse or a bird. I get to the last entries he wrote of his current journey.

Day 1

I found the best spot for fishing! Tonight I'm feasting upon tiger trout. They put up a mighty fight and nearly broke my line many of times. One jumped off the hook right when I was reaching to get him. Why must the biggest fish always get away. Until we meet again tiger trout!

He seems sorta resourceful at the least.

Day 3

I lost my compass in the river today. Good thing I can tell east from west from the sun! Hahaha. I found another fishing spot in a cave this time. The pale fish I fished out of there had the most delicate tasting filet I have ever had! Maybe I can sell them as a rare delicacy. Perhaps I will keep them a secret just for myself though. See you soon my pale beauty's.

Pale fish? Pale fish... Why does that sound familiar? I pull my map out to look at it. Not too far north from his home town is a cave on my map. I bet you he was fishing in the mystic cave. Using my teeth I pull the cap off my pen and dot the cave. 

Day 4

I traveled North some more today. No fishing since I never ran into a body of water. I had to rely on the bounties of nature for tonights meal. Berries, leaves and nuts for a flavorful but bitter salad. I'm hearing howls out in the distance. Good thing I packed multiple protective barriers. I will be using one tonight. I'm going to start heading home tomorrow. I miss my daughter Fiona dearly. I know she is an adult but I still remember her swinging on the swing in the backyard like it was yesterday. She has become such a beautiful young lady. If only she wasn't so fascinated by some famous paladin and would try finding a real man. Not that I want my baby to be married right away. Oh the dilemma of a father.

I look the map over more. So he kept going North or so he says and he didn't hit any water from the sounds of it. So he didn't hit this river meaning he was somewhere in here. I circle a spot north east of mystic cave. I draw a line from the cave to his home town. So he lost his compass somewhere in here. I circle a large part of the river. I found the journal here and circle a spot a little north west of the waypoint. How did he get this far east though? 

I figure where I am at on the map right now. The direction the guy is currently heading is north west not south west like he should be. And there is nothing but forest for miles if he kept heading in this direction. First let's see how he got this far east.

Day 5

I survived the night. The shadows looked like they were moving last night. I live in a world of the supernatural but never have I heard of moving shadows. I'm going to head back home and I'm not going to be as slow as I planned on being either!

Day 5 evening

The shadows are moving quite a bit tonight. I gathered a lot of fire wood on the way south towards home. I crossed a river but I don't remember one going as fast as this one. Any who the fish didn't bite well there so I had a small diner of berries and nuts.

He's in a hurry now that he is acknowledging the jumpers.

Day 6

The shadows are really moving. They hide beside the trees. Last night a lonely wolf was crying out all night and it kept me awake. I must make it home!

Day 6 evening

The sun is going down. I'm getting scared. I have my barrier up so I'm fine but things are moving outside of the barrier. 

Now for sure he is feeding them. I don't like sounds of that lone wolf either. I give the stratch on the cover a feel.

Day 7

The shadows are moving in the daylight now. I will gather wood on the way even though I should be getting close to town here soon. I still have some barriers so I will be fine again tonight.

Day 8

I think I saw a human today in the shade of a tree. I called out but there was no reply. It must be my imagination from lack of food and water. I don't remember seeing pines near home either. I hope I'm heading the right way.

Alright he is realizing he is lost. Maybe.

Day 9

I saw a black animal the size of a beaver but it's eyes and mouth looked almost like they glowed red. I rubbed my eyes thinking it couldn't possibly be happening. When I looked where it was it was gone. Along with that lone wolf's cries were louder tonight. I can't wait to be home. 

Crap he fed them so much fear we might have a humanoid shadow jumper and hopefully the beaver sized one hasn't gotten bigger since this entry. And he is possibly being stalked by a wolf. 

I get up throwing everything into my bag and start running along side the tracking spell. The auras grew stronger meaning I'm getting close. I look up, the sun is getting a pretty low in the sky. I sit for a minute to get a drink from my canteen. When I lower my canteen a void black human shaped body with red eyes and smile is no more than a foot from my face.

"Ah hell." Is all I could get out before it lunged for me.