A group of tourists went on a hike through a picturesque forest. They set up tents, made a campfire, laughed, sang songs, and enjoyed their break. Everything was perfect until someone noticed that one of them – a man of about thirty-five – was missing.
At first, no one paid it much attention: they assumed he had just stepped away to photograph something beautiful and would return soon. But the minutes passed, and their worry grew.
Meanwhile, the man himself was walking through the forest, holding his camera. His attention was drawn to an unusual plant by the trail – he stopped, took a few pictures, and when he lifted his head, he realized with horror: the trail was gone. He looked around – only dense undergrowth surrounded him.
“Hey!” he shouted. – “I’m here!”
But the only answer was silence. He walked aimlessly, hoping to hear voices or see smoke from the campfire, but with every minute, he got more lost. The water in his bottle ran out quickly, and he had no food. The forest gradually darkened, it grew cold, and his fear increased.
For hours he shouted for help, but no one answered. Suddenly, in the silence, a strange sound was heard – like a wheeze or a moan. The man froze, his heart beating faster. He expected to see a wolf or a wild boar, but between the bushes appeared a deer.
However, the animal was in distress: its neck and body were tightly bound with rope. The deer struggled, wheezed, and could barely breathe.
