“Have you heard what they’re calling you?” Eldridge asked as he met up with Falreath near the exit of the stadium. “It’s all over the sports sites.” He continued as he pulled out his phone.

Falreath looked at him for a second and waited for the man to continue. Eldridge walked up next to him and held his phone before him. On the screen was his first throw, the one that flew well beyond any receiver.

“I had a better opinion of Falreath, I guess it just goes to show you that the fame can go to anyone’s head.” One of the commentators began in reply to the throw. “I heard he hadn’t really been practicing at all.”

The words stung Falreath a little as he knew they held some truth to them.

“Well there is a balance you need to take,” The other commentator replied. “He doesn’t want to hurt himself while practicing for the preseason. But this does highlight the need for constant practice, even a pro like Falreath needs to hit the field and throw every now and again.”

The video soon cut to his next throw, with the camera panning to cover the field. Within seconds Craig was off screen as he sped towards the endzone. Falreath paid close attention to the video as the angle was a good one to see his reaction to the defensive line as they broke through. Soon the ball was in the air and the camera worked to keep up with the throw.

“I can’t believe it!” The second commentator yelled as he saw the ball flying on nearly the same arch as before. “Did he, no there’s no way he did. I can’t believe he told them, he told them exactly what his throw would be on the first down.”

“I think you're over analyzing a throw Brett,” The first commentator replied as the touchdown was scored. “He was simply showing off, making up for his first wild play.”

“You think so,” The second guy replied as he looked down at the controls before him. “Let’s put these throws side by side.”

With that the screen changed, it split to show the two throws from a single camera angle.

“As you can see, the arc, the range, and the destination were nearly identical. It was him literally saying, this will be my throw, counter it if you can. This guy is like a harbinger, forecasting the future to come.”

Falreath laughed as he saw the analysis of his plays.

“It is all over now, you’re now the harbinger.” Eldridge said as he pulled down the phone in response to the limo that pulled up in front of the men.

Falreath walked to the back and opened one of the doors, Eldridge followed close behind.

“I give it three weeks,” Falreath said as he flowed into the back seat. “Someone will call it a stunt, only something that could be done during preseason.”

“I don’t think so,” Eldridge answered as he took the other bench. “You’ve made quite the impression. Though if you don’t pull another stunt like this, it might, might be forgotten.”

“It is tempting, but a little too showy even for my tastes.” Falreath replied as he sat back and pulled out a wine cooler from the fridge next to him. Quickly, he tossed it to Eldridge as continued is thought. “So, it will be as they say, once is lucky. Now how about yourself, how’s work been?”

“A little stressful, though fairly standard.” Eldridge replied as he caught the bottle and opened the drink. “Aside from the deer attack that is.”

Eldridge paused as he took a swing of the drink. Falreath pulled out a bottle of water while he waited for the man to continue.

“I will be happy to move on and let that fall into a statistic.”

“Wait, Deer attack, since when?” Falreath said as understanding finally hit.

Excited, the man leaned forward in his seat.

“Didn’t I tell you?” Eldridge asked as he shifted his head to the right, his eyes moved as he thought. “I’m sure I did…”

“Pfh, I would’ve remembered you speaking about a deer attack, what happened?”

Eldridge looked at his friend then down at the wine cooler before he spoke. “Well I was at a client’s, actually leaving from a robbery case when these mad, possibly rabid deer attacked. Three of them attacked wildly, was sure I cracked a rib,” he said as he rubbed his chest.

“Seems like I only bruised it. Anyway, I took down two of them, the third one got away. Like I said I will be glad once I can see it as a statistic, an event that can happen and just so happened to have happened to me.”

“That’s wild,” Falreath said as he cracked a smile. His mind, however, drifted towards that night the rats swarmed. “How often do deer attack people?”

“Not often, but it can happen, especially during rutting season.” Eldridge replied as he proceeded to take a huge gulp of his cooler. “Though that season is still a bit off, some deer can enter it early I suppose.”

“So, is it fulfilling?” Falreath asked as he sat back and took a drink from his water.

Eldriged paused as he examined his drink, a confused look on his face. A second later his mind clicked and he finally spoke. “I guess, frustrating at times, but I doubt I could find a job that isn’t.” Eldridge replied as he looked at his friend, his eyes locked on the man. “I couldn’t say I enjoyed it more than other jobs as this is really the only one I’ve ever had. Still, it has many benefits, most that aren’t financial.” His eyes continued to examine his friend as his tone softened. “Like being able to investigate the traces of Aron’s case.”

“I see, though, couldn't you investigate Aron with another job?”

“I could, most of the information I could’ve gotten from the police I’ve gotten, are you suggesting that I should look for employment elsewhere?” Eldridge asked as contemplated the issue. “Still, not sure what I would do, I honestly do like the type of work I do, even if it can be stressful.”

“It’s just that I’m looking for a chief of security, and well your qualifications aren’t bad.” Falreath replied, his tone casual. “Of course, I will allow time for you to investigate Aron, perhaps more time than you already have.”

“I don’t know,” Eldridge answered as he sat back, his gaze moved to the ceiling. “It sounds tempting, still, there is a lot to think on. Our friendship for one.”

“That’s,” Falreath’s train of thought was interrupted as the car started to slide, his body pulled against the seatbelt that held him in. The world around him felt like it slowed as he began to turn his head and his eyes searched for the cause. A crazed gaze met his stare as his eyes drifted past the window. Before him was a deer that stood in the middle of the road. The rear of the car was on track to collide with it.

It wasn’t like any deer he had seen before, where there should be a lost in the headlights look, there was a cold steely gaze. His mind turned towards the rats, then towards the attack Eldridge had mentioned earlier. Could this be related? He wondered as his heart continued to pump faster, his body going into overdrive.

His body began to tug the other direction as the limo began to shift once again. As his body neared the window, neared the deer, he felt an urge fill his lungs. He screamed as the vehicle shifted its slide. Right at that moment the window shattered, glass pelted against the beast. The wheels tore at the gravel and the limo accelerated past the creature. Falreath was left to gaze out the rear window as two creatures stood, heads likewise turned towards them.

It was a few seconds of surprised silence before anyone spoke. “The two of you doing well back there?” Hinklebottom asked through the intercom as the limo slowly gained speed. “I apologize for the maneuvers, but those deer came out of nowhere around that curve.”

“All’s well Hinklebottom,” Falreath replied as he pressed the button on his seat. “Might have been a different story if we hit anything, though we did lose a window.”

“Antler catch it?” Hinklebottom asked. “Will have to talk to the manufacturer, those are supposed to be able to impede a thirty cal.”

“Will leave it to you,” Falreath answered as he lifted his finger. His friend’s head stared out the other window, his pistol in his hand. Clearly the deer attack left him rattled. Falreath turned towards the shattered glass, his mind replayed the scene. Was it an antler that hit the window, wouldn’t that have left an injury on the creature?

The silence continued as the two men pondered over their own concerns. The growing wind deafening any thought of conversation as the vehicle neared the speed limit. Time drew on as Falreath examined his friend, his body moving energetically as he glanced all around them.

His own eyes darted as he heard what could’ve been a roar, though with the wind it is hard to tell. The trees around him whip past as the limo sped down the mountain highway. He saw nothing that would give him reason to believe what he heard was in fact a roar. Something inside him, however, told him that danger lurked in those woods.

His hand fell once again on the intercom as he spoke. “How much longer Hinklebottom?”

“Sir?” Hinklebottom’s voice came over the intercom, “I can barely hear you over the wind.”

Falreath let out a sigh before he knocked on the window between himself and his driver. The window soon rolled down and the turbulent wind shifted course to compensate. “How much longer till we reach Port?”

“About ten more minutes,” Hinklebottom yelled. “We are almost at the Peter Dan River crossing.”

“Thanks,” Falreath said with a nod as the window began to roll back up. Only ten minutes and they would be out of this wilderness. Honestly, Falreath couldn’t help but think he was overanalyzing this whole thing. A trait he learned to watch for on the field. He knew that the rats, the deer, most of it could be explained away. Still his gut told him there was something that connected all of this. And if his gut was right, he sure as hell wanted to be as far from here as he could.

The loud screeching of the tires pulled Falreath’s thoughts to the present. His gaze quickly moved towards the front of the vehicle. Before them was a silver Audi stopped in the middle of the road. Beyond that was a bridge, or at least the remains of one. The thing was listing to the side torn from its proper place on the road. “Well fuck,” he mumbled as the car continued to slow.