Rose on Fire

Chapter 69

(Johanna POV)
The fox walks in front of me eager to get away from the district. She starts sniffing the ground and walking all over the place, it starts to get tough to keep her on the route back to the sound, I'm basically dragging her by the time we near the water fall, she lets out a few barking noises and I realize what she's doing, she's calling her mother. I look around at the woods, the tree's are burnt for probably miles, it's probably still burning not far from here. I've already stopped worrying about bears. Revolver calls again, but not a sound comes back. We climb the waterfall, I set her back down, she called again with no response. I look down the waterfall remembering where Revolver was when I found her. Ashes cover the ground where the twigs and leaves once were. We walk back to the tree and I look over the sound. Salmon sharks dot the sound snagging fish here and there. Their fins gracefully skimming the surface of the still sound. I sit on a rock and watch for a bit before making the priority food and shelter. I look around the tree for the spear I made last night, I leave it by the trunk of the tree, then I start looking around for a sharp, but mostly thin rock. I find one that satisfies me, I start braiding the pine needles that litter the ground, ending up with a small but strong rope. I then grab a small fallen branch, tearing off the small twigs attacked to it were the leaves were. I tie the rock to the branch making a pretty good ax. I smile at my good work and tie Revolver to a branch of the tree. I take as many large rocks as I can, and surround her with them so if she does slip out of the leash, she would have a difficult time climbing the rocks, and I would catch her before she got out. I start heading deep into the woods, I find the perfect pine tree, about fifty feet up, but only about 1 1/2 - 2 feet in diameter. I start chopping as close to the ground as possible so I'll get more out of it. It only takes me about 30 minutes before the tree falls to the ground weaving in between the other trees as it falls. I decide to take a break and get some water. I walk back to the tree to see revolver curled in a ball sleeping as the sun shines on her bright orange and red coat. I walk to the sound and unthinkingly scoop up a handful of water only to taste the harsh salt of ocean water. I panic for a second but calm down remembering the woods probably has ponds. I look back at Revolver and watch her lick her lips as if to tell me she needs water as well. I look around and find a leaf that should hold water. I walk back into the woods remembering were the cut down tree is, I start walking around trying to find a small pond, or puddle of rain water. I come to a clearing finding a good pond in mostly shade, I look around at it, seeing it's clear, with a few minnows in it. I scoop up a handful and find it's fresh with probably little bacteria. I scoop up a water with the leaf and bring it back to Revolver. She drinks it quickly, but leaves a small amount left and goes back to napping. I go back into the woods and chop the tree into 4 eight foot logs. I carry them one by one back to the other tree where Revolver is and set them all down in a line. I go back and use the last of the tree by cutting 2 more right foot logs. I move on to another tree, and start working again making 6 eight foot logs. I end up with 20 eight foot logs at the end of the day. I stack the logs for the nights making a small shelter. Tomorrow I will weave pine needles to make a carpet floor, and cut the logs to fit into a makeshift log cabin. I tie Revolver to one of the logs, and pull her close to me, I fall asleep happy with my work.