Old Pine Lake

Chapter 3

Dedication: Rainbow_Ink you're just too awesome :)

----------------- Time: 12:00 ---------------

I did not know how hot it was out here. You would think being in the shade of the trees would cool it down, but the only thing the shade does, is protect me from sunburn.

I fan myself with my hand, as I take off my pack. My lower back is wet with perspiration.

I unzip the smaller pouch of my bag and find another bandana, I snatch it up, and zip the pouch.

A sigh escapes my lips as I dunk the bandana into the rushing water next to me. My hands are instantly cooled by the creek's flow.

The bandana is now soaked with water, and it feels amazing to tie it around my neck.

Ah, much better.

I dip my bottle in, to refill it, and drop some iodine in. I have fresh water, and I'm cooling off.

I've left a trail ever since I remembered to, hopefully Lacentra will be able to follow it.

I sit back on my heels and look around, I need to know what's around me.

Lacentra is only coming to see if I made it okay, and to bring some more food. I needed to pack as light as possible at first, so I could get as far into these woods as possible.

The only thing I have now is a half-full bag of jerky, and a cheese stick. She'll bring me more food, but it will be dehydrated.

I can always forage plants and berries, I know which ones are safe, but the freeze dried dinners will be my main source of food.

By my calculations, and horrible estimation skills, I think I'm about 15 miles into these woods. I would love to set up camp here and stay, but curiosity has the best of me. I want to find where this creek leads.

Maybe it leads to a hidden lake, that no one except me will know about. A lake would be perfect, I could build a cabin, I could make a boat, I could go swimming. The possibilities are mostly endless.

I should stay here though, at least until Lace finds me. It should only take her about thirty minutes from where I entered. The trees are spaced out wide enough for her bike to fit through, and the ground is also mostly flat. She should make it safely and swiftly.

It is way too hot to move. Why can't there be a breeze? A beautiful breeze that blows into the creek, then onto me.

As I think it, it happens. A gentle breeze brushes over the cool creek and sweeps over me, to cool me off instantly.

Another sigh escapes my lips as I close my eyes. This is a beautiful moment I never want to end.

As the breeze starts to die, I take off my Nikes, and dip my feet into the icy water. Another sigh, I can't help it, it feels too amazing. My feet are achy and hot, how could this not feel so good?

I decide to stay here, at least until Lacentra finds me. It wasn't much of a decision though. Stay here cooling off by the creek, or walking for more miles until she eventually finds me, then continue walking. See? Obvious.

I move my pack so it becomes my back rest, and scoot down so my head is on the pack and my legs are in the cooling water. My eyes flutter closed.

---------------- Time: 12:36 ---------------

"Kendra," a faraway voice calls me.

I moan, my feet ache, wait what? I'm dreaming, why do my feet hurt?