The missing hunter's place was actually located someways outside of town. And Desmond had decided to use the parking structure available in town. This meant he had to walk the nature pathway accessible from the hunter's place to get to the main drag in town. Having done this Desmond questioned his own need for doing so. Perhaps he didn't want to be seen parking near the place...thought Desmond. He somehow felt more safe, more secure using the parking structure in town. It wasn't that much distance to cover on foot anyway.

It was late June, a time when the foliage along the nature trail when it was green and lush. He noted some overly large polypore fungus growing on some old-growth trees as he wandered. He wondered how long it had been there. He had used the trail recently to visit his hunter friend before the disappearance. He didn't recall seeing the fungus in that particular spot before. And, he noticed as he continued walking along that there seemed to be more to it. Some of it seemed to be pretty close to the ground, too.

Like the amateur naturalist, Desmond was particularly keen on observing the wildlife as he would walk along. He wasn't seeing much of anything to note. There didn't really seem to be any wildlife at all. He thought his walk along the path was oddly silent. He also noted that despite the lusness of the trees and shrubs, the lower growth foliage was thin. Almost non-existent, like it had been destroyed or something.

Then out of the corner of his eye, he saw a young cottontail dart out of the shrub beside him. Which was unusual, he thought, they usually dart out before they make any encounter. Then he saw another. Then another. And then saw several more. He continued to see the rabbits darting out beside him along his way on the trail. It must be a banner year for them, Desmond thought. He thought it unusual, too, that some of them looked particularly mangy and ill-fed. He feared that some of them were carrying rabies or some disease. Desmond soon waved off this flagging fear as simple nonsense.

Even at the near end of the trail, as he headed into town, he still kept seeing the rabbits. By that time, he had lost count. Then they disappeared as he headed for the edge of town and off of the trail and merged into the eventual pedestrian traffic. By the time he got to the parking structure, he realized that he must have seen as many of the rabbits as he did people. What also struck him, was that he seen no other wildlife. Not even a bird, nor an insect. Vaguely troubled, Desmond located his car, got in and drove and paid the parking attendant and left the structure.

Even thought it was daylight, he saw two rabbits - mangy ones at that - running across the highway as he drove home. Unusual, he thought.