WHO: Jace & @tommybrowning
WHERE: Merrock State Park
WHEN: May 12, 2023
In a little over a week, Jace would be spending almost every day in the park, hiking the trails, driving around in a state-regulated vehicle, talking to visitors, helping out guests... and although he had spent plenty of time there as a kid, he figured that there was nothing wrong with getting to know the land all over again. Quite literally, as he set out to tackle a different trail every day, figuring that by the time that he slipped into whatever uniform they talked him into wearing, he would know the place like the back of his hand... or hopefully would, anyway. That particular afternoon, he found himself stopping to take a break near the creek, dropping onto one of the fallen logs that he made a mental note to take care of when it was his responsibility. Probably. It did make for a nice bench to sit and watch the waterfall that the creek formed as the water rushed down the rocks.
As he was sitting, he heard the sounds of someone else coming up the trail -- multiple feet, he reasoned, not turning to look, but instead closing his eyes and focusing on the sound. No, not multiple people. One person and a dog, from the sounds of it, the leaves crunching under foot, the unmistakable pant of a dog as it made its way closer. Jace opened his eyes back up, chancing a look over his shoulder, and quickly turned his head again. Fuck. The Browning siblings just kept turning up everywhere, which he figured was the product of living in a small town... he was bound to run into them sooner, rather than later. Maybe it was better to rip the band-aid off right away. Taking a breath, he steeled himself, staying where he was on the log, and waiting to see if his brother approached, said anything, or walked on by. Unsure of which would be easier to deal with.













