Echoes of Silence

Taking a closer look, Tim noticed peculiar spots near the tree’s base. They were footprints unlike any left by the park’s usual animals or birds. A jolt of fear shot through him. Could a deadly predator lurk nearby? But where were the feathers or signs of struggle on the ground? How did the birds manage to escape unharmed?

The tree’s towering height thwarted any attempt to look inside the nest from the ground, forcing Tim to seek a closer vantage point. Ditching his usual routine of patrolling on foot, he hurried to the ranger station for the right gear. Minutes later, he was in the truck, speeding back towards the nest.