You're a fire lookout stationed in a national park...

Hello! So it's been quiet here lately (hope everyone's doing alright) but thought we could play a game.

I've been re-playing one of my favorite adventure/indie games, Firewatch, where you've taken a job as a fire lookout for the summer. There's mystery in it and some casual exploring as well.

Imagine you're out in a national park, looking out for anything unusual to report. The only form of communication is a radio from another lookout tower, that you can see in the distance.

What do you see? What do you find? Do you hear odd noises? Is there anyone else there? Do you find items left behind by someone or something?

I'll post an item or strange occurrence, and then the person below can write something based on that (poem/dialogue/whatever you want!) then leave a random prompt for the next person.

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Prompt: Your lookout friend radios that they see you've flipped your switch back on in your tower, however, you're still miles away. Someone's in your space. Why are they there?

Smokey is at it again, stubborn bear,
playing like he's a real ranger
messing with my stuff
and likely ate my pizza.

**********************************
Side note: Frank Herbert wrote Dune while he and his wife worked a ranger lookout station.
Prompt: you're a ranger in the middle of writing an important scene in your novel when you spot a wisp of smoke
you know you'll have problems getting back into the creative frame . . . but it could be a fire!

"...the underground prisoner screamed.
She heard him. the lady in white,
the one sitting by the door eating
a cheeseburger...."

NOOOOOO that's the whooping crane area!!

*********
a raccoon stole your radio when you were about to report a suspicious movement.

^ I LOVE THIS PROMPT haha. Raccoons are the best.

"Yes, Tower 5 here.
I'm calling to report dangerous activity,
threatening wildlife, seeking to uproot
their nests and belongings."

"Name? Well the name's Bandit.
My talent is scavenging."

"I could tell you a thing or two about
what lies in these forests."

"And it ain't pretty.
It's mostly the work of... humans.
Trying to ambush us all.
As usual."

Radio silence.

I laugh, heartily,
making sure the other lookout hears.

It feels good to be heard for once.

___________________________________________________

Prompt: you spot a secret cave with a locked gate. what is being kept there?

^^ love this thread idea!

After many hours of trying to vault the gate,
You realize there is a hole under it. You wriggle through the hole, and into the blackness of the cave.
Time ticks by as you slink around in the black, feeling the rocks of the cavern's walls, searching. You don't know what for, but it's there.
Eventually, you shrug and sigh. "Nothing in there."
You turn to go, your eyes not detecting the shift of movement in the darkness behind you . . .

Prompt: you can't find you're way out of the cave, and there's something in there with you. What is it and What will you do?

This cave I got in has done it again
It managed to trap me in absolute pain
This darkness, this darkness just blinds me so well
If only the light could show me the way out of this hell
But wait, there’s something inside here
I feel it right there
It moves like a river streaming far away
I bet I could follow the streams, what do you say?
Perhaps, I could find me outside of this cave
Before it turns into my grave

Prompt: the river is gaining current, and it’s dragging you against big rocks, you manage to grabbed from one of these rocks. Can you see anything?

My hands were numb,
I’m wet and so cold
I barely kept my hold
on those slippery rocks.

It was dark and the rain
started pouring,
I was trying to look up
and find my step,
when a big fish
liked my face
so it slapped me,
and we both slipped
away.

****
IT’S RAINING!! You were waiting for rain to blast music, and dance without disturbing the wildlife. What music will you choose?

The rain is a much needed companion;
it speaks in light tones, non-threatening,
the risk of overindulgence low.
I start tapping my foot to the hums
and drums of the cascade,
turning on jazz as I light my lantern
and swing it gently around my body.
Soon, the rain soaks me, a welcome
relief from dry air and canyon breath.
With swinging hands and dancing feet,
I smile in the dusk,
as the forest settles in for a sleep.

__________________________

You hear shouts coming from a lake nearby, but there shouldn't be any visitors allowed. What happens next?

Cautiously,
the calls echoing
and dancing like wild animals
in your mind, you creep towards the shouts.
Your ears twitch as a cry turns to a blood curdling scream for help
and you break into a sprint to the lake turned black in the night.
As you burst out onto a rocky edge
overhanging the deep water,
your eyes adjust enough to see a shape floundering in the middle of the lake.
Another beg for help pierces to your mind and heart.
The person in the water is an intruder . . .
but a drowning one, and you need to help.

Prompt: Do you decide to take immediate action or find more help?

The hand, I see the hand, the head
The eyes shutting, opening . . .
New born currents streaming stronger, pulling body
deeper into lake
I see the chest expanding, contracting
the man gasping insatiably . . . for a breathe of air
I pull my backpack, my walkie-talkie,
“ hello, do you hear me? “over…
I call. I talk. I scream “SOS at the lake”
I give the sign of the cross.
I dive in.

Prompt: what’s causing a current at a lake? Is it a monster ? The ground opening? What?

Have you ever heard the story
of the ghost lady of the lake?
I thought I did, until I saw her
floating on the cold waters.

She was tapping the white lotus,
like she’s playing the piano,
her dark dress spreading on the
surface and white hair bouncing
on thin air as she swayed from
side to side.

You never know what a real
goose bump is till you feel
it lifting up your skin.

****

You have a special necklace, but the hippo swallowed it. What do you do?

Hippo, hippo come to me
please dear Hippo
don't let this be...

"I need my necklace
I need it now
Can you not see
the sweat on my brow?
You naughty hippo
come here now!!"

I really didn't want it to come to this
but I'll have to get my magic stick
for this dear hippos swallowed
my necklace, he ain't half thick.

My magic stick comes out to play
I beg dear Hippo" please just stay"
so I can work my magic
He'll be unarmed you see but
dear Mr hippo doesn't listen to me!!

You're on top of a building ready to bungee jump for charity but you didn't realise it was so high... What happens? Do you still go ahead or chicken out??

The cat walk was bad enough
but at least it gave me a secure visual
to walk upon, until the end!
Is this my end?
Why did I volunteer
to commit suicide?

I stand teetering
seeming miles above
the tiny parking lot -
surely my doom!
I feel locked in place
unable to leave
this difficult perch
yet unable to back away
to turn and run.

Suddenly I feel
the gentlest hand
press softly upon my back
and before I know it
the decision has been
made for me
as I sweep my arms
out into a swan dive.

The asphalt swims
up to me - racing
and the thrill is
unbelievably real -
grinning
I stretch my fingers
the tips out-reaching
my grasp and barely
touch the surface
before being pulled
back nearly to the top
and bounce up and down
until the crane lands me
unscathed to the ground.

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You are visiting Versailles, the most lavish royal suites in the world with the most extraordinary gardens.
What do you find most enthralling? [https://en.chateauversailles.fr/]