Chapter 9

ASHLEY BAOK

Three Months Ago

Tuesday

Dear Diary,

Remember that time at the beginning of the Silverlight Forest Protection Unit when Charlie pulled the first prank? I was just thinking about that recently.

Charlie made pancakes and accidentally put in the sugar's worth of salt and the salt's worth of sugar, so, naturally, the pancakes turned out incredibly salty. She said she did it as a joke, but I'm pretty sure she was lying. I think it was a mistake but she didn't want to say that. The rest of the SFPU was there and we all went along with it.

Who woulda known putting in too much salt and not enough sugar would've started off the pranks Charlie and I have pulled on each other? The start of a great friendship, too. I'm so glad we've been able to be friends.

Charlie got a letter from her parents yesterday, which made me think of the pancake incident. She didn't say the letter was from her parents, but I don't know who else it could be. She's never mentioned siblings or any other family. She's said her childhood was good. I don't doubt that, but the way she talks about her parents. Well, really refuses to and just sidesteps the question or changes the subject altogether. There's something there.

Who knows, though. Maybe I'm wrong. I hope I am.

I guess we'll see, Diary.

See ya,

Ashley Baok

Friday

Dear Diary,

There's this guy that's been snooping around Silverlight Forest.

Zip did some digging and says his name is Pyr Iskie.

TECHNICALLY, he hasn't broken any laws so we can't do anything but we're keeping an eye on him. A very close one, too. At least as good of an eye as you can keep on someone in a forest with an awful lot of trees and space to cover. Pyr hasn't yet crossed the border from the public part of the Forest into the private area, but he's certainly not looking all that innocent. Zip's Camera Traps set up along the border of the public section of the Forest have caught Pyr pacing along the very edge with what looks like a few snares and some knives.

Not very subtle are you, Pyr?

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I mean, I hope he doesn't get up to anything illegal and I certainly hope he doesn't go after any animals, but I'm not so sure, Diary. We will arrest him if he breaks any laws.

We've caught Pyr a few times over the last few days. In one video caught late evening where it's already dark —and, like, come on? Who's going hiking when it's dark outside unless you're up to something? Who's walking around a forest when you need a flashlight? Sleep and wait for morning. It'll look a lot less questionable— he's walking along Myway Highway. I suppose he wanted to shake up his sketchy shenanigans. But Zip's Camera Traps still caught him with night vision. He's clearly holding a gun in that video so very much not subtle, which Charlie commented on.

Ren's dogs tracked his scent but he has yet to cross into the private part of Silverlight Forest.

I don't want him to try anything.

Hopefully he won't.

We will just have to wait and see,

Ashley Baok

Friday

Dear Diary,

Pyr Iskie has still yet to cross into the protected part of Silverlight Forest.

I'm actually somewhat surprised. I would've thought he would have tried something by now, but it seems not. I suppose even I am wrong, on occasion.

I mean, I hope he doesn't try anything, though. I'd rather just keep watch on him forever than have him try anything. It's not like I enjoy handcuffing someone and driving out to the Moonfall Precinct. I'd be happy to have to find another job. I'd love to tear down the camp and return it and all the trails to their former natural state. It would mean there's no one trying to harm the wildlife here.

Maybe I could lead hikes in the public part of Silverlight Forest? I could still see the Forest every day and get to show others its beauty.

Maybe someday.

Hopefully someday.

But anyway, see ya, Diary,

Ashley Baok

Monday

Dear Diary,

I went on a supply run today.

It was shorter than usual and I returned on the same day. No finding a spot to sleep for the night to catch a few hours of rest until the sun comes up and dozing. Moonfall is far safer than Cat's Cradle, but better to be cautious, I suppose. It's not really that bad. Ferris asked about perhaps finding a way to get supplies delivered, but I told him no. The budget is better spent on things directly related to tracking poachers.

I'll still get to sleep tonight, though, and in my own bed, too. Who'da thunk you can sleep better in your own bed, Diary? I'm not on duty, too, which guarantees I won't have to leave my bed until morning. I don't mind getting up in the middle of the night to track down a poacher, but I will say... it's a much better night of rest when you don't have to get up for an indeterminate amount of time partway through your beauty sleep.

As I was in the checkout line at one of the stores, I saw a dinosaur hand puppet. It had five parts, one for each finger— a head, two arms, and two legs. So, naturally, I had to get it. Charlie found it hilarious hasn't taken it off since I gave it to her. I'm pretty sure Zip is figuring out a way to turn it into a moving robot. I think it would be pretty funny.

It has been a little while since Charlie or I pulled a prank on the other, and I'm thinking it's about time I get her back for filling the tips of all my shoes with old newspapers so none of them fit. Maybe there's something there with a dinosaur, but I'll have to think on it. I'll get back to you, Diary.

In the meantime, I'm going to help the group sort through what I got on the supply run and sift through the Camera Trap footage for anything out of the ordinary since Zip's coding still needs fine-tuning and isn't perfect. We will see what I find.

See ya,

Ashley Baok

Wednesday

Dear Diary,

Pyr Iskie has crossed into Silverlight Forest.

It seems we're going hunting for another poacher.

I will keep you updated,

Ashley Baok