Ford explained a lot more about the mythical creatures in detail that Alice couldn't help believing. Her scientific mind screamed not to believe it, Ford gave her reasons too. He told her about giant fruit bats that lived in the mountain caves, floating eyes that haunted his house for some time, and had seemed rather annoyed when he told her about a 'leprecorn'.

But she believed him.

"So you've gotten up to some crazy stuff, huh?" She asked, passing the pages back to him.

"That's one way to put it," Ford snorted, folding the pages and stuffing them in his coat. "Only took six years for me to get in over my head."

His arm snapped out in front of her, his pace slowing as he crept forward. Alice narrowly managed not to collide with his back, taking a glance around. She couldn't see anything, but he knew the forest better than she ever could.

"Look-" He hissed under his breath, six-fingered hand gesturing in front of him. "There."

She peered over his shoulder, starting when she saw it. What looked like a bundled-up plaid shirt moving along the forest floor. No... There was no way... Is that a beaver tail?

"A plaidypus!" Ford's face broke into a grin. "What are you doing all the way out here."

"Don't you mean platypus?" Alice asked, her eyes wide as she stared at the oddly adorable creature. Ford only shook his head, still grinning, as he explained the plaid printed platypus- A Plaidypus. He moved into a crouch, staying a respectful distance from the small creature. Alice was quick to mimic his movements, wishing she had a pen and paper of her own, but not for the creature.

Ford's smile was bright and genuine, the first of its kind that she had seen since leaving Mabel at the shack. He was in his element.

"You're a cute one, aren't you? And in one of my favorite patterns, too." Ford asked the plaidypus, gesturing for her to move forward a little more. "If I were to rate the oddities that live in this forest on a scale of most to least annoying, these little guys would get immunity. They have done nothing wrong and I appreciate them for it."

Alice let out a breathy laugh, eyes focused on the creature as it ambled into the underbrush and vanished from view.

"What a cute little guy," Ford commented, standing and brushing off his coat. Alice stood, unable to find the words to describe what she had just seen, she felt unsteady. Like a rug had just been yanked from under her feet and she was freefalling.

"That's..." She managed to breathe out. "Amazing..."

"They really are something, aren't they? I've managed enough observations to last a lifetime of those little fellows." Ford chuckled as he turned to glance at her expression.  His head tilted toward her, his smile still wide across his face. "You look like you've just seen a ghost, Miss Alice."

"I feel like I have," Alice said with a sudden laugh, pressing her hand to her forehead. "Am I going to see ghosts on this trip?"

"Maybe," He admitted a chuckle and a shrug. "It depends on what we encounter. But don't be so caught up in the fear of it, the supernatural isn't always bad."

"If I see more things like the Plaidypus?" Alice responded with a grin. "I don't think I'll mind."

They continued into the forest, the foliage denser the deeper they got. Alice could hardly see through the tops of the trees, the sun dropping lower than she had expected. It was already late when they left, but she hadn't thought the Mothman would be this far out.

As if he had read her mind, Ford answered her thought question.

"The Mothman is rather reclusive, and as such, lives deeper within the forest than bolder creatures like gnomes," He paused, glancing over his shoulder at her. "Are you alright?"

"Hm?" Alice breathed out, glacing up as she fought to dislodge her jeans from a tangle of branches.

"That is, are you tired at all?" Ford corrected himself. "I should've asked sooner. It's just been some time since I've traveled with anyone new. Stanley tends to speak his mind without my asking."

"I'm fine," Alice said with a smile. "I've done this before."

He chuckled as her jeans finally came free, " Done this before? As in, going off into the woods with old men looking for supernatural creatures?"

"Try into the woods for hours on end to study birds," She stumbled forward, quickly balancing herself and brushing off her pant leg. "I'm a zoologist."

"So we are two scientists in the woods then," He commented, pausing so Alice could catch up with him. "How many birds have you classified?"

"I'm more into the behavioral sciences," Alice elaborated, matching his pace. "I studied mating patterns in larger birds, like swans and eagles. Corvids were always my favorite, but everyone studies them."

"Mating partners and behavior, hm?" Ford pondered, adjusting his glasses. "Are you sure you chose the sciences and not relationship advice?"

"If I chose that," Alice responded, almost sarcastically. "I wouldn't be divorced."

"You're divorced?" Ford's smile fell from his face, surprise crossing over. "How old are you?"

"Forty-one," Alice said with a shrug, pushing forward. "Too long of a story to explain."

He didn't seem to want to press and Alice was grateful for it. He settled himself against a tree, his arms crossed over his chest. "We have some time until sunset: we'll wait here in the meantime."

"You mentioned traveling with your brother," Alice piped up, trying to change the subject. "What was that like?"

He glanced at her, once again, adjusting his glasses, "I suppose it wouldn't do any harm to tell you."

Alice got the feeling he'd been dying to talk about it, something about the tone in his voice. She smirked, leaning against the trunk of a strong redwood, mimicking his posture.

"I've been sailing with Stanley around the world, chasing after hotspots of anomalous activity," Ford explained, one hand waving in front of him. "He seemed to view it as a vacation, but I saw it as a chance to pick back up on some serious research. I've been rather eager to break the news of what we've found to the world, but I must organic my findings."

"Must be strange to come back home after traveling so long," Alice commented, tipping her head to him. "I know I'd feel it."

"More than you know," He chuckled with a shake of his head. Behind his glasses, his eyes were downcast. Almost sad if Alice was going to place it, she wanted to ask but thought better of it.

She didn't have to pry if he didn't.

The moment the sun touched the horizon through the gaps in the treetops, Ford gestured for her to follow. She hadn't noticed before, but they'd been resting within a short distance of a small clearing with cylindrical stone markers. As she neared, she could see the stone markers were carved with intricate swirls, her fingers brushed along them. They felt old, ancient even.

Ford reached into his coat, producing the pack of gum he had taken earlier, and dumped a few pieces into his palm.

"Gum?" He asked, holding his hand out to her.

"Thanks," Alice muttered, taking a piece and popping it in her mouth. Why did we come out here to unwrap some gum? He slid the rest of the gum into his coat pocket, unwrapping the now-empty packet to reveal a small piece of parchment and smoothing it out against the stone. She leaned in closer, lacing over his shoulder. The parchment held the same detailed drawing of the swirls on the stone, documenting every crack on the surface, Ford was good at his job.

As she watched, a golden cursive unfolded itself across the page, seemingly fueled by the sunset's warm light.

"Such a place the Mothman doth rest," Ford read as the words revealed themselves. "But please do not disturb his nest. If kindness be something thou bereft. Follow thy nature and turn left."

"I think we go left-" Alice commented, smirking at the poem on the paper.

"I think so, Alice," Ford said with a serious nod, folding the paper and shoving it into his jacket. "We press onward."