Girl Missing For 4 Days Until Ranger Finds 14 Dogs Circling Object

Pushing Through The Cold

Ranger Grey rubbed his hands together as he moved through the thick snow.

He could see his own breath freeze in the air in front of him. The hope that he would ever see the little girl was as low as the temperature.

But still, he had made a promise to the heartbroken parents. He would find her, no matter what condition she was in.

Dangerous Animals

He slowly trudged through the snow that was as deep as his knees.

He had left the warmth and safety of his truck on the road half a mile away. He wasn’t naive to what else was probably watching him.

The Alaskan wilderness was no place for a little girl or even a seasoned ranger. That’s when he realized that his only protection against any dangerous animals was back in the truck.

Back In The Truck

He was in a hurry when he found the abandoned sled. It had crashed on the side of the road with tracks leading into the woods.

He followed a dozen footprints in haste but had left his only protection on the passenger seat of his car.

He didn’t have his 308. Caliber rifle with him anymore. He would be at the mercy of the denizens of the woods.

A Howl

Just as it crossed his mind, Ranger Grey heard a howl in the distance. It wasn’t too far off. Wolves were one of the apex predators that called the Alaskan wilderness their home.

Their thick, shaggy fur and muscled legs put them at an advantage against Ranger Grey.

He just prayed that they hadn’t found the missing girl before him. He knew he was close now.

A Clearing

Every step became harder as the ranger moved through the snow. But he had to keep moving.

That’s when the trees finally gave way to a clearing. The snow there would be lighter, but it wasn’t empty.

He saw movement up ahead. Fourteen silhouettes against the white snow dance in circles.

Wolves

He stumbled back, noticing that they were four-legged animals – wolves. He had to steer clear of them at all costs.

He decided that he’d have to get back to his truck before doing anything else.

But as he turned to leave, his eyes caught something he hadn’t noticed before. The canines were circling a big tree. But it was what he saw in the tree that made his blood run cold.

Torn Clothing

Against the gray, leafless tree, he saw a bright color hanging from one of the branches. He felt dread creep up his spine as he quickly pulled out a photo that he had in his pocket.

It was a photo of the missing girl. The color of the thick winter coat she was wearing was the same color as the fabric in the tree.

He slowly approached the animals, but that’s when he noticed something out of a horror movie.

Ranger Grey

Adam Grey, or Ranger Grey as he liked the community to call him, loved serving his community in Nome, Alaska. He knew nearly everyone in the town and never let anyone down.

He’d tip his hat to people he walked past on the street. He gained quite a reputation for helping anyone in need.

Any time someone needed rescuing, he wouldn’t hesitate.

An Important Job

Ranger Grey had an important job.

He patrolled the town and the outskirts of the Alaskan wilderness, making sure some of the more dangerous wildlife didn’t get too close to the town and that no one had gotten lost.

He’d occasionally get calls of people getting stuck on the road outside of town, and he’d go and make sure they were okay while they waited for a tow truck.

Knowing His Community

The Ranger not only did his job, but he also learned the names of most of the families that he served in the town.

He got to know them as if they were all a second family to him.

But that also meant that things would become painful when people he had known for years ended up with a tragedy on their hands. He knew he had to help.

The Kelly’s

Martha and Edward Kelly had lived in the community ever since they were born.

The couple were just a few years younger than Ranger Grey and had started a family together not too long ago.

Their daughter, Kayla, now eight years old, was a bright character full of energy and curiosity. But that same curiosity would be her undoing.

Adopting Strays

The Kelly’s had more than just a daughter as a family. The two had been adopting strays around the town for decades.

Now, they had fourteen crossbreeds that were a part of their family.

They mostly got them to look after their daughter while her curiosity got the better of her. She always snuck out and explored the town. It was safe enough, but one day, that changed.

Going Everywhere She Did

Ranger Grey would often catch young Kayla on her family sled with her fourteen dogs pulling her along.

The town had a deep heritage in dog sledding, and a lot of people felt it in their blood.

Kayla may not have been old, but wherever she went, the dogs did, and it was on the sled. She was a pro, and it always kept her out of trouble. But one day, everything came crashing down.

A Day Like Any Other

On a day like any other, Ranger Grey was making the rounds, checking up on his community, when he heard some terrible news. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly hadn’t seen their daughter in hours.

The two were concerned and called the police to try and help.

She was last seen on her sled with her dogs, but surely someone would have seen one of them around?

Vanished

It was as if Kayla had completely vanished. She was seen on her sled just four hours ago but now she was gone.

Knowing the sensitive nature of things, the police quickly conducted a search in the town.

They went street by street, hoping to find anything that would help them figure out what had happened to the girl.

No Clues

After a full day of searching, they came up empty-handed. They promised to keep looking, but things weren’t looking good for their daughter. That’s when Ranger Grey decided to step in.

He had known the family for a long time and told them he’d look in places the police couldn’t – the wilderness.

He packed his truck with supplies and headed out in search of the missing girl.

Searching Methodically

Ranger Grey searched the wilderness methodically. He went east and drove around the icy, barren roads, hoping to find something.

When it started to get dark, he always headed back into town.

After four days, he felt terrible. There was still no sign of the girl anywhere, but he had one more place to look.

A Different Route

He decided to go a bit further than usual, knowing of an old sledding path west of the town.

He set up at dawn in the hopes that he could figure out what had happened to Kayla.

Owing her parents that much. They deserved to know what had happened to their daughter, no matter how grim the truth was. He knew that a dog sled team could have gone far.

A Terrible Call

With promises to keep, Ranger Grey had a lot of weight on his shoulders.

He didn’t want to disappoint the family, but then he got a call over the radio in his truck. It was his dispatch, and they didn’t have good news.

He picked up the receiver and asked them what they’d found. But his heart would start to race as he realized what they had found.

A Local

Dispatch explained to Grey that they had gotten a call a few minutes ago from a local fisherman who frequented the area. He had woken up early to head out of town and head to one of the nearby lakes to fish.

But on his way there, his dog started barking at something. He decided to follow the husky. The dog led him down a dangerous, rocky path. But as they moved, he noticed a terrible stench in the air.

The Smell

Unfortunately, it was a smell he recognized. It smelt of something rotting in the clammy ground. The husky was going ballistic as it neared the location of the smell. 

The fisherman had to brace himself as fear crept into the cavity of his chest. He’d heard of the missing girl, and now, he feared that he might’ve found her. His heart was racing, and then he saw it

Calling The Ranger Station

He stumbled back and fled before calling the ranger station. In a panicked voice, he explained the aftermath of the scene he had just found. They spared no time calling Ranger Grey, who was closest to the supposed location.

They had explained the scene to Ranger Grey, and he feared that it did not look good for the young girl’s parents.

He Cared

But he wasted no time. Ranger Grey cared for his community and he would stop at nothing to help and protect those around him, especially the children. 

He drove as fast as he dared on the icy roads that ran out of the town.

His tires slipped more than once, but he was determined. He felt his heart race as he knew he had to get there as fast as possible.

A Thought

But as he was making this journey, he thought about what had happened in recent months. This was not the first time someone had gone missing in this area. 

It occurred a lot lately. Just a few months prior, a man had gone missing in the same area, and he still hadn’t been found.

Would that be her fate too?

The Same Story

Ranger Grey wondered if this would be the same story. What if they never found her? What would he tell her parents? So much time had passed, and he knew what that meant.

With every day that passed, the chances of finding her alive and well were becoming slimmer. The thought of telling her parents that she was gone forever scared the older man.

But he was about to stumble across a gruesome sight.

Suspicions 

As Ranger Grey went about his journey, he thought about the information they had given him over the call.

He thought about the fisherman. What on earth was he doing in this area? Was it possible that he had something to do with it?

The man had mentioned finding possible remnants of what could have been the little girl. He couldn’t help but feel suspicious of the old fisherman. 

Returning To The Scene 

Grey had heard of criminals returning to their crime scenes. Was it possible that the man knew more than he was letting on?

Was his guilty conscience weighing on him? Was he leading them to the girl because he couldn’t take it anymore?

Ranger Grey couldn’t deny that something fishy was going on. He didn’t trust this man in the slightest.

Disturbing Thoughts 

His mind was clouded by disturbing thoughts as he traveled further into the wilderness.

He couldn’t stop thinking about the fisherman. What would an old man like that want from a little girl? Would he harm her?

He hoped and prayed that his suspicions were wrong. But what if they weren’t? What would he find once he reached the man’s location? 

A Sickening Thought 

It was a sickening thought. Ranger Grey just hoped that his suspicions were wrong. He didn’t want to lose all hope. The girl could still be alive out there, and he could still save her in time. 

Ranger Grey’s thoughts kept slipping as he trailed down the dangerous path. The air was sinister and cold out.

He was praying for a miracle at this point. But was he just too late? 

At Risk 

The Ranger knew that he was putting his own life at risk, but as far as he was concerned, it didn’t matter. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t scared. All kinds of predators roamed these parts of the woods. 

From bears to mountain lions, dangerous creatures lurked all around him, but he had to push those thoughts to the side. No one else would go to these lengths to save the little girl.

But what if she had encountered a predator along the way? 

The Smell 

He could faintly smell the rot in the air. Ranger Grey tried not to acknowledge it, but the further he went, the stronger the scent became. He just hoped that what he was smelling was a carcass.

His heart rate was increasing by the second. He was getting closer and closer to his destination.

What if the smell wasn’t coming from an animal?

Gone

He didn’t want to be the person to tell her parents that she was gone forever. But where could she be? It was freezing outside. As far as he knew, she didn’t have any food or water. 

As it was, the chances of finding her were slim, the chances of finding her alive were close to zero. His heart was beating in his throat, but he couldn’t stop now. 

The Chances 

He knew that even if there was the slimmest of chances that she was still alive out there, he had to try and find her. The road was slippery and wet, but that didn’t matter at that time. 

He was a man on a missing, and he wouldn’t stop until he got some answers. They told him about the stench, and he feared what it might mean.

What Would He Find?

He was following the fisherman’s exact route, wondering what he would find along the way. Had he left clues? Ranger Grey shook his head at himself. Chances were, he was accusing an innocent man.

But what if he wasn’t innocent? What if he was with the girl when she had gone missing?

What if he brought her this deep into the woods?

A Foul Taste 

Ranger Grey felt sick to his stomach just thinking about it, but who could blame him? No one in their right mind would ever wander this far into the woods.

Everyone knew how dangerous these parts of the world were. 

Had he brought the girl here, knowing that no one would even think to look this deep in? He had a foul taste in his mouth just thinking about it.

Getting Closer

As he drove further out of the town, the path started getting narrower. His truck scraped on dead branches as he went through places he hadn’t previously explored. He was now in an unfamiliar terrain. 

No one had any reason to go down a path like this. Until this very moment, it hadn’t been used in years.

As Fast As Possible

The fisherman had given the general area that he was in when he found remnants of what could have been the little girl. Ranger Grey was heading in the right direction.

He had to go far out of town as fast as humanly possible. If the man was right about what he had found, Grey would finally have the answers he had been searching for.

Thoughts 

Ranger Grey’s mind was clouded in thoughts as he navigated through the dangerous and unfamiliar terrain. He thought about the girl’s parents and the way her mother cried before him. 

He didn’t want to pass judgment, but it baffled him that they had left the little girl to go out on her own. There were bears and wolves in the area, and they weren’t afraid of people. 

The Clouds

But Ranger Grey was doing what he had to do. He loved his job, he loved helping those around him, and he was determined to save the day. But he wondered if he could save this day.

The clouds were thick and dark above him. In the last few days, they had experienced rough snow storms. It would truly be a miracle if the girl had survived the weather.

The Search

He had searched every spot in the area in the last few days. He went to every corner of town and dug through piles of snow, but he couldn’t find any trace of her. 

He was grateful for the old fisherman. He never would’ve thought to look in this particular area, as it was so far from their town. He just hoped the old man was right. He was getting close to the spot now.

The Last Place

It was the one place he hadn’t checked yet. She had to be there. Otherwise, she did vanish. But as he drove, he saw something strange on the side of the road that he didn’t expect.

He saw a figure on the side of the road. As soon as he noticed the fishing pole, he realized it was the man who had made the call, what was he doing here?

Pulling Over

It was the older fisherman. Ranger Grey gently placed his foot on the brakes. He was driving far too fast but managed to slow down just in time. 

He pulled over, quickly zipping up his jacket before rolling down the window. The man hesitantly walked closer to his massive vehicle.

Hesitant 

Ranger Grey stayed seated in his vehicle. He watched the man with suspicious eyes.

Why was he so hesitant to come closer? Was it because he was lying? Was it because he was responsible for the girl’s disappearance?

Ranger Grey tried not to show it on his face, but the feeling of disgust burned deep within him. What if his suspicions were true? 

An Evil World

The thought that the old man would do something to a little girl terrified the Ranger. As a young man, he always saw the best in people. He always gave everyone the benefit of the doubt. 

But as he’d gotten older, he realized how messed up people could truly be. There was evil in the world, and he promised himself that he would fight against it. Was he looking it right in the face at that moment?

He tried his best to hide his suspicions as the man reached him. 

A Strange Warning

“Hello, sir. Were you the one that called the station back in town?” He asked in a friendly manner. But the man’s expression was anything but friendly.

“Yes, but you shouldn’t go any further for your own sake. There are wolves in the woods looking for a meal.” He said with gravity in his voice.

Hungry Wolves

Ranger Grey’s heart sank. This was the area they believed the girl to have been in. Hearing that there were hungry wolves around sent shivers down his spine. 

The situation was only getting worse by the second. The old fisherman lit a cigarette before looking up at Ranger Grey again, “They will tear you to shreds,” He muttered. 

What If?

The old fisherman pointed a finger in the direction he said he’d seen the carnage. It was right where he was headed. What if they had gotten to the girl already?

He didn’t even want to think about it. Despite the old man’s warning, he knew that he had to go in there. He would put his life on the line to help the little girl.

A Bad Omen

Ranger Grey took a deep breath. He was going in there. He thanked the man and went on his way, but he couldn’t deny that he felt shaken up.

He was as cool as a cucumber a few minutes ago, but what the man had said felt like a bad omen. What was he going to walk into when he got there? And was the girl still in one piece?

Following The Trail

Grey followed the trail that the fisherman had shown him. No wonder he hadn’t thought of checking here before. Snow had already covered the tracks she made before.

He drove through the narrow and unused trail. If the fisherman was telling the truth, then he would soon find the girl or what was left of her.

But he still felt as if a bad omen was hanging over him.

A Memory

It wasn’t just the fisherman that made him feel bad. He had sparked a memory that Ranger Grey had from his childhood. He remembered when he was twelve years old when Nome felt like a different place.

It wasn’t always as safe as it is today. His elders had always told him about the dangers of diphtheria in the town.

The town was said to have lost a lot of lives in the early 1900s because of it.

No More Death

Ranger Grey shook his head and freed himself from the daydream. He vowed that there would be no more death in his town. He was going to find the girl no matter what. He just hoped he could keep his promise.

But the trail was hard on his truck. The tires often slipped in the deep snow, and his progress was at a snail’s pace.

But the next thing he knew, he could see it.

Seeing Something Terrible

After an hour of slow progress, Ranger Grey finally saw something.

It was Kayla’s sled! His heart raced as he parked the car next to it. He unbuckled his seatbelt and grabbed a beanie from his passenger seat. 

He knew how important it was to keep warm in this kind of weather. But just then, he opened the door.

A Terrible Smell

It was then that he was met by the terrible stench. It smelled like decay and rot. He quickly raised his hand to his face and covered his nose. 

He had run into a few wolves before, and this smell seemed to follow them. He hoped it was the wolves that he was smelling and not something else.

The Sled

He diverted his attention back to the girl’s sled. But now, close up, he could see what had happened.

Kayla’s sled was damaged and ran off the path into a snowbank. There were no dogs around, nor her. But then he saw the tracks in front of him. He had to follow them.

Questions

Dozens of questions raced through his mind. It was odd that the tracks were still there even after multiple days.

The area he was in felt like it was preserved in time. As if the crash had only just happened.

He wasn’t a superstitious man, but Ranger Grey couldn’t help but think of some of the folklore of the surrounding area.

The Amikuk

There was one legend that a lot of people in Alaska knew but not that they often talked about – The Amikuk. It was a creature that could shapeshift into anything it wanted to.

He thought about the fisherman. Was that an Amikuk? Or maybe he’d soon found the girl or something in disguise.

His overworked brain started to fail him as he sank into paranoia.

Coming To His Senses

Ranger Grey had been up for thirty hours searching for the girl.

He was beyond tired but felt obligated to find the poor girl. Normally, he’d dispel any doubt in his mind, but it took all of his strength to stay focused.

But there were real creatures that the fatigued ranger should have been worrying about. Unlike any hallucination, he would be in danger.

Tracks

The tracks were clear, but why had the little girl gone deeper into the wilderness rather than waiting on the road? Maybe she had been forced to run away from something?

He felt a shiver go up his spine as he raced after the tracks, knowing that time was critical.

He would find the girl, but would he be too late? But in his haste, he forgot something precious.

A Bad Sign

Alaska’s wilderness was no place for a girl. Other than the dangerous creatures, she was also at risk of exporsure to the elements. In the winter, Alaska can drop below negative ten Fahrenheit.

It was something to be aware of. How had the girl managed to survive for so long in the cold?

He still kept up hope, he was nearly there. But he had no idea there would be one final obstacle.

Pushing Through The Cold

Ranger Grey rubbed his hands together as he moved through the thick snow.

He could see his own breath freeze in the air in front of him. The hope that he would ever see the little girl was as low as the temperature.

But still, he had made a promise to the heartbroken parents. He would find her, no matter what condition she was in.

Dangerous Animals

He slowly trudged through the snow that was as deep as his knees. He had left the warmth and safety of his truck on the road half a mile away, and wasn’t naive to what else was probably watching him.

The Alaskan wilderness was no place for a little girl or even a seasoned ranger.

That’s when he realized that his only protection against any dangerous animals was back in the truck.

A Dozen Footprints

He was in a hurry when he found the abandoned sled. It had crashed on the side of the road with tracks leading into the woods.

What made him nervous was the tracks themselves. It wasn’t a single set of tracks. He saw paw prints too.

He followed a dozen footprints in haste but had left his only protection on the passenger seat of his car.

No Protection

Ranger Grey felt behind his back for his every day carry. It made him feel safe in emergencies, but that’s when the horrible truth dawned on him. He didn’t feel the familiar grip of his gun.

He didn’t have his 308. Caliber rifle with him anymore.

He would now be at the mercy of the denizens of the woods. Even worse, he wouldn’t be able to protect the girl if it came down to it.

A Howl

Just as it crossed his mind, Ranger Grey heard a howl in the distance. It wasn’t too far off.

Wolves were one of the apex predators that called the Alaskan wilderness their home.

Their thick, shaggy fur and muscled legs put them at an advantage against Ranger Grey. He just prayed that they hadn’t found the missing girl before him. He knew he was close now.

A Clearing

Every step became harder as the ranger moved through the snow. But he had to keep moving.

That’s when the trees finally gave way to a clearing. The snow there would be lighter, but it wasn’t empty.

He saw movement up ahead. Fourteen silhouettes against the white snow dance in circles.

Wolves

He stumbled back, noticing that they were four-legged animals – wolves.

He had to steer clear of them at all costs. He decided that he’d have to get back to his truck before doing anything else.

He knew he had to avoid the apex predators at any cost. It looked like a full pack, and if the wolves had young to protect, they would be especially dangerous and territorial.

Noticing Something

But as he turned to leave, his eyes caught something he hadn’t noticed before. The canines were circling a big tree. But it was what he saw in the tree that made his blood run cold.

His mouth fell open and he instinctively reached for the weapon he didn’t have.

He kicked himself for being so negligent when it mattered most. What would he do next?

Torn Clothing

Against the gray, leafless tree, he saw a bright color hanging from one of the branches. He felt dread creep up his spine as he quickly pulled out a photo that he had in his pocket.

It was a photo of the missing girl. The color of the thick winter coat she was wearing was the same color as the fabric in the tree.

He slowly approached the animals, but that’s when he noticed something out of a horror movie.

No Wolves

It turned out that the animals surrounding the tree weren’t wolves. They were the fourteen dogs she had left town with.

He now understood what was going on. They were protecting her from the other animals in the forest.

Now closer, he could see that Kayla was hiding in a hollow inside of the tree. He called her name, and she came rushing out. She was cold and frightened, but he was there.

Going Home

“Do you think Mom and Dad will be angry?” The shivering girl asked as he threw his thermal jacket over her. “No.” He chuckled. “They just want to see their daughter safe and sound.”

Ranger Grey arranged for two K-9 police vans to come out and pick up the dogs while he personally took Kayla home.

She promised she would never let her curiosity get the better of her again. But Ranger Grey was watching over her, just in case.