đȘ¶ Jimmy became convinced something stalked the trail. Sebastian blamed a feather and the weather. đș
As the darker storm clouds rolled across the valley from the mountains, Sebastian adjusted his packâs straps. With a deep breath, he turned and stared down the winding trail. Between breaths, the wind hissed through the sparse pine trees between devastating thunderclaps. He grabbed Jimmyâs shoulder and pulled him closer. âWe should head back before we get drenched in the looming rain.â
Jimmy slapped his friendâs hand off him as he crouched down beside the path, reaching out to pluck something off the ground. He twirled as he rose to his full height, brandishing a white feather. âHold on, donât you think we should identify what this is?â
âNo sentence that starts with âhold onâ has ever improved my day.â Sebastian pinched his nose as he sighed. âNothing is so important that we need to get soaked by the rain.â
Jimmy thrust the feather forward, dangling it in front of Sebastianâs face. âWhat do you suppose this means?â
Sebastian groaned. âYou found a feather.â
Jimmy lowered his voice. âExplain why youâre refusing to accept this conspiracy.â
Sebastianâs head shook as he stared at his friend. âAre you worried that birds exist?â
Jimmy clenched his chin as he held the feather out in his fingers, rotating it. After several seconds, he strode toward Sebastian, flourishing the feather overhead. âThereâs no way this just fell along the side of the trail.â
âYes, it did.â
Jimmy shook his head and spun the feather like a conductorâs baton, shoving the tip of the featherâs quill at his friend. âAre you kidding? This is too clean. Somebody conditioned this feather.â
Sebastian rubbed his temples. âJimmy, birds lose feathers all the time.â
âNo, this is an unusual one.â He looked up at Sebastian as his lips drew into a severe line. âThis feather didnât end up here on its own!â
âHow does a molted feather qualify as suspicious? Molting is a natural occurrence and not a grand conspiracy.â
Jimmy shook his head and thrust the feather toward the trees. âThatâs what Iâm trying to determine.â
A jagged bolt of lightning crossed the sky a second before the thunder echoed overhead.
Sebastian pointed at the darkening clouds. âRight now, nature is wondering who might survive this hike.â
Jimmy waved off his friend as he tucked the feather into his jacket pocket. Then he turned toward the trail and froze. âLook there.â
Sebastian blinked as he shook his head. âWhat are you talking about?â
Jimmy rushed away from Sebastian, pointing at a solitary tree. âWe have fresh tracks to explore.â
Sebastian chewed his lower lip as he marched forward...
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Fresh after finishing A A Binding Choice and Wardenâs Rest, I turned my attention toward my blogâs final story for May, a comedy. While thes














