This is the 76th installment of a 100-day challenge to write a new vignette every morning.
Toddlers feeding raccoons surprised even the seasoned park ranger. In her 17 years working at Denali National Park, Alicia had seen everything—or so she thought, at least. She’d seen preteen siblings try to abduct a ground squirrel. She’d seen a bachelorette party try to dance with a wolverine. She’d seen drunk teenagers try to ride a moose—and get airlifted to a hospital.
Even with all that, though, she’d never seen a single wild raccoon. Now, eight of them blinked at her as a handful of toddlers tried to hide loaves of bread behind their backs. Some of the loaves were longer than the toddlers’ torsos, and Alicia had to take a moment to remind herself that such a health and safety violation wasn’t cute—no matter how cute it was.
In an instant, the unlikely pack scattered. Alicia watched the raccoons and toddlers flee in all directions as if they were leaves and she’d just launched herself into a freshly raked pile. She darted this way, then that, before pausing and lifting her radio to her mouth. She’d ask for help—but with what, exactly?
Miles Away 