by Marian Stack
Grace had chosen to remain mute regarding the deep wound on her lower back, just inches from her left hip, which she sustained when she struggled to escape out of one of the side shattered windows, from the overturned prison van.
Thanks to her violent upbringing she acquired a deep hatred for all weak humans, which often placed her own health in jeopardy, and this occasion was no exception. Regrettably this peculiar bias to ask for help or assistance was deep rooted and now the pain and the loss of blood had finally made her weak and her balance unstable, as she began to slip and stumble with more regularity.
As they approached another dangerous passing both woman stopped to survey the new challenge ahead of them.
As they both stared at the daunting sight before them, “Well what the fuck do you think?” Grace asked but really didn’t care if an answer was given or not. The long narrow path of wet shale rock seemed to be their only choice.
Their decision was to cross the path of wet shale or turn around and take the other path, which was at the very least several miles behind them seemed to be their only choice aside from waiting to be caught and returned to prison.
Both women mindfully reminisced about the pervious discussion that was somewhat agreed upon a few miles back, when Angel wanted to take the other path when they were faced with the decision of which path to take after arriving at a fork in the road.
“This is fine.” Angel meekly responded to Grace as they began the dangerous crossing.
So with wet shale beneath their feet, a wall of wet sheer rock, with no visible hand holds to secure them on their right and a very long slope of rocky unstable debris from a recent landslide on their left, they began.
As the perilous walk proceeded, both women knew that this was nearly impossible in their current health conditions but again turning around was also not a reasonable option.
With each step, the ground beneath their feet seemed to move and slide offering zero stability. And then as if Grace, who was leading knew that the side of the mountain was going to let go, began to run. From watching her feet to looking up just on time to watch her leader run with all her might ignoring telling her why or warning her of the impending doom, Angel tried to run as well, but as she began with her unsteady legs, and with the shale path crumbling beneath her, she began to tumble down the inclined with reckless speed, which caused her small framed body to ride and then be gathered up by the rolling wall of rock and debris. As the side of the mountain collapsed all around her and as she was tossed like unwanted trash it was evident that this was a collision that her small body would not survive.
Once Grace firmly stood on solid ground, she nonchalantly turned to take in the larger picture of the devastation and to attempt to locate her travelling companion assuming that she was safe somewhere and would continue to be a pain in her ass. But as her eyes viewed the destruction of the small but deadly land slid, from her vantage point she scanned for any signs of life or additional injury to Angel.
After a very short period of time she visually connected with the bright orange fabric of the prison jumpsuit and then she was able to notice parts of the still body of the young girl that was not covered by the mountain debris. Feeling both annoyed and relief that she was able to locate the young girl she kept her eyes glued on the still body for a few minutes longer to look for signs of life.
Cupping her hands around her mouth making a cone style channel she slightly bellowed into the heavy air, “Hey kiddo, are you alright? Don’t make me come down there and get your sorry ass out of another situation.”
After a few seconds of silent but for nature’s sounds, and the sound of the surging rain she repeats her call, “Hey stupid, are you hurt or dead?”
Allowing for a few more silent seconds to pass, Grace allowed her conscience to play the game of ‘should I just leave or go down there and inspect the situation?’ True to form, she made her self-preservation decision, she assumed the worst had happened. Without loss of emotion regarding the young girls life being cut short, she callously turned to face the direction she believed was the correct path to take to get her off this mountain, she began her hike again, in search of shelter and hopefully food, as she has not eaten anything but a few berries for many hours.
Unusually shaped boulders
With every step that Turtle took to advance the slight incline, Blair’s stride only seemed to eat up half the distance.
Unbeknownst to Turtle as she continued on her quest to get her guest back to her civilization, which she believed was an agreed upon quest, she was however, totally unaware that Blair had silently turned the emotional corner and was attempting to internally unify her frazzled emotions. Her spectrum of thoughts seem to travel over great distances in her mind from complete understanding of what she wanted to total destruction of everything she knew.
Blair’s internal dialogue,
“Ok kiddo over these past several days you have played numerous games and only seem to come out the other end with more questions. So as a lawyer what would you do to rectify this anomaly?”
“Well I would start with the usual questions,
“Firstly… you love her right?”
“Yes.” Answers Blair’s conscience… “Absolutely, or so it seems”
“And are you ready and willing to live on this mountain, full time?”
“Occasionally,” replied Blair #2
“Wrong answer,” Blair’s conscience flatly stated.
“What?” Blair #2 arrogant natural voice inquired. “Why can’t we live in the city and visit the mountain on very regular basis? That would work perfectly for me.
Turtle had turned around just on time to watch Blair chatter aloud with distorted lip movements, demonstrating a very silly crazy flinching grin on her face, with her head swinging and bobbing from side to side.
Confused, Turtle’s first inclination was that Blair was having a seizure of some kind, rapidly concluding this thought because of everything that had happened during this catastrophe, she had apparently snapped. Fearful as to her next steps of responsibility, her first decision was to lay her back pack on the ground to give her more speed and arm movement if Blair was to frantically run away, as she also believed that attempting to offer the appearance of a smaller frame would pose less threatening.
This was not the first time that Turtle was very pleased that her mother instilled in her to use some of her wild youthful years, to pick up the enjoyable pass time of reading, regardless of subject. Thankfully because of this past-time this obtained knowledge about talking to an unhinged person, one must speak with softly spoken little words that help to settle bouts of anxiety.
Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly Turtle began. “Blair, do you know who I am?”
Blair was so stunned by the manner of her voice and that crazy ass question that she was unable to immediately answer as she thought maybe Turtle enjoyed a little too much pot tea the night before and was suffering from residual effects or perhaps she had become unhinged, that she could only stare in perplexed silence.
“Blair where are you? Do you remember how you got here?” Turtle kept her voice in a monotone level as she reached out her hand to hold Blair’s hand that would offer real human touch.
Totally creeped out, Blair yanked her hand back so quickly that her balance was thrown off and in doing so she stumbled backwards until she gracelessly tumbled to the ground with her ass hitting so hard that the quick pain caused her scream out…”What the fuck is wrong with you? Stooop” she elongated the word in a jumpy crying voice. “You’re freaking me out… Stop” she cried out again as she tossed a small amount of grass at her very stunned looking guide.
“What! Turtle’s voice indicated total disbelief of what she thought was the truth. Then suddenly realizing the mistake that was made she laughed out these words, “I thought you had snapped.” She offered Blair a low throaty laugh, “Oh my god. I’m so sorry but you did look a little demonic.” Turtle continued to softly enjoy the moment
.
“Well thanks a whole lot. So that’s what you think of me, just a weak city girl.” She held up both her hands so that she could be help up from off the ground. “Well I think I have done pretty damn well out here in the wilderness, with having little to nothing of what I enjoy to be the bare necessities of life.”
“I absolutely agree, but when I turned around and saw the distorted facial movements happening all over your face, and then the fact that you were talking out loud but only loud enough for you to hear well my conclusion was sound…you had snapped.”
“You mean this face.” She scrunched up her face in the best demonic way she could and leaned her standing body right into a standing firm receiver.
Turtle surprisingly only allowed for a two second swipe style kiss and then firmly grabbed onto Blair shoulders to firmly stand her upright, and then pushed her back just a little which confused the hell out of Blair. Then Turtle did another strange thing that would keep them in the nice and friendly game and made a silly face back.
“Cute.” Blair sarcastically stated as she allowed Turtle to take the lead to begin the hike to the hunters’ cabin.
As Blair obediently took her position behind the pup that followed very closely behind her leader, both women seem to fall into their own worlds of thought.
Blair concluded her self-cross-examination,
“And you are willing to introduce your ‘new love’ to your friends and family? Then Blair’s heart sank, “not to mention all your colleges at the firm, and your brother and… and that’s the problem, Blair’s conscience stated with longing in her whisper.
“But you seem to love her.” Blair #2 stated with acceptance in her whisper.
“Yes…Yes I do.” Blair conscience mutely mouthed the words.
Then out of nowhere the air was filled with words.
“What?” Blair choked out, surprised to be talking all of a sudden.
“Are you feeling alright? You have slowed down considerably this past hour, and I was asking if you needed a rest?” Turtle voiced as she jogged back to her guest to ensure her safety.
“You never stop, do you?” Blair stated in a slightly rude kind of way. Then regretted the moment the words hit the treetops. “I mean that in the nicest of ways, Turtle. You have been wonderful.” Then immediately she stopped talking because of the look on Turtle’s surprised face. Unfortunately because of her inborn nature she was just not able to stop talking, and she proceeded to dig her apology hole, just that much deeper, “I mean it’s been wonderful having this time here alone with you and everything. You have taught me so much about life. This is a true trip of a love time.” Blair’s eyes quickly moistened feeling the real moment.
“Life” Turtle gently corrected her guest.
“What!” She questioned with surprise.
“You said, trip of a love time, and it’s, ‘a trip of a life time’.” Turtle continued to gently correct.
“No I did not.” Blair responded slightly expressing righteous arrogance.
“Sorry, but yes…you did, you said love.” Turtle’s voice contained a jolly tone to it.
Blair then, as always, guaranteeing every intention to end this game on her terms, “Well…Well, imagine that, a simple slip of the tongue. Love…Life what’s the difference. It’s been great getting to know all of you.” Blair boasted as she linked her arm into her ‘girlfriends’ and leaned in for a sideways acknowledgment shoulder tender push. As they continued to walk side by side, arms linked, Blair not wanting to break the affectionate moment, leaned her head back and allows the gentle raindrops to tickle her face.
The light rain did not arrive with wanting as Blair flopped her head forwards and then deliberately turning her head, ever-so-slowly, to the right, and sighs, “It’s beginning to rain… again.”
“Yes. I noticed, so let’s get a move on.” Turtle quickened her pace, slightly pulling her interlinked partner beside her.
Exiting a large grouping of trees and tripping over exposed roots, Turtle looked up from her downward gaze and immediately noticed straight ahead of them, the rock formation. “That view right there,” Turtle pointed with her outstretched arm, hand and finger, “is exactly what I, we have been waiting for. We are only a mile or two from the cabin.” She spoke with controlled jubilation.
“Finally, I’m cold and I want out of this relentless downpour.” Blair spouts out as she entered the small viewing spot and taking in the full view of the impressive grouping of the unusually shaped boulders.
“Let’s keep forging ahead. We should be at the cabin in about one hour or so.” Turtle announced as she began the march to the cabin but then abruptly stopped walking to the point that Rain crashed into the back of her legs and Blair nearly fell over the small wolf sending the pup running away from the two pairs of legs that towered over her, encroaching on her safe marching place.
“What the hell, Honey?” Blair voiced as she reached down to the pup ensuring her safety.
“Sorry just had a quick thought. You do realize that this cabin we have been so set on arriving at may not be in the best of shape not to mention may not be inhabitable at all or may not even still exist at all.” She rapidly sent out all her worries at once.
“Please stop worrying, it will be there and we will be safe because you will make sure of it.” She offered a reassuring smile along with more words of encouragement. “And I don’t know if you have heard this news yet but there is a search and rescue team out for us. So when we arrive at this cabin in the woods, you will build a huge signal fire and then they will see it from the air regardless of this incessant rain and we will be rescued and all will be right with the world.” Completing her well thought out closing announcement of strength, she walked the few steps to embrace the amazing woman standing in front of her and cuddles the strong female frame and without permission, as per normal, plants a passionate kiss on Turtle’s most desirable lips, which she also ensured by her embrace that her saviour could not escape from, as she had done in the past.
Remaining in their embrace, Blair ordered her guide, “Well let’s get a move on,” and with her nonchalant statement she abruptly turned Turtle’s body around to face forwards.
As Turtle embarked on what possibly was their last day before their rescue, pondered over Blair’s need to return home but what also appeared to be her want, was for her to remain on this mountain, on this journey of discovery for a little longer, indicated by her very confusing actions and wordings. Turtle had very much tried to remain in a neutral place regarding their moments of passion but she now felt that her very changeable companion seem to be constantly flipping back and forth between desires and reality.
The Cabin in the Woods
Understanding that they were nearing the ending of this incredible adventure, she felt it necessary to become overly cautious. So before entering the cabin, Turtle allowed her guide instincts to take command safeguarding her guest against any unfriendly visitors of the four legged variety held out her arm to stop Blair from barging into the seemingly empty structure.
“I just want you to let me take a look around the inside of this cabin, before you enter. And you two,” she announced to Blair but pointed to both Blair and Rain with her index finger in a circular manner, “look around the outside.”
“Seriously” Blair’s voice was dry with sarcasm, “after all we have been through, and you still feel the need to be the hero.”
Turtle stopped and thought for only two seconds and then responded with a resounding, “Yes! Now walk around the cabin, and take Rain with you for security.” Her voice left little room for discussion.
“Yes ma’am.” Blair stated as she included a half-hearted military salute, and then lightly slapped the side of her leg, “Rain, come.” And then suddenly she began to laugh and laugh to the point that tears were streaming down her cheeks.
Turtle came completely out of the cabin to once again ‘come to her rescue’. “Blair what is so funny.” Fearfully to ask, but does
anyway, “Are you alright?”
And once again Blair really did not need her rescuing. “You named your dog Rain during one of the worst spring and early summer rainy seasons on record.”
“She’s a wolf.” And immediately knew she was being pulled into another tease by her attractive guest.
“You might want to rethink about changing her name,” then allowed the conversation to pause, but only for a few seconds, as Blair could be seen walking around the corner of the cabin with the posture of ‘I’m just saying’ with her hands in the air and then her voice could be heard again as she began her tour again and again repeated the slap, the calling of wolf’s name and the laughter.
“What a handful.” Turtle joyfully remarked, and then turned her body around, to wait for a few additional seconds for her eyes to adjust to the change from dull outdoor light to the shadowy dark light of the inside. The after taking a deep breath Turtle respectfully entered the cabin.
Magically she was transported back to her youth, remembering when she and her father had spent several visits within these four walls.
Her memory journeyed her back to a conversation, after a Christmas dinner that only the two of them attended, were talking about their past and how adorable she thought her father was that night when he confessed to her the truthful reason why he so rarely brought her back to this very masculine cabin. “Dovie, I was always so amazed at what you could do, and how you mastered every survival skill I knew to teach you, hell you probably showed me more, but my sweet girl, what I’m so sorry about is that I forgot you were a young girl and that young girls should have some nice things not sleeping in a dark dirty hunters’ cabin. Remember living on this mountain was my dream. You just got caught up in it. So my sweet Dovie, if you ever get the chance to live in the big city world and that is what you want, follow your dream, and whatever you do don’t stay in mine, unless of course you want too and it makes you happy. But please always remember you’ve got a lot of your mother’s smarts in you.”
