~RYLAND'S POV~
It started with three deer.
Cade brought the report on a Tuesday morning, the same way he brought everything directly, without framing. Three deer found dead near the eastern border. Clean kills. No signs of a prolonged struggle. Bite marks and claw patterns consistent with a large predator working efficiently.
"Predator activity," he said. "Nothing unusual for that stretch of tree line."
"Noted, Keep an eye on it."
He nodded and moved on. So did I. Predators fed. It happened. The eastern border had always had wildlife moving through it, and a good kill wasn't a problem.
By the next morning, it was a problem.
Seven more. Different locations, spread across a wider area than a single predator with a territory should have covered overnight. I stood over Cade's report with my coffee going cold and looked at the map he'd marked.
