Um. Marius blinked yet again, then rubbed his eyes and stared at the spot where Don had been a mere moments ago, his vision blurry at first before it finally focused on the empty space Don had left behind. His brows drew together in confusion. Had he really seen it? But the elk minus its head was still lying on the ground, the sand in its immediate surroundings painted a deep red, and that was his confirmation that he had indeed not been imagining things.

He stood there for a few more seconds before he felt certain that Don had indeed left the area. The tiniest bit of relief intermingling with his bewilderment now, he walked towards the carcass and dragged it back to where he had kept his sleeping bag and rations, intending to roast it later with the fire-starting kit he had obtained, and forced himself not to ponder too much on the close encounter.