His eyes darted around the small clearing, searching for clues. Then he saw it—a backpack, half-buried beneath a layer of damp leaves. His pulse jumped, maybe it belonged to the owner. Swallowing hard, he stepped toward it, his body tense.
Daniel hesitated before crouching beside the backpack. The fabric was worn, the zipper half open. He tugged it apart, revealing a small flashlight and a folded-up map.. His fingers brushed against it, searching for identification. The bag was damp and stiff, and something dark stained the strap.