There are some parts of the wild that are not meant to be explored.
Skinwalkers and Night Land Nav
Intro:
Hello constant listener. Did you miss me? I’ve missed your company too. While I’ve been away I’ve been gathering more stories to tell you, more places to bring you, and am glad you are here with me. Tonights’ tale has been submitted by an anonymous subscriber. If you’d like to follow me on Twitter, my handle is @copper_shock. This story is from the perspective of a male.

I’m Tasha Wheelhouse and this is Coppershock.

Body:
This story is one that I often question my own sanity. Because, I don’t know how it could even be possible. It’s one of those moments you experience that echoes through you, it’s so visceral and real.

I was in basic combat training, and a lot of things were changing for me at that point in my life. I had decided to break away from some of my family ties, needed direction, and the ROTC seemed to welcome me into their fold. This particular week we were going through an exercise called Night Land Nav. The goal of the exercise was to take a team of men and navigate through the landscape in pitch darkness. No lights were permitted. Your team was given a map, a compass, coordinates, one set of NOD (Night Observation Device), and emergency chemlights (‘chemlights’ are what you would call them glow sticks.). We had marched out behind our sergeant who was the only one holding a flashlight. When we reached the original point, he stopped and turned to face all of us.
“Alright boys. You have everything you need to follow the coordinates, and get back here.” The sergeant took out a marker from his pocket. “If I see a one O’ you with a flashlight, chemlights, or I just plain find you. You’re getting one of these.” He fiddled the red marker between his fingers showing it to all of us. It meant he’d draw a red line across our neck.
“Out here in the vast wilderness of Fort Sill, Oklahoma. You won’t see hills, trees, nor city lights. Judging by this sky, you won’t even have God himself to help you tonight.”
I looked up. The sky was nothing but black. No stars, no heavens to guide us. There was however flashes of heat lightning. Stretches of electricity racing in between clouds, lighting the ground below for only a second.
“All right. Get organized, and get going.”
I turned to my team. I was going to take lead of my squad.
“Ok guys. Column formation, all of us walking in a line. Belzer.” Belzer lifted his head to me. “You’re the tallest, take the front, count your steps. Gibbons. You’re the shortest, hang in the back, and count your steps also. Both of you keep your pacing even. When we reach a checkpoint check with each other to gauge how far we’ve actually gone.” Private Belzer and Gibbons nodded and went to go stand in their respective spots.
“Hallows. I want you wearing the NOD’s, and holding the compass telling us the direction to go. Me, Kipps, and Longmier will be security detail.”
Hallows nodded and picked up the Night Observation Device and started to strap it to his face. They were large and heavy. I’d worn them once before. It’s not the bright green emerald color you’ll see on ghost hunting TV shows. It was more of a silver mercury. No depth of field because it picks up Ultra Violet light, and it doesn’t cast the same shadows you would expect it too, but at least you can make out shapes.
Longmier, and Kipps picked up their M4 Carbines and holstered them in a gip in front of their body. For exercises like these, our guns were more for practice. At the end of the muzzle of my gun, it had a little metal box screwed on. We call these “Blank Firing Adapters.” It disables the gun from firing at all.
“Lights out, let’s go!” The Sergeant turned off his flashlight forcing all the other troops to start their trek.
“Let’s move.” I said.