𐂂The imminent threat.𓃴 ࣪ ˖

The stars were bright this morning. There were a few gray foxes out, which was cool. I was going about my business, enjoying the quiet streets, and everything was good until I got to that stretch of road.
     

I’ve been walking at night for years, dude, and this is new. I’ve seen deer in town before, but usually it’s one passing through, and it runs off when it sees me. These guys have set up shop around that concrete channel that carries rainwater out of town. Out here in the desert, rain can come down fast, and the water needs somewhere to go. Apparently, these deer's have decided to stay.
     There aren’t any woods, just a few bushes, but they’ve moved in. There are always at least three. Two you can see, and another standing farther back in the dark. Maybe more. They don’t have antlers, but they’re big probably a hundred pounds each and lately they’ve been getting bolder. Every morning I come down that stretch, there they are.
Usually they move along. Today? Nay. Today they stood their ground. I crossed toward the other side of the street to give them room. They moved a little, then stopped and stared straight at me. They were snorting, at first I was like are these guys snorting at me, they were! It’s an uncomfortable sound at four in the morning, especially when you can’t quite count how many deer are making it.
     I never considered that my morning walk might turn into a disagreement with deer gangsters who just claimed territory . Should I tell the city? Is it bear mace time? I’m picturing somebody looking out their window while I’m standing in the street screaming, “No! Get back!” at 4:00 in the morning while I'm bear macing a deer out of sheer self defense. That stretch of road is getting a little intense.