How long had she been off the trail? When she looked back, it wasn’t even in sight.
It’s okay, she thought. Just turn around. Go back the way you came. But part of her was scared. What if she couldn’t find her way back?
Now it was early afternoon. The sun beat down. Without a breeze, the air was heavy. It made it hard to breathe.
Cora’s mouth was dry. She took a sip of water. Then she took out her map. Her finger traced the trail. Off to one side was Berry Creek. That had to be where she was. The trail was west of there.
Easy enough. Just head west back to the trail.
Cora looked at her compass. She started walking. A voice in her head said she was lost. But she tried to ignore it. Maps didn’t lie. All she had to do was trust herself and keep walking.
Up ahead, the path seemed to end. Plants covered the trail. Their leaves were in groups of three. They had pointed tips. Poison oak! Brushing against it could cause a painful rash.
She took out the map again. There was only one path to the trail. It was through the poison oak. Going around it would just get her lost again.
Cora’s mind raced. What if she was wrong? If Rayna was there, they would decide together. If Lucas was there, they wouldn’t have gotten lost at all. But she was alone. It was up to her.
She’d come too far. The heat hadn’t killed her. A little poison oak wouldn’t either. The worst that could happen was to get a bad rash. She could deal with that. Right now, the important thing was to find the trail.
She tried to walk quickly. But this was more than a little poison oak. The area was thick with shrubs and vines. With each step, her pants brushed against the leaves.
Cora was so focused on the ground that she almost missed the trail. But then she saw the dirt path. Tears filled her eyes. She didn’t realize how scared she’d been.
This was a good time to take a break. She walked to the nearest tree and let the pack drop. It felt good to be free of the weight. Then she ate a meal bar and drank some water. She would need her energy.
The next part of the trail was tricky. It was steeper, and it took a lot of turns. She would really need to focus.
Meltdown
This was the hottest part of the day. Cora’s energy was low. And it was another five miles to the campsite. Every few minutes, she took a sip of water. That made her worry. What if the water runs out? What if I faint? Why am I here by myself?
“Stop it!” she said out loud. But the negative thoughts kept coming. And she was too tired to fight them.
A flood of images filled her head. First it was Lucas shouting at her. Then she saw Rayna in the video. Those bullies made Cora sick.
People hating others for looking different? Was the world really that bad? Lucas said it was. Cora should have known. But she didn’t go online that much. She didn’t watch the news. Most of the time, she was reading a book.
Rayna was online a lot. Checking her status. Posting selfies. She shared so much of her life. People had to be careful. Especially with the haters in the world.
Maybe she shouldn’t share so much. But that didn’t make sense either. People should be free to express themselves.
The straps of Cora’s pack dug into her back. As the trail climbed, her pace got quicker. It was like the pain was pushing her.
She thought about this hike. How Rayna backed out. The way Cora acted was childish. Telling Rayna that she had to go. But she didn’t mean to hurt her friend. It was just such a letdown. The two wouldn’t share this adventure. Why didn’t Rayna get that?
Cora stopped. Her thoughts were so loud in her head. She stood still and listened. There was only silence.
The sun was blazing. Sweat dripped down her face. She looked up at the sky. Everything was still. There wasn’t a single bird in sight. Anything alive was hiding in some hidden shady spot.
She took a deep breath and walked on. In a few hours, the sun would be setting. She needed to get to the campsite.
The trail continued to climb. But her legs were strong. And her mind was calm.
“I have to prove I can do this,” she said. “To Lucas and Rayna. And to myself.”
Suddenly she stopped. Something was on the trail. It was animal droppings. But what kind? Bear or deer? It mattered a lot.
If they belonged to a bear, that could mean trouble. Lucas had taught her how to tell. She leaned over for a closer look. Bear droppings!
In a normal year, bears wouldn’t be here. But this was a drought. Animals were forced from their normal areas. They had to find water and food in other places.
Cora looked around. She felt like someone or something was watching her. But she continued on.
The trail wove through a grove of trees. She knew this place. A memory came to mind.
Lucas had taken Cora and Rayna camping. They set up their tents under these trees. Lucas made a fire.
After the sun had set, Cora told jokes. Rayna had laughed so hard. “Stop! You’re going to make me pee!” she said.
She told more jokes. Rayna laughed even harder.
Cora smiled at the memory. She loved making Rayna laugh.
Then the three of them took turns telling scary stories. Rayna’s were the best. They had creepy characters. Masked strangers staring through windows. Serial killers hiding in closets. Crazed clowns stalking campers.
Just then there was a sound. Cora jumped. A chill went up her spine. When she looked around, nothing was there.
But then she heard the sound again. It was coming from behind some trees.
Deer, she thought. It’s just deer. Don’t freak out. Deer were common in these hills.
She looked carefully in the direction of the sound. Seeing a deer would make her feel better. But she didn’t see anything.
“It can’t be a bear,” she said. But she knew what to do it if was. Lucas had told her many times. Do not run!
A second later there was another sound. This time it was louder. It was coming from behind her. Something was moving through the bushes.
Cora turned to look. There were four wild turkeys. They were walking in a line. She laughed. “Perfect,” she said. “I feel like a turkey.”
She took the camera from her pocket. “Smile, guys,” she said as she took a picture.
No Time to Cry
Seeing the turkeys had put Cora at ease. Maybe because they were a family. The thought reminded her of Lucas. Soon he would know she met her goal. She could exist safely in the wild. He would be proud of her.
Cora also thought of her mom. What would she think about this? Her baby being alone in the wild. She never would have agreed. Even though people had been doing it for all of human history. Now Cora knew she could do it too.
“I’m going to be okay,” she said. Before, it was more of a question. Now, it was a statement. Saying it out loud made it true.
A breeze cooled her as she walked. The campsite wasn’t much farther. There was one rocky section ahead. Then she’d be there. She could eat and rest. The thought kept her going.
At first the rocks were small. They crunched under her boots. Soon they were more like boulders. Some had jagged edges. Pain shot through her feet.
She moved slowly, being careful to choose each step. One step on a loose rock and she’d fall.
The weight of her pack made it worse. It was hard to focus. Take your time, she thought.
As she took her next step, a rock moved. Then her foot slipped. There was nothing she could do. The pressure of the pack sent her forward. She landed hard on her hands and knees.
“No!” Cora rolled to one side. She undid the straps and slid out from her pack.
That’s when she noticed her hands. Both palms were scraped. Then she felt pain. Her pants were torn over one knee. Ripped skin was showing. Blood was coming from a cut.
“It’s okay,” she said. “I just have to—” Cora was trying to stand. It took a minute to get up. As she stood there, her legs shook.
Scared to fall again, she didn’t mo
ve. “Go!” she finally told herself.
The first step was painful. But she could walk. She pulled the first-aid kit from her pack and sat down.
As she pressed gauze to the cut, she felt a sting. Tears filled her eyes. “Do not cry!” Then she rinsed the cut and dried it. Last she applied a bandage.
After a few minutes, she put the kit away. Then she put on her pack and started walking.
As Cora moved past the rocky area, she could see the ridge. At last! It was her camping spot. The area was flat. Perfect for her tent.
Before setting up camp, she looked around. The ridge overlooked a small canyon. The river below was dry. Still, it was a nice view.
Cora took a few deep breaths. It felt good to be on solid ground. Even her knee was feeling better.
Now her feet were sore. She couldn’t wait to take her boots off. And have something to eat.
First she set up the tent. Then she took a picture of it. It was proof of what she’d done. And without Rayna’s help. Maybe she’d post it online so Rayna would see it. The thought made her sad.
There was no time for that. She’d worked too hard to get here. And the hardest part was still ahead.
Everything had to go just right. Not just physically. Her mind had to be clear.
She checked her supplies. There was plenty of water. And of course there was enough food. Rayna had bought enough for two.
That made Cora wonder. What was Rayna doing right now?
Think about something else! She’d been in such a rush to set up camp, she forgot about the poison oak. If she had a rash, she couldn’t feel it.
She checked her arms and legs. No rash. And the cut on her knee had stopped bleeding. In a way, Cora was proud of it. It was like a badge she’d earned.
You Are Not Alone
Cora sat outside the tent. It felt good to relax and not think about anything. All she’d done the whole day was think.
Her mood had changed so many times. From happy to sad and back to happy. Now her mind was calm. So was everything around her.
The sun was setting. Streaks of pink and red crossed the sky. A hawk swooped down into the canyon. The shadows were long. It was beautiful.
After a while, Cora went inside the tent. She crawled into her sleeping bag. “Summer Lake,” she whispered. “It’s really going to happen.”
Her eyes closed. Just as she felt herself falling asleep, there was a noise. Bear? Turkeys? Deer? It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but sleep.
“Huh?” Cora mumbled as she opened her eyes. She looked around. A sound had startled her awake. “What now?” She wasn’t sure if it was night or day.
Then the sound got louder. She held her breath and listened. Was it footsteps? Her mind raced. It could be a hunter. Or another hiker. Maybe a park ranger, she hoped.
The footsteps were getting closer. Would the person stop? Why weren’t they calling out?
Now her heart was pounding. Cora thought about the boys who bullied Rayna. People like that were full of hate. They could hurt you. Rayna said they’d asked her about camping. Had they come out here to find her?
Instead, they’d find Cora here alone. Who knew what they might do. Quietly she reached into her pack. She pulled out the knife. Her hand was shaking.
The footsteps kept getting closer.
“Hello?” a voice called.
Cora gripped the knife.
“Hello. Are you in there?”
Rayna? Cora put the knife down. She unzipped her tent and looked out. Rayna stood there smiling. She was wearing her pack. Sweat covered her face.
“Am I dreaming?” Cora said as she rubbed her eyes. “Is it really you?”
“It’s me,” Rayna said. “I’m really here.”
“But how? Why?” By now she had climbed out of the tent. “I have so many questions. We have so much to talk about.”
She went over to Rayna and gave her a hug. Her arms could barely reach around the pack. That’s when Cora started to laugh. She had never been so happy to see anyone. Rayna laughed too.
“When I first saw you, I thought I’d lost my mind,” Cora said. “Here, hand me your pack.” She took the pack and set it down. “You must be tired.”
“I could use something to eat,” Rayna said. “Do you have any food?”
They looked at each other and laughed again. “Tons. Thanks to you. I’ll get you something.”
Cora went into the tent. She came back with two meal bars. The girls leaned against a boulder while Rayna ate.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” Cora said. “You were so mad at me. What made you change your mind?”
“I read your text about coming here alone. Then I talked to Lucas. He said it was true. And that you were making him lie.”
“Oh, that.” Cora looked down. “It was wrong.”
“I was so mad at you,” Rayna said. “But then I thought about it. You’re my best friend. I couldn’t let you do this alone. What if something bad happened? I’d never forgive myself.”
“But your parents. I can’t believe they let you come. Especially after what those boys did.”
“At first they said no. But I begged. Finally my grandma stood up for me. She said they should let me go. And they did.”
“How did you get here so fast? You must have left right after me.”
“It was a few hours later,” Rayna said. “My dad drove me. Then I pushed myself to catch up to you.”
“How did you know where—”
“The list of directions you left behind.” She smiled at Cora. “You and your dumb lists.”
Offline
You’re such a good friend, Rayna. You always do the right thing. I don’t deserve you,” Cora said. “You mean so much to me,” Rayna said. “That’s why I’m here. You know, Cora, I didn’t handle things well either.”
“What do you mean?”
“Those bullies upset me. And I took it out on you.” “But you were right to be mad. I was only thinking
about the trip.”
“You were just excited,” Rayna said. “I should have
told you how I felt. Instead, I blew up at you. You didn’t
deserve it.”
“Thanks for saying that. I’ve been so worried about
us. Our friendship. I didn’t want to lose you.”
“I have to admit something,” Rayna said. “I think
I share too much online. What those bullies did was
wrong. There’s no excuse. But maybe I made it easier for
them.”
“No. They’re just haters. I’ve been thinking about
something Lucas said. He told me that I need to go online
more. To know what happens in the real world. I really
didn’t think people could be so hateful.”
“That’s funny,” Rayna said.
Cora frowned. “What do you mean funny?” “No. Not what you said. It’s about me. I’ve been
thinking about going online a lot less.”
The girls sat in silence and gazed at the view. Bats
flew up from the canyon. The stars were shining and the
moon glowed.
Pretty soon they were too tired to keep their eyes
open.
“Let’s get some rest,” Cora said. “Tomorrow is going
to be a long day.”
They settled into their sleeping bags. After a few minutes of talking, they were asleep.
“Rayna,” Cora whispered. “Wake up.” Rayna opened her eyes. “What time is it?” “It’s almost five. We need to get going.” “I can’t believe how well I slept,” Rayna said. “I’ve already eaten and packed up. Have something to
eat. And I’ll take the tent down.” Rayna quickly ate and packed her sleeping bag. Then, with packs on their backs, they left the area.
As they hiked, dust kicked up from their boots.
“We’re almost there,” Cora said. “Just a few more— Look! Down there!”
Rayna w
alked over and looked down. At the bottom of the slope was a riverbed. It looked like it had been carved into the land.
Instead of water, there were patches of scrub brush. Some portions were paved with boulders. There were a few pools of water. But it was brown and muddy or green and slimy.
They hiked down to the bottom of the slope.
“We made it,” Cora said.
“It’s so weird,” Rayna said. “In a normal year, we’d be underwater right now.”
They walked down into the riverbed. Cora saw an object and headed toward it. “Just an old shoe,” she called back to Rayna. “And here’s an old camp stove. Why would people dump their trash? It’s disgusting.”
“No. This is disgusting,” Rayna said. “Beer cans and cigarette butts.” She picked up a long stick and moved them aside. “It smells awful here. Like moldy food. Or dirty socks.”
“Yuck,” Cora said. Then she saw something. A deer and two fawns stood near a puddle. They were drinking the slimy water. “Over there,” she said in a low voice. “Look!”
“Oh, they’re so cute,” Rayna said. “But look at that water. It’s so gross. This must be all they have. How sad.”
Getting Real
I
don’t think we’ll find anything,” Cora said. Rayna was poking around in the brush. “Don’t give up yet. Hey! Look at this.”
“You found something?” Cora ran over to her. “What is it?”
“I don’t know. I’m trying to get it,” Rayna said.
“Here. Let me try.” Cora knelt down and grabbed the object. It was a small metal box. “It looks really old.” She tried to open it, but the latch was rusted shut. “Quick. Hand me a rock.”
Rayna found a rock and gave it to her.
“It could be treasure,” Cora said. She struck the latch a few times.
“See?” Rayna said. “I told you not to give up. This is so exciting.”
The latch finally broke off, and the box popped open. It was filled with mud. Cora shoveled it out with her hands. Suddenly she stopped.
“What?” Rayna said.
Summer Lake Page 3
