It had been made clear to Ron that there was a strange problem going about the island. This problem involved the sudden disappearance of many of the town's residents. Personally, he felt it was rather a matter of personal responsibility, but as the mayor he should make some effort to find them again.
And then advise them all to take some self-defense lessons. Because really now.
Anyway, he'd been scouting the woods for a while now. Rifle in hand, quiet, listening. Watching. So far? No hint of anything. Maybe they were all involved in a cult, like Communism.
...
There was a clearing. There was a very large clearing. Ron could not remember seeing this clearing on any maps. But it was there. And it was full of people-- in various stages of dress (and that dress varied from the weird to the bizarre)-- sprawled across the grass.
"Definitely a cult."
He cleared his throat and backed away. They could deal with... their own business.
[ this is your
post-BDE wake-up post! injuries sustained during the BDE can be kept or discarded at your leisure. ]