The Road Home by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 9

Dawn came and went, leaving the students still asleep. They were not in the habit of oversleeping due to the rigors of their class schedules, but a brief reprieve was always welcomed. As the stupor of sleep came to a close, everyone woke with a deep breath and tired eyes. Maya was the first out of bed and had already begun coordinating breakfast. Having stopped at a grocery store on their way out of Tacoma, they were more than stocked up with food and other items, and Maya took full advantage of it. And with everyone finally up, she started directing the morning’s activities, assigning tasks for the speedy preparation of breakfast. Plates, glasses, and silverware were soon distributed around the table as the smell of eggs, bacon, toast, and coffee filled the air. Soon, the group seated themselves, readying their taste buds for a meal that could easily be reserved for royalty. It wasn’t long before the group satisfied their hunger and, choking down the last of the morning meal, sat back and discussed what would be done with the remainder of the day.

“Hey,” Dave began. “Aren’t their trails around here? We could go for a hike.”

Considering the idea, Nathan suggested an alternative.

“I think you’re forgetting something,” he said. “This state is loaded with grizzlies, and I’d rather not run into one.”

Everyone agreed, and Aurora felt that staying close to the cabin was the safest thing to do and proposed that short hikes might be better. But they would need to check the area for tracks first. Late autumn was approaching, and the bears were most likely starting to slow down as they looked for a place to hibernate. Yet, caution could not simply be thrown to the wind and if they were to spend a considerable amount of time outside, everyone needed to keep their eyes and ears open.

The breakfast dishes were soon cleared and cleaned and dressing for the chill of the autumn mountains, the group filed out of the cabin and began searching for tracks. They found none. “Well,” Dave said. “I guess we can still go for that hike.”

Maya, always erring on the side of caution, spoke in anticipation of what might happen. “Alright,” she responded. “But we still need to keep our eyes open.”

Everyone nodded in agreement as they entered the nearest trailhead.

Walking in single file, the group stepped over roots and rocks while occasionally stopping to take in the beauty of Kachess Lake. “So, how far are we going?” Aurora asked. “Do you think we can go up to Thorp Mountain?” She had a strong affinity for the outdoors and kept a small library of hiking books, complete with topographical maps. Although she had studied the area and was prepared to make the hike, the group unanimously declined.

“Honestly,” Maya said. “I don’t think we have enough time, and I’m in no shape to hike up any mountain.”

Her words were met with the group’s approval, and in spite of Aurora’s disappointment, they carried on with their intended short hike along Kachess Lake. Maya stepped to the side of the trail and, stopping, Aurora offered her a few words of apology.

“I’m sorry,” she began. “Maybe if we can come up here another time we’ll go up Thorp Mountain, but some of us have never been here before, so I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

With her knowledge of the outdoors and all the things that can go wrong, Aurora agreed. The last thing she wanted was to see one of her friends put in danger, and would never be able to live with herself should one of them die. Although at one point in her life, she had learned a considerable set of survival skills, she was in no hurry to use them.

“Yeah, I get it,” she replied. “Hey, maybe you and me can come back sometime.”

Maya knew that might not be possible but agreed that it may not be a bad idea.

The group continued for another half mile when they were stopped by something unexpected. Looking down at the ground, Dave was the first to inquire.

“What the fuck is that?” he asked. Aurora pushed her way through and making a quick examination informed everyone of what turned out to be a grave warning.

“Guys,” she began. “This is bear shit.” Picking up a stick, she sorted through it, trying to determine how fresh it was. Witnessing the dissection, the group recoiled in disgust, with some stomachs already churning.

“Do you really have to do that?” Jackson asked. Dave was next to express his revulsion. “Yeah, that’s really fuckin gross.” Upon further examination, Aurora discovered a sizable degree of moisture and came to the conclusion that what she was looking at was quite fresh—possibly deposited within the last two hours.

“Guys,” she began. “This hasn’t been here very long—two hours, tops.”

Getting to her feet, she threw the stick away and began searching the immediate area. The others started searching as well, but Eli was first to get the group's attention.

“What the fuck is this?”

Gathering around him, everyone found themselves terrified by what had pushed its way into the soft earth. Again, Aurora made her way through and, looking at the ground, made an unsuccessful attempt to conceal her fear. “Son of a bitch,” she began. “That’s a big one.” Maya looked closely, but having no experience in the outdoors, could only guess at what may have left such a large track.

“Is that a mountain lion,” she asked. “Worse,” Aurora replied. “That’s a fuckin Grizzly. I think we should go back to the cabin— at least for a few hours.”

No sooner than they started back that a growl was heard not far away.

Everyone looked in that direction with fear frozen on their faces.

“What the fuck was that?” Dave asked.

Aurora was the only one who managed to tame her fear, replacing it with concern. She knew that emotions always acted to cloud one's judgment, and intense fear can be crippling. “I think we should run,” Dave continued. “No!” Aurora replied. “To a grizzly, anything that runs is food. We walk—calmly. Just don’t run.” The growling had soon been replaced by the sound of the undergrowth being crushed under the weight of insane hunger. And it was getting closer. Aurora continued her attempt to defuse the group’s tension and get them safely back to the cabin. But an odd smell began lingering in the air, and an expression of terror overtook her face. “We’ve got to get out of here—now!” Suddenly escaping their fear-induced catatonia, the group turned and quickly walked back to the cabin. Once inside, everyone went to the windows and watched for what could only be described as a monster. Moments after the door was locked, everyone gasped in horror as a large grizzly bolted out from the trees toward the cabin, but to their amazement, it stopped short of the nearest window. With the group watching intently, the bear crept near the window, staring back at the terrified faces of those who had so closely been within a paw’s reach of an easy meal. But Aurora, having maintained a state of calm, stood examining the bear and estimated its weight at around eight hundred pounds—as close to a monster as one could get.

“Jesus Christ,” Nathan said. “That fucking thing is huge.”

“Yeah,” Aurora replied. “And that’s why we’re staying in the cabin for the rest of the day.” Everyone agreed, but Eli posed a terrifying question.

“What would’ve happened if that thing had grabbed one of us?”

The question was understandable given that he was last in line as they made their way back to the cabin.

“Well,” Aurora began. “Clean up in aisle three.” Eli was not amused and, having become slightly irritated by her comment, reacted bitterly. “Oh, that’s funny,” he said. “Real fucking funny.” Expressing further concern, Aurora gave a vague but stern warning.

“Eli, I guarantee you do not want to know.” Hearing the intensity of her voice, Eli began to see the seriousness of their situation and came to see them trapped by an animal that was ready to consume them without the slightest thought. “That messy, huh?” he said.

Aurora answered in a facetious tone. “Well, if you like being disemboweled…”

Aurora advised everyone to move away from the window, hoping the bear would lose interest. No sooner than they sat on the floor—out of the bear’s view—did it wander off back into the woods. Continuing to sit on the floor, the group waited until early evening—fearing another confrontation. But Aurora, knowing the outdoors and its wildlife, approached the window and, peering out into the oncoming night, determined the bear was likely far enough away to relieve the group’s tension.

“Guys,” she said. “I think it’s gone. Can we turn on some lights?”

Getting off the floor, they looked out the window, both out of caution and curiosity. When they were satisfied that their safety had returned, life in the cabin slowly went back to normal. The lights were turned on and the routine of preparing dinner was undertaken. A sense of relief washed over the cabin, but just under the surface, there was the fear that the bear might return.