Crossed Paths

Don’t Feed The Wild Life

“Well I don’t know about actually finding a waterfall, lake or whatever. But I think maybe we should head back and ask Cedric.” I said after we had walked for what had been about half an hour.

“ Yeah, it was kind of a long shot to think we would actually find a large amount of water so close.” Lexi said a bit bummed out.

“I mean it took us about, what? Fifteen/ Twenty minutes until we actually managed to find the stream. I would’ve been surprised if we had manage to find the lake or waterfall so quickly.”

“Well, I guess you’re right. We should head back, I’m sure they’re going to want to start dinner prep.” Lexi said as she turned and looked around.

“Elincia.” She exclaimed, as she turned from side to side.

“Yeah?” I hummed not too far behind the her.

“Which way was the trail?”

“What?” I questioned, a bit confused since I was so sure we were on the hiking trail.

“The trail, were not really on the original trail.”

Hearing her mention the trail, I took a look around noticing just how narrow the dirt path actually was. Though now it seemed to have more grass and twigs, not like the path that seemed wider.

“W-well if we retrace our steps, I think we should find way back. Right?” I suggested, though I felt my blood turn cold as the thought of being lost.

“I mean, I guess but. I didn’t think we would actually loose track of the hike trail. I was so focused on the sound of the stream, I guessed we went towards a narrower path?”

The look of worried was evident. On Lexi, reflecting my own no doubt.

“H-hey, don’t freak out just yet. It’s still light out I’m sure we didn’t stray too far. Do you remember the last time we might have been on the actual trail?” I asked her, forcing the waver in my tone to still.

Lexi was more of the problem solver and ready to think rationally on how to fix her problems. But I could see her thoughts were getting to her, the possibility of us being stranded in the middle of the woods at night. I would be lying if the thought didn’t scare me too, but letting the worst case scenarios flood and cloud our judgement would do us more harm than good.

It had seemed I had managed to calm Lexi down. As she took a deep breath and thought of what we should do.

“Okay, I think it was on the huge rock we stopped to take a picture on.” She said as she took out her phone.

“See if you could still get service here.” I suggested as I took my phone out too.

Though I knew it was a slim chance of us actually having a signal, I still wanted to be sure.

“No luck.” Lexi let out a sigh as she pocketed her phone.

“Same. That’s fine we’ll just see if we can find the rock. Besides Cedric knows we were going to come back.”

With that thought in mind, at least one of our friends would call someone if we didn’t show up. If I was honest I didn’t really talk with Cedric much. He mostly kept to himself, but he had always been polite. I was betting on the chance he would let the others know if we didn’t show up anytime soon. With that thought we continued walking where we thought we had seen the rock.

——

A couple of minutes later we had stopped to take a rest on a log. It had been about fifteen minutes since we had realized we had wandered off the original trial. We had still to find our mark point (the big rock) where we thought we had last been on the trail.

“Uggghhhh! I’m Tiiired.”

Lexi said to my left as she took a sip from her water bottle. I was with her, my feet were killing me. I was grateful we had brought our hydro flasks, so we had water and there were snacks in each of our backpacks.

“We would be the ones to get lost in the damn woods.”

“Yep it was inevitable. But, there’s no one I rather be lost in the damn woods with.” I joked, trying to keep things light hearted regarding our predicament.

“Awww, AAAMIGIIIS! {BEEEESTIIEE!} Same.” She laid her head on my shoulder.

“For reals though. I don’t want to spend the night here. Do you thinks there’s bears here?” She looked around.

“Uuuh, the probability of there being animals isn’t zero.” I said honestly.

“ELIIINCIAAA!!!” She clung to my arm.

“OWWW, get off me Woman! It’s the truth!”

“I don’t want to be eaten by a bear!”

“You won’t, calm down.” I said, finally prying off her death grip from my arm.

“The most we’ll probably see is maybe a deer.” I smirked before continuing. “If your pterodactyl screeches don’t scare them off firs- ow!” I yelped from the slap to the arm.

“Rude. I see how it is, if the bear does come, I’m tripping you and getting to safety.”

Her faux threat made me laugh. “Not if I trip you first.”

“I can’t with you.” She rolled her eyes, giving my shoulder a playful shove letting out a small laugh herself.

“Meee, I’ll have you know--”

I stopped mid sentence hearing a sound nearby.

“Do you hear that?” I lowered my voice.

“H-hear w-what?!” She whispered-yelled, her death grip back on my arm.

“Shh.” I placed a finger to my lips.

“It sounds like a whimper.”

“I don’t-” The sound was heard more clearly now, stopping her from her thought.

“It kind of sounds like it might be a dog. What if other people are camping nearby and their dog got hurt.”

I stood, making a move towards where we heard the unknown sound was coming from.

“OR, and hear me out. It’s not a pup and it’s a bear instead and it’ll eat us if we get too close to it.” Lexi frantically said as quietly as she could.

“C’mon Lexi, if we happen to run into other people we might find a way back to the others.”

This made Lexi think my words over. As she had yet to say anything I took another step, looking in the direction we had heard the whimpers coming from. Something in me was telling me I needed to see what it was. A small part of me knew it sounded crazy, especially being in the middle of the woods.

“O-okay, just a peek.”

At her words we made the trek towards the sound, Lexi clutching my backpack walking slightly behind me. It didn’t take us long until we noticed a form close towards a bush and the foot of a tree. Upon getting a better view we finally took notice that it was indeed definitely not a dog.

“T-that..That’s NOT a dog, it’s a fuckin wolf!” Lexi said in a hushed tone as not to spook the already agitated animal.

She was right. The wolf’s fur was black from the top of it’s head going all to it’s back and the tip of it’s tail, with light tan from the bottom and white paws.

“Shh” I tried to keep her quiet, as we crouched closer to the tree we were standing behind.

“It looks like it got caught in a bear trap.” My brows furrowed in frustration.

“I thought this was a no hunting-zone.” I whispered to Lexi, the anger could be heard in my voice.

“I-I d-don’t know, I thought it was too. That’s what I saw on the signs.” Lexi looked worriedly at the poor wolf.

“Here, hold this.” I thrusted my backpack at her.

“W-What? What the HELL DO YOU THINK you’re doing?!” She whispered exasperated, taking a hold of my sleeve.

“He needs help getting out of that thing.”

“NO! YOU’RE out of your damn mind if you think I’m just going to let you get close to it!”

“So we just leave it to suffer until the bastards that left that thing there, come and kills it!?” I whispered back at her.

“Elincia, I know you’re angry, but think about this rationally. It’s a wild animal, it’s agitated, hurt and scared. It could attack you.”

Of course I understood her. It sounded stupid walking up to a wild animal, but seeing the wolf struggling and hearing it’s whimpers made my anger overpower my rationality.

“You said so yourself, the dumbasses who left that f*****g trap are probably coming. And if they see you trying to set their ‘f*****g trophy’ free, who knows what they’ll do.”

“I can’t just leave him. Stay, here.” I said with finality pulling myself from her grasp, her hand wavering.

“Damn it, Elincia.” She whispered.

I gestured her to keep her voice down as I walked closer to the trapped wolf. I raised my hands up palms opened, taking small steps as quietly as I could so as not to frighten it more. It had apparently sensed my presence as it turned it’s head towards me, letting out a growl.

“Shh shh, it’s okay.” I stopped my approach.

“I won’t hurt you. I just want to get you out of that.” I said calm, my voice low.

I took a step forward, but faltered when I heard another small growl. My hands still up in view.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. I just want to help.”

I waited a moment before taking another step.

This time he didn’t let out a growl, so I took another step.

Until I was closer to see the trap. My blood boiled seeing the spikes red from the blood, no doubt from him trying to move it’s paw out.

“f*****g douchebags.” I muttered to myself.

I noticed the tilt in the wolf’s head. I was about arms reach from it’s head.

“Okay, I’m going to get you out.”

I said as I craned my neck to see the rest of the trap, noticing the chain was running to the bottom of the bush. I quickly glanced up to see the wolf’s face. I noticed just how big it was, just about half a foot shorter compared to my 5’4 form. A curious thought crossed my mind, maybe it was a younger wolf, though I had never been so close to a wolf in real life before.

‘How big SHOULD wolves be?’

I thought to myself as I searched for how I should release its paw from the trap.

I was about face to face with the wolf now noticing its sapphire colored eyes. Oddly the wolf was much calmer now, it seemed to be studying me carefully. Getting back to figuring how the trap works, I saw what could possibly open the jaws of the trap. Stepping on the side of the trap it let out a small click, but sharp clamps were still up. I took off my scarf and wrapped one of my hands with it, pushing one side of the claps down while I pulled down with my jacket sleeve pulled up to my palm, careful not to touch the trap with my bare hands. The wolf had let out a small whine as I pulled the trap open.

“Sorry bud, almost got it.”

Finally I had pulled it far apart enough for the wolf to pull its paw free. As soon as it was free I let go as quickly as I could, the trap shutting so fast I nearly thought it would’ve taken one of my fingers.

“There we go.” I sighed, now thinking if it would even let me near it’s injured paw.

“LOOK OUT.” I heard Lexi call out panic in her voice.

I stumbled back when a sudden thud that landed near me. The shadow form, this was not the smaller wolf I had just helped. This one was far bigger nearing 6ft, with red fur.

“Oh shit.” I whispered.

It took everything in me not to make any sudden movements as I came face to face with the massive form in front of me, baring its fangs it was a warning to watch my next move. My mind running a million miles a minute but also coming to a complete blank at what I should do next. All I wanted now was to get some distance between us.

I raised my hands up palms open as I tried to take a step back, earning another growl as it took a step forward. Before it got any closer the smaller wolf tried limping closer to the red wolf. I noticed now there were more wolves, one with cream colored fur was next to the limping wolf. As far as I could see, I wasn’t sure how many more were nearby.

It seemed it took notice of the smaller black/tan wolf. With what sounded like a huff, I took it as my cue to slowly move back, not turning my back and keeping eyes on the red wolf. Finally what had seemed like forever I reached Lexi, she grabbed the back of my jacket.

“It’s okay, just slowly walk back.” I whispered to her, hearing her trying to hold back her sob.

“W-what the h-hell, w-what th-the… w-why is t-that one coming closer???” Lexi whispered.

I shifted my eyes and noticed a wolf with chocolate brown colored fur looking directly our way walking closer, and growling with every step we took. Looking back to the red wolf it made no move to come towards us, looking at the brown wolf and growling at it. The brown wolf still tried to take another step forward, with that Lexi pulled me back almost making me trip.

“EAT THIS!!” She yelled as she threw something towards the wolf.

I Had no idea what it was, but it hit it straight into its face. With that Lexi grabbed my arm and proceeded to run.

“What did you throw?!” I asked, but had no response from Lexi as she pulled me and kept running.

Being careful of the small rocks and bushes as we both ran, I looked over my shoulder. It seemed none of the wolves were following us, but that still didn’t stop us from running.

_____

We didn’t know how long we ran for but we were out of breath leaning towards a tree.

“W-what…What the hell did you throw at the wolf?” I asked Lexi again.

“I… I had … a bag of beef jerky. I … I t-thought food might distract them.” She said trying to catch her breath.

Her words had me trying to hold back my laugh, but I couldn’t help it and started laughing.

“I-I C-can’t get t-that out of m-my head now.” I giggled.

“Shut up!” She shoved my arm.“This is your fault, you know.”

“I know. I’m S-sorry. I really am- OW!”

I rubbed my arm from the slap she had given me.

“Stupid. I know you love animals, but damn it. WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING??”

“I- i..”

“NO, save it. I’m not done.”

I stayed quiet as Lexi listed all the things that could’ve gone wrong. Of course I knew she had every right to be furious. It had been a very stupid move of me to just put not only myself in danger but her as well. For whatever reason an unexpected impulse just made me believe everything was going to be fine. That my actions today is what NEEDED to happen.

‘What is wrong with me?’

Lexi ended her lecture and hugged me, ripping me out of my thoughts.

“You’re my best friend, no you’re like a sister to me. What am I suppose to do if something happens to you?” I heard her cry into my shoulder.

“I know, I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.” I rubbed her back to try and soothe her.

“y-You better not.” She sniffled.

We stood and trying to decide which way we should go. We heard a twig snap and footsteps. We stopped any sudden movements.

“There you are, you had us all worried.”

We let out a sigh of relief at seeing it was Cedric.

“Cedric!! You, you lifesaver!” Lexi said tears in her eyes.

“Are you both okay?” Cedric seemed surprised by Lexi’s tears.

“Yes, we just thought we would be stuck out here. Thank you, for finding us.” I replied.

“Just glad I did, Catherine and Matt got back about over an hour ago. We were going to start prepping for dinner, but you both weren’t back.”

“Yeah, we got lost then-“

“This dummy wanted to try being a Disney princess and we got almost got eaten by wolves!” Lexi interrupted.

“Wolves?” Cedric asked brows furrowed.

“Yeah, my bad. We’re okay though, just shaken from the whole thing.”

“Alright, lets head back.” Cedric nodded, face back to his neutral expression.

“Yes, I’m starved after all this.” Lexi said as she followed after Cedric.

I took notice how she only had her backpack, looking around I now realized mine was nowhere in sight. ‘We’ll shit.’

“What’s wrong?” Cedric had noticed my hesitance.

“I think I lost my backpack.”

“Oh! Sorry with everything I think I left it behind when we ran from the wolves.” Lexi said.

I figured that’s what had happened, well it HAD been my choice that lead to this.

“It’s fine, it was my fault this all happened.”

“Did you have anything important in it?”

“I have my phone on me.” I said as I patted my pockets. I couldn’t remember if I had my wallet in the backpack or if I had left it in the tent with my duffle bag.

“We could go look for it.” Cedric offered.

“No it’s getting dark and I think I only had my water bottle and some snacks.”

“A-and the wolves might still be there.” Lexi said.

“She’s right, maybe we could look for it tomorrow, or if we can’t find we could tell one of the rangers when we leave.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, really it’s fine.” I stated with finality.

With that both Lexi and I followed close behind Cedric back to our campsite.