𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐋, d. winchester ₁

𝔁𝓲𝓲. grizzly attacks and interviews

EVAN WATCHED ATTENTIVELY AS Dean raised his hand to knock on the door, before the door swung open, revealing a woman standing there. "You must be Haley Collins. I'm Dean, this is Sam and Evan," Dean introduced the group with a polite nod. "We're rangers with the Park Service. Ranger Wilkinson sent us over. We wanted to ask you some questions about your brother, Tommy."

Haley stared at them for a minute, her eyes narrowing slightly, before she finally spoke up, "Let me see some ID." Dean smoothly pulled out a fake Lost Creek National Park ID and showed it to Haley, the plastic card gleaming under the light.

"Come on in," Haley said, opening the door wider and allowing the trio to enter her home.

"Thanks," Dean replied, stepping inside with a grateful nod. As they entered, Haley's eyes caught something outside.

"That yours?" Haley asked, pointing to Dean's shiny black Impala parked in the driveway.

"Yeah," Dean responded, a small smirk playing on his lips as pride flickered in his eyes.

"Nice car," Haley nodded appreciatively before leading the three further into the cozy interior of her home.

As they followed Haley through the hallway, Dean glanced back at Sam and Evan, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh my," Dean mouthed silently to them, his expression exaggerated while Evan and Sam couldn't help but roll their eyes.

⛤

"So, if Tommy's not due back for a while, how do you know something's wrong?" Sam questioned as he, Dean, and Evan stood in the dining room. Haley emerged from the kitchen, placing a bowl on the table and joining the conversation.

"He checks in every day by cell. He emails photos and stupid little videos. But we haven't heard anything in three days now," Haley explained to Sam as she stirred the contents of the bowl, her worry evident in her voice.

"Well, maybe he can't get cell reception," Sam suggested, trying to provide a logical explanation for Tommy's silence.

"He's got a satellite phone too," Haley quickly countered, dismissing Sam's suggestion without hesitation.

"Could it be he's having fun and he forgot to check in?" Dean questioned, raising another possibility. This prompted the boy at the table to speak up with conviction.

"He wouldn't do that," the boy asserted firmly, shooting down Dean's idea.

"Our parents are gone. It's just my two brothers and me," Haley revealed to the trio, adding context to their close-knit relationship. "We all keep pretty close tabs on each other," she continued, glancing at her younger brother with a protective look before turning her attention back to Sam.

"Can I see the pictures he sent you?" Sam asked, wanting to gather more information to understand the situation better. Haley nodded in agreement.

"Yeah," she replied, ready to share whatever she had to help find her brother.

⛤

"That's Tommy," Haley spoke as Sam clicked on a phone, while Dean and Evan stood behind them, staring intently at the computer screen. Evan watched closely as Sam scrolled through a few more photos before finally clicking on a video file.

"Hey, Haley. Day six," Tommy spoke into the camera, his voice slightly cracking. "We're still out near Blackwater Ridge." Evan's eyebrows furrowed as she observed a mysterious black shadow pass swiftly behind Tommy outside of the tent. It happened so quickly she had to convince herself she actually saw it. "We're fine, keeping safe. So don't worry, talk to you tomorrow," Tommy continued, trying to sound reassuring.