Chapter Text
Currently writing this as I take a rest. It’s so peaceful and quiet out in the snow.
I set out this morning around 8am, compass in hand as I headed in the direction that I saw the prints yesterday. Another layer of snow had fallen, covering the tracks I’d found earlier.
Fortunately, when I pulled out the gift from my Muse, the needle had already found its waypoint.
Armed with a sturdy walking staff, a tranquilizer gun
stolen
borrowed from the local park rangers, and a few cans of soda just because (
okay, it’s the sweet tooth
), I began my trek up the mountain forest. My compass from my Muse indicated what I was tracking down would be perfectly in between “W” and “H”. My magnetic compass and the position of the sun denoted I was traveling Northwest up the mountain.
I trudged through the snow, appreciating the pleasant crunch beneath my boots. Nature trails in New Jersey were somewhat of an oxymoron, usually just being about half a mile of abandoned railroad tracks between old, overgrown conducting stations. Rarely did they have trees or even grass. Nothing like the Oregon valley I’ve taken my studies to. I really have enjoyed my time here, if nothing else than for the change of pace…
I remember at some point getting the feeling of being watched, and I quickly looked all around me. I thought I saw a tall, dark shadow duck behind a tree, but when I went to inspect, I was still all alone amongst the pine trees.
Aside from that odd experience, the walk has been strangely uneventful. Perhaps many of the typical forest creatures hibernate.
I need to remember to check on that gnome in my study. I may have forgotten to feed it yesterday.
I’ll keep following my compass and break again in a few hours. Hopefully to document my findings.
I found the source of the footprints. Unfortunately.
A few hours after my last break, I decided to stop for a quick lunch of a protein bar and some trail mix. I found a cave-like outcropping of a cliff along the trail and decided to take shelter from the wind inside. I managed to gather enough kindling to light a small fire to warm up, then unpacked my food to eat.
The moment I peeled open the top of my Pitt, I heard a voice from within the cave.
“Bro?”
“Hello?” I called. “Is someone there?”
Had a hiker gotten lost and been surviving out here in the woods? It must have been hell to brave the winter like this. I saw a large, dark outline from the depths of the cave, and as it approached I was hit with a smell… not dissimilar to the men’s changing room at boxing practice. If someone had been surviving weeks with no shower, the smell wouldn’t really come as a surprise.
But instead of a lost hiker, what stood before me was…
A Yeti!?...?
It was about eight feet tall, mostly covered in thick white fur. Its hands, chest, feet, and face were bare, as was a shaved strip on its right shoulder for some reason.
Where does it get razors out here?
The revealed skin on his shoulder displayed some kind of tattoo. It wore a ridiculous getup of a bright red tank top, cargo shorts, and a red-and-blue cap worn backwards, with a pair of sunglasses perched on his forehead for good measure.
We stared at each other for a moment, before it took notice of my trail mix and Pitt.
“Righteous!” he exclaimed, and plucked a can of Mountain Don’t right out of my backpack!
“Excuse me!” I insisted indignantly. Surely if he was advanced enough to wear clothes, he’d understand basic manners. “Those are mine!”
“Chill sesh, bro,” he said, tearing the can open and pouring its entire contents in his gaping maw.
I did my best to hide the rest of my trail mix, but unfortunately he was able to smell it on me.
Reluctantly, I handed over the snacks. At least I still had some protein bars left over. This abominable “bro-man” claimed, “Righteous, bro!” and sat on the other side of the cave focused on his spoils.
While he was distracted, I quickly pulled out my favorite tool. To my dismay, the ornate golden needle made slow circles around the face, confirming that this crypt-tau was indeed the anomaly I set out for.
Regardless, a Missing Link is a Missing Link! I reached into my backpack for my camera… only for it to fumble from my cold, numb fingers to fall to the stone ground, shattering the lens.
I suppose I’ll be bringing multiple cameras on my next trip.
Instead, I drew it into the third journal, and put in as many details as I found useful. For my own amusement, though, I decided to perform an experiment or two. Using a burnt stick from the fire, I began to draw the alphabet on the floor beneath us.
However, as soon as I wrote down “E”, he excitedly stopped me and gestured wildly to “A”, then “E”, then, to my amazement, drew “AEπ” upon the stone! He grunted excitedly and pointed to the symbols, then to the tattoo on his arm.
“Is that… your group?” I asked. Then I remembered Greek letters. “Alpha Epsilon Pi is your tribe?”
He clapped excitedly and swallowed more trail mix. Fascinating. He seemingly can’t read, yet seems to understand the Greek alphabet perfectly. Is this behavior he picked up from observing hiking fraternity brothers? Or maybe he just ate one and gained his knowledge.
I didn’t want to think about it. Fortunately, the “Chad”-squatch seemed to get bored pretty quickly, and with a final “Bro!”, he left back to the depths of the cave.
The last of my fire is burning out. I think I’ll go ahead and call it a day and head home. Though it’s only the early afternoon, the skies are getting darker with oncoming snow. The temperature is lowering. If I’m quick enough, I should be able to make it home before another blizzard hits.