When Mara touched the fawn, Ashley looked up, and their eyes met. Mara’s lungs grew tight. But then Ashley looked away, without any recognition in her eyes, and she pulled the fawn back into her lap and wrapped her arms around it even tighter.

Stupid, thought Mara. Stupid. She was nothing to Ashley. Just a prop for her story. She shouldn’t have come over. As if she really needed to be reminded.

She tried to keep her voice steady. “It’s time to bring the fawn back.”

Bullfrog had come over, and Ashley turned to him. “Not yet. Please.”

“We probably should,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Mom is watching us right now.”

Mara looked out at the woods. When she looked back, Ashley had buried her face in the fawn’s belly. The fawn blinked its long lashes.

“It’s time,” said Bullfrog gently.

no

Mara thought she had imagined the word. Bullfrog reached out to take the fawn from Ashley, but the moment his hand touched her, she bristled like she’d been shocked.

“No,” Ashley said again.

“Well, soon,” said Bullfrog.

“No.” Her voice was more confident now. “I’m going to keep her. I’ll take care of her.”

“She’s not an orphan.”

“She’s not an orphan. She’s mine.”

Mara felt dizzy again and sat down.

“She needs milk,” said Bullfrog. “You got deer milk?”

“It’s okay,” said Ashley. “I’ll figure it out. She already likes me.”

She carried the fawn into the shelter, where Mara heard Kyle’s voice, and then there was silence. When Mara came back later, she found Ashley feeding the fawn a mash of water and jam, scooping up fingerfuls for her to suck. By afternoon, the fawn toddled after Ashley wherever she went.

“YOU EVER THINK ABOUT DYATLOV?” SAID BULLFROG. IT WAS EVENING, IN THE shelter. Just past dark. The firelight flickered on the walls.

“Is that supposed to mean something to us?” said Mara.

“In Russia,” said Bullfrog. “In the fifties, I guess. These climbers went up a mountain and disappeared. Real experienced mountaineers. When the search party found their tent, it was sliced open from the inside. They’d all run in different directions, wearing underwear, one boot. Barefoot. Their bodies were messed up. Cracked skulls, missing tongues. No survivors. They never figured out what did it.”

Ashley petted her fawn.

“What’s your point?” said Mara. “People do irrational things when they panic. Something flips in their brains.” She’d heard of folks who got lost in the wilderness and crossed highways without realizing it. Or burned their own clothes for warmth. Or were found starved to death a mile from town.

“Sure,” said Bullfrog. “But I’m not talking about mistakes. I’m talking about actual weird shit in the woods. You think about that?”

“Weird shit happens everywhere,” said Mara. “You been to a city?”

“It was an avalanche,” said Kyle softly. “At Dyatlov Pass.” Mara startled at his voice. She didn’t know he was awake.

“Sure,” said Bullfrog. “That explains it.”

“I’m just saying,” said Kyle. “There aren’t any avalanches here.”