He knelt, running his fingers through the leaf litter. There were no obvious nests or burrows. No scents or traces of small animals that might draw the dogs here. Hours passed as Jones meticulously combed the area, growing frustrated. There was nothing overt—no clear reason for the dogs’ obsession.
Exhausted, Jones finally sat at the tree’s base to rest. He pulled out his notepad, jotting observations and questions, when a faint glimmer caught his eye just a few feet away beneath the fallen leaves. Something metallic reflected his flashlight beam. Curiosity immediately took hold.