Into the Woods

A Miracle

‘’Hello?’’ I shout. Although, I don’t think anyone will answer it might not even be a person, perhaps a hungry bear, or a vicious wolf. I just want to sleep, I thought. So I just leaned next to a tree and slowly made my way down to my leafy bed. Then I closed my eyes and hoped the creature will give me mercy for at least a night. 

I wake up to the sounds of birds chirping and I automatically know I have a busy day ahead of me. I gather some more berries from the bush near my ‘camp’, I leave some to grow. I gather more wood and needed equipment. My day goes by slower than usual possibly because I’m working harder, but I don’t want to die here and now for school. That would be weird. I just work and work and at night I’ll eat my berries. I stare at the stars again and it feels like home. I miss my family which motivates me. So I put more effort into my days and rest more at night. I fell asleep faster today then yesterday, but who am I to complain. I wake up to birds chirping and work all day gathering berries and needed equipment, but as soon as I get what I need I decide to adventure off a bit, but this time I come to my senses and mark the trees so I’ll be able to come back to my ‘camp’ if I need too.  I adventure off and find a lake which is prefect. Now I’ll be able to boil water. I take out my canteen and fill it with as much water as it can possibly hold. Then I run off back to ‘camp’ and boil the water. Now I have hope and water.  Maybe I’ll go off in another direction tomorrow and find some more stuff. As the sun falls I eat some berries and tonight I actually have a big drink of water. As I take a sip I feel so alive. With every sip I take a burst hydration relives me and I feel so energized and alive. It’s just relieving and gracious like a beacon of hope. A light at the end of a tunnel. It’s completely amazing. I fell asleep before I even knew it. I again awaken with the sounds of birds chirping, but this time a wolf is drooling down on my face. I quickly get up startled and climb the tree next to my leafy bed. I climb to the highest branch where I have a beautiful view of the wolf. It seems so calm. It just simply walks away to the right. I later climb down the tree and start gathering my necessities. But todays different  instead I only have two berries and finding some loose, small sticks were hard, I had to walk around a bit. It’s as if the odds are against me.  I decide to adventure of to the left away from the wolf, for who knows what would happen if I went there. I walk for a bit marking every second tree, but find nothing. So I venture back. As night falls I make my fire and only eat one berry and have one sip of water savoring my berries and my water.  As I awaken I do the same routine and refresh my canteen at the lake then I boil the water and venture off to the left. I can’t just skip it there could be something there.  I venture off and mark the trees. I watch my every step and turn around every once in a while. I walk for a few minutes and I’m about to turn back until I see some meat on the ground. It’s dead but no bites were taken from it. So I grab it and run. I know the risks, but I'll die of starvation without it so I'll take me chances.  I haven’t had meat in a while and hunting seems really hard so I take what I can and now. I have meat. I forgot meat was even an option. I was feasting on berries when I could’ve had meat. As I make my way back to ‘camp’ I place the rabbit on the fire. Even the smell of the roasting meat awakens me it has my complete attention. I wait for it to have its cooked look and take it off. Yesterday there was nothing, but today I eat like a king. I kneel down next to the fire and take a part of the rabbit. I was sure to get it ready for it to be cooked so I know it’ll be good to eat. I was even able to take off its skin. I set it aside for now. Perhaps, I’ll be able to make a pillow. I take a piece of the rabbit and place it into my mouth and chew. Then as I swallow a flavor bursts into my mouth it’s the best I’ve ever had. The flavor, the relief, everything. It gives me hope that I’ll be good for another day.  A week goes by and I wait for Mr. Davis to come. He specially said that he’ll take the bus and park it in front of the woods then he’ll come to the coordinates to come get us. Then I remember I’m not at the coordinates. Panic floods me and I start running around before I knew it I was heading somewhere, but as I got my thoughts down I still didn’t stop myself. I wandered for an hour and it was a miracle. I was standing in front of a big yellow school bus. I start screaming with joy. The relief, the joy, the happiness flood me and I was alive at last. I walked into the bus and at least a dozen eyes met mine. Everyone was happy to see everyone. They were sharing stories, showing the stuff they made. I came empty handed because I left my stuff at ‘camp’ but I don’t regret it. Regret is the last thing I feel. My feelings right now are indescribable. I’m so happy there are no words to say what I’m feeling. I sit down at the seat next to Lacey, and before you know it we’re sharing stories. She went first and then I did. Her eyes widened as I told her mine. I felt so alive. Then we listened to other stories until everyone said there’s the only thing we were waiting for was Mr. Davis who went to look for me. Knowing how big that forest is I just know he might be lost right now maybe he’s at my ‘camp’. Before I know it I’m smiling and I go to look for him. Apparently odds are in my favor today. I was able to find Mr. Davis and get out of there.  Then we were able to head home. Mr. Davis dropped me off at my house first which made me feel so happy. I ran up to the door and opened it with our extra key that we hid under the ‘welcome’ mat. I slammed the door open and hugged the first person I saw. It was Mackenzie. Then my mom and then my dad. I was sure to tell them everything at dinner.  My mom stared going insane at the beginning, but she got to her senses later. I felt so happy to be home. Then I went to bed and it felt so right that I fell asleep instantly. It was me and nature and now I’m home free.