Bobcat rifle

Updated with autopsy results.
Morphew Case Map - Google My Maps - Barry's iPhone Data - Google My Maps - Barry's Truck Events - Google My Maps
August 5, 1994 – Suzanne Moorman marries Barry Morphew The Alexandria Times-Tribune Alexandria, Indiana 05 Jan 1994, Wed • Page 4
December 1999 – Barry and Suzanne Purchase 26040 Cal Carson Rd, Arcadia, IN This is the house where he dug a hole in the yard and buried everything he didn't want to move to Colorado. (AA ft 55 page 53)
November 2013 – Suzanne Inherits $208,000 upon the Passing of her Mother. MB provided documents that Suzanne inherited approximately $208,000 in 2013 at the passing of her mother.
August 2016 – Suzanne inherits $217,000 upon the death of a grandmother. Suzanne’s grievance list included multiple references to Barry controlling the finances.
April 12, 2018 – The Morphew’s Purchase 19057 Puma Path Barry and Suzanne Morphew purchase 19057 Puma Path for $1,575,000.
June 1, 2018 – The Morphews move to Colorado. (PH – Harris) SA Harris: Yeah, they moved in 2018. I believe they left around June 1st, 2018. to move to Colorado. So roughly a year and a half of the time is what Sheila originally said in that.
September 2018 – Suzanne sends “Howdy stranger” message to JL First contact since high school.
Fall 2018 – Libler’s daughter sees messages from Suzanne on his phone. Libler breaks it off.
Thanksgiving 2018 – Barry obsessive/possessive. While Suzanne was at the Oliver’s house, she had stepped away from her cell phone to use the restroom, and Barry tried calling her several times within a few minutes, then tried calling Sheila, then tried calling Darin.
Holidays 2018 – Suzanne finds Libler’s LinkedIn Page. Relationship Rekindled
January 2019 – The Mexico trip where Barry took Suzanne’s phone Mexico trip mentioned in the grievances list where Barry took Suzanne's phone.
February 11 – 14, 2019 – Suzanne in New Orleans with Libler Barry admitted to questioning Suzanne about the New Orleans trip, further evidence he suspected the affair.
April 2019 – Suzanne meets up with Libler in Indiana She does not see SO on this trip.
July 2019 – Suzanne and Libler meet up in Michigan Barry called SO while Suzanne was in MI visiting her fatheJL, wanting to know why Suzanne wasn't returning his calls.
September 2019 – Barry stalks Suzanne and Shelia Oliver, creeping through woods. Barry stalked Suzanne and Sheila at the Puma Path house in September 2019. This is upon his early return from a trip to Arizona.
October 2019 – Libler and Suzanne in Dallas Suzanne and Libler spend two nights at the Galleria.
September – November 2019 – Barry aggressively pursues KW around Salida. From the first time KW met Barry, she said it felt like "he was putting his tentacles out."
Holidays 2019 – Suzanne and Libler stop talking on the phone because she is afraid Barry will find out. They shift to more covert ways to communicate. Barry's second device makes its first appearance.
January/February 2020 – Suzanne in Florida, gets spy pen, sees Libler Suzanne in Florida, SO gives her the spy pen during this trip. Suzanne records a conversation with Libler on this trip.
Late February 2020 – Suzanne in Florida, sees father and Libler. Suzanne skips out on time with her father to see Libler. Barry goes to Florida.
March 2020 – Spy pen records argument between Suzanne and Barry. “It’s money. It’s about money.” “… I have lived for years being told how I should feel, how I should act, how I should look, what I should drink, what I shouldn’t drink, what I should put in my body, what I shouldn’t put in my body … ”
March 20, 2020 – Jekyll and Hyde text exchange between Suzanne and SO, MM2 suggests restraining order. "It’s Jekyl and Hyde again … Pretty much told him I can’t be healthy and stay in this."
March 22, 2020 – Spy pen records Barry listening to Forensic Files episodes, call with Suzanne on drive to Pueblo Coincidentally one of the episodes involved a woman "disappearing" after a bike ride.
April 21, 2020 – Messages between Suzanne and Libler “I want to be with you,” “I can only be me with you,” I love you,” “I need you.” “You know I was born to love you.”
May 4, 2020 16:05 – Barry makes 3 second outgoing call to Suzanne This was the first logged call in Barry’s phone to or from Suzanne since February 7, 2020.
May 5, 2020 – Suzanne drives MM2 to Gunnison Suzanne drives Macy to Gunnison, CO to meet MM1 for a road/camping trip through Utah and Idaho with MM1's best friend.
May 6, 08:44 – Suzanne sends MM2 a text “Good morning! I miss you already!”
May 6, 10:13 – Suzanne: “I’m done. I could care less what you’re up to and have been for years.” From 14:43 to 17:00 Barry replied, “When I’m dead,” “Going to see my savior,” and “This life on earth is a mear (sic) grain of sand compared to eternity.”
May 6, 2020 – 14:43 – From Barry to Suzanne: “I’m sorry if things went the way they did. I have a problem dealing with the way you accused me of hiding checks. If you think I’m as terrible of a person to hide our accounts and have ones you don’t know about you don’t know me. All I do is for you and the girls. All. When I'm dead, which won't be long, you guys will be taken care of. Please stop being angry. If I can control my hurt heart I think I can overcome your distant unlovingness toward me. Honey, I swear it's the hardest thing I've had to do. I love you I always will.”
May 6, 2020 – 15:51 – Barry to Suzanne: “I promise you were wrong about all the crazy thoughts about me. I have always been faithful. Always. Why would I ever want another when I'm married to the most beautiful, sweet, kind, loving, woman as you? Only a fool would stray from an angel like you.”
May 07, 2020 – Suzanne messages Libler about how magical past days had been. Barry wants a new truck. 16:43 - “Been studying all afternoon. I’m gonna bike now. I’ve got veggie soup on for supper.”
May 7, 2020 – SB puts new tires on Suzanne’s bike Bike mechanic was interviewed by law enforcement.
May 7, 17:13:52 – Barry Works Out at GD’s House Truck log files place Barry at GD's home at 5:13 pm.
May 7, 2020 23:00 – “I finally got the job” text from MM1 goes unanswered. Q (Lindsey): Anything on May 6th that didn’t seem normal? Was there a text from Mallory to Mr. Morphew? A (Grusing): I believe that’s the night of May 7th. Mallory, Macy, and their friend Holly are out on a trip towards Utah and Mallory is sending pictures to both Suzanne and Barry but I was ... Read more
May 08, 07:03 – The Grievance List: Suzanne’s phone backs up a list of 50 reasons why she wanted to leave marriage on “Notes” Not safe alone with you. Can’t be trusted - Oppressive - Slam on brakes when angry - Threaten to jump out of car - Gun ...
May 08, 08:43 – “I will continue to do your invoicing when you need to.” "When FBI Agents showed Barry these texts during interviews in 2021, he said he did not think Suzanne was serious."
May 08, 09:28 – Suzanne texts sister about Barry’s abuse. “It’s hard dealing with the harsh abrasiveness and having to show respect. He’s also been abusive, emotionally and physically. There’s so much … I went thru a period of acceptance and I feel more angry now. Anger at what I’ve allowed.”
May 08, 10:55 Barry: “I Love You, Suzanne.” “But, in the afternoon, it (the text fight) was like it never happened. She texted me back and it was just like, ‘Hey, what time are you coming home? Hey, this or that. Just pick this up or pick that up.'”
May 08, 13:18 – Barry texts Salida Stove and Spa about getting the hot tub fixed. "Asking when he could come out to the home."
May 08, 15:43 – Barry’s iPhone receives an SMS message associated with the unknown device This second device was first used on November 30,2019 and was associated with Barry’s iPhone 91 times since then, compared to 1,701 associations with the primary User ID since November 2019.
May 8, 19:06 – Moonlight Pizza and Phone Calls Barry convinces Suzanne to meet him at the Tailwinds site before going to pick up Moonlight Pizza together.
May 08, 21:04 – 20 Facebook friend requests, 3 men named “Jeff.” Barry’s lurking at the River. Barry was asked about his phone pinging down by the river during the Facebook posts on Friday night and asked if he was outside. Barry said, “I could have been. I don’t remember. I chase critters around the house all the time.”
May 09, 00:02 – Incoming call on Suzanne’s phone (PH CAST) Incoming call on Suzanne’s phone (PH CAST)
May 09, 02:07 – Outgoing call on Suzanne’s phone (PH CAST) 02:07 am outgoing call on SM’s phone (PH CAST)
May 09, 06:00 – Barry’s phone received call (PH CAST) 06:00 am BM’s phone received call (PH CAST)
May 09, 06:46 – Barry’s phone registered “Power On” Comes out of Airplane mode.
May 09, 07:19 – Barry’s cell received signal (PH) Barry’s cell received signal (PH)
May 09, 07:22 – 07:39 – Barry at “Tailwinds” worksite Barry’s phone registered locations at his “Tailwinds” work site near Poncha Springs.
May 09, 07:35 – Suzanne texting SO Discussing Sheila's daughters wedding on Sunday.
May 09, 08:00 – MG was with Barry working on the rock beach site until 10am(?). Gentile: “He said that he had to go make the wife happy – do some hiking or biking.”
May 9 – Morning – Suzanne messaging Jeff “He’s still wanting Arizona.”
May 09, 09:50 – Barry to Suzanne: Want to go on hike? *Text Exchange\* Barry to Suzanne: Want to go on hike?
May 9, 2020 – 11:14 – Suzanne received a second password reset message from Facebook Previous reset was while Barry was down by the river on the evening of the 8th.
May 09, 11:15 est. – Barry tells Morgan Gentile he could “bury a body” and it “would never be found.” Gentile: “He seemed stressed. He definitely seemed weird on Saturday.”
May 09, 11:55 – Dead Turkey Hunt or Barry Takes Down His Trail Cameras Barry said he was looking for a turkey that Mallory had shot previously with a bow, but they had never found.
May 09, 13:35 – Barry leaves home again. Checked on job at Kim Gyms
May 9, 13:40(?) – Suzanne texts Libler Guess who is alone again?
May 09, 13:46 – Barry and the backhoe After texting, Barry drove by TK's house to see the backhoe, but did not get back in touch to buy it. In 2018, Barry used a backhoe to dig a large hole in his front yard, fill it with items to include furniture, and cover it over, planting alfalfa on top.
May 09, 13:51 – 14:13 – Barry at DSI, replacing Bobcat blade He was wearing a blue t-shirt and khaki shorts.
May 09, 14:03 – Suzanne sends sunbathing pic to Libler, last proof of life. “Well, look at her. She’s obviously drunk. Look at her eyes. Do you know what drunk eyes look like?
May 09, 14:11 – Suzanne sends last LinkedIn message to Libler: “I’m on wa.” Libler sent response messages at 2:39PM, 2:46PM and 2:47PM that Suzanne did not answer.
May 09, 14:26 – Barry texts Suzanne, “Done headed back.” He texted Suzanne that he was done and was headed home.
May 09, 14:31 – Barry texted Suzanne, “Did you leave.” At 2:31 PM, Barry texted Suzanne, “Did you leave.”
May 09, 14:39 – Libler messages Suzanne, she does not respond. First unread. Messages from LinkedIn show they were talking about how Suzanne is in love with Jeff before she went missing.
May 09, 14:43 – Barry’s phone and F-350, per telematics, arrive at the Morphew residence. "The photo is shown in the courtroom, Suzanne smiling. Truck GPS coordinates show Barry’s truck goes into park at 2:43:59. Phone coordinates show he walks around the house. You can hear a pin drop in the courtroom as tension is high." - Carol McKinley, PH Tweet
May 09, 14:44 – Shooting Chipmunks? Barry had a .22 in the moments when Suzanne ceased the communicate with everyone she loved in the world. Shooting Chipmunks? Barry had a .22 in the moments when Suzanne ceased the communicate with everyone she loved in the world. (See: https://www.reddit.com/SuzanneMorphew/comments/17lfboz/barry_and_the_chipmunks_aa_excerpts/ )
May 09, 14:46 – Libler messages: “Hey … your weather looks great” Second unread. No response from Suzanne.
May 09, 14:47 – Jeff sends another messages to Suzanne with no response. Third unread. Jeff sends last message if the day to Suzanne with no response.
May 09, 16:00 – 17:30 – Defense says Barry was at Salida Stove and Spa Salida Stove and Spa's posted hours have the store closing at 2pm on Saturday. Telematics show Barry's truck in his garage during the time he was supposedly at Salida Stove and Spa.
May 09, 16:44 – Barry parks his truck in the garage. Barry claims to have been loading his truck and cleaning off his workbench. (See: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&mid=1FSqlFRrywR8FkytAYkNM-bdSxvKVK5MP&ll=39.173623131314%2C-105.63244&z=8)
May 09, 17:33 – Barry’s truck system manually rebooted Barry attempted to disable the trucks GPS and SYNC features.
May 09, 18:40, 18:46 – SO sends two Snapchats to Suzanne that were never opened SO sends two Snapchats to Suzanne that were never opened
May 09, 21:25 – Barry’s truck goes into reverse, backs 96.8 feet down driveway Barry backs 96 feet out of the garage.
May 09, 22:17 – Barry’s Phone Exits out of Airplane Mode Barry's phone comes out of airplane mode at the Morphew residence.
May 10, 02:53 – Outgoing call on Suzanne’s phone Possible glitch.
May 10, 03:25 – 03:48 – Barry’s truck door opened and closed "SA Hoyland noted over eighty events involving the F350 during this timeframe."
May 10, 03:58 – Barry’s phone moves from home to near where Suzanne’s bike found 3:58 am BM cell moves from home to near 225/50 where bike found Carol McKinley PH Tweets (read from bottom tweet up): 431 am 5/10 Barry’s phone goes back into airplane mode at the his home. 5:37 am – morphew turns into buena vista & heads towards broomfield. 538 he texts his mom “happy ... Read more
May 10, 04:10 – 04:23 – Last Activity from Suzanne’s iPhone Sergeant Mullenax asked dispatch to ping the number given for Suzanne’s cell phone. Dispatch informed Mullenax that the cell phone appeared to be off and last known activity was at 4:23AM on the present date, with a general location about 11.5 miles west of a cell tower in Poncha Springs, CO.
May 10, 04:32 – Barry’s Phone Goes Back into Airplane Mode Barry's Phone Goes Back into Airplane Mode
May 10, 04:32 – 05:14 – Chasing Elk, or Staging Evidence? Barry's trip to Garfield adds an approximate five miles each way to his morning trip, and places Barry and his vehicle in the direction the helmet was discarded - west from the bicycle.
May 10, 05:00 – Morgan Gentile Hears Barry’s Truck on Hwy 50 Gentile stated she did not see the truck but that his truck has a very distinctive exhaust.
May 10, 05:14 – 06:56 – Barry on the road to Broomfield. Barry phone exits airplane mode while heading towards Buena Vista, CO.
May 10, 08:10 – Trash Dump #1 – RTD Bus Stop Hwy 36 Agent Grusing: "Yes. He would have time -- with the passenger door opening and closing -- like it would say passenger door opened at 8:10:36 am and then passenger door closed at 8:12:13 am. So it took about a minute and a half and that trash can is only 10 to 15 steps away from where the truck was parked."
May 10, 08:14 – 08:20 Holiday Inn Express, Broomfield. Trash Dump #2 Grusing: "He said he parked there because he hoped someone would come out and he could go in the hotel before checking in and get a free breakfast." (Note: It was mid-COVID lockdown, building capacities were down to single digits.)
May 10, 08:41 – 08:46 – “I made it to Broomfield call me when you get a chance” Barry texts Suzanne.
May 10, 08:46 – Barry carries items into the Holiday Inn Express “If there’s clothes in my truck, there was probably old clothes I threw away.”
May 10, 10:06 – Barry exits hotel room. He's carrying a charcoal long-sleeved shirt, two white bags, and a pair of boots.
May 10, 10:20 – 10:41 – McDonald’s – Trash Dump #3 SA Grusing said Barry had a small item in his hand and used one arm to push it down, then both to push it further down as Barry was shown the photos.
May 10, 10:47 – 11:18 – Men’s Wearhouse Trash Dump #4 Barry was told he was there for about 40 minutes and asked if he remembered what he was doing there. Barry said, “I think I was still cleaning my truck, umm, yeah, yeah I mean, like I said, I just uh, I would, I was probably getting crap out of my truck like I said, which I’ve done my whole entire life.”
May 10, 11:18 – Barry calls MG "Barry called he was out of breathe (sic) panting but fatigue, kind a like hungover but he doesn’t drink, honestly when I hung up I thought to myself he sounded like he had the worst night of his life.” - MG
May 10, 11:23 – 11:36 – Barry back at the HIE Barry carries in disorganized papers in a binder. Carries out an organized binder.
May 10, 11:57 – 12:25 – Barry at the worksite Barry spent 28 minutes removing a few blocks from the wall.
May 10, 12:28 – 12:41 – HIE Trash Dump #5 A camera recorded Barry throwing away: a small item, one white trash bag, larger in size than the previous bags in one hand, a black container, along with a piece of clothing, possibly a camouflage coat.
May 10, 12:42 – 18:03 – Barry remains in his HIE room. ”At 3:30PM, Barry sent an outgoing message to Suzanne 'Call me'"
May 10, 2020 (Time Unknown) – Libler wishes Suzanne a Happy Mother’s Day Commented that it would be a hard day because she missed her own mother.
May 10, 2020 – 15:30 – Barry texts Suzanne from his hotel room. At 3:30PM, Barry sent an outgoing message to Suzanne “Call me”
May 10, 15:50 – 17:45 – Suzanne is discovered “missing” “I’m just so sad and REDCATED and I texted mom for Mother’s Day and she still hasn’t answered and I’m scared her and dad probably got in a big fight and I don’t even know it just made me want to be gone even more because I don’t want to be around them it hurts me and I know if REDACTED is working I might have to be home a lot more and it’ll probably be the worst summer of my life.”- MM2 text.
May 10, 17:55 – 19:10 – Barry leaving Broomfield 6:10 pm - Barry entered the lobby carrying two shovels and placed them beside the front desk. He made subsequent trips, placing more tools in the same spot.
May 10, 19:31 – Chaffee County finds the bike “Something is up with the front tire,” Deputy Brown
May 10, 20:42 – Barry arrives at CR 255 & US 50 "Barry is heard asking if deputies saw any “cats” on the road and a deputy says not recently."
May 10, 21:37 – CCSO Commander Avila brings Barry into the house for scent items. Barry does not call out or look for his wife in the home.
May 10, After 21:47 – Barefoot prints in the Bobcat Bucket Deputy Brown was walking in the driveway when Deputy Defurio told him that there were barefoot marks inside of the bucket on the Bobcat. Deputy Brown went with him to examine and found that the cutting blade on the bucket of the Bobcat appeared to be newly replaced, along with the nuts and bolts.
May 10, 22:00 – MG and JP smell chlorine and have the wrong tools in Broomfield. “It looked like Barry had removed top caps that was it. We also did not have the tools we need like a packer or gravel.”
May 11, 2020 – First Interviews, Puma Path Searched "On May 11, 2020, at about 7:00AM, Barry called Morgan and said that Suzanne was missing and he thought a mountain lion may have attacked her. Morgan explained that Barry was initially crying but then abruptly shifted to the specifics about the Broomfield job."
May 11, 2020 – 14:47 – Libler sends last message to Suzanne. Wishing her well for her scheduled final cancer treatment that day.
May 12, 2020 – 20:00 – Barry found digging in the trash at Poncha Market “He went to write down a description of maybe what she was wearing,” Butala said. “I just thought it was weird because he didn’t explain what the color of her eyes were or her hair or anything about her, like how tall she was or anything.”
May 13, 2020 – Deputy Carricato took photos of scratches on Barry’s left arm and hands. These injuries appeared to be healing, several days old scratches.
May 13, 2020 – Fundraiser created $33,552 raised
May 17, 2020 – 11:13 – Barry’s “plea” video is released on Facebook. “Oh Suzanne, if anyone is out there and can hear this, that has you, please, we’ll do whatever it takes to bring you back. We love you, we miss you, your girls need you. No questions asked, however much they want – I will do whatever it takes to get you back. Honey, I love you, I want you back so bad.”
May 19, 2020 – Interviews, Pneu-Darts, Range Rovers "CCSO Deputy Scott Himschoot was present during the search at 19057 Puma Path, in the laundry room, and was asked to collect a “pneu-dart box, empty,” one plastic hypodermic cover, one Pneu-dart book from safe in garage, one dart from box under bench in garage, among other items. The plastic cover was located by evidence search teams in the dryer, inside of the sheets belonging to REDACTED bed." (At some point we had confirmation of a to-do list Suzanne left including MM1s bedding in hopes that the older girls would spend the night. Cannot remember the source.)
May 20, 2020 – Spy Pen found. "The pen was located in a cloth bin amongst women’s bras. The cloth bin and pen were inside the walk-in closet in the master bedroom, located on the ground level of the residence. Detective Hysjulien located, with the pen, the controller and headphones for playback and a USB cable."
June 1, 2020 – Barry files for guardianship. Within a month of Suzanne’s disappearance, Barry began to liquidate assets.
June 1, 2020 – TD interviews Barry on camera. "So, uh -- we uh --. We had two daughters that were coming home from a trip. And I got a job in Denver that I wanted to get started on on Sunday. Set it up for my work because my rookies are coming in Sunday night. (Unintelligible) Monday but I, being the owner, I wanted to get everything lined up so that (Unintelligible).
June 6, 2020 – Barry closes on IN home. Pockets $750,000
June 25, 2020 – Barry purchases the Longhorn Ranch property for $165,000 Property Address 8366 LONGHORN DR
July 13, 2020 – Barry sells Suzanne’s Range Rover. Leaves Suzanne's sunglasses in the car.
Aug 20, 2020 – Lauren Scharf Interviews Barry “People don’t know the truth, so they’re gonna think what they’re gonna think.”
October 05, 2020 – Barry lists Puma Path home for sale. Originally listed for $1,759,000.
November 2020 – Barry Commits Voter Fraud Barry filled out Suzanne's ballot and mailed it in.
February 17, 2021 – Barry Sells Longhorn Ranch property for $150,000 A $15,000 loss. Same property sold on 04/21/2021 for $175,000, indicating Barry needed the money fast.
March 3, 2021 – 19057 Puma Path sells for $1,625,000. Barry and Suzanne Morphew purchased the home on April 12, 2018 for $1,575,000.
May 4, 2021 – Warrant Issued for the Arrest of Barry Lee Morphew CRS/CHARGE: 18-3-102 (1), (a) Murder in the First Degree, a class 1 Felony, 18-8-610. Tampering with Physical Evidence, a class 6 felony, 18-8-306, Attempt to Influence a Public Servant, a class 4 Felony.
May 5, 2021 – 09:15 – Barry Lee Morphew Arrested for the murder of Suzanne Renee Moorman Morphew "Morphew was arrested around 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, May 5 near his home in Poncha Springs. FOX31 News has obtained video of the arrest, which shows his truck stopped on the side of the road near several police vehicles. He can be seen standing just off the road with an officer." AA: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21065843-21cr78-morphew-redacted-affidavit
August 9-12, 2021 – Preliminary Hearing. Day One: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15wZ86C3zQ6kh9VGOUCJcr0ipCoFeaXkdowmwyaruiIQ/edit?usp=drive_link
Day Two: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QKa1jcH2dAqe9Wezew-KbLCDuicrm1HgfwC4oGwM8Dg/edit?usp=drive_link
Day Three got corrupted so it's gone.
People's exhibit images: https://imgur.com/a/hgvlBUt Defense exhibit images: https://imgur.com/a/VC3ZfUZ
April 19, 2022 - Case against Barry Morphew Dismissed Without Prejudice. Prosecution asked for the case to be dismissed.
May 2, 2023 – Barry files $15,000,000 lawsuit against Chaffee County, et.al. https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/barry-morphew-lawsuit/73-3cea50c2-cdae-4338-8de9-9e113d33db6c
May 8, 2023 – Fraud Lawsuit filed against Barry in Indiana. Property dispute. https://denvergazette.com/news/courts/barry-morphew-sued-fraud-allegations-land-dispute/article_1c7cd90e-f4f5-11ed-9778-47c9c303d16d.html
September 22, 2023 – Suzanne's Remains Found Near Moffat in Saguache County While SCSO was searching for another (unrelated) missing woman. https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/suzanne-morphew-remains-found-colorado-missing-mother-barry-chaffee-county-disappearance/
Sept. 27, 2023 – Autopsy Completed. Awaiting Toxicology. https://cbi.colorado.gov/news-article/suzanne-morphew-autopsy-results-cbi-update-0https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/autopsy-complete-remains-missing-colorado-mom-suzanne-morphew/
April 29, 2024 – Toxicology finds BAM in Suzanne's bone marrow. “Homicide by undetermined means in the setting of butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine intoxication.” https://www.scribd.com/document/727780041/Suzanne-Morphew-autopsy-results https://www.cpr.org/2024/04/29/suzanne-morphew-died-by-homicide-with-tranquilizer-chemicals-present-in-body-according-to-autopsy-report/
Complete Case Overview (Official News Reports and Documents)
What Suzanne Left Behind (PH Exhibits)
Suzanne's Texts with SO Sept 2019
Barry's Unstableness: Suzanne's Text Conversion with SO September 1 (PH Exhibits)
Where was Barry on the 9th - Preliminary Hearing Exhibits
Barry and the Chipmunks (AA Excerpts)
Barry's dirty truck and poorly maintained rifle. PH Exhibits
Suzanne's Last Days - Timeline - May 4th - May 9th, 2020
Barry Buries a Body - May 10th, 2020 - Timeline
Barry Busy in Broomfield Part One (Preliminary Hearing Exhibits)
Barry Busy in Broomfield Part Two (PH Exhibits)

My suggestions: The new Colt Snake Eater line of 6 o’clock barrel revolvers, featuring titanium alloy frames and lock work, ordinance steel barrels. These include the new: - Colt Mongoose: 9mm - Colt Wolverine: .357 Magnum - Colt Bobcat: 10mm Auto - Colt Badger: a futuristic .357 Long Rifle; Rimmed - Colt Big Boss: the ultimate Snake Eater, chambered in .44 Magnum
What are some other cool name concepts for a hypothetical futuristic Colt revolver?

I am in the market for a new small game rifle. Squirrels, rabbit and maybe bobcat. I am down to the Henry H001TMRP: 20” octagonal barrel, lever action (large loop) or the CZ 457 American varmint (heavy barrel) bolt action. I’ll be putting a leupold VX-freedom 3-9x40 on it. Reach out to maybe 100 yards at most. Any suggestions on either? I already have a cz 457 American in 22lr and it’s a tack driver! Always wanted a Henry with the octagon barrel. About the same price for both. Both are beautiful rifles.

The Ballad of Billy Sagebrush (Six Rocks, Chapter 29)
First
"So you didn't come to see me?"
Somewhere in the galaxy there exists a creature that, when provoked, can kill simply by looking at the aggressor. Rhodten thankfully are not that species, but Gettret would have carved a hole through Chef Michael's head, the window behind him, and at least seven trucks parked outside. Te'yal, missing the murderous gaze completely, replied in kind.
"You'd make a tasty treat but I'm here for larger game." Te'yal mocked in return.
"Bigger game? In Six Rocks?" Chef Michael asked still oblivious to the danger he was walking into.
"Billy said he would be here today." Te'yal mocked, delight in the game of one-upsmanship plain as the fangs she bared in delight.
"Billy? You mean Sagebrush." Chef Michael said looking up from the grill.
Gettret's eyes were as cold as the late winter snow falling around them and Chef Michael decided to let Te'yal win this round.
"H.. ah, how are things going in Salt Lake?" Chef Michael stammered out.
"The Later Day Saints are opposed to the Rebb being..." Te'yal began before noticing the tension between Chef Michael and Gettret. "..but I'm sure we can work something out."
Gettret's eyes narrowed before she spoke. "Mike," she began in a soft tone, "have you cooked for Te'yal as well?"
Not accustomed to backing out of a challenge, Te'yal nevertheless chose to retreat.
/////
"Jealousy." Billy said with a chuckle. "The bane of every man's existence."
"It was still awkward." Te'yal replied.
"Running from a rabbit or being involved in the first place?" Billy asked.
Te'yal thought about it for a moment while finishing her beer. "To quote Chef Michael, 'Yes'."
"We humans often find ourselves in awkward situations." Billy opined. "Like this one time..."
"We were here to talk about that Satellite ranch." Te'yal interrupted.
"Well if you don't mind humoring an old man, that's where it took place." Billy said undaunted. "See, I had always had a fascination with cats."
"Excuse me?" Te'yal said cocking a dangerous eye at the cowboy.
"Well, my momma had a house cat," Billy continued " Maine coon, biggest housecat I ever did see. Friendly as all get out and so soft. This is when I was a kid still and I loved that cat. I would sit there for hours just petting that soft fur. My daddy wanted me to start learning the ranch at the time. One morning he woke me up early and told me to saddle the horses. It was before dawn and I was of a mind not to get my butt whupped, so I started saddling the horses. My daddy's mare let out a scream that would'a made the devil look around in panic. I thought it was momma's cat at first and I figured I had left the front door open. Before me or the cat knew what to think I had scooped the cat up and started to run for the door. Damnedest thing, it's fur didn't feel right. As I got into the light of the front porch my daddy let out a yell and I looked down to see a very pissed off bobcat about to rip my face off."
"Serves you right." Te'yal said.
"Yes ma'am, it did." Billy trudged on. "Thing is, I remembered how that bobcats fur felt as well. It was somehow softer and at the same more coarse. My daddy had purchased the ranch in question while I was healing up from the scratches and when I was sixteen he told me that he needed me out there. Up to that point I had never been anywhere but Baggs, Dixon and Savory, let alone in Colorado, but daddy packed me up and drove me to that ranch just outside of Sunbeam. He had put me out there to find some missing cattle. He thought it was rustlers."
Te'yal rolled her eyes and asked Sylvia for another beer.
"I'll take one too Sylvia," Billy said, "telling story's has a way of making you thirsty. So, I was out pretty late in the back corner near the little snake, wishing I could go home, when I heard a loud sound I ain't never want to hear again. Fearing for the cattle, I spurred my horse into a full on gallop to see what the devil was going on. I didn't see anything at first, but I did see bones. That's when it hit me."
"You realized then that you had a predator?" Te'yal asked about to take a sip.
"NO, the cougar jumped out of a cottonwood and knocked me off my horse." Billy said before thanking Sylvia and taking a sip from the freshly poured beer.
Te'yal shot beer out of her nose in surprise, and turned to face Billy.
"Damn thing fought me for hours. I don't think it was expecting me to fight back though. When it pounced I lost my rifle and all I had left was my knife. We took turns swiping at each other until it lunged and I had an opening to end it. I had it on its back and was going to kill it when I saw the kittens she was guarding. She had been killing our cattle to feed her young. Being young and stupid, I felt sorry for them, alond instead of killing her, I tied her up and carried her into town alive and still really pissed off. Sheriff thought I was crazy to bring a live cougar into town. After that I told my dad and we never parked cattle there again."
"I take it that's the epic "Billy and the Mountain Lion story?" Te'yal asked, puzzled.
"Yep, " Billy said, "I just thought you should know."
"Why?" Te'yal requested.
"Two reasons," Billy said, "I don't want any of the Kotoba to get as clawed up as I did."
"The other reason?" Te'yal asked.
Billy tried to hold back a grin as he spoke.
"I was wondering if your fur is like that cougars."

Season 1:
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Finale Pt. 1 Finale Pt. 2 Season 1 Ending
Season 2:
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
Context: Last season, your son, Danny, appeared to skip town. While you were searching for him, you were taken hostage by Aldo Mitzrati, a rather charming mobster, who revealed that your son had stolen from him. Worse, that he worked for him. Yet, you and Aldo hit it off, agreeing to a date and, well, the rest is history. You thought you’d put the past behind you. Buried it with your abusive ex-husband. But, tonight, another ghost from your past has resurfaced… and he’s your father.
Setting: Cael and Sandy’s Home
Tags:[MMMF4F][Son Speakers][Silver Fox Mobster Fiance Speaker][Bestie Speaker][Mother Listener][Reverse Comfort][Reunion][Ghosts From The Past][Confessions][Cute][TW: Mentionsof Poaching /Gun Violence]
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[D] = Danny, your son. Trying.
[A] = Aldo, your fiance, a delight
[J] = Julian, your youngest son
[S] = Sandy, your long-lost bestie, Cael’s wife, big gorl
[Scene opens at Cael’s house]
[SFX: A car pulling up and parking]
[You, Aldo, and the boys meander out on a slight path that winds into the country. Familiar farm air fills your nose as you all step out together]
[A] “We’re here! Uncle Cael and Aunt Sandy’s house! That means best behavior, boys!”
[J, in awe] “It’s beautiful… So peaceful… OH MY GOSH, THERE’S COWS!!!”
[SFX: Julian hurrying over to look at the cows / the cows sounding off if desired]
[J, almost in tears] “HELLO MY DALMATION SPOTTED GIANT BABIES! OH, YOU’RE SO CUTE, I’M GONNA PASS!”
[D] “Julian, be careful! They could be mad cows!”
[J] “THEY’RE BABIES!!”
[SFX: The front door opening]
[The front door swings open while you enjoy your boys taking in some farm life. Twenty-plus years later, you recognize your big, brawny bestie anywhere]
[S] “THE BEANSLAYER IS IN THE HOUUSSSEEE!!”
[Pause!!!]
[Sandy vaults down and you two exchange your secret handshakes]
[S] “OHHHHHH, THE DREAM TEAM IS BACK! Yo, this your man?”
[Aldo smiles politely, seeming perplexed his tall self has to look up at Sandy]
[A] “Aldo Mitzrati. Pleasure, Miss Sandy, I presume?”
[Sandy shakes his hand and your poor fiance masks a wince]
[S] “Hehe… Cael was right, you are infuriatingly good-looking.”
[A] “Thank you! I get told that often. Boys! Your Aunt Sandy would like to meet you if you can stop being fairytale princesses for a moment!”
[SFX: The boys hurrying over]
[J] “Wow… Uh… H-Hi, Aunt Sandy. It’s nice to meet you…”
[D] “Godamn, you are a LOT of woman!”
[Pause!!]
[D] “Ow ow ow ow! Ma, my ear! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’ve just never seen a lady that tall and muscular!”
[Sandy busts up laughing and claps Danny on the shoulder, hard enough that he nearly collapses to his knees]
[S] “Man, no filter! Just like your Ma when she was little! Hey! Beans, you remember that time you made that sexist math professor cry?”
[Pause…]
[S] “Whaaat? He totally had it coming! And you finding his Mom’s number and calling her in front of him and everybody? Nice.”
[D, baffled] “Whaaaat?”
[J] “Mom, you were…?”
[Julian lowers his voice like it’s a conspiracy]
[J] “...a delinquent?”
[Pause <3]
[D] “Dad always talked about you being so… mild-mannered and sweet…”
[Again, Sandy wheezes out a laugh]
[S] “Pardon??? Did that goofy bastard forget how you two met?”
[D] “At the Church function?”
[S] “...OK, come inside. I have some STORIES for you lot, hehe.”
[A] “Eheh… Be nice, Miss Sandy. She is expecting.”
[S] “Oh, don’t you worry about that. Beans know what she’s about. Sorry… Sugar Mama, hee hee.”
[Pause!]
[S] “You punch me in the tit, I’ll get you back! C’mon, Cael won’t be back for a bit. Time for some embarrassing stories!”
[Pause…]
[SFX: Everyone heading inside and settling in the living room]
[You get settled, smiling at the familiarity and at Aldo’s presence at your side. Sandy, once she’s flopped on the couch, wastes no time]
[S] “So, did she seriously never tell you the real story about how she and old Lozenge met? Heh! It was sublime!”
[Pause!]
[You try to hush her but your boys, all three of them, pull in closer]
[D] “The… Church function is what Dad said…”
[Sandy stares at him for half a second before she bursts into laughter]
[SFX: Sandy dying laughing]
[J, to Danny] “...I guess they, in fact, did not meet at a Church function…”
[S] “Hell no! The dumb bastard nearly caught a stray bullet or two during a shootout way back in our more chaotic years!”
[D & J] “WHOAAAA!”
[A, concerned] “Shoot… out…?”
[S] “Hell yeah! We volunteered on this conservatory land back home, and fucking poachers would try their luck all the damned time. We managed to hold the line most of the time but, this one night, some of Lozenge’s men decided to fuck around, and ohhh did they find out…”
[D & J] “Whhoooooaaaa…”
[Your old friend leans forward, eyes glinting with excitement]
[Pause…]
[S] “It’s three AM on a dark, misty night, deep in the forest! The bobcats and wolves both make a fuss, and one lone little lady patrols the space because her dumb friends are going to grab some cold ones. Next thing you know, some black Humvees rolled up and we just got the radio call…”
[She pauses, with her usual flair of the dramatics. Your boys lean forward. Even Aldo leans in a bit more]
[S] “And all we hear is… ‘...We have a convoy of black Humvees, subjects are armed. Over’. Now, immediately, me, Cael, and the others are pissing our pants! We broke the one rule you never break when it comes to poachers… You never, EVER, leave someone alone…”
[D] “W-What happened?!”
[J] “Did you die, Ma?!?!?”
[Pause <3]
[Julian exhales in relief until Danny elbows him]
[D] “Seriously?? ‘Did you die’??? How is she gonna be here helping you with laundry if she died?”
[Pause~]
[Danny rolls his eyes]
[D] “Surrre, you’re the Mom Zombie. The Mombie, if you will. Mmhm.”
[He squeals and jolts back as you make to ‘bite’ him]
[D] “Hey! Not funny, no pretending to cannibalize your own son!”
[Pause <3]
[J] “C’mon, Danny, don’t be a baby… I wanna hear the rest of the story…”
[D] “I’ll baby you, you toothpick lookin’-...”
[Pause.]
[D & J] “Sorry, Ma…”
[Sandy giggles]
[S] “Spitting images of you, both of those boys… But, to finish the story, apparently, Mr. O’Brien hadn’t authorized this little ‘activity’. So he comes storming on over, brow set, yelling the Heavens down when he realizes his boys are a teensy bit drunk and a whole lot disobedient. So, your mother managed to yank him out of harm’s way by his fancy tie and then opened the gates of Hell on those little toads!”
[D] “Dude… You manhandled Da-... Lorenzo?”
[Pause..]
[S] “Well, he was a lot nicer back then… Had the decent sense to go, “Oh, shit!” when he got tossed back… and, when it was all over, apparently he looked up at her, all in awe, and just said, “Godamn… You the angel of death or something slightly less sexy?”.”
[SFX: Danny mocking barfing noises / Aldo grumbling in well-intentioned jealousy]
[J] “Wow… That sounds so… unlike you, Ma…”
[Pause <3]
[Sandy slaps her knee and laughs]
[S] “Are you two kiddin’?! Mama Bear over here used to be one of the baddest bananas of the bunch! Little Miss Firearms once held ANOTHER shootout solo, THREE HOURS, one pistol and one rifle. We show up to help, right? Fearing the worst, and here ‘Sugar Mama’ is, holding the line! And she’s yelling, “FALL BACK! FALL BACK! FALL BACK!” to the idiots that came to save her!”
[D] “Whoa!!”
[J] “That’s insane…! Poachers take so many lives yearly!”
[S, with a grin] “We called her the Creep Slayer!”
[Sandy’s smile fades as quickly as yours does]
[S] “...Still wish I’d been able to sock that smug grin off his damned face… That smarmy asshole was always so damned proud that he’d managed to score someone like you…”
[Pause…]
[She shrugs, her usual self]
[S] “He was hot, though.”
[Pause!!]
[S, laughing] “Sorry! He was, though! He even got that big, silly heart tattoo on his chest for you! Clearly carried over to the boys, at least and, may I add, if I weren’t married to Cael, I’d be paying you good money to find me one of these pretty mafia boys, hehe.”
[J] “Aunt Sandy!”
[SDX: Danny losing his mind from trying not to laugh his ginger ale through his nose]
[Pause <3]
[Aldo snorts, good-natured]
[A] “I can certainly recommend some eligible bachelors, but I must respectfully inform you that I was the best on the lot and am a very happily committed man.”
[Sandy laughs again]
[S] “Boy, you do not know how lucky you got…”
[Aldo smiles and puts an arm around you]
[A] “Oh, I know… Doesn’t mean I’m not still in disbelief that a beautiful, intelligent woman like Sugar Mama here would give me a chance, especially…”
[He trails off, brow setting]
[A] “...all things considered…”
[The mood dips a bit, enough that even Danny notices]
[...Pause?]
[A] “...Yeah… I do think we need to take this somewhere private. Forgive me, Miss Sandra.”
[S] “Sandy. Call me Sandra again, I’ll blow your back out in a non-fun way.”
[A, with a whistle] “Whoo, lord! You got it, hehe. Do you mind if we use a spare room for a moment?”
[Sandy grins at you but you can’t stop the goblin energy]
[S] “Alright, but do try and use protection, this time, hmmmm?”
[Aldo snorts as you flip her off, escorting you back]
[A] “I might be a man of many miracles, but I doubt I can ‘double stuff’ my wife-to-be, so to speak.”
[D] “EWWWWWW!!!”
[J] “DAAAAAD! THAT’S INAPPROPRIATE!”
[Aldo looks at you in confusion until you whisper in his ear. Then, he promptly facepalms and shuts the door with a slight:]
[A] “For the love of-! Sandy, chase them for me, please!”
[S, with a giggle of malicious intent] “Ooohoo, can do!”
[SFX: Your grown boys shrieking as their auntie chases them / the door shutting and Aldo locking it]
[Pause…?]
[A] “...You didn’t do anything wrong, sweetheart, don’t worry.”
[Pause?]
[A] “I’m sure I do seem upset… I am, but… I’m having trouble articulating it… It’s not you, it’s not the boys, it’s not our baby, it’s not Sandy…”
[Pause?]
[Aldo paces for a moment before he just spits it out:]
[A] “I… don’t want to be a mobster anymore!”
[Pause…]
[He throws his hands up, freaking out a bit]
[A] “I know! I know… It affords us a great life, I can set my hours, I can spoil you and our boys, but-!”
[Pause…?]
[A] “‘Course I don’t think you’re just with me for those reasons… I know you aren’t so shallow… But we’ve got a bun on the way, and I’m… I’m terrified that ‘new baby’ and ‘mafia’ aren’t exactly the best choices…”
[Pause? <3]
[He shoots you a look, struggling not to smile]
[A] “Miss, if you start mothering me, you’re gonna give me a complex.”
[Pause??? <3]
[He laughs]
[A] “Alright! Alright… I’m a good husband and father. I am.”
[He nuzzles against you, hand resting gently on your stomach]
[Pause…]
[A] “...I have nightmares sometimes… About how badly I hurt you…”
[Pause…?]
[Aldo sighs, pained in a way you’ve never seen him]
[A] “Miss… I kidnapped you, put a bag over your head, and talked to you like you were some no-good thug’s girlfriend - no offense to Danny. And I know you don’t hold it against me, but… I hold it against me… I met the love of my life and I was almost no better than…”
[Pause…]
[A, voice cracking] “...I know I’m not… But I could have been. I don’t want to be that, never that… A killer? Fine. I did what I had to… but I refuse to be a man who turns that coldness inward on his own family… Julian, Danny and you have all suffered enough at the hands of the mobster lifestyle…”
[Pause…]
[He smiles, though it’s a sad one]
[A] “I know you’ll support me, no matter what I choose… You’re an angel like that, hmhm… The money isn’t a problem. I could afford to retire and take care of us the rest of our lives… It’s finding someone to step in for me and take over… Mom can’t do it anymore, bless her heart. Nikky has no interest in the work, and I have no ‘heirs’ I’d be willing to put forward…”
[Pause <3]
[A] “Heh… Yeah. We’ll figure it out… We’re pretty good at finding our legs while skydiving, aren’t we, my love?”
[Pause <3]
[A] “Hehe, oh, you like that? You do love your nicknames… Princess.”
[Pause <3 <3]
[A] “Hmhmhm, a blush! I do love a pretty blush from a pretty young lady. I like wrapping them in my arms even more… if they allow, of course.”
[He wraps you in his arms, more at ease]
[Pause <3]
[A] “...Wait. Hold on a second…”
[He straightens and you straighten with him]
[Pause…?]
[A] “...Sandy said that Lorenzo got a heart tattoo on his chest, right? Do you know if he ever got it removed?”
[Pause…???]
[Aldo thinks for a moment, brow set]
[A] “I… don’t want to alarm you… but the, ah, body left upstairs after that kidnapping…”
[. . . ?]
[A] “...There was no tattoo…”
[To be continued]
Note: Pictured: Live footage of Sugar Mama circa her late teens
Second note: I legit forgot that Captain Fordo yells “FALL BACK!” exactly three times :3 Also, that Regular Show “ohhh” is on purpose, because that is 100% what those two idiots sounded like back in the day.

Hi all,
I've been looking for this book for a while.
I can recall that it's set in Canada and is about two young men, one white, the other First Nations descent, who discover a hidden paradise in the wilderness. They spend a season making it a wilderness resort with various cabins.
Over the winter, they're trapped in their cabin and actually get cabin fever and come to blows. By this point, they have a pet lynx or maybe bobcat which they rescued somehow.
When they finally open up the wilderness resort, one of their guests is an American who brings several firearms with him, including an illegal high powehigh caliber rifle. One of the young men notes that it is illegal and the American responds with something like, "if you can get a mountie out here before I'm out of the country, I'll take my chances in court."
Eventually, he gets bored and is implied to start a wildfire to chase animals out where he can shoot them. The First Nations descent young man almost drowns him by pushing him into a lake or similar, but then saves his life. He retaliates soon after by mortally wounding their pet lynx, who dies in their hands.
Later, the friends use dynamite to close the area off and leave it in piece again.
I read this in the 1990s, I think, in suburban America. It may have been written well before that, the level of technology discussed in the book means that it could easily have taken place in probably any time between World War 2 and the 1990s themselves.
Any help is much appreciated. Thanks, all!

Hi all,
I've been looking for this book for a while.
I can recall that it's set in Canada and is about two young men, one white, the other First Nations descent, who discover a hidden paradise in the wilderness. They spend a season making it a wilderness resort with various cabins.
Over the winter, they're trapped in their cabin and actually get cabin fever and come to blows. By this point, they have a pet lynx or maybe bobcat which they rescued somehow.
When they finally open up the wilderness resort, one of their guests is an American who brings several firearms with him, including an illegal high powehigh caliber rifle. One of the young men notes that it is illegal and the American responds with something like, "if you can get a mountie out here before I'm out of the country, I'll take my chances in court."
Eventually, he gets bored and is implied to start a wildfire to chase animals out where he can shoot them. The First Nations descent young man almost drowns him by pushing him into a lake or similar, but then saves his life. He retaliates soon after by mortally wounding their pet lynx, who dies in their hands.
Later, the friends use dynamite to close the area off and leave it in piece again.
I read this in the 1990s, I think, in suburban America. It may have been written well before that, the level of technology discussed in the book means that it could easily have taken place in probably any time between World War 2 and the 1990s themselves.
Any help is much appreciated. Thanks, all!

I just bought a gamo rifle (swarm viper 10x gen3i .22) and im looking for a red dot and night vision scope for it. Gonna use the stock scope for dove/rabbit hunting when in season but need night equipment to protect my livestock from raccoons, coyotes, fox, and bobcats. I live in California and can’t use actual firearms because it’ll startle the neighbors, break barrel rifles suffice though and do get the job done 90% of the time.

Part 18
"...No, nothing alarming. We've kept them separated ever since their escape, except for supervised visits, once a month. There's some of the usual prison politics, but nothing concerning. Neither has any known involvement with the gangs that had sprung up."
"Wait," I said. "Gangs?" I went through my gun safe and eyed the options, eventually grabbing my AS50 and my M21. Each had an enchanted magazine and had been enchanted for silence and precision, including the patented Reticle Realignment Enchantment, or RRE that I'd developed for the group. I'd also added a few enchantments on the optics, ensuring that I could see through illusions, and which would display useful information about whatever was under the reticle off to the left. Each went into hammerspace.
"Yeah," the Warden of the Clarke County Detainment Facility said. "Same shit as any other prison, really. They group up, form cliques, then the cliques rub against each other, friction begins, sides get taken, the next thing you know, the cliques are gangs with names, rituals, leaders, the works."
Harold Peltier had been a warden in the federal prison system for twenty years before we hired him. He'd been a guard and an assistant warden for ten years prior to that. We'd interviewed his former employees, former coworkers, and even gone so far as to interview prisoners who'd known him. The one thing everyone had agreed upon was that Harold knew his shit. He was born for this. He got along with the inmates, knew when to enforce the rules and when to let stuff slide, knew how the prisoners acted and how to read their moods and intentions. He was smart, and had instituted reforms in the prisons he'd worked. Those reforms had reduced violence and recidivism. So I took his words very seriously.
"The whole process takes anywhere from a few weeks to a few years. The amount of conflict is really the determining factor, and it really helps if the cliques have a core group to form around. But neither of the Riviera sisters have any involvement. Uh, let me see here..."
I waited while the sound of a keyboard being typed on came through the line. I opened my magic weapon safe and rifled through, looking for anything that might be useful. I grabbed a pair of wands that each had ten charges of a particularly hot fireball spell.
"Caliope, the sadistic one. She keeps almost entirely to herself. She's got two friends, but she doesn't always spend time with them during the open hours. From what I'm seeing, it looks like it's about a crapshoot whether she'll stick to herself or hang out with one or both of them."
"Who are the friends?" I asked.
"Sheila Chandresekhar, a lifer. She's a former Astoram cultist who was transferred in from US Pen Atlanta after she got her hands on a spell and turned herself into a woman. Err, I hope I got those pronouns right. I'm still not good with this stuff. Anyways.
"Kind of a weird one, her. Apparently, she was able to continue to pass as male for a couple of weeks before they caught her and figured it out. Her and her bunkmate were involved. The bunkmate... He finished his bid and has come to see her three times. She's petitioned for conjugal visits, but she got into a fight last year, which torpedoed that.
"The other one is Sunny Gardens and... Holy crap, that's actually her birth name. Wow. She's doing five to ten, and she's three years in. Got denied parole last year because she was too palsy with one of the known gangs. She was picked up on a prostitution charge in New York city, but she blew fire at one of the cops, so we got called in to collar her for the trial. Judge sent her here. Kind of a dick move, really. She should be in a minimum security facility, really."
"Okay, what about the other sister?" I asked. I opened my closet and dug through the camping supplies, looking for anything that jumped out at me. Nothing really did. Ever since I'd had to send Brekka over here a few years ago to fetch my stuff because I was too upset, thinking that Inanna and the kids were dead, to do it myself, I have kept enough camping gear in hammerspace to ensure I'd be set if I ever found myself stranded anywhere.
"Griselda, the masochist," he said with a sigh. "She's a different story. Seven fights, including one where she stabbed another inmate with a shiv made from superglue and powdered soap. That woman was in the hospital for six weeks. She's been caught having sex with her bunkmate multiple times. I'll be honest, as far as that goes, I've had them stop doing reports on anything consensual. But I will tell you from experience that for every incident we see, there's ten more that we don't. So she's a thirsty girl. She's always got bruises and cuts, mostly self-inflicted. Her and her bunkmate are tight as ticks, and usually in trouble.
"That bunkmate is Rachael Bartmoss, a hacker who was using magic to cover her tracks. She's on a fifteen year bid, nine years in, and up for parole next year. Probably won't get it. I won't recommend it, anyways. Her relationship with Griselda marks her as a sadist. Anyways, those two are a clique of their own."
"I have a specific question," I said, "And I'll understand if you don't have a ready answer. But are either of the two what you would call social butterflies? Do they have little chit-chats with others that don't last very long?"
"Uh... Griselda, yes. That's how a lot of her trouble starts. She's a bit of a dealmaker, though too hotheaded to get good at it. She knows a lot of the inmates. As far as Caliope goes, I'll have to discuss it with some of the guards and get back to you."
"Please do that, I'm on my way," I said. "I'll be there in five minutes." I picked a pair of earrings out of Inanna's enchanted jewelry box. Little ruby studs. I put them through the holes in my ears that had never healed shut despite the fact that I hadn't worn earring since I was seventeen. It was a little tight, and a little uncomfortable, but I'd manage. The earrings could produce shapeable, scaleable walls of impenetrable force, about two dozen each before they ran out of fuel. And I could recharge them with my own wells.
"Five minutes? Aren't you way up in... Oh, nevermind. You can teleport without one of the mirrors."
The mirrors had been put on lockdown for all uses except the security team responding to the zombie attacks, so I understood his brief confusion.
"Yup. So, here's a more important question. When was the last time they visited each other, and when was the last time either had an outside visitor?"
"That's easy," he said. I heard him typing. "Their last visit together was this morning and... Here we go. Caliope had a visitor yesterday. Wendel Carrington. Give me one second... Okay. Wendel has a California driver's license, home address in Stockton... Looks like a townhouse. Date of birth is January thirteenth, nineteen seventy two, which makes him..."
"Sixty nine," I said.
"Nice, thanks. He's six foot one, a hundred and seventy pounds, black hair, blue eyes. Purpose of the visit was a family emergency and he said he's her second cousin, mother's side."
"Do you have footage of the visit?"
"Oh yeah. We have video and audio, plus those temporal playback records you came up with. Give me a second to pull it up."
I added a ring from my jewelry box, sending it to hammerspace. It would make the wearer a hulk, but once triggered, it only had about ten minutes of power before it shut off.
"Got it... Okay, here's something weird. Guy doesn't look a day over twenty-five."
"Let me guess, he's pale as a sheet, too," I said.
"You got it."
"Put the facility on lockdown. Authorization Lavender Bobcat, under my name."
"Done, but I need to warn you that we have some visitors touring the facility. Local sheriff and, uh... Director Johnson's father."
"Shit," I grumbled. "Pops is as hard as his son, but he's no spring chicken."
"Director Johnson ain't no spring chicken, either," Harold said, his voice wry.
"I know, but he's a demigod. Pops is a grumpy old dude with a gun."
"Well, my experience has been never to underestimate a grumpy old dude with a gun, but they'll be taken into the admin section for the lockdown. Unfortunately, they don't have any guns."
"You might want to fix that," I said. "And arm all the guards."
"This gonna be like that time we got invaded by all those screaming, four-armed swordsmen?"
"No, I suspect this is gonna be a lot worse. It'll start with a riot, and then come nightfall, I can pretty much guarantee that there'll be at least fifty or sixty thousand zombies and a whole bunch of vampires attacking from the outside."
"Shit, we've got eyes all over these woods," he said.
"The Group has a mole," I informed him without preamble. He should know, even though he likely didn't have the clearance. But I needed him to know.
He didn't say anything for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was quiet.
"I'll arm the entire guard staff, including the barracks with the military gear. I'll contact the State Department and let them know we expect a major attack. There's a Tarragon QRF north of Knoxville I have contact info for. I'll call them, too."
"Good. I'm leaving now. See you in a minute," I said and hung up.
"I can help you!" Dylan's voice called from upstairs. I stopped moving.
"I know you're still there, I could hear your whole conversation, and I didn't hear you teleport away."
I eyed the stairwell. Glared at it, really.
"I don't have any reason to help them," he called.
"You don't have any reason to help me, either," I called back.
"Look, would you... Would you just come up here?"
"I'm kind of in hurry, Dylan," I yelled.
"I'll make it quick, and worth it, I promise!"
I sighed. I summoned my Gen-12 Spear, made sure there was a round in the chamber (you could safe and clear it by removing the magazine and then ejecting, and since I didn't use my guns that much except for the range, and those two zombie attacks a couple months ago, I had gotten into the habit of keeping them stowed a little safer than just with the safety on) and then walked upstairs.
"Holy shit," Dylan said when he saw me in my battle rattle. My shemagh was over my head and I wore the same black plate carrier and charcoal BDUs I've always been partial to. It wasn't Group issue (we used multicam; you can't beat the classics), but I've been alone with the E-Girls for a while, and decided to go with something more comfortable. To him, I must look more or less the same way I did the first time we fought.
"Spit it out," I said. I considered putting a round through his head. The walls up here (and the floor and ceiling) were magical bullet-traps that would powder most rounds, and there would be no sound to disturb the neighbors.
"I'm not..." he sighed. He looked defeated again, the way he'd looked when I interviewed him in San Antonio after his failed assassination attempt.
"I'm not with them," he said. "I've got no reason to want a bunch of vampires and zombies to take over the world. I helped make these fuckers. I can help kill them."
"You don't have any magic left."
"I can still fight."
"As well as former green berets, SAS, FSK and various other tier one special forces, who've had extensive onboard training in DCM equipment and tactics?" I asked.
He stared. I know he knew how to swordfight. I think he knew his way around a gun. I mean, he should know his way around a gun. But honestly, getting flush with magic so that his healing ramped up to a point on par with mine and then just bullying his way through a fight was how I always pictured him.
"I can't use you," I said quietly. "I can't trust you."
I turned and walked downstairs. I heard him shouting. "I can help! Let me out of here, asshole!"
----
I appeared at the entrance to the admin facility. A pair of guards at the door jumped, but one of them immediately recognized me.
"Director Williams? The Warden is waiting for you."
"He got the word out that fast, huh?" I asked as he opened the door.
"He was barely off the radio when you appeared," the other one said. Together, they walked me down a hall, past a bunch of regular office doors with people visible through windows set in them. The people looked scared and nervous, and most were standing around talking, eyes darting around as if inmates would come screaming out of the ducts at them, any moment.
"What happens to the nonhuman wing when you lock down?"
"Same thing as every other wing, really. Prisoners are called back into the cells. The wing is scanned and any stragglers are tagged, then the guards come in and sweep through, scanning as they go, just in case. A headcount is done, and if all prisoners are accounted for, the physical lockdown happens. All doors and are sealed with two-inch thick, enchanted steel plates on either side of the portal. If the headcount is off, the relief force is called up and a manhunt takes place. Once the stragglers are located, then we do the physical lockdown."
"That's good," I said. "But what if you don't find one? What if there's an escape?"
"Never happened yet, but procedure is, once we confirm that the missing prisoners aren't hidden in the block, then the block is locked down and we start searching outside of it. First the grounds, then the forest outside. We enlist the local law enforcement and give them all the info, we call it in to the feds and HQ, as well. It's out of our hands at that point, unless we find them on the grounds or within a one-mile radius.
We reached a door and the guard who'd been answering me opened it. "The Warden is waiting for you."
I walked in and laid my eyes on Harold for the first time. He was of average height, a little overweight. He had dirty blond hair that was thinning on top. His gray eyes were set in a plain face that could have belonged to any typical office worker anywhere.
"Director Williams," he said, standing from his chair and extending a hand. I walked in and shook it as the guards pulled the door shut behind me.
"Warden Peltier," I said. "Pleasure to meet face to face."
"Let's stick with Harold for now," he said with a politician's smile. I smiled back. "And Jerry," I added.
He glanced at his watch as he sat down. "Three more minutes to finish the first headcount," he said. Then he turned the monitor around. I could see a young man in a black leather jacket, a white T-shirt and blue jeans there. He had long black hair and wore an abundance of jewelry. He was obviously a vampire.
"Definitely one of the vampires," I said.
"I'm sorry," Harold told me, turning his monitor back around. "If I'd had someone screening the visitors better, we could have caught him."
"There's research in the pipeline that would scan people for good intentions, but it's still several months off."
"Still. The guy's an undead monster with no soul, we-"
"Actually, it's possible that he did, in fact, have a soul," I said. Harold stopped.
"There's two kinds of vampires," I explained. "I just worked it out this morning."
"Shit, be sure to let the group- Shit... You can't... How did you know there's a mole?"
"It's known among the top executives," I said. "We found references to an insider who was feeding the cult information. Events since then have borne out the hypothesis."
"That's why we're still dealing with them," he said. I nodded. "Yeah. We'd have taken the cult apart by now, except every major offensive we plan, they've also planned. Or at least, that's how it's looked to me. I've been doing security on some individuals targeted by the cult for the past two months, so I'm a little out of the loop on stuff outside of that."
The door opened behind us and a gruff voice said "Jerry! How ya been, son?"
I turned to see Pops and a man who could have been Gary's brother, they looked so similar. The main difference was that this one had a mustache instead of a full beard, and he was overweight. He still looked strong, though. I recognized him from a couple of meeting during the early days of this compound. Clayton McConnell, Gary's third or fourth cousin.
I stood and shook hands. Unlike his son, Pops wasn't much of a hugger, except for special occasions. I wasn't sure this qualified, so a handshake did the job.
"So what's going on?" Clayton asked as they took seats.
"We have reason to suspect that a riot is about to break out," Harold said. "And there may be an attack from outside. The admin facility is the most secure location in the compound, so I had them bring you here.
"This about all them durned zombies?" Pops asked. I nodded to him.
"It is," I said. "We're very likely to see an attack by them here, I think."
"Heard there was more to it than zombies, too," Clayton said.
"There is. There are vampires involved. They're the ones controlling the zombies. I just learned this morning that there are two vampires in custody here, and that one of them was contacted by a vampire from outside, just yesterday."
Harold picked up his phone and hit a button. "Yes, can you bring me the guns we took from the admin visitors this morning? Bring some extra ammo from the stores, as well."
Clayton stood. "I got me a magic rifle in my truck. Never runs out of ammo. Got it from Gary." Harold eyed him, covering the phone's mic, then removed his hand.
"And send in three guards right away. They're to escort one of the visitors to his truck and back. Thank you."
He hung up the phone, and almost instantly, an alarm began to sound. Harold worked his mouse and keyboard for a moment before speaking.
"Eighteen prisoners unaccounted for in the headcount. Ten from the women's ward, eight from the men's ward. So much for getting your rifle before the shit hit the fan." He flashed Clayton an apologetic look.
"I've got guns," I said. "I'll arm them."
"That bad, eh? Need all the help y'all can get?" Pops asked, his eyes boring into mine.
"Probably worse," I admitted.
Part 20

We had a bad bunch of poachers near here for years. Hunted wherever they wanted when they could get away with it. One winter, the snow was so heavy, we were using the county road to carry hay to feed cows. Only our set of tracks in and out on the road, which borders our property several miles to the back side. There was a couple does and a small buck in a creek bed, hunkered down from the cold. After we dropped hay and came back out, we met a truck on the road, and recognizing them, we just looked and nodded our heads. 2 miles down the road, we came to the creek bed and all four deer were laying dead. Only the little buck was touched, where they’d cut the head off. Dad and I were livid. Had too much to do to go chase ‘em down, but Dad called one of his friends that was a game warden at the time. Not long after, we had a baby calf get shot in the face. Lost his nose shortly in front of the eyes. Just his bottom jaw sticking out… had to put him down, as there’s no way they’d ever eat like that. I was angry. The one emotion I knew all to well.
Fast forward a few months, and guess who shows up spotlighting off the road? I had been preparing for this moment for a while… a crate full of surplus .308 ammo, using tungsten cores, donated a few rounds to the cause. 147gr FMJ bullet, pulled and loaded in an old 300 Winchester Magnum, producing some questionably accurate but very fast and extremely angry ammunition. The perfect gift for interlopers.
Skulking across the hills under darkness, I came to a place that would work nicely. The typical story with these guys, they’d spotlight and shoot whatever they came across up and down the county roads. Coyotes, deer, coons, bobcat… they didn’t care. Even stray dogs and cats were fair game for these bastards. They’d travel down this old backroad spotlighting all the way. First sign of headlights, and they’d scamper off through a gate or hide in a creek. Hadn’t been caught yet, and their dad was proud of them. But underhanded fellas get treated in an underhanded way.
They’d passed and gone by the time I’d gotten set up. But they’d be back by in a bit. So I waited. And sure enough, in an hour or so, here they came back. A spotlight out both windows. I was hard to be patient. But they came along just right, and flashed a light out across the pasture, catching a small mirror in the grass, a mechanics mirror stuck in the ground in front of a brown feed sack. Looked just like a cat or coyote’s eye.
I could hear them talking…”Hey! What is that? It’s huge! Get your rifle!”
Oh sweet justice, come to me… I was focused and rock steady in my scope, finger just touching the trigger…. a distant pop, and a deafening boom, followed quickly by a flat slap of steel hitting steel. A quick reload to follow up if I needed, but it was unnecessary. The confused cussing and the quickly dimming lights told me what I wanted to know. A starter tried but failed, and a pleasant knocking sound of metal on metal met my ears. A beautiful sound of profanity at the realization that their truck wouldn’t start.
Back at the house, my dad had listened patiently. The sound of the old Winchester was familiar to him. He smiled and looked at the distant hills. A flashlight on one distant hill flashed twice. He answered in kind, and the distant light tapped out a code: - . - . , . - , . - . . , . - . .
He flashed twice and went back in to use his phone. The game warden showed up to assist our friendly neighbors shortly after. Minors in possession (alcohol), spotlighting from a county road, shooting from a county road (there was a hole in a paper sack), wanton waste of game, hunting out of season, expired registration, confiscated firearms, forfeited licenses, and several other things I can’t remember, plus a non running vehicle getting towed.
The warden was most impressed… he’d never seen an engine block shot completely through before. Strange how that didn’t make it into his report, though.

First Previous Next
"So you didn't come to see me?"
Somewhere in the galaxy there exists a creature that, when provoked, can kill simply by looking at the aggressor. Rhodten thankfully are not that species, but Gettret would have carved a hole through Chef Michael's head, the window behind him, and at least seven trucks parked outside. Te'yal, missing the murderous gaze completely, replied in kind.
"You'd make a tasty treat but I'm here for larger game." Te'yal mocked in return.
"Bigger game? In Six Rocks?" Chef Michael asked still oblivious to the danger he was walking into.
"Billy said he would be here today." Te'yal mocked, delight in the game of one-upsmanship plain as the fangs she bared in delight.
"Billy? You mean Sagebrush." Chef Michael said looking up from the grill.
Gettret's eyes were as cold as the late winter snow falling around them and Chef Michael decided to let Te'yal win this round.
"H.. ah, how are things going in Salt Lake?" Chef Michael stammered out.
"The Later Day Saints are opposed to the Rebb being..." Te'yal began before noticing the tension between Chef Michael and Gettret. "..but I'm sure we can work something out."
Gettret's eyes narrowed before she spoke. "Mike," she began in a soft tone, "have you cooked for Te'yal as well?"
Not accustomed to backing out of a challenge, Te'yal nevertheless chose to retreat.
/////
"Jealousy." Billy said with a chuckle. "The bane of every man's existence."
"It was still awkward." Te'yal replied.
"Running from a rabbit or being involved in the first place?" Billy asked.
Te'yal thought about it for a moment while finishing her beer. "To quote Chef Michael, 'Yes'."
"We humans often find ourselves in awkward situations." Billy opined. "Like this one time..."
"We were here to talk about that Satellite ranch." Te'yal interrupted.
"Well if you don't mind humoring an old man, that's where it took place." Billy said undaunted. "See, I had always had a fascination with cats."
"Excuse me?" Te'yal said cocking a dangerous eye at the cowboy.
"Well, my momma had a house cat," Billy continued " Maine coon, biggest housecat I ever did see. Friendly as all get out and so soft. This is when I was a kid still and I loved that cat. I would sit there for hours just petting that soft fur. My daddy wanted me to start learning the ranch at the time. One morning he woke me up early and told me to saddle the horses. It was before dawn and I was of a mind not to get my butt whupped, so I started saddling the horses. My daddy's mare let out a scream that would'a made the devil look around in panic. I thought it was momma's cat at first and I figured I had left the front door open. Before me or the cat knew what to think I had scooped the cat up and started to run for the door. Damnedest thing, it's fur didn't feel right. As I got into the light of the front porch my daddy let out a yell and I looked down to see a very pissed off bobcat about to rip my face off."
"Serves you right." Te'yal said.
"Yes ma'am, it did." Billy trudged on. "Thing is, I remembered how that bobcats fur felt as well. It was somehow softer and at the same more coarse. My daddy had purchased the ranch in question while I was healing up from the scratches and when I was sixteen he told me that he needed me out there. Up to that point I had never been anywhere but Baggs, Dixon and Savory, let alone in Colorado, but daddy packed me up and drove me to that ranch just outside of Sunbeam. He had put me out there to find some missing cattle. He thought it was rustlers."
Te'yal rolled her eyes and asked Sylvia for another beer.
"I'll take one too Sylvia," Billy said, "telling story's has a way of making you thirsty. So, I was out pretty late in the back corner near the little snake, wishing I could go home, when I heard a loud sound I ain't never want to hear again. Fearing for the cattle, I spurred my horse into a full on gallop to see what the devil was going on. I didn't see anything at first, but I did see bones. That's when it hit me."
"You realized then that you had a predator?" Te'yal asked about to take a sip.
"NO, the cougar jumped out of a cottonwood and knocked me off my horse." Billy said before thanking Sylvia and taking a sip from the freshly poured beer.
Te'yal shot beer out of her nose in surprise, and turned to face Billy.
"Damn thing fought me for hours. I don't think it was expecting me to fight back though. When it pounced I lost my rifle and all I had left was my knife. We took turns swiping at each other until it lunged and I had an opening to end it. I had it on its back and was going to kill it when I saw the kittens she was guarding. She had been killing our cattle to feed her young. Being young and stupid, I felt sorry for them, alond instead of killing her, I tied her up and carried her into town alive and still really pissed off. Sheriff thought I was crazy to bring a live cougar into town. After that I told my dad and we never parked cattle there again."
"I take it that's the epic "Billy and the Mountain Lion story?" Te'yal asked, puzzled.
"Yep, " Billy said, "I just thought you should know."
"Why?" Te'yal requested.
"Two reasons," Billy said, "I don't want any of the Kotoba to get as clawed up as I did."
"The other reason?" Te'yal asked.
Billy tried to hold back a grin as he spoke.
"I was wondering if your fur is like that cougars."

There ain't no such thing as a free lunch or a black powder rifle in this case. My free CVA Bobcat is still going to cost me $200 in accessories before I can shoot it.
I'm not complaining, in fact I find it amusing. At first I was thinking all I'd need was some #11 caps and off I'd go. The only place I could find them had $25 flat shipping so I added 200 round balls to make the shipping cost more palatable.
Then I realized I'd need a powder measurer. I added a funnel that goes onto the end of my Pryrodex bottles to avoid spills while filling that tiny measurer. Oh and a bullet starter wouldn't be a bad idea so I don't break my ramrod.
Then I saw the range rod, the cleaning attachments and loading tip. And last, for now, was the nipple wrench and cleaner.
Now I'm set! I think...
Well at least until I run out of powder. I do have 2 open bottles of FFg, equaling maybe slightly more than 1 whole bottle.
If you made it this far, did I miss an accessory that I should get?
​
​

Part one: https://www.reddit.com/MurderDronesOfficial/s/e2oQt8KZTw
Part two: https://www.reddit.com/MurderDronesOfficial/s/uwTpzCWEhF
After walking back to camp, I began to set up a fire. The sun had gotten very low now, and the sunlight had nearly run out. After eating and drinking my dinner of spam and water, we sat around the fire in silence. Then, Jessica spoke up, "John... are you sure you can do this?" she asked, seeming cautious of my reaction. Seeing her look almost scared of me hurt me deeply. "Jessica, if this is about what happened at the shop, I am so incredibly sorry, but I could have sworn there was something there," I explained. "And I believe you! I'm just worried you might have overreacted to it," Jessica continued.
I knew for an undeniable fact there was a drone behind her. I just wish I could have hit it; I had never seen anything like that before, but there was no point arguing this with her. "You're probably right, I was just scared," I once again admitted defeat. "Well, thank you for looking out for me, John. No one has ever done that kind of thing for me before," Jessica expressed her gratitude. The sun began to set, and Jessica and I returned to our sleeping bags. Tomorrow, it was time to begin the trek.
Waking up, it was still dark, and I needed to relieve myself. Waddling into the woods to the nearest bush, I pondered how dangerous this could be, considering Jessica might get hurt. I wouldn't be able to endure it without her, but the thought of being the cause of her harm or death haunted me. Finishing up, I began walking back to my sleeping bag to finish the night, and to my surprise, Jessica had moved her sleeping bag right up to mine.
Seeing this made me smile, and so I went and laid down beside her. She had her back to me. She then scooted back up to me, and I slowly placed my arm around her and gripped her tight. My heart was beginning to flutter, and I felt truly safe for the first time in a long time. "I love you, John," Jessica whispered. "I love you too, Jessica," I returned. What followed was the most fulfilling sleep I've had in my entire life.
Unfortunately, it had to be cut short by the dawn. I awoke, Jessica still in my arms and the sun on my face. Standing up, I began packing everything. While I was doing so, Jessica woke up and began to help. "Good morning, Jessica," I greeted her. "Good morning, John, I slept well last night," Jessica returned my greeting with a smile. "Are you ready to get started?" I asked Jessica. "I think so, but we won't really know unless we do it, will we?" Jessica responded. Her response did make me think, though. What if we are jumping into deeper water than we think?
The figure I saw behind Jessica yesterday was completely new. What if there are more of them? What if it comes back? Thoughts like that had to be suppressed, for this was a must. As we packed the last of our things, an animal began crying out in the distance. Slightly startling both of us. "Poor thing, a coyote or bobcat must have gotten to it," I expressed my sympathy for the animal, but I suggested we investigate it just in case there was a chance we could get some meat, and Jessica agreed. Walking in the direction of the animal with my rifle drawn, we came up to a wooden cabin.
The cabin looked old but not in disrepair. The door to the cabin looked like it had been ripped off, and there were scratch marks all over the exterior walls. "What the hell happened here?" Jessica asked. We continued walking toward the gaping door, and upon approach, we noticed there was a blood trail starting on the steps; the blood led into the house. "Jessica, take this, don't be afraid to use it. If something comes at you, blast it," I handed Jessica my rifle. "John, this is a bad idea. What if there is a bear in there?" Jessica expressed her concern about going into the small cabin.
Attempting to calm her nerves, I hugged her. "It will be ok, that's why we have these," I said, gesturing towards our guns. Together, we slowly crept through the cabin door to find no predator in sight. The only thing inside was the gruesome carcass of a deer. It had been killed very recently. "I guess that's what we heard, but what killed it?" I pondered. Stooping down, I began to investigate the corpse.
The neck had been slit halfway through. It looked very surgical, and there was almost no blood in the cabin itself. "No animal could have done this. Keep vigilant. I think there is something else out..." Jessica cut me off before I could finish. "John... look at this..." Jessica tapped me on the top of the head, and looking up, Jessica was pointing to the wall. Pointing my flashlight to it, the wall revealed a message written in the blood of the deer. "What the hell?" I gasped out in surprise. On the wall was a three-letter message in binary code.
I still had a book in my pack I used to assist Jessica with her leg, and there was a section in the book about binary code and how to read it. Looking through the book, I began deciphering. "What does it say, John?" Jessica asked. "Hold on, I've almost got it." I responded. "C is the first letter, Y is the second, and N is the third..." My heart begins to race. I remembered that name.
I hadn't heard it in years, but that name has always been in my head. My breathing began to quicken, and my pupils dilated. I began slowly backing out of the cabin. "John, what's wrong?!" Jessica began pleading with me to stop and say something. "John, stop, please, you are scaring me!" Jessica continued. My mind was fogged, and I continued to walk backward until I stepped too far and fell off the steps, knocking myself unconscious.
When I awoke, I was on the cabin floor. Jessica asleep at my side. "Jessica," I whispered. Raising her head and finding me awake, she immediately jumped up and wrapped her arms around me. "John! Thank god you are ok! You had me worried sick," She celebrated. The sun had already passed its peak, prompting me to ask, "Just how long was I out for?" I got up and began to find a way to light the lanterns in the room. "You were out for nearly three hours. It was torture..." Jessica responded, obviously still worried about me.
I took one of the lanterns I lit, and we walked over to the table where there were two chairs and sat. "What happened, John? Why did you panic like that?" She started probing for answers... answers I hadn't given yet... answers I didn't know if I could even give. Looking at my mother's revolver, I realized it was time to finally come clean to someone about this. "I've never told anyone the real reason I was the head of engineering at JCJenson..."

I was 12 years old and I had just gotten my hunting license the previous summer. I come from a long line of seasoned hunters, my dad especially. Even before I could hunt I’d been going to deer camp with my family my whole life. I was hyped though, I’d been waiting for this forever and I knew my dad was excited to share the experience with me as well.
It was the first day of opening weekend and me and my dad got up probably around 3:30ish. We ate breakfast, got geared up, and set out for the stand. It was pitch black, windy, and bite ass cold that morning. We pushed on anyway, my dad leading the trek and me desperately trying to keep up. The stand was probably a mile or two away from camp and I was exhausted. The stand was well up in the air and we had to climb a ladder to get to it. It was pretty nice though, at least for a hunting stand. It was a little box, just big enough for two people, waist high walls on the three sides the entrance wasn't on, and it had a roof so we were living lavishly by hunting standards.
We got set up and then we sat, and waited, and waited, and waited, and then we heard it. It had to have been far away still at that point but just hearing it made me shit my twelve year old pants. It sounded like a distorted woman screaming in agonizing pain far off in the distance, elongated as it echoed through the forest. I was tweakn for sure but I wanted to look tough for my dad so I tried not to show it. He saw straight through me though and put his arm around my shoulder and told me, “It’s alright buddy, it’s just a bobcat. They sound just like a woman screaming when they get feisty. Creepy as all hell but won’t bother us.” I nodded and started to relax, after all he’s a seasoned hunter, he’d seen it all.
A couple minutes went by and everything seemed normal, just the sounds of the birds waking up. The sky was less of a black at this point and more of a dark purple as the sun was just beginning to rise. Right as I finally started to chill out we both heard it again, closer this time. Not right on us but making ground towards us for sure. This time even my dad jumped. It sounded like a woman screaming still but as it got closer it sounded more and more unnatural. I looked over at my dad and he looked at me, “It's probably hunting something, just like us right.” he said, still trying to make me believe it was a bobcat. He went as far as to try and laugh it off but even at 12 years old I knew he was bullshitting me. We both went back to sitting and waited but the silence was tense. Looking back now he was definitely as freaked out as I was at that point. Maybe another half hour went by and the sun was up enough to provide enough light to see figures and shapes but not quite details. I sat there totally on edge, every sound was unnerving, sending shivers down my spine. That’s when shit really hit the fan. We heard the scream again but now it was all around us. It was loud, shrill, and ear piercing. There was still a resemblance of a fans scream but it was much more beastly and unnatural. Whatever it was, it was right next to us somewhere.
I tried to hide and bury my face in my dads side as tears of fear were welling in my eyes but at the sound of the scream he stood up and shouldered his rifle. He put the scope to his eye and began surveying the trees surrounding us. He slowly started scanning the area from left to right. I kept whispering to him that I wanted to leave, begging him, but he ignored me and kept looking. He kept pivoting his body away from me until he stopped, rather froze. I heard a sharp exhale leave his mouth and it was the first time I ever saw my dad genuinely terrified. I wanted to ask what he saw but I didn’t want whatever was out there to hear me. I watched him flick the safety off his gun, his hand was shaking while he did it. I watched his finger move to the trigger as he took a shaky breath.
Right before he pulled the trigger branches snapped in the direction he was aiming and he quickly stumbled and fell backwards. “Dad what is it, what’s out there!” I whispered through my tears. He ignored me, quickly shouldering his gun again and looking back where he had been before. He searched the area for a bit, mumbling curse words under his shaky breath. He lowered his gun and hung it over his shoulder with the strap. He looked at me trying to be calm so as to not scare me more but I could see right through him. He put his hands on my shoulders. “I’m gonna climb down first, then you follow, and we’re gonna go back to camp.” He tried to be reassuring but the terror was piercing through.
“Dad, I don't wanna go down there.” I cried softly.
“Hey, it’s gonna be ok I promise.” He smiled, “Just follow after me and we’ll get back.”
“Ok.” I responded sniffling
He nodded and began climbing down the ladder. Once he got to the bottom he shouldered his gun and scanned the tree line again, pausing where he had been aiming before. He lowered his gun and waved me down. I climbed down as fast as I could. Once I got to the bottom he picked me up and ran. He ran two ish miles all the way back to camp carrying me and never stopping. When we got back he put me down in the cabin and locked the door behind us.
He turned around from the door and we stood face to face and I asked him through tears “Dad what was out there?” He looked at me, he was still colorless in his face. He didn’t answer me though, instead he took a step towards me, dropped to his knees, and hugged me. He hugged me for a long time.
Nine years later he still hasn’t told me. For a little bit people used to crack jokes and make fun of him and say he was hallucinating or that the darkness was playing tricks on him but soon after people found it best to just not bring it up. My mom worries about him and told me about all the medication he needs just to sleep and that he says he’s “afraid he’ll see it in his dreams.”
Regardless of what it was, that was the last time either of us ever went hunting.

So I had a dream last night, it wasn't really long neither short. It was in the middle, the dream took place at a family vacation cabin at my grandfather's childhood farm. Around the cabin is some woods but the road it leads to is surrounded by fields but enough of that let's get to the dream.
It was a normal night I was playing pool game with my girlfriend while we just talked about hunting and what my grandfather would want for the future of the farm. And all the sudden a light filled the cabin and disappeared in a flash, it was like a flash of lighting but no sound at all. Something told me to look behind me and I saw a light off in the distance. I thought it was a trespasser and with bobcats in the area I grabbed a rifle for safety and walked out to the gate that locks up the place while we are not there I watched the light off in the distance as it blinked the light reflected off the ground and trees despite it looking like it was a mile away. My girlfriend asked what it was but the light made me stand in shock and awe and then the light blinked but it didn't come back and a groan. A inhumane groan coming from where the light was and then before anything else happened I woke up
Strangest dream ever.

Things I expect to get for GTA6 single player:

1. lighting and physics on par with RDR2 or better.
   
2. A large amount of wildlife including rats, rabbits, squirrels, multiple bird species, alligators, bobcat, deer, fish, turtles, snakes, boar, cattle, horses and sharks and plenty others
   
3. Better story, I think it will be as good if not better than RDR2
   
4. Lots of weapon variety with a heavier focus on customization and the sound/feel of individual weapons.
   
5. Beautiful scenery like in RDR2 and photo mode to capture them.
   
6. NPC’s do other things than just run away if you pull your weapon on them, they might just charge you or dive out of the way or pull a weapon on you
   
7. More stranger missions that connect to the story rather than being completely seperate
   
8. More in-depth weather system with more variety and better lighting
   
9. A health/stamina system similar to RDR2
   
10. Purchasable safe houses around the map
    
11. Weapon degradation
    
12. Saving created outfits and storing them in your vehicle
    
13. More interiors such as bars, restaurants, casinos, hotels, arcades, car dealerships, pawn shops, banks, racetracks, nightclubs, safe houses, car washes, etc.
    
14. High population of vehicles and pedestrians during day and low population at night.
    
15. For the love of God include turn signals for NPC vehicles and keep the shitty drivers to a minimum.
    

Things I wish to see in GTA6 Single Player

1. Loot/crafting system
   
2. A separation of online and story so that story has a chance to get story dlc or whatever updates which would mean probably having a different map for online idk
   
3. Levolution/construction RDR2 has a bit of it with things in the map changing throughout the story and I’d like to see it return in VI so maybe a skyscraper like the mile high club building in los santos could be under construction at the start and be completed by the end of the story, or maybe during a story mission you cause a serious explosion and it levels a city block or a highway exit being built and finished later, things like that
   
4. Greater emphasis on alternate means of transport…. Maybe a small airfield like sandy shores could offer taxi rides, a subway system that’s worth taking and has easy access around the map, a bus route, Ubers, rentable electric bikes/scooters, rickshaws, dare i say horses…. and this is super wishful thinking but skateboards like in BULLY and obviously I’d like regular taxis but those are expected.
   
5. Better gunplay and customization, I’d like each weapon to sound and feel unique and have pros and cons so you don’t just stick to the same smg/pistol/rifle the whole game, also lots of camos unique to the weapon, and a decent gold camo please, more options for attatchments like laser sights and underbarrel attatchments like smoke grenades or shotgun.
   
6. It’s always been a bit tanky in the controls department as so can we please stop relying on an auto aim system at least have the option for a more traditional style 3rd person controls like in Resident Evil 4 Remake.
   
7. A more detailed in-game map. I’ve always wanted to see gta have a satellite map or at least the map that comes in the discs case instead of a black and gray traffic style map. At least have the option to switch between the two so you can see landmarks and such. Or you could access it online on your phone in-game or something and look at it like Google maps and see the street views lol
   
8. Purchasable or rentable properties such as High end apartments, houses, cabins, motels, homeless shelters.
   
9. In depth car customization Create your own decals/liveries, choose tire width and tire treads that actually differ a substantial amount, rim size, manual transmission option for drift fanatics like myself, body kits and all cars should have the remove spoiler option!!!!
   
10. Gun holsters Modern side holster, concealed holster, or just holding your pistol in your waist or your back like gangbangers.
    
11. Weapon unlock system Challenges to unlock attachments and camos and new weapons.
    
12. Casinos in storymode with actual gambling like in San Andreas.
    
13. More side activities like darts, arm wrestling, dice, billiards, golf, go karts,
    
14. More immersive world with things such as:
    

NPC’s parking in driveway and entering their homes
NPC’s carrying things like groceries or luggage
NPC’s using alternate transport like bicycles or scooters
Police walking around city and seeing cop cars in free roam
Dynamic random encounters in the world (events that just happen in the game once a week or month in-game time) Possibilities include:
Protests/large gatherings, npc car accidents, police crime scenes, construction blocking certain roads, outdoor concerts, burning buildings with fire truck response etc.

1. Option to surrender to police and get arrested like in RDR2, your incentive for doing that would be you would lose all your weapon ammo but you’d get to keep all your gathered loot that isn’t stored in your larger loot box which would probably be your car, so vis-à-vis if you die you keep ammo but lose all your gathered loot on hand.
   
2. personal mechanic with a daily fee like in gtav online but for story mode
   
3. Greater emphasis on police mechanics
   

Id like witnesses to be able to give partial descriptions to police which would only lead the police to the area of the crime making it easy for the player to evade them
Full descriptions of the player would lead to them being able to find you easier which would almost always end in a car chase or a shootout

1. Demolition Derby
   
2. Illegal street racing
   

Option 1: Being able to challenge NPC’s to impromptu races for money or pink slips
Option 2: just a completely seperate fleshed out street race side activity that scratches my midnight club itch I’ve had for over a decade.
That’s all I can think of right now feel free to comment your ideas/wishes for GTA6

Chapter CXLIX
​
Trout's Landing.
​
The Chief stretched his aching scales as he awoke in the strange new place that was now their new home. He chuckled at the thought that within the span of a few months he has had to lead his people from their home twice now due to threats.
"Hopefully this'll be the last time."
​
He got up and made for the smoldering ashes of the fireplace and rekindled the embers to get the fire going again. He missed being able to conjure a flame at will, but as cold as it was already he feared that if he did he wouldn't survive the consequences this time.
​
As a welcome warmth began to spread throughout the cabin, the rest of those who had sheltered within began to stir as the heat warmed their blood and bodies. The Chief clapped his hands to get their attention.
"Get up everyone. It is a new dawn and we have much work to do!"
​
The kobolds, and the handful of salamanders that bunked with them, groaned and hissed as they shook loose rigid muscles and rotated being near the fire for a burst of warmth and getting their clothing on before they left the cabin to get to work making the place called Trout's Landing into a proper home fit for kobolds.
​
The Chief left after adjusting his welcome mat poncho and found the place already abuzz with activity as he could see the faintest wisps of sunlight to the east above the mountains. He saw the Trap Master talking with the skirmishers and made for them, hearing a snippet of their own plans as he neared.
"-re our two most vulnerable points. I want lookouts there at all times until we can get proper watchposts up and a rotation started."
​
"Good morning Trap Master." The Chief greeted.
​
"Morning. Did you sleep alright?"
​
"Not as well as I would have liked, but I suspect few did." The Chief replied as the Trap Master dismissed his skirmishers to perform their duties.
​
"What are your plans for today?" The Chief asked as he followed the Trap Master as they made their way towards the Game Warden's cabin.
​
"Setting watch on the road south as well as sending lookouts to the western part of our new home. Other than that, we are getting familiar with the area." He replied as he stared up at the rusted lock on the door.
​
"Hmm, perhaps we could-"
​
BANG!
​
The Chief jumped as the Trap Master unholstered his rifle and shot the lock off the door. The Trap Master walked over and pushed open the now unlocked door.
"Or that."
​
The Chief was about to follow when an egg-maid poked her head out of the cabin that the hatchlings, Den Mother, and other caretakers were staying in.
"What was that?!"
​
"Oh nothing dear! Just getting used to our surroundings is all!" The Chief called as he ran over to settle down the murmuring he could hear from within.
​
"Oh good."
​
"Now that I have a moment though. How is the Den Mother's condition?" The Chief asked as he tried to peek behind the egg-maid.
​
Then a piercing cry rang from the cabin. Followed by a blissful moan of pleasure. The egg-maid poked her head back in for a moment before reproducing it.
"She is currently in the process of laying her clutch!"
​
"Oh?! I shall retrieve Master Jeb!" The Chief stated excitedly.
​
"NO!" Came the muffled yell of the Den Mother from within.
​
The Chief looked at the egg-maid in confusion and worry. She shrugged and went back within and the Chief could hear talking mixed between the moans for a moment before the egg-maid returned.
"She wants Jeb to get some rest given all that has happened lately. Besides, it's the hatching he'll want to be present for anyway, not the laying."
​
"Well I suppose, but still I should-"
​
SLAM!
​
The Chief was once more interrupted as the door slammed shut and he could hear the sounds of egg-laying coming from within. He cast a glance over to the admin's building.
"Perhaps I should at least check on him."
​
With that in mind he hurried off to the admin building. Searching for the room that Jeb had made his. It wasn't hard as all he had to do was follow the boot imprints in some of the paper and leaves to a door labelled ADMINISTATER. He found the door cracked open an inch or so and could hear Jeb snoring from within. A test push proved that while the door wasn't locked, it did have something barring the way somewhat. A firm push was enough to move whatever it was and the Chief entered Jeb's room.
​
It was dusty and dirty. The only clean thing was what Jeb had brought from their exodus. The Chief peeked around the door and found a chair that was probably put there to secure the door that, now that he was looking at it, had looked like it was kicked open.
​
He peered over to Jeb and found him still snoozing away despite the sounds of a rifle going off and his own less-than-stealthy intrusion. He seemed to have changed just within the past day or so. He had dark circles under his eyes that said he was far more tired then they first realized. His hair was growing untamed and matted. His face looked gaunt and pale.
​
The Chief shook his head sadly.
"Poor Jeb."
​
With that he moved over and pulled the sleeping bag cover over Jeb some more before going and retrieving some firewood for the cold fireplace. He worked it into a proper flame again before leaving Jeb to his earned rest.
​
After searching around for keys to the place, and finding them within a dusty drawer at the front, he left the admin building to see several fires being set up around the place for the kobolds to quickly use to get warm in the early morning. Several looked up at him as they saw him and he made his way over to the closest group.
"Chief! What is the tribe's duty!?"
​
The Chief looked around, there was so much to do and so few claws to do them. But they had to start somewhere.
"Has anyone checked on that pier yet?"
​
"No, we are awaiting Master Jeb."
​
"Master Jeb is resting, so we shall get started without him." The Chief replied and the kobolds nodding in understanding.
​
"Then we shall check the pier. Rouse some salamanders and retrieve the supplies and sleds we left down the road there as well. Then get a team ready to begin tunneling. We have much work to do and I wish for Master Jeb to awake with much less to do than he already has done for us!" The Chief commanded.
​
The kobolds saluted and rushed off to do their assigned duties. A handful gathered the salamanders lounging away near some fires and drove them down the road to retrieve the sleds and supplies while others retrieved the shovels and picks before looking around for a good place to begin their digging. The Chief followed a group over to the pier and boathouse. He shivered as he neared the cold water as a breeze seemed to glide over his scales.
​
As they neared, he could see the remains of several traps that look to have been abandoned from the previous owners of the place. Dead remains of fish that couldn't escape in time joined the rotted and waterlogged debris along with bundles of tangled line.
​
"Are there any traps still in good condition?" The Chief asked as he looked around the pier and could see the barest shadows of fish within the water this early in the morning.
​
"Not on the pier no, we haven't checked the boathouse yet." A kobold replied.
​
The Chief looked to the boathouse. It was in decent enough condition, but given time and elements he doubt that would last long. They would have to do some repair and maintenance if they wished to use it for a good long while yet.
"Let's go then."
​
He left the pier and made for the boathouse. The sliding door had a rusty looking lock and even with the keys to the place he doubt it would work.
"I guess we could-"
​
CLANK!
​
A kobold brought a heavy rock down on the rusted lock that shattered and fell useless to the cold ground.
"-try that."
​
The Chief looked to the key ring he had retrieved. Oh well, he thought as he secured them in a pouch he had as the kobolds slid open the boathouse door. Fortunately it looked like at least a dozen fish and crawfish traps were in good condition, for how long he wasn't sure but some now were better than none, he thought.
​
Stored around the boathouse were two rowboats that could fit two-four humans at a time and six long narrow wooden canoes that looked like they would be perfect for the kobolds to use to navigate the river if they needed to. Dozens of fishing poles and nets leaned against the far wall, line and netting either ripped and torn or bundled, knotted, and tangled.
​
He turned as the kobolds used a pulley to move aside the door that separated the enclosed boathouse from the river itself and the Chief could see how much work would need to be done on the place as the light illuminated just how rough it was if they wished to use it for the foreseeable future. From the looks of broken and rotted boards and the way it creaked and groaned at every movement and gust of wind it might be better to scrap it and build a new one from scratch, the Chief thought.
​
"To repair or scrap and rebuild?" The Chief asked aloud more to himself as he looked around the boathouse.
​
Not like the kobolds were unknowledgeable in fishing, they used to live in a area with access to the sea and rivers, and fishing was used just as much as hunting was. But they also had an entire city's worth of kobolds to do so many important tasks that would make tearing down this old rotted building and putting up a new one a trivial matter. But they didn't have the numbers for such an undertaking at this moment. Perhaps in the future they could build a proper fishery, but for now they would have to maintain what they had.
​
He turned to the kobolds.
"Bring the boats down and check their conditions further. Then get some of these traps baited and set and get the nets and poles untangled and patched. And go see the Trap Master about javelins to aid in fishing until then."
​
The kobolds nodded and darted off to their tasks, grunting and groaning as they struggled to heave the boats off their positions on the walls of the boathouse or tripping and getting tangled in the mess of line and netting while a couple rushed off to find the Trap Master.
​
The Chief looked around at the boathouse one last time before leaving with a shiver as he trotted over to the nearest firepit and warmed his scales. He wished the generator worked so they could plug in the heaters Jeb had got them or for the team of kobolds to retrieve the sleds they had abandoned just down the road. They left behind the heaviest as they neared, which included the iron stove, truck, fridge, and other electrical or mechanical parts or piping, and the generators and heaters.
​
Fortunately, the sun began to peek over the mountains and a glimmer of sunlight began to warm the kobolds' new home. He turned his head at the sounds of exertion and saw a team of salamanders and kobolds straining as they dragged the heavy sleds the last few feet and into the clearing before falling down from effort, the cold, and tiredness.
​
"One problem down." The Chief stated as another team of kobolds and salamanders replaced them and they moved the sleds to where they were wanted. The stove would be stored someplace until needed as would the rest, while the heaters and generators were moved to where the kobolds had started digging as the Chief saw kobolds retreating from the cabins with arms of wood and buckets of dirt.
​
One of them rushed over to the Chief.
"Chief! The tribe wants to know where the new central chamber will be!"
​
The Chief looked around. The mountains north of them would be a good place. But they didn't know how far they went or how hard the rock will be and would take much too long than they had to dig through it before winter came. East would be good as having a river above them would provide extra security and would allow a underground fishery. But they also didn't know how deep the river got and were liable to flood the tunnels instead.
​
Then he looked at the great sycamore tree in the center of their new home. Such an ancient tree's roots must run thick and deep, he thought. Decided, he pointed a claw at the base of the sycamore.
"Dig under the tree and make the central chamber among its roots. Make tunnels that connect to it from the buildings nearby."
​
The kobold nodded and left to pass word of the plans to the others. From there they would begin to dig and excavate the dirt at the base of the sycamore tree where they would make the central chamber for the tribe to congregate in once more like the basement/cellar and hill was at Jeb's old home.
​
The earth will also provide some safety and comfort against the chill, the Chief thought as he looked about as the place was alive with activity as the sun began to rise more and more and warmed their home. Hatchlings tittered about and helped or hindered while salamanders moved to lounge on some of the rocks or the pier nearby that was already warming in the sun.
​
With one last rub of his claws to keep warm, the Chief made for the Game Warden's cabin where he found a group of skirmishers inside with the Trap Master as they looked over old maps of the area as well as pictures and descriptions of animals native to the region.
​
The Trap Master looked up as the skirmishers parted so the Chief could get a closer look.
"I see you are busy as always."
​
"Of course. It is my duty to keep things running while Master Jeb is resting. How goes your own duties?"
​
"Better now that we have a layout of the land and what we should expect from now on." The Trap Master said as he held out a map and guidebook to the Chief to study and read.
​
At first glance it looked like they will have no shortage of game when spring arrives. Deer, some kind of fowl called a turkey, rabbit and hare, something called a opossum, squirrels, beaver, mice, voles, muskrat, rats, shrew and moles were labeled and marked with their rough population numbers and habitat range.
​
"Quite the bounty of food." The Chief stated.
​
"Indeed. But these are also old and from before our arrival. From what Jeb and I have discovered with the owlbears as well as the amber stags you encountered, things may have changed since. We are not the only ones to arrive to this world and several new beasts may have made the place their home between now and then."
​
"That is troubling."
​
"Which is why I am sending scouts out. We shouldn't face much problem from the predators this early and should be able to get a read on anything new to the area." The Trap Master stated as a group of skirmishers nodded and left towards the west.
​
The Chief looked over some of the maps and guides a bit more as the Trap Master and some kobolds made their way around the cabin and cleared off much of the dust and debris left over from its former occupant. Some of the maps on the wall showed stuff like elevation of the area and density of the woods. It seemed like the mountains north of them and across the river, ran far and tall for miles before finally descending and the river to the east was labelled as being almost 13ft deep in some places.
​
Even those maps had labels and pictures of the wildlife and rough locations of predators native to the area like black bears, badgers, fox, bobcat, coyote, boar, eagles, shrikes, hawks, owls, bats, skunks, raccoons, pit vipers and other snake species, as well as weasels, mink, fisher, and otters that hunt along the river.
​
There was also a map and list of fish Jeb had said were in the river before as well as other water dwellers like the toads and frogs they heard last night, smaller aquatic salamanders and turtles seemed to inhabit the river areas the same as trout, bass, carp, pike, sturgeon, catfish, something called a musky, gar, sunfish, and even a healthy population of crayfish.
​
The Chief wasn't sure how many of those they would find with winter just around the corner, but they should have no shortage of food at least. So close to civilization at their former home made hunting by the skirmishers rather difficult. Even more so with the arrival of goblins and others that had more than likely displaced much of the ecosystem upon their arrival like the owlbears.
​
"What about farming?" The Trap Master asked as he moved from map to map.
​
"The soil is good and rich if the sycamore is anything to go by. But I doubt we'll be farming much of anything even when spring comes. Maybe some berry and fruit bushes or a small grove of fruit trees or some edible roots or tubers so as not to put undue strain on Master Jeb."
​
"There are bats here. Perhaps we can dig out a bat farm? They can roost and provide us with meat while their droppings are used as rich fertilizer. Also something the salamanders won't easily be able to get to." The Trap master suggested.
​
"That would be good. We can also get our poison and toxin cultivation restarted with a ready and easy source of water from the river. Perhaps making a chamber near the boathouse to provide a dark and damp environment for the molds and fungi?" The Chief suggested as they both went over plans for the development of their home.
​
-----
​
Sam's Home.
​
"Ouch!" Sam hissed as Millie dabbed a cloth soaked in whiskey against the wound on his cheek.
​
"Oh quit yer moanin'! You dinnae want sickness ta set ya ken?!" Millie chided as she reapplied the soaked bandage to the healing wound.
​
"It'd be fine if you quit fussin' with it!" Sam hissed but didn't move to stop Millie from treating his wound.
​
Millie rolled her eyes.
"Yer just like my da! E'en when 'is leg turned from a run-in with a gopher hole while drinkin' too much, he would INSIST tha' he were fit as a fiddle he was! Drove my ma up tha wall he did!"
​
"Where uh \cough** where are your folks?" Sam asked, a little nervous of potentially meeting some in-laws at his age.
​
"Ma died a couple years back. Old age done got her. Pa didnae take it well 'nd drank tha next year o' 'is life away until tha' damn gopher 'ole got 'im in tha end finally." She said with a little sadness.
​
"Oh?! I'm sorry. I shouldn't-"
​
"Hush! Tha's just tha nature o' thin's. People grow old 'nd they die. Just as tha Harvest Mother teaches. Tha fields grow 'nd provide food ta us, then we die 'nd provide tha land in return." Millie said as if she were reciting gospel.
​
"That's, actually rather nice soundin'." Sam said as Millie finished afixing the bandage before giving it a kiss. Causing him to wince and turn red.
​
"See? All better! A few more days 'nd I'll bet my good pot there'll be barely a scar!" She cheered as she kissed his wound again, then moved her kissing a little closer to his lips, then a little closer.
​
They were interrupted when Sammy walked into the living room.
"Oh?! Sammy?! Uhm this isn't-"
​
"Hey Millie."
​
"Hey Sammy!"
​
"Oh. You already met?"
​
"Yeah, you weren't exactly conscious when Skeeter dragged you back from whatever happened at Jeb's." Sammy stated as she went to the kitchen to grab some food.
​
"Aye! She was a real helper she was! She'll make a good midwife 'nd mother one day!" Millie said.
​
"Speakin' of Jeb. Skeeter was a lil weird on what happened and wouldn't say nothin'. So what did happen?" Sammy asked as she pulled a pot of stew Millie made out of the fridge while hoping to avoid any embarrassing talk about motherhood.
​
"Nothin'." Sam said plainly.
​
"Nothin'? I come home to your new girlfriend and Skeeter patchin' you up and you say it was 'nothin'?!" Sammy seethed.
​
"It was a misunderstandin' is all. Leave it be Sammy." Sam commanded firmly.
​
Sammy huffed and put away the pot before starting to stomp down the hall but stopped about halfway before turning around with tears in her eyes.
"Well then I guess it's because of this misunderstandin' that Jeb left without even sayin' goodbye isn't it?!"
​
Sam looked up at Sammy.
"What do you mean Jeb left?"
​
"Greg heard over about it over at City Hall that some of the new folk tried to stop someone that sounded like him and those red lizards of his from gettin' on a train and leavin' town." Sammy said tearfully.
​
Sam made to stand but Millie plopped down in his lap to keep him from getting up.
"Not so fast you! Yer still healin' 'nd are in no condition ta be goin' after anyone!"
​
"Get off! I'm goin' after him!" Sam said as he went to move Millie off his lap.
​
"Do you even know where he went to, Pa?" Sammy asked as she wiped her eyes.
​
"I... no, where did he go?"
​
"Don't know. No one does. Greg says the City Council tried askin' those folk at the trainyard but said that they're bein' tightlipped about what might've happened."
​
"Aye, sounds like dwarves alright. If they think it's none o' yer business, they'll take it ta their grave befer they tell ya" Millie said as Sam sighed and sat back down defeated.
​
"If it helps, it sounds like Clive might've been the one drivin' the train Jeb left on. So he might know." Sammy sniffed before leaving for her room.
​
Sam rubbed his face, ignoring the stinging wound.
"Oh, Jeb. What happened?"
​
"Doubt you'll tell me wha' 'appened. So I'll just get some supper ready." Millie said as she hopped off and went over to the stove to prepare some food.
​
"Sorry, maybe another time. It's just... family stuff, you know? Complicated family stuff."
​
"Oh I do! There's stuff you only tell family 'bout 'nd though we're gettin' familiar tha' dinnae make me family!" Millie stated in understanding.
​
"I'll need to get a hold of Clive soon and see if he knows where Jeb went." Sam said.
​
"'Nd do wha'? Show up with yer face split like tha'? If it were because o' 'im' 'ow do you think he'll feel?" Millie said.
​
Sam sighed.
"Fine. I'll still talk to Clive, but I'll wait till I heal up before goin' after Jeb."
​
"Good! It'll give us more time ta get familiar anyway! Maybe we can make it a family affair?! Oh?! Like a holiday!" Millie cheered a little at the thought.
​
If Clive doesn't know where Jeb is, he would still like to know he's alright anyway, Sam thought. Maybe Millie had a point. He'll heal up a bit and make a trip of it with Clive and Sammy, and Millie. She at least deserves to meet Jeb given what happened. Hopefully in a normal, and human, state and not what he saw yesterday.
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So, I was having an awesome day in the woods having seen two deer, 17 turkeys 14 of which approached me to check me out as I sat in my tree seat on the ground. They came within 12 feet of me, cocking their heads from side to side trying to figure out what I was as I sat motionless for what seemed like an eternity. I also had a beautiful bobcat walk across in front of me at 50 feet distance. This is while muzzleloader hunting. As the last hour of the evening approached, I spotted a deer at about 80 yards. It was grey, black and white. I caught a glimpse of it just before it walked behind a large tree. I raised my muzzleloader to my shoulder but did not cock the hammer yet, as I was waiting for the perfect opportunity to shoot. I had my scope on the tree where the deer was with a nice clear view through the lens when out stepped two idiots who were dressed in grey sweatshirts, black pants and white hats. One of them may have been wearing blue jeans. I immediately lowered my rifle in disbelief. There's a law in my state which requires 200 square inches MINIMUM of fluorescent hunter orange during the muzzleloader season. I don't shoot at deer. I shoot at the deers vitals. These clowns were in no danger because I hadn't cocked the hammer and my finger was not on the trigger. Besides, I pick my spot before I shoot. I'm a very careful hunter so as not to make a bad shot. However, while relaying this story to my friend, he said that I should never have raised my rifle until I had positively I.D.'d the target as a deer. With the naked eye, I was certain that I'd seen a deer. The rifle scope revealed that I was mistaken after having only a brief glimpse before it stepped behind the tree. I explained that I didn't cock the rifle and his reply was that it could have been an instance where I'd seen a deer earlier, cocked the hammer and then never took the shot while forgetting that the hammer was back. I often use my scope to evaluate a deer before considering whether to shoot or not. The rule is " Never point your gun at anything that you don't intend to shoot." I get that, but these guys were wearing deer colors and no safety orange. I was certain that I'd seen a deer until I confirmed through the scope that it wasn't. He's telling me that I should use binoculars to ID my target and that I was wrong to use my scope. I don't intentionally look through my scope at people in the woods. This was simply a case of mistaken identity. They were in no danger of me shooting at them. He's right in a way and I get that, but I know for a fact that he would've had his gun up too given the exact same scenario. I've got 30 plus years experience in the woods. Am I wrong to be offended by my friend's scolding?