The Drifter

Chapter 4: A Journey Within

DJ and I approached the creek once again. This time I went first and left my bag at the building. I jumped forward and grabbed the rope, swinging across the creek and landing properly this time. It was much easier without all that weight on my back. I turned around and waited for DJ as I let go of the rope, but he just bent down and jumped, flying all the way across the creek. "Show-off," I said as we turned and made our way to the fallen log. As I clambered onto the log, I held my hand up for DJ to stop. "What is it?" DJ asked. I looked down at the ground at what appeared to be a footprint. Small, with four toes and claws. "Tracks. Recognize them?" I asked. "The only tracks I know are deer. And that definitely isn't a deer," DJ said. "You want to follow them or head to the tunnel?" I asked.

DJ paused. "Well, the tunnel will be here tomorrow. The tracks won't, so..." DJ said. We turned and began to follow the tracks. We passed several bushes and trees, and seemed to walk forever before we finally found what was leaving the tracks. A bright red fox sleeping on the ground. "What do we do now?" I whispered. DJ shrugged, and we watched as the fox's ears perked up and it looked around. DJ and I quickly ducked behind the bush we were behind, then raised our heads after a moment to see the fox staring at something in the distance. A coyote.

"This was a bad idea," DJ and I muttered at the same time. I flinched as the fox was tackled by the coyote, and the two erupted in a vicious fight as DJ and I stood there trying to figure out what to do. The screams of the two animals sounded vicious, blood-curling. Then we froze as the coyote stopped. The fox broke free and disappeared into the woods with a limp as the coyote swung its head toward us. "Oh, crap," DJ exclaimed. "What do we do?" I asked. "I don't know... make some noise," he said. The coyote began to get closer, and DJ tried yelling at it, but it didn't work. Then I got an idea. I jammed my hand behind me, expecting my bag to be there. "Shoot! My whistle is in my bag." I spoke.

DJ bent down and picked up a large rock. "Don't," I tried to warn, but DJ ignored me and heaved the rock at the coyote. The coyote was unfazed, and now angry. "Run!" I shouted. We spun around and quickly began to sprint away. I could hear the coyote snarl as he began to chase us. "Where do we go?" I asked. "The tree! I got an idea," DJ said. We turned and began to run to the fallen tree, where we got a little higher. I struggled to go up quickly, slipping a few times, but I made it to the top. "Now what?" I asked. DJ reached up and grabbed the branch of a neighboring tree as I watched the coyote draw closer and closer. "Come on!" He hurried, pulling himself higher into the tree. I grabbed the branch and pulled myself up as the coyote scampered to the top of the fallen tree, nearly nipping my boot.

"Can coyotes climb trees?" I asked as the coyote barked. "I don't know," DJ said nervously. "Sure, wish I brought my bag," I told myself as the coyote slowed a little. "Help me with this," DJ said from above. I turned to see him trying to snap a limb off the tree. I slowly stood up on my limb and grabbed the other, helping him. We pulled with all our strength, and the limb snapped, nearly sending me flying out of the tree.

Since I was closer, DJ handed the thick limb to me. I gripped it with both hands tightly and raised it high above my head, swinging it down on the coyote's forehead. I heard it yelp and jump back, but it didn't leave. Finally, I drew my pistol and popped it in the face a few times, and that did the trick, sending it in a circle before disappearing into the woods. I dropped the stick in exhaustion and leaned back on my limb trying to catch my breath. DJ panted, then he began to laugh. "What?" I asked. Me and DJ just stared at each other. Then we smiled, and we couldn't help but laugh...

The next day, we were determined not to get sidetracked and restarted on the trail, this time with my backpack. We made our way up the hill and back up to the entrance of the tunnel. "Let's do this," I said, grabbing my flashlight from my bag. "You sure this will work?" DJ asked. "Nope," I said, handing him a pair of swimming goggles we bought from a store. We took a step into the tunnel, and I clicked on the flashlight. We didn't take ten steps before we began to hear splashing. The water had risen. "Guess the bag is staying here," I said, dropping the bag onto the floor behind the water.