Invasive (preview)

The high bluff walls where the nature preserve rested were created by a meteor impact millenniums ago. In the highlands among the boreal trees and jagged shoreline was one of the ranger stations in the national park. The station was on a small incline near the water of the bay, often visited for checking in and seeking advice for hiking trails and seasonal sights. A group of campers walked from the small wooden building after reporting the strange noises and occurrences they witnessed during their camping near the shore the past few nights.

“We could wait for Cid with the chopper, but…” Russ shrugged, “that’s the third group of tourists to report such a disturbance. We should go find out what they’re hearing.” He approached one of the cabinets and took out his favorite hiking staff.

“Agreed,” Erika said with a nod.

“I’ll man the fort,” Braylon volunteered. “Take our new hire with you.” He nodded toward Roxie, the waifish woman in the corner of the room.

“I-I’m not even though all of these training pamphlets,” Roxie said without looking up.

“Come, come. Learn on the job,” Erika said. She picked up a walking stick for herself, then she offered one to Roxie.

Roxie looked at the offered item, then she shrugged. “A change of scenery would be nice.”

“Exactly! You didn’t become a park ranger to stay inside all day,” Braylon encouraged her.

***

Roxie watched Russ as he rowed the boat with ease. The shore was volcano basalts and the lake was formed from runoff rainwater from the natural highland barriers. A single island in the middle of the crater lake was a popular spot with campers and photographers for the isolation and the quietness. The rangers had gotten to the island in the middle of the expansive lake in little time and he had barely broken a sweat. Erika stepped out of the boat first, tied it off to the small wharf, then she helped the other two get their footing. “Don’t forget your stick,” Erika said to Roxie.

Roxie shrugged and picked up the item. “Alright? I’m not injured and I don’t think I would even know where to begin with using it.”

“You use it for complete balance on uneven trails. You don’t want to go rolling down a cliff in the mountains, so we’ll teach you as we go,” Russ said. He took his own walking staff and took several steps with it, demonstrating its use. “See?”

“Alright?” Roxie said, uncertain.

“Don’t worry about that now,” Erika said dismissively. “There’s sloping here, but nothing too steep. We need to figure out what people are hearing out here on the island.”

“Then why did we bring these?” Roxie asked.

Erika smiled. “You really haven’t gotten through all of your training manuals yet.”

“W-what?” Roxie watched the two more experienced rangers walk off the rocky beach, up toward the coniferous forest. With them not answering her, her nerves became frayed.

***

Roxie jumped when she heard a shriek. “W-what was that?”

“Batsquatch,” Russ answered. He motioned with his staff to the trees above them.

“Excuse me?” Roxie asked