A STRANGE MORNING IN LONESOME PINE
Just before sunrise yesterday, Ozthorn Highrider was seen walking the length of Main Street, his coat swaying behind him though there was no wind to speak of.
He did not knock on doors.
He did not ask for company.
He simply moved — steady, slow, and deliberate — from one end of town to the other.
What made this unusual was what he left behind.
At doorsteps.
Under porch chairs.
Pinned to hitching posts.
And tucked behind barrels outside the general store.
Small slips of paper.
All bearing the same message:
“Come to the mountain.”
Nothing more.
No name.
No explanation.
Just those four words.
We collected three of the notes ourselves before more children might find them.
The handwriting was uneven.
Rushed.
Almost like someone writing while walking.
We approached Ozthorn, but he did not answer questions directly. He only spoke in the same strange, wandering way some of you have overheard since he arrived.
THE WORDS HE SPOKE
We record the following phrases as he said them.
Make of them what you will.
“Over the ridge, across the sky… always tryin’ to get away.”
“People talking to walls inside… fever’s miles wide.”
“Don’t go askin’ stars. They already answered you.”
“Mind on a carpet… round and round.”
To him, it sounded like everyday speech.
To us, it sounded like half-remembered lines from a dream.
Ozthorn insisted he was “just reminding folks what they already forgot,” though he did not clarify what that meant.
When pressed, he simply tipped his hat and said:
“It’s time to see what the mountain remembers.”
Then he walked off toward the east ridge.
OUR OBSERVATIONS WHILE FOLLOWING HIM
We stayed a good distance behind so as not to spook him or interfere.
Here’s what we witnessed:
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Ozthorn paused at every crossroad and looked toward the peak
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He seemed to hum to himself, but the sound wasn’t like any tune we recognized
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Dogs in town grew quiet as he passed
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At one point, he stopped and stared at the schoolhouse bell as if listening for something
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He walked with purpose, though with no clear destination within the town limits
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Several residents later reported he never glanced their way, even when they stood right in front of him
More concerning:
When Ozthorn finally left the town limits, he walked into the tall grass without leaving any visible trail behind him.
None.
We checked the ground ourselves.
NOTES FROM TOWNSFOLK
Sheriff Hank said:
“Invitations ain’t a crime unless they aim trouble. Keep an eye, but don’t panic.”
Clara said:
“Feels like someone knockin’ on a door nobody can see.”
Buck said:
“That man’s boots should be making marks. They ain’t.”
Delbert only muttered:
“It begins again.”
We do not know what “it” refers to.
SHOULD TOWNSFOLK GO TO THE MOUNTAIN?
No.
Not at this time.
We advise everyone to stay clear of the east ridge until we understand what Ozthorn’s intentions are and whether these invitations pose any danger.
Johnny and Emmy will investigate the mountain privately, as we always do, before any townsfolk stumble into something unexpected.
We will report whatever we find — truthfully and fully — in next week’s issue.
NEXT WEEK’S REPORT
This is unrelated to Ozthorn, but worth noting:
Several students and parents have reported strange behavior around the Lonesome Pine Schoolhouse —
lights seen late at night,
footsteps when the building is empty,
and someone humming a tune no one recognizes.
Given these reports, our next Gazette issue will investigate the school thoroughly.
Next Week’s Feature:
— A Full Report on the Schoolhouse Incidents —
Until then, keep doors locked, keep lamps lit, and don’t follow any invitations you didn’t ask for.
— Johnny & Emmy
The Coyote Gazette