Mistake

Chapter Five

I swallow the fresh air by the gallon; I hadn't realized what I had been missing inside the damp cave. Another realization of the day--I stank.

Not like a haven't-showered-yet-today sort of stink, but more of a I-haven't-changed-my-clothes-this-week stench. I've never been good at staying clean, I've never really grown out of a toddler's perspective of cleanness. Anyway, sitting a a damp, probably-somewhat-moldy cave for at a least a week, without changing any of my clothes (besides my improvise cast/brace on my foot) was probably not my greatest idea. But hey, it could be worst.

I tired to hury (and not breath too much through my nose) as much as my ankle would allow as I made my way toward the river.

It was quite a while before I recognized the place where I had twisting my ankle. I tried not to shy from the root I tripped on, avoiding the memory. I looked at the place sadly, before snapping out of it. I pull my chin up and passed it without any ceremoniously greeting.

I head straight to the water, hobbling along like someone much older than me. I don't know why it seemed like that, but it did. I've never felt older than when I 'hobble'. Before, I take the one shoe I've been wearing on one foot, and the washcloth/tank-top combo my other. I hang my bag on a low branch where I see it from the water, or grab it to ru-oh wait. Well, I put it where I could see it from the water. I fish out handful of cat treats for Lady and put it next to my shoe. No animal would come that close to a human possesion, but Lady wouldn't come any closer to the water.

Otherwise, I walk into the water fully clothed. I figured my clothes were probably contributing to the stench; therefore needing to be cleaned just as much as I did. The water shocked me at first, the temperature had not risen much since last night, hadn't really gotten any sun yet today. After sitting there-half in/half out, with my teeth chattering and rubbing my arms to get warmer-for a couple of minutes (though they felt like eternity), I finally got somewhat used to it. It wasn't warm, seeming to be the exact temperature that is cold enough to keep me from getting comfortable, but still left me feeling refreshed.

After scrubbing down, scraping of any traces of dirt, lastly, cleaning out the gritty stuff under my fingernails, I decided I was clean. I changed as quickly as I could into the cleanest clothes I could find, because nothing attracts the crazies like a naked girl alone in the woods. I pull my hair back and set about inspecting my ankle.

Its seems to finally be working on it's appearence, because it no longer looks as if it was ever part zombie. It doesn't feel like it did the first day, or even the first week, but I suspect I should still hang on to my walking stick. I rewrap it the last clean washcloth. It took me a while to find it beneath all the dirty clothes in my bag, confirming my suspiscions that it was laundry day. I usually do my laundry in a laundromat, trying to not look suspicious. I like watching my clothes play underwater 'ring-around-the-rosie' just as much as the next person, but I couldn't risk being question by a concerned bystander about my foot. The news of my injury couldn't spread farther than Lady.

"Can I trust you to keep your furry little mouth shut?" I ask her, like the crazy, talks-to-cats person I am. She almost seems to roll her eyes at me, but is quickly distracted by something in the bushes. While she goes to investigate what is most likely some unlucky mouse, I quickly finish my laundry and set everything out to dry.

I sit a while in the sun with my drying clothes. I chew on my lip, trying to force myself up or make plans for future. Either would give me hope, a reason for going on. Getting up would mean I was regaining my edge, and making plans would give me something to do or look forward to.

I was thinking about heading back to some civilazation for a bit. Usually, I like to go into some random town, whatever's closest, and do some odd jobs or temporary work for some quick cash. But, as said above, I can't take that risk. Even though preying on helpless tourist would be a lot easier right now, seeing that I look more pitiful with my sprained ankle. I could probably even say that it was brok-no. I can't go into town.

Everything is mostly dry, so I pack it all up and get ready to head out. The part of me that's afraid of being alone tells me to wait for Lady, but the rest of me tells that part to shut up and that the cat can use its God-given sense to find me. I start walking before a full-on fight begins.

Feeling a bit on edge and paranoid, I smooth over the footprints I made in the muddy bank, even pausing to fill in the depression in the dirt that lady made in the dirt while sunbathing. It is true that you can be TOO careful, therefore annoying, but hey, I have no one to annoy and no breathing room for mistakes. Ha, this is how my mother probably sounds.

I whistle for her, knowing tha she isn't a dog and come at the sound, but she would know its me and letting her know where I am. It must of been a freaking raccoon, not a mouse, based on the time its taking her to get back. Stupid cat.

I  head upriver, away from my tree and my 'crazy cave'. I scope the trees for a possible camp. A cave, secluded clearing, particularly tall trees are all possiblitlies. I try to put weight on my bad foot as I'm walking, trying to estimate how long it would be before I would be able to run or climb a tree. 

The pain shoots through my ankle, but not nearly as bad as I excpected. Heck, its better than it was before I took a bath. The wonders of hygenial habits.

I might be able to climb a tree, but slowly. Which kind of defeats the whole purpose. If I need to get away fast, a tree is not my best option. As I have had more than my share of cave life for the month, I decide on finding a clearing.

I whistle again, because Lady's not back yet. Thats odd. its not like she's the best company or anything, but she really hates being alone. I stop and listen, waiting to hear her tromping throught the forest. She'll be back for dinner for sure. I've never seen that cat miss a meal since I rescued her.

The water splits into two smaller paths I could take. I chose the one going east, more inland. Hopefully this will lead me to denser trees.

Its some time after noon, and I still haven't found a reasonably clearing. I decide to go to desperate mode and wander a bit from the path the stream was leading to stumble in the undergrowth.

I wade through a bunch of thorny plants, probably some already bloomed and harvested blackberry bushes, hoping to find a protected clearing in the middle. By the time I reach the clearing in the middle, its the beginning of the evening. I used twice as much energy as I would usually because I have to be careful I don't trample all the bushes and leave a trail straight through my hideout.

I collapse, not really tired, more like tired of walking. I check out my surroundings. A part of the stream cuts the clearing in half, with an tree on the other side. I crawl over to the stream and drink my fill, then dump/refill my water bottles with the sweet, fresh water.

I go over to the tree, hang my bag on a branch, drop my walking stick, and sit down with my back against the trunk. I drift off, my last thought of Lady, and how she never came back from checking out that bush.

My eyes flash open as a hand covers my mouth while the other one uses my walking stick to knock me out.