All Eyes Lead to the Truth | Alpha (6x16)
When Karin returned from her last stint in the field, she struggled to relate to others. After months spent observing wolves' non-verbal communication, she found herself instinctively relying on grunts and gestures rather than words. When she tried to speak, the right words seemed to elude her. Small talk felt as trivial as watching lone wolves interact with the pack only out of obligation, and when she tried to dive into her passion, most people responded with vacant looks or offhanded comments about their dog’s quirks.
For a long time, Stacy was the only exception. Her neighbor was always willing to lend a hand around the property when Karin needed help, and she was one of the only people who actually took an interest in her work. She was also the person to introduce her to the sides of the internet Karin had always avoided.
“I’m serious," Stacy had insisted, "there are forums on the World Wide Web for everything. My cousin is a total nerd and spends all her time formatting webpages on Geocities and chatting about some sci-fi show with her friends. On the information superhighway, everything is possible, you just need to know where to pull over. I bet if you just Ask Jeeves, you can totally find your pack.”
After a few weeks of convincing, Karin took the plunge, and it felt like a whole new world opened up. Behind the safety of a screen, she found a new sense of ease. She could finally “speak” without fumbling or watching for blank stares. Yet, as with any social group, hierarchies formed, alliances were made, and she found herself bonding with one person above the rest: a user who went by TrustNo1 .
It turned out Stacy was right—there were forums and chat rooms dedicated to every canid under the sun: wolves, dogs… even a Fox.
A few months ago, she posted about her experience living in the wilderness conducting research, and the next day, she got an AOL notification as a chat window popped up.
TrustNo1: During your research, have you ever come across any evidence that might point toward the existence of any cryptozoological primates?
L0neW0lf: You mean like Big Foot?
TrustNo1: I believe the preferred binomial nomenclature is Lasionycta sasquatch.
L0neW0lf: Hailing from the taxonomy of folklore and myth.
TrustNo1: Is that what you truly believe?
She typed No but then paused, looking at her response. Her nail traced the edge of the ‘enter’ key as the blinking cursor seemed to dare her to press down. While she was indeed interested in cryptids, the people online who shared that interest usually relied on sources like An American Werewolf in London or stories their great-great-grandma’s neighbor once removed claimed to have heard. Intelligent conversation was rare. But before she had a chance to decide, another message appeared on the screen.
TrustNo1: I ask because your work reminds me of one of my favorite texts on animal behavior. Dogs Don’t Lie by Karin Berquist. She asserts that: “Wolves exhibit an almost telepathic cohesion within packs, using complex vocalizations, body language, and scent to communicate across distances. This intelligence and social structure suggests that similar behaviors could exist in creatures with even greater cognitive capacity. In remote forests and mountain ranges, witnesses often describe bipedal figures employing coordinated, pack-like tactics—behaviors that bear a striking resemblance to those of wild canines. If wolves, out of necessity, form bonds so powerful and intricate, what might a hidden, more evolved species be capable of?”
Seeing her name and work typed out on the screen made her eyes widen and her heart pound. She typed a few responses before she found the right one.
And you believe her assertions?
L0neW0lf: And what does that mean to you?
TrustNo1: I’ve drawn on Berquist’s theories a lot in my line of research. The phenomena she’s experienced concerning canid behaviors are similar to what you detailed in your post. I think it means you’re not alone in what you’re discovering—some things are only understood by those who’ve looked closely enough.
Karin stared at the message, her pulse quickening. Not alone. She’d spent so much time feeling isolated in her work, like her observations lived in a space that few others understood, much less cared about. Fingers hovering over the keyboard, she started typing, hesitated, then backspaced.
She stopped, deleted, and tried again.
L0neW0lf: What exactly have you seen?
TrustNo1: Enough to know that most people aren’t ready to understand that which scares them. You know what it’s like to observe something others don’t see. To trust what you’re seeing, even when it doesn’t make sense.
That was the first of many conversations. Soon after their initial talk, she confessed her identity to him and was met with a pleasantly enthusiastic reaction. In turn, she learned that his name was Fox Mulder, and he worked on unconventional cases for the FBI. It startled her at first, the idea that someone in such a prestigious position—a federal agent, no less—cared about her theories, her insights. He’d ask questions that made her feel seen, as though her life’s work held a purpose beyond the wilds.
Fox, or Mulder as he liked to be called, had a relentless drive, a need to believe in things others dismissed or feared. That need resonated deeply with her, as if he understood the ache of seeking answers in the shadows. It was a sentiment she recognized from her own life, from the countless hours spent searching for connections that most people could never see.
As the months passed, Karin found herself treasuring their conversations. She was no longer just a lone observer. Mulder’s belief made her feel as though, for the first time, she wasn’t alone in the questions that kept her searching. And for the first time, she felt there might be someone out there who truly understood why.
Or, at least, she wanted to believe.
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