Chasing Fire

Girl On Fire - Part 3

"I can set up your tent for you. This is a nice one. I, myself, prefer to sleep in the open air." He set to the task of setting up her tent for her and she went to the creek to wash her arms and face. The meal was legendary. She didn't have any room left in her stomach and it hurt a little, but otherwise she was pleasantly satisfied.

"Do me a favor and don't wander too far away. The smell of  food carries and the forest comes to life with hungry visitors, especially after dark." He turned a little serious in his tone and she heeded his warning. The previous nights had been terrifying as every noise was amplified in the silent darkness. It was going to be nice to get a full night of sleep without worrying about being eaten alive.

They stayed up late and watched the Aurora Borealis dance above them in glowing, phantom ribbons in the star crowded sky. It amazed her how many stars there were in the sky when she got away from all the city lights. It was like looking at the sky for the first time in her life.

"So, why are you out here in the first place?" He sat next to her watching the fire and feeding it.

"I just graduated from college. I have an Early Childhood Education degree. I always wanted to come to Alaska ever since I read "White Fang" and "Call of the Wild" by Jack London. I thought it would be cool to do some hiking, camping and maybe some gold panning." She left out the part about Dewayne, deciding she didn't want to sound like the girl with emotional baggage.

"A college girl. I guess you are smart." She wasn't sure if that was compliment or a jeer. She wasn't smart enough to start a fire or find her way out of the woods. "That is cool. My Ma homeschooled me and my brothers and sisters." His big open smile was infectious and she caught herself smiling because of his sweet grin.

"How many brothers and sisters do you have?" She was jealous because she was an only child and had to make do with neighborhood friends and many pets to keep from being lonely.

"I have four brothers and two sisters. Seven kids in all."

"Oh Wow! You have a big family. I don't have any brothers and sisters. I would love to have a big family. It must have been nice. Where are you from?"

"Here. Alaska. I have lived in the wilderness most of my life." When he spoke to her, he looked her directly in her eyes. He gave her his full attention and she really like that about him. He wasn't half listening or ignoring her. It was a nice compliment to have someone talk to her without staring at their phone the whole conversation. That always made her feel like she wasn't very important to the person she was trying to have a conversation with. Bear was sincerely interested in listening and talking to her. It was refreshing to have real company. Something she felt society had lost with all the new technology.

"No wonder you are equipped to live out here. You seem comfortable in this environment. Do you ever get scared?" She liked the way his eyes sparkled in the fire light as if they were dancing and alive with his energy.

"Oh yeah. When I get really scared, and if I can't stand and fight, I run fast. Fast enough to get away." He laughed a little and she found it pleasing to her ears, rich and full of a natural mirth like a young boy. "Can I ask you something personal?"

She wasn't sure what he had in mind to ask her but nodded it would be alright, "Sure.  I don't know if I will answer you, but you can ask."

"Do you have a boyfriend? The only reason I ask is, I rarely meet pretty girls alone in the woods who aren't already married or have boyfriends. Well, to be truthful, I don't really meet any girls in the woods. You look too pretty to be single. If you don't mind me saying it." The Lost Boy looked a little bashful asking and she thought it was cute.

Her face was flaming, growing hotter and not from the fire, and she looked away and couldn't help but smile shyly, "Thanks. No. I don't have a boyfriend, anymore." She decided to be honest. His openness made her feel it was acceptable to be open with him. There was no reason to keep secrets. "We broke up a week ago. That is kind of the reason I came out here. I was being a little impulsive and I see now it was a mistake. I should have been a little more prepared."

"I am glad you did. It wasn't a mistake if you learned something from it." He had the nicest way of turning a negative into something positive. His personality was as warm and comfortable as the wonderfully soothing fire in front of her. "I hope you feel better now. Break ups are not easy, even if it is meant to happen. I am glad you did come out here. I wouldn't have met you otherwise. Where are you from? You have an interesting accent."

"Fairhope, Alabama. It is on the Gulf Coast. I think you have an interesting accent as well. I don't think I have ever heard it before." She thought it was funny he thought she had an accent when she was quietly noting his own. They were very different, but in many ways the same. They both shared a love for the wilderness and fire. "I love this fire. You can imagine how cold I was shivering in my tent."

"I love fire. It is not a pyromaniac thing, either. It is the cornerstone of survival. Without fire mankind would not exist. It is the quest for life itself." He spoke about fire as if it demanded the highest respect and after so many bone chilling nights without it, she had to agree with him. There were few things more important in the wilderness. But the other fire she quietly admired about him was his internal one. The one he stoked with his positive energy. It blazed in his eyes as he looked at her interested in everything she said and did. He never stopped watching her and it was nice to be noticed. In his own way, he had ignited a fire inside her, burning away all the doubts she had about herself from Dewayne's untimely rejection. He made her feel pretty and interesting.

"I would love to stay up and talk, but I am so sleepy now after eating all that delicious food. I haven't been sleeping well either, and that warm, cozy fire is like a bottle of Ambien. I think my eyes will close as soon as my head hits the sleeping bag." She really did want to stay up and talk to him. He was so earthy and engaging, but the exhaustion was dragging her by her eyelids to go to sleep.

"Of course," He jumped up and helped her off the log, "You can sleep tight and don't worry. I put up a bear alarm around our camp. You see those cans. They will jingle like crazy if anything gets near us. I will sleep out here and keep watch. You will be safe. I promise."

She believed him, even though she hadn't taken much stock in the things people had told her before, but she had a feeling, although she didn't know why, she could trust him giving her his word. It was comforting to feel like she could depend on someone to do exactly as they said they would. "Well, I guess this is Good Night and thank you for everything. You have been a godsend."

"Good night. Sleep tight, Noralee. Sweet dreams."