Surviving in Colorado (TBP fanfic)

Watching Out

     It's been another two weeks. They were supposed to be back in Denver 3 days ago. Instead they are trapped in this cave, kept there by rain, mudslides and even a few fires that were choked out due to the soggy plants and wood and never ending rain.

      All they have to do is wait patiently for this terrible weather to pass, and they need to survive. That's all easier said than done.

      Shadow has been helping them hunt food as he sees they are growing weaker, and the more dominate males of the pack are giving most of what they have to the female he often sleeps next too during the day or on the cold nights.

      He knows what it's like to starve yourself for the good of others in your pack, he did it often. Shadow doesn't want his humans to do this though.

      So the four wait, and wait, and wait, hoping someone will come looking for them.

- -

      Their band is worried about them. Sure it's only been three days since they should have been back, but they also haven't called for weeks!

      "Maybe it's traffic, or they could be out site seeing still."

      "What if they've been too caught up with the scenery there to call? Or they may not have signal anymore and will be back soon."

      "They'll be fine; they know their way in the outdoors."

      They all make excuses and reasons to relax. They'll be back, right?

      Everyone decides not to call them and give them peace, for a little while longer that is. If any more time goes by, then they will start calling.

      Meanwhile Miranda knows better. She's been out in the wilderness long enough to know when something isn't right with someone. Besides, Reid said he'd text her the next day, but he never did, or the following days either. She knows he's different than the other guys she's been with or ben friends with; he'd never ditch her like this!

      "Miranda you're over reacting." her older brother Dylan says.

      "No I'm not Dyl, I mean it, something's wrong!!" Miranda groans as she paces the room.

      "I don't know how I feel about you talking to this guy anyhow! What if he's like the others?" her oldest brother Braedon puts in.

      Miranda turns to him and gives him a dirty glare.

      "I'm old enough to make my own damn decisions Brae! Besides, I wouldn't have given him my number OR kept talking to him if I didn't trust him! He's different I know it!" she argues.

      "Oh yea, and how do you know? You've only met him once! Maybe he and his siblings ditched you and went back out on the road. They're famous after all, they don't have to stick around for you!" he throws back at her.

      Miranda is so hurt by that. She never would ask Reid or his siblings to stay around for her, but the way her brother said it sounded like she was worthless. She holds back tears and anger which she knows will only lead to regret tomorrow.

      "Brae, how could you say that to me?" she asks sadly.

      His face changes when he hears his sister's tone. He made her upset, and that doesn't happen often. She's trying to hide it but he can tell.

      "Why can't you trust me when I say I'm doing something? Why must you always question me?!? I know what I'm doing; I've been hurt too much to screw myself over again!" she says, her voice breaking.

      She turns and heads for the door. Her brothers call out to her, but she ignores them as she makes her way to her truck.

      She gets in and leaves her brother's house to go to her own. She needs to get out of here before she burns bridges.

      At home Miranda calms down a bit. She puts on some hard rock that she likes and takes a shower, just to clear her head. When she gets out she calls Reid again. It goes to his voice mail, again.

      "Hey Reid, you alright? I'm really worried about you. Um, just give me a call and tell me what's up, okay? Bye."

      This is probably the 5th message she's left him? She doesn't want to sound so needy or be bothersome, but she really is worried. She's been watching the weather and the high country is having a lot of problems.

      She doesn't know where they're at, but she can give a pretty good guess by the pictures they've been posting. Somewhere in the deep mountains, more to the South.

      "C'mon Reid, please don't be like everyone else...." Miranda silently pleads.

      She flips on the news like she's been doing almost daily since Reid stopped talking to her. It comes on to a weather woman explaining some of the problems they're having in Estes Park, Grand Junction, Castle Rock, Aspen. This weather is wide-spread.

      Even here in the outskirts of Boulder she's having problems. Her pastures are flooded badly and there is thick, sloppy mud everywhere.

      Hail is becoming more and more common around here now, sometimes even so much so that there are huge piles of it that won't melt.

      Plus just the rain in general. Luckily she got her basement redone last year, because if she hadn't it'd be flooded daily. Her horses are so scared and high strung due to the rain, thunder and lightning.

      Miranda is praying this kind of weather hasn't hit the three of them, because if it has, they'll be stuck. She's been trying to convince her brother, who is a police man, to take search parties out to find them, but he says more time has to pass before they can be sure that they're not just on their way.

      Miranda knows it can't be that though, so she will continue to watch for Reid's call or text, praying they're alright.

- - -

Hey everyone! We're nearing the end here, how exciting!!

Please leave a comment or a vote to let me know that I'm still writing things you like! It really helps!