Eldridge felt his arms tingle from the effort of lifting the creature off his body. It was as if static was going through him to the ground.

I wasn’t that out of shape, was I? His mind questioned as he gave one last grunt and tossed the body to the side.

Using the momentum, he rolled his own body so that he was on his stomach. He took in a few deep breaths with his face held above the dirt as his mind tried to get a grip on what just happened. Slowly he moved to his knees and took in the blood-soaked clothes that covered him. The laundry was going to be a pain.

Though his chest felt like it was on fire, it had already started to feel better. He was sure he cracked a rib, so it felt odd to him to not feel it.

Was it adrenaline or something else. He wondered.

Then there was the matter of the voice he heard in his mind during battle. Was he still having relapses of whatever drug he accidently took that night, or could this all be really happening?

“You alright detective?” Byung asked which drew Eldridge’s gaze.

He saw the man standing next to him with his hand outstretched. His face still held that stiff expression.

“I’ll make do,” Eldridge said with a sigh as he reached out for the help. “How are you doing, not injured?”

Eldridge wanted the topic to shift if it could. He was already questioning his own sanity, it wouldn’t do for others to join him. Still he looked over the Asian man for any obvious signs of harm given those deer were out for blood something fierce.

“I wasn’t in much danger,” Byung replied as he looked back at the two creatures on the ground.

Eldridge agreed as he saw no obvious damage on the man, though he did notice the paling of skin and dampening of sweat.

“You think that third deer will return?” The man asked.

Eldridge wasn’t sure if it was fear in Byung’s tone or excitement.

“I hope not,” Eldridge replied as he bent over to pick up a stick off the ground.

“It was as if they were possessed.” Byung said as he stared into the forest where the third one ran off. “I wonder what would drive them to be so aggressive.”

“It is getting near rutting season,” Eldridge answered. “That can drive them to be more aggressive than usual. Still…”

He paused as he examined the dear that bled on him. It was the one he benched off his body. He could see the blood pooling on the gravel from its many chest wounds. They were not his main concern. It was the knee, more specifically the one that he shot.

His gaze moved towards the other deer and he quickly looked for any knee damage. There was none visible, and Eldridge feared what that might mean.

“How injured was the deer that ran?” He asked as he began to poke the creature’s foreknee, the one he was sure he shot in the beginning, with the stick. It made no sense, but Eldridge was sure the creature’s knee visibly healed from that light.

“I don’t think it was injured,” Byung said in a questioning tone. “No, I am quite sure the one that ran was the uninjured one. Why?”

“Odd,” Eldridge answered. “Why was it that one that ran?”

He examined the knee for another few seconds before he stood. Aside from some scaring, it was impossible to find anything wrong with it.

“Did anything seem off during that fight?” Eldridge asked a bit cryptically.

“You mean besides three deer suddenly attacking a man?” Byung asked sarcastically.

He stared at Eldridge for a bit before he sighed and continued. “I’ve not watched enough Animal Planet to be able to know what a normal deer attack would look like. To me this entire thing was odd.”

So, it is most likely in my head, Eldridge thought as he walked to his jeep and pulled out his radio.

He paused for a good moment before he finally mustered the courage to report the situation. “This is Detective Eldridge reporting a ten seventy-two, officer rounds fired. No immediate threat”

The radio call went about as well as Eldridge thought it might. After the initial panic from the report, mostly laughter followed. Honestly, he was glad it was something people were already able to laugh about. Through the entirety of the conversation, he made sure to keep Byung in his vision somehow.

The man seemed a bit on edge to Eldridge, it was like he was constantly sucking on a lemon. Though, he did come to his rescue, unarmed, when it came down to it and that spoke volumes. There were few who would put their own lives in danger like that.

“Do you have a weapon?” Eldridge finally asked as he walked toward the man.

Byung turned to Eldridge, face tinted with confusion.

“Why would you ask such a thing?” Byung asked defensively. “You suspecting me of something?”

“Not in the slightest,” Eldridge replied, his hands going into the air. “I am simply concerned about your safety. Though unlikely, those deer, or others like them, might return. If they do, it would be best if you had some method of protection.”

Byung stared at Eldridge for a good minute or so before he finally sighed and spoke. “No detective, I don’t have a weapon. Didn’t think I would need one up here.”

He paused for a few seconds as his gaze drifted to the umbrella on the ground. “Aside from the umbrella that is.”

“I see,” Eldridge mumbled before he turned and headed to the back of his jeep.

A bit of rummaging later and he pulled out a semi auto shotgun. As he turned towards Byung he could see the man shift his weight towards his back foot.

“Do you know how to use one?” Eldridge asked as he held out the weapon.

“Apart from point and shoot, no I’ve not fired a rifle before.” Byung replied.

“Well that is the basics, and against a deer I’m not sure you will need much more than that.” Eldridge answered. “Shotguns are a bit more forgiving, though they still require some aim. Hopefully it will, at the very least, scare the creature.”

He continued as he walked up next to Byung. After a few minutes of explanation and some target practice, Eldridge felt Byung could at least protect himself should these creatures attack once again.

“That should do it,” Eldridge said after the last of the rounds were fired.

“One second,” he continued as he bolted to his jeep to pull out some more shells. “Here, use this while you take the time to get yourself a weapon.”

Byung stared at the detective for another moment. “Is this legal?” He finally asked as he looked down at the weapon.

Eldridge observed the man as he handled the weapon. He wasn’t averse to holding it, so he clearly didn’t fear it. That most likely meant he had some interactions with firearms.

“Mostly,” Eldridge replied as he began to straighten out his vehicle. “Though if you do something stupid, I will report it as stolen.”

He turned towards Byung and smiled. Honestly Eldridge was a bit hesitant until he remembered the glow of the deer. Yes, it could all be in his head, but if there was the slightest chance that he was sane, he didn’t want Byung’s corpse on his mind.

“I will come pick it up from you in five days. That should give you enough time to pass all the hoops to get yourself a gun.”

“I see,” Byung replied as he looked down at the weapon. “Thanks,” he continued in a slight bow before he headed off to his garage.

Eldridge watched the man for a bit, trying to find anything aside from his mood that would raise flags about the weapon. As far as he could tell he was a well-trimmed Asian man with a sour mood.

Byung returned and the two of them shot the breeze for a bit while waiting for the back up to show. During the time, Eldridge felt himself calm more and more with the loaning of his firearm. He just hoped he made the right choice in the end.

“Well isn’t that a mess,” The officer said as he got out of his vehicle. “When they said deer attack, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it wasn’t this.”

“You and me both Zac,” Eldridge said as he started to walk to the officer. “Who’s the rookie?” he asked with a tilt of his head.

He watched a young man of probably twenty step out of the passenger side.

“That’s Jimmy Walkenhorst, this is his first day.” Zac answered as he turned to face the young man whose eyes had gone wide. “You’re lucky animals were your first,” He yelled towards his partner. “Humans can be something…”

Jimmy just stood there and nodded, his face paled a bit.

“Anyway, I will give you a run down. I have a lead I need to follow before the day’s out.” Eldridge informed Zac. “Should be a good experience for the rookie.”

“It will be,” Zac replied. “But you and I both know I will still be doing most of the work.” He paused as he looked at the torn grass. “Seriously, who did you piss off?”

Eldridge laughed as he walked to his vehicle. “Clearly the deer just hate my slick jeep.”

“Did the definition of slick change? Though if they saw your jeep, I can’t blame them for the attack.” Zac replied as he turned towards his partner. “Jimmy, come on we don’t want to take all day.” He yelled.

“You're just jealous of its splendor.” Eldridge answered as he turned over the engine.

“Yes sir, that’s it.” Zac said tone thick with sarcasm. Eldridge just shook his head before he headed out. He wanted to hit up Soren’s joint before he closed for the day.