The Girl from the Trees(Completed)

Cabin

The night had been uneventful, but they could still hear the chittering and rustling leading into the early hours of the morning. Once awake, they quickly gathered their things and ate breakfast. Ensuring their fire was completely out, they headed down the opposite side of the hill, further exploring a portion of the forest they had never seen before. This portion of wood was more mountainous, large rocks jutted from the ground, creating spires towards the sky.

Along the one ridge, they saw a path that they would be able to climb without equipment. Soon they were heading up the side of the rocky cliff, sweating in the hot sun as they moved. The sun slid higher and higher into the sky as they continued to follow the path, until they hit a peak and looked out over the forest below.

"Is that smoke?" Evan asked, seeing some gray coming from a grouping of trees in the distance.

Taylor took the lens covers off his binoculars and peered through. "Definitely smoke. Almost looks like it is coming from a chimney, but the distance makes it hard to tell."

"Wait, you mean like a house or a cabin?" Jakub asked, "Way out here, that is odd."

"Mostly likely it is someone that has chosen to live off grid," Evan pointed out. "Should we check on them, or just move on?"

The group was silent for a moment as they watched the gray clouds move slowly away from the trees and disseminate into the air. "We should check on them. If they need any help we can provide it, and if they do not, then we can move on."

Sam clapped him on the shoulder. "Sounds good. Let's get moving."

They would have a long way along the ridge before it cleared up a path for them to safely descend to the forest floor below. Their trip was long and hot, leaving them all breathing heavy and sweating profusely. A small river was winding its way through the trees and eventually past the grove they were headed for, and they desperately wanted to refill their water bottles. The plan was to make it to the river and follow it as close to the smoke as possible.

Splashing water into their faces, the group cooled themselves off before filling their water containers. Each dropped a small iodine tablet into their bottle, cleaning the water and making it safe to drink, before moving on and working to make their way through the thick growth toward the source of the gray smoke. They each had out a machete or survival hatchet, hacking their way forward, clearing a path.

"You would think whoever is in the cabin would want an easier path to the water," Taylor said through heavy breaths, sweat rolling down his face. "This is crazy."

No one responded, but they all agreed. The lack of a path made Jakub wonder if the person had dug a well or if there was a small pond near the grove. Finally making their way through the brush, they came into a small clearing in the middle of a thick ring of trees. A tiny and dilapidated cabin sat in the center of it, a slow column of smoke coming from the chimney.

"If it wasn't for the smoke, I would say no one has been here in a very long time," Evan pondered loudly. Taylor nodded in agreement. "I am going to knock on the door and see if anyone is here." He then stepped away from the group and slid his machete back into its sheath that was strapped to his right leg. Knocking softly, afraid the door might fall in, "Hello?" There was no answer. He knocked louder, but there was still no response. Looking back at the group, he shrugged, and then pushed on the door. Especially in the shacks current state, he would have never guessed it would feel so solid.

The others moved forward and attempted to peer through the windows, but they had been boarded from the inside. "If there is anyone here, they do not want company. Let's head back to the river and find a spot to camp. We will need to find a spot to set the radio up tomorrow to let my dad know we are safe."

Without another word, the boys headed back to the path they had cut through the undergrowth. Jakub paused, feeling as though he was being watched, finally moving into the back of the column, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. The feeling never disappeared while they walked, eventually finding a clearing near the river. He did not feel like fishing, so he left it to Taylor and Evan, instead, heading off to collect firewood. His eyes were constantly scanning the surrounding trees and brush, but he never caught sight of anything watching him, although he did hear chittering occasionally.

Sam had built the fire before helping to collect more wood, so when Jakub got back to camp with his final haul, Taylor and Evan already had the fish they caught on the fire. Evan had also located some edible mushrooms, which he had laid to the side to dry after he washed them. The four of them were starving by the time the fish was ready, and exhausted from their day of hiking.

Their exhaustion growing, they forced themselves to set up their tents. The clearing they had set up in was on the bank of the river, and there were no trees for at least fifty yards, which made them hopeful that the chittering animals would keep their distance and allow them to get some uninterrupted and much needed sleep. Jakub declared he would take first watch, placing more timber on the fire, the blaze lighting up the tall grass surrounding the area they had settled. The light danced happily across the ground, and he found himself lost in the movement. He always felt much more at ease while camping, but he had not been able to shake the feeling of being watched since leaving the cabin.

Two hours had passed since the others had climbed into their tents, so he reached in and tapped on Taylor's leg. He jerked awake, "Wha?"

"It is your watch," Jakub told him quietly.

Taylor stretched, grunting quietly. "Okay, be right out." Lacing up his boots, he climbed from the tent. "Mind if I relieve myself really quick?" he asked.

Jakub shook his head and continued to watch the fire. He could hear Taylor moving through the tall grass, and after a few minutes, he reappeared in the clearing.

"Anything to report soldier?" Taylor asked jokingly.

"Nothing, no chittering, but I have heard some rustling in the grass," he told him. "Probably just rabbits of something though."

Taylor gave him a thumbs up, signaling that he was good to get some sleep, a thought that gave him great comfort. He crawled into his tent, not bothering to even take his boots off. Laying on top of his sleeping bag, on his stomach, he soon drifted off into darkness.