Kneeling by the river, Michelle rinsed out her waterproof backpack liner. It still smelled liked smoked meat even after she dunked it in the water several times. Shaking her head, she thought that smell might never come out.<\/p>\n
Blue sat at her side, happily chewing on the chunks of discarded meat. With the prepackaged and sealed for her safety cans of soup and snack food, they had liberated from the camp, carrying around a bunch of bear and wolf bait seemed like a bad idea. She and Samantha had made one final hearty breakfast of bear and boar meat this morning before the sun was up, then let Blue have her pick of what was left.<\/p>\n
They had walked all night after leaving the tents, heading south by the light of the moon and the flashlight. It was hard to gauge how far they had walked, but Michelle thought they had put fifteen miles or so between them and the miscreants. This was assuming the men hadn\u2019t found their tracks last night and had called it quits when they were running low on fuel. If they did find their tracks, they might be right behind them.<\/p>\n
Not for the first time with the breaking of dawn, Michelle found herself holding her breath and listening. She kept waiting to hear the growl of engines approaching, but the morning was quiet except for the expected sounds of nature. Her relief was tempered by the fact the men still might be searching for them on foot.<\/p>\n
Pulling the pillowcase in front of her, Michelle threw the laptop and game cameras in the river. She watched as they settled to the bottom, hoping it was enough. The men had seen their faces, but how good of a look had they taken before leaving the camp to search for them? Michelle could only cross her fingers that they had been such a hurry, they hadn\u2019t committed their faces to memory.<\/p>\n
She was dead on her feet, having walked almost twenty-four hours straight, but she knew they couldn\u2019t stop now. Straightening up, she flipped her backpack liner inside out to let it dry and started walking back to the rock crag she and Samantha had made a temporary camp. Blue fell in at her side, her ears pricked and her nose going a mile a minute.<\/p>\n
Michelle hoped the wolf would be their early warning system. She didn\u2019t know how keen a wolf\u2019s sense of smell and hearing were, but they had to be sharper than hers. Hopefully, Blue could sense them before they got too close.<\/p>\n
As she rounded the side of the rock formation they had used for cover, Michelle found herself staring down the business end of an arrow. Samantha had her bow drawn, the arrow nocked. Seeing it was Michelle, Samantha sighed with relief and let the tension off the string. She came to Michelle, gave her a kiss.<\/p>\n
\u201cGod, I\u2019m glad it\u2019s you,\u201d Samantha said, hugging her, \u201cI thought I was going to have to shoot someone with this.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Samantha pulled back, Michelle saw the half sick look on the girl\u2019s face. What the girl had said really sank in, and she looked down at her own bow. Michelle suddenly felt as sick as Samantha looked. The thought of harming someone brought the bile to the back of her throat, and she had to swallow hard. Still, she knew she could use it on another human being if she had to, if it was him or her- or Samantha. She would defend herself and her girlfriend, would use the bow to cut someone down if there was no other choice.<\/p>\n
Please God, don\u2019t make me have to do that,<\/em> Michelle prayed, hugging her girlfriend, again.<\/p>\n Releasing her, Michelle said, \u201cWe should pack up and move on. I\u2019m starting to freak out because we aren\u2019t moving.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe, too,\u201d Samantha said.<\/p>\n They had stopped just before the break of dawn to build a small fire so they could boil some water. Their thermos was empty, and Michelle knew they couldn\u2019t risk doing it during the day, else they send up smoke signals for the men after them to see. They had smothered the fire with dirt before the sun peeked its head over the horizon.<\/p>\n With their thermos full again, it was definitely time to get moving. They hadn\u2019t stopped long, so packing up consisted of transferring the food from the box to Michelle\u2019s backpack. Five minutes and they were walking, again.<\/p>\n Michelle\u2019s body started complaining after only a couple of minutes. Twenty-four hours of walking had down a number on her. Her back and shoulders ached from the heavy pack, and her shoes were starting to rub blisters on her feet. Her body had been ready to give up hours ago, but fear and determination kept her putting one foot in front of the other.<\/p>\n \u201cHow fast do you think a four-wheeler can go?\u201d Samantha asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Michelle asked, meeting Samantha\u2019s eyes, \u201cwhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust trying to figure out how much further,\u201d Samantha said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d guess\u2026 thirty miles an hour, but I doubt even these guys would go full speed through the woods,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo twenty miles per hour?\u201d Samantha asked.<\/p>\n \u201cAbout that,\u201d Michelle said, then sighed, \u201cwhich makes it a hundred miles or so from their camp to town.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe walked what\u2026 twelve miles last night?\u201d Samantha said.<\/p>\n \u201cTwelve to fifteen,\u201d Michelle agreed, then looked away, \u201cthe problem is\u2026 We don\u2019t know where the town is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Samantha said, sighing.<\/p>\n \u201cThe four-wheeler was heading east when we first heard it\u2026 That means the town is probably west of here. That way,\u201d Michelle said, point in the direction of the river, \u201che must have crossed the river somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe river is shallow enough to cross?\u201d Samantha asked.<\/p>\n \u201cHe must know a spot where it is,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh,\u201d Samantha said, then went on, \u201ctoo bad we don\u2019t know where he came from. It would be nice to have a destination, not just a direction.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNext time we stop, I\u2019ll break out the GPS,\u201d Michelle said, putting her arm around Samantha\u2019s waist, \u201csee where we are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think we are close to civilization, yet?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are getting there,\u201d Michelle said, hoping the GPS had good news for them.<\/p>\n As they walked, Michelle kept listening for sounds of their pursuers. She might have spent too much time with her attention focused behind them because she stumbled on a root or a limb in her path more than once. When she stubbed her toe on a rock and ended up hopping on one foot and cursing, she realized the forest might take her out before the men at the camp ever got the chance. After that, her eyes were to the front.<\/p>\n She glanced at Blue and was relieved to see the wolf seemed alert but relaxed. Blue looked up at her and Michelle could almost read her thoughts, Nothing to report, Ma\u2019am<\/em>.<\/p>\n It should make her feel better that there was no sight or sound of the men, but it only stretched her nerves tighter. Not knowing where they were or what they were up to was like a pebble in her shoe. No matter what she did to distract herself, it worried at her brain like a little stone would her heel.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me more about your family,\u201d Michelle said, trying to sidetrack her worrisome thoughts.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want to know?\u201d Samantha asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYou told me about your dad\u2026 Your mom some,\u201d Michelle said, thinking, \u201cyou said you have an older brother?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTod,\u201d Samantha said, nodding, \u201ca freshman in high school next year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust the one brother?\u201d Michelle asked.<\/p>\n Laughing, Samantha said, \u201cMom said she learned her lesson after me.\u201d<\/p>\n Snorting in surprise, Michelle said, \u201cWow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow about you? Brothers or sisters?\u201d Samantha asked.<\/p>\n \u201cA baby sister,\u201d Michelle said, smiling, \u201cher name is Mackenzie.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow old?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTen months,\u201d Michelle said, laughing at Samantha\u2019s reaction, \u201cI said she was my baby sister.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour parents waited a long<\/em> time to have another kid,\u201d Samantha said.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess they finally forgot the lesson they learned with me,\u201d Michelle said, making Samantha laugh, \u201cactually there were complications when Mom had me. Mackenzie surprised everybody, especially the doctors who told Mom she\u2019d never have another kid.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJesus, you are going to be in high school before she even starts kindergarten,\u201d Samantha said, shaking her head.<\/p>\n \u201cA junior,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least you don\u2019t have to worry about going to high school with your sibling,\u201d Samantha said, groaning.<\/p>\n \u201cYou and Tod don\u2019t get along?\u201d Michelle asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, we do,\u201d Samantha said, then grinned, \u201che\u2019s a pain in the ass, though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d Michelle said, amused.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a brother\/sister thing. You can love them and want to strangle them at the same time,\u201d Samantha said.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess being an only child has its perks,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know about that,\u201d Samantha said, laughing, \u201cmost people who are only the only child turn out a little\u2026 what\u2019s the word I\u2019m looking for?\u201d<\/p>\n Giving her a look, Michelle said, \u201cAwesome?\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha leaned in and kissed her, said, \u201cThat\u2019s the word.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah right,\u201d Michelle said, then added, \u201cI have a couple of cousins who are happy to step in as surrogate brothers. I\u2019ve had my share of teasing and taken my lumps.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess that\u2019s why you turned out okay,\u201d Samantha said, with an affectionate smile, \u201cI mean awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFunny,\u201d Michelle said, smiling back at her anyway.<\/p>\n ————————————<\/p>\n They weren\u2019t making nearly as good time today as they had yesterday. Michelle\u2019s tank was on empty, and it was sheer force of will that kept her putting one foot in front of the other. Marathon runners talk about hitting the wall, where all the training in the world fails you, and it comes down to determination to keep you moving. Michelle understood that comment now, only her motivation was external rather than internal. Her determination was packing an AR-15.<\/p>\n The sun was high above them in the sky when Michelle said, \u201cLet\u2019s stop for a minute, eat something, and catch our breath.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Samantha said.<\/p>\n Michelle shrugged out of her backpack, rolling her aching shoulders. She thought she was going to have permanent indentations in her trapezius from the pack\u2019s straps. Glancing at Samantha, she saw the girl wasn\u2019t faring much better. Setting aside her own misery, Michelle went to her girlfriend, rubbed her shoulders.<\/p>\n \u201cGod, you are a mess,\u201d Michelle said, feeling the knots in Samantha\u2019s muscles.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing a hot shower and twelve hours of sleep won\u2019t fix,\u201d Samantha said, grimacing as Michelle found a tender spot, \u201cmaybe two hot showers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf we had the time, I could have you feeling better in no time,\u201d Michelle said, hugging her from behind.<\/p>\n \u201cI know you could,\u201d Samantha said, amused.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it wrong that even though I\u2019m dead tired and running for my life, I still want to get you out of these clothes?\u201d Michelle asked.<\/p>\n Turning in Michelle\u2019s arms, Samantha smiled at her, said, \u201cProbably.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf loving you is wrong, I don\u2019t want to be right,\u201d Michelle crooned, doing her best imitation of Luther Ingram. It was awful.<\/p>\n Samantha laughed and kissed her, said, \u201cYou are sweet\u2026 A horrible swinger, but sweet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t know what you are talking about,\u201d Michelle said, with mock indignation, \u201cI have the voice of an angel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou have the body<\/em> of an angel, Babe,\u201d Samantha said, pulling her close and kissing her deeply, \u201cwhich is much better than a singing voice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I guess that\u2019s okay then,\u201d Michelle said, her voice a little husky. The way Samantha had kissed her, she thought the girl really meant it. Feeling all warm and fuzzy, Michelle smiled at her. Their eyes met and the moment almost got the better of them. Sighing, Michelle slipped out of Samantha\u2019s arms. She hadn\u2019t been kidding about wanting to get Samantha out of her clothes, but she knew they couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n \u201cWe should eat,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cRight,\u201d Samantha said, looking as flustered as Michelle felt.<\/p>\n \u201cTonight,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cPromise?\u201d Samantha asked, with a sexy smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cOne way or the other, I\u2019m getting you out of those jeans,\u201d Michelle said, meaning it.<\/p>\n \u201cGood. Let\u2019s eat, then,\u201d Samantha said.<\/p>\n They sat with their backs to a tree, eating the snack cakes Michelle divvied up between them. Blue had her own pack of Twinkies, which she circled wearily. As the girls ate, they watched the wolf try to make up her mind if the cream-filled sponge cake was food or not. Finally, Michelle picked one up and took a bite of it. Blue watched her chew it, then picked up the other one with her teeth. She finished it in one bite, then looked longingly at the rest of the one in Michelle\u2019s hand. Laughing, Michelle tossed it to her and Blue snatched it out of the air.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not going to make her sick, is it?\u201d Samantha asked.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe,\u201d Michelle said, feeling kind of guilty for giving the wolf the Twinkies. She hoped the sugar rush wouldn\u2019t hurt Blue\u2019s untempered stomach. A woodland diet didn\u2019t prepare one for the sheer caloric mayhem that was a Hostess snack cake.<\/p>\n Blue was looking at Michelle\u2019s pack hungrily. Samantha saw her and said to the wolf, \u201cLet\u2019s see how you handle that one first.\u201d<\/p>\n The wolf must have realized no more sweet treats were forthcoming and wandered off a ways to lie down.<\/p>\n Michelle opened another pack of cookies, hoping the sugar would get her sluggish body going, again. As she chewed on one, she pointed at Samantha\u2019s bag and said, \u201cLet\u2019s check the GPS.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha dug it out and handed the compact unit to her. Michelle turned it on and let it locate a satellite. When it had their position fixed, she checked the map. She was glad when she didn\u2019t have to scroll down as far as before to find something resembling civilization. If she was reading the scale right, they had fifty or sixty miles further to walk.<\/p>\n Three or four more days<\/em>, Michelle thought. With fresh legs, they might have made that distance in two, but she knew their pace was only going to slow even more the longer they walked.<\/p>\n Samantha was looking at the map, frowning. Pointing, she said, \u201cThis is the river, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Michelle said, cringing. The river was about to change course in a couple of miles, make an almost ninety degree turn to the west. It wouldn\u2019t turn south again for another hundred miles or so. Very soon, they would be walking away from their source of fresh water. Michelle had seen this way back at the cave when she first turned the GPS on, and she hadn\u2019t liked the idea very much then, either.<\/p>\n \u201cWe aren\u2019t following it, are we?\u201d Samantha asked.<\/p>\n \u201cIt turns west for a long time,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cToward the town the men came from?\u201d Samantha asked.<\/p>\n Blinking in surprise, Michelle said, \u201cUm\u2026 Maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou said he was coming from the west,\u201d Samantha said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was, but if he made even one more turn, we\u2019d never find the town,\u201d Michelle said, looking at the GPS, \u201cwe know south is a safe bet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt would have been nice to stay by the river,\u201d Samantha said, picking up the thermos and looking at it.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Michelle agreed, pointing at it, \u201cwe\u2019ll drink as much as we can, then fill the thermos up one more time before we head away from the river. It shouldn\u2019t be more than three days of walking after that. We\u2019ll be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha put her head on Michelle\u2019s shoulder, said, \u201cThree days\u2026 Three days and this will be over?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTwo if we could keep our pace up,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cThree\u2019s okay,\u201d Samantha said, snuggling tighter against Michelle, \u201cit\u2019ll give me time to figure out how to tell Mom and Dad about us.\u201d<\/p>\n Putting her arm around Samantha, Michelle said, \u201cI\u2019ve been wondering how your parents will take the news. My parents won\u2019t be all that surprised- well, the fact it is you<\/em> might surprise them a bit, but not that I have a girlfriend.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy me?\u201d Samantha asked, meeting Michelle\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n A little sheepishly, Michelle said, \u201cI might have made certain comments about you to them\u2026 Mostly concerning your lack of help on the project.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d Samantha said, then laughed nervously, \u201cgreat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Michelle said, squeezing her tighter, \u201cthey\u2019ll love you once they get to know you like I have. Especially Dad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope you are right,\u201d Samantha said, smiling at her.<\/p>\n \u201cHow about your parents? How do you think they\u2019ll react to finding out you are a lesbian?\u201d Michelle asked.<\/p>\n Samantha thought about it for a moment, then said, \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n ——————————–<\/p>\n Standing on the river bank, Michelle looked out at the water flowing away from her. They had come to the bend in the river, the one that would take it in a westward direction for nearly a hundred miles, if Michelle was reading the GPS correctly. Since they wanted to go south not west, this was where they left the river and its easy access to fresh water behind.<\/p>\n Michelle turned away from the river, sitting next to Samantha at the small fire they had built. Samantha had her camera out, taking a video of the bend in the river. She narrated, \u201cThis is where we say goodbye to the river. Michelle thinks we have three more days of walking from here, so we stopped to drink as much as we could and fill our thermos one more time. Who knows if we\u2019ll have another chance for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha turned her camera off, put it back in her backpack. Glancing at Michelle, she said, \u201cJust wanted to get that on video.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I understand,\u201d Michelle said, smiling at her, \u201cleaving the river is a big deal. We\u2019ll need to be a lot more careful with our water from now on out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Samantha said, picking up the thermos, \u201cthis might have to last us until we get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe should get going,\u201d Michelle said, kicking dirt on the fire to smother it, \u201cI don\u2019t like sitting here, sending up smoke signals.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d Samantha said, grimacing as she stood up and shrugged into her backpack, \u201cGod, it always hurts more when we stop.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Michelle agreed, her own body complaining about moving, again. It just wanted to lie down for a while. Like twelve hours on the bed in her bedroom. She groaned, thinking about her bed. God, she missed that thing.<\/p>\n As they made their way through the woods away from the river, Michelle found another reason to miss it. Navigation had been easy- as long as she was following the river downstream, she was headed south. Without the river as a guide, it would be easy to wander off course. Since walking in a straight line wasn\u2019t always an option- the forest insisting on putting obstacles in their path- she kept having to look up at the sun and use it as a reference to get her bearings. With the thick canopy above them, finding the sun wasn\u2019t always easy. Their pace slowed even more as she tried to keep them on course.<\/p>\n Things only got more complicated as clouds started rolling in, blanketing the sun in sullen gray. Michelle looked up at the darkened sky, not liking the look of it.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s going to rain,\u201d Samantha said, looking up at the bruised sky, too.<\/p>\n \u201cI do, too,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s what\u2026 Seventy degrees?\u201d Samantha said.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, but the temperature is going to drop if it rains. We\u2019ll make camp if it does,\u201d Michelle said, starting to walk again.<\/p>\n \u201cI was hoping you would say that,\u201d Samantha said, relieved, \u201cit was freezing last time it rained.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Michelle agreed. She didn\u2019t know if the temperature would dip low enough for hypothermia to be a concern, but she didn\u2019t want to risk it. They couldn\u2019t afford to get sick out here.<\/p>\n \u201cStill we should keep walking as long as we can,\u201d Samantha said, looking over her shoulder nervously, \u201cit only takes a minute to set up the tent.\u201d<\/p>\n Michelle nodded. She didn\u2019t need to be a mind reader to know why the girl wanted to keep walking. The men from the camp were like a hand on their backs, pushing them to keep moving even though they were dead tired.<\/p>\n The further south they went, the more the terrain began to change. Relatively flat before, more and more hills began to pop up. Michelle groaned every time she was forced to climb one, her already tired legs further strained. Huge rock formations began to litter the forest floor and more than once, they had to skirt their way around them.<\/p>\n I guess our luck ran out<\/em>, Michelle thought, looking around. The terrain seemed to be getting worse ahead of them, not better.<\/p>\n As they walked, a breeze kicked up, stirring the leaves above them. The sky continued to darken as storm clouds rolled in. In the distance, there was the rumbling of thunder. It was getting closer.<\/p>\n They came to the largest rock formation, yet. It was the size of a football field and jutted four stories into the air. As they made their way around it, Michelle spotted an opening in the rock wall. Curiosity got the better of her, and she stepped close to look inside. Blinking in surprise, she realized the formation was hollow. A massive cave.<\/p>\n \u201cCheck this out,\u201d she said, drawing Samantha\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d Samantha asked, joining her.<\/p>\n \u201cA huge cave,\u201d Michelle said, slipping inside. She fished the flashlight out, shining it around the cave. Her eyes were wide as she looked at the ceiling of rock some twenty feet above. She turned in a slow circle, taking in the enormity of the hollowed out space.<\/p>\n Samantha appeared at her side, asked, \u201cIs it safe in here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t see any signs of animals,\u201d Michelle said, dropping her backpack, \u201cthe rock seems solid enough.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow can something like this exist?\u201d Samantha asked, a hint of wonder in her voice.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Michelle said, grinning at her, \u201cit\u2019s kind of cool though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery cool,\u201d Samantha agreed, still looking around. She suddenly took the flashlight from Michelle, walking to one of the walls. She sounded excited as she said, \u201cCome check this out.\u201d<\/p>\n Michelle walked over to where Samantha stood, her eyes widening as she saw the intricate mural on the wall. Done in charcoal and crushed berries, it depicted a scene Michelle couldn\u2019t entirely follow. Still, she could feel the importance of the scene to whoever had made this painting. There was a reverence to the care in the creation of line and color, a respect in conserving the details.<\/p>\n \u201cThis looks\u2026 Native American?\u201d Samantha said, her eyes roaming over the cave wall.<\/p>\n \u201cI think so,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s beautiful,\u201d Samantha said, glancing at Michelle, \u201cit\u2019s the story of the tribe.\u201d<\/p>\n Michelle looked closer and saw Samantha was right. She had been looking at it wrong. It wasn\u2019t one picture but many that, when read from left to right, told the history of the people who had drawn this mural. As she and Samantha followed the curve of the wall, they saw the birth of the tribe, and it\u2019s fall.<\/p>\n \u201cWar,\u201d Samantha said, glancing at Michelle.<\/p>\n \u201cHow they began and how they ended,\u201d Michelle said, looking at the final bloody conflict with another tribe. There was a lot of red on the last bit of mural, then nothing but empty rock.<\/p>\n \u201cHow far back do you think this painting represents?\u201d Samantha asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Michelle said, putting her arm around Samantha\u2019s waist, \u201cwhen we get out of here we can look up Canadian tribes\u2026 Maybe there will be something about these people. Who they were and when they\u2026 Died.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Samantha said, turning away from the wall. Looking around the rotunda-like cave, she said, \u201cI can see why this cave was important to them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery spiritual,\u201d Michelle agreed, thinking the formation had a cathedral feel to it.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Samantha said, glancing at the mouth of the cave, \u201cI guess we are staying here for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n Michelle followed her eyes and saw the sky had finally opened and it was pouring down the rain. Right on cue, thunder rumbled, and lightning streaked across the heavens, temporarily lighting the darkened forest outside the cave.<\/p>\n \u201cBeats the tent,\u201d Michelle said, watching the wind-lashed rain, \u201cI don\u2019t think it was intended to withstand this kind of a storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably would have blown away with us in it,\u201d Samantha agreed, then suddenly looked around, \u201cwhere\u2019s Blue?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBlue?\u201d Michelle called, and the wolf appeared at the opening of the cave, looking wet and miserable.<\/p>\n Michelle waved the wolf inside, and Blue entered cautiously. Maybe something lingered in the cave that told the wolf it used to belong to humans because Blue looked out of sorts. She only came in out of the rain a couple of feet, looking around with her head held low.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay, Blue,\u201d Michelle said, smiling reassuringly at the wolf, \u201cIt\u2019s just the three of us in here.\u201d<\/p>\n Still not looking comfortable, Blue ventured a little further into the cave, her blue eyes scanning the enormous chamber nervously. Michelle didn\u2019t think there was much she could do to make Blue feel more at ease, so she left the wolf to get acclimated to the cave.<\/p>\n With the storm in full effect, it was dark in the cave without the flashlight, but they couldn\u2019t waste the batteries. Luckily, a lot of sticks and leaves had gathered just inside the cave. Michelle thought they could gather them up for a small fire.<\/p>\n \u201cHelp me get a fire going,\u201d Michelle said, getting Samantha\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n The wood inside the cave was very dry and took a spark nicely. It didn\u2019t take the girls long to have a small, crackling fire going. The dancing flames pushed back the shadows some, if not all the way to the far side of the cave. There were spots were the gloom clung to the walls and ceiling of the cave, refusing to give up their hold to the fire.<\/p>\n Sitting by the fire, the strain of the last couple of days started to get the better of Michelle. The cool air and the soothing sound of falling rain made it hard for her to keep her eyes open. Yawning, she said, \u201cWe might as well grab some sleep while it is raining.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs that a good idea?\u201d Samantha asked.<\/p>\n \u201cThose guys at the camp would have to crazy to walk in this storm. They couldn\u2019t see more a few feet in front of their faces, the way the wind is whipping around,\u201d Michelle said, then thought of something else, \u201cplus, the rain is going to ruin our tracks, assuming they found them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d Samantha said, reaching for the sleeping bag.<\/p>\n They spread it out next to the fire, lying on top of it. Samantha snuggled tight against Michelle, her head on her shoulder. Michelle had just enough time to tell the girl she loved her before sleep took her. She didn\u2019t even hear if Samantha said it back.<\/p>\n ——————————————<\/p>\n When Michelle came awake sometime later, the fire was all but embers, and the cave was completely dark. She glanced at the opening of the cave and saw night had fallen while they slept. It sounded like the worst of the storm had passed, but it was still raining outside.<\/p>\n Without waking Samantha, she sat up and put a few sticks on the fire. Poking it until it came back to life, she looked around the cave. Blue was sleeping toward the back of the cave, her head resting on her paws. Michelle smiled, thinking the wolf looked kind of cute when she was asleep.<\/p>\n Getting to her feet, Michelle stepped outside the cave to answer the call of nature. It only to a minute but she was soaking wet by the time she finished. At least the rain wasn\u2019t as cold as she expected. Still, she hurried to the fire to dry off.<\/p>\n Samantha stirred awake, her beautiful eyes opening and finding Michelle. She sat up and moved against Michelle. Yawning, she asked, \u201cWhy are you all wet?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI had to use the bathroom,\u201d Michelle said, kissing her.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s still raining?\u201d Samantha asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGreat,\u201d Samantha groaned, standing up. She disappeared out the mouth of the cave and came back dripping a moment later. Coming to the fire, she said, \u201cIt\u2019s still coming down out there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Michelle said, smiling at her, \u201cLooks like you took a piss and a shower at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI need a shower,\u201d Samantha said, shaking her head, \u201cwe both do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe rain\u2019s not that cold,\u201d Michelle said, playfully.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh,\u201d Samantha said, glancing at the cave entrance.<\/p>\n \u201cI was kidding,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s doable, though,\u201d Samantha said, smiling playfully at her, \u201cit might be kind of fun, doing it in the rain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoing it in the rain?\u201d Michelle asked, her heart beating a little faster, \u201cWhat happened to showering?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCall that foreplay,\u201d Samantha said, putting her arms around Michelle\u2019s neck, \u201cwe can get all soapy and slippery and see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n Swallowing hard, Michelle said, \u201cWhen you put it like that…\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha gave her a deep, lingering kiss, then reached for her backpack. With a bottle of body wash in hand, she sprang to her feet. Michelle watched her run to the mouth of the cave, shedding clothing as she went. Shaking her head, Michelle followed her, slipping out of her own clothes. They paused at the opening to finish undressing. Samantha moved naked into her arms, kissed her again. Michelle could feel the girl\u2019s excitement behind the kiss, knew the thought of making out in the rain had turned her on. Michelle pulled her tighter into her arms and eased them out into the rain. It was cold at first, but as Samantha\u2019s hand roamed over her back and their tongues twined, Michelle stopped noticing the chill.<\/p>\n So lost in the kiss and exploring Samantha\u2019s naked body, Michelle had forgotten about the body wash until she heard the pop of the lid being opened. She caught a hint of its lovely scent as Samantha poured some first in her palm then in Michelle\u2019s. Working the soap into a lather, she ran her hands over Samantha\u2019s skin. Samantha was doing the same to her and Michelle wasn\u2019t sure which one turned her on more, touching or being touched. Either way, Samantha had been right about this being foreplay.<\/p>\n Samantha sank to her knees in front of Michelle, running her soapy hands down Michelle\u2019s long legs. As they slid back over her calves, then her thighs, Michelle wondered if this was about to stop being hygienic and start being sensual. Her heart was beating faster at the thought of where Samantha\u2019s hands might be heading next. Her breath caught in her throat as Samantha\u2019s massaging hand found her girlhood and she forced it out as a moan as Samantha eased her fingers inside of her. The soap made everything slippery, but Michelle didn\u2019t need it. She was more than ready for the thrust of Samantha\u2019s fingers. Wiping the soap away, Samantha pressed her mouth to Michelle\u2019s bud, teasing it with her lips and tongue.<\/p>\n Michelle closed her eyes and lost herself to the caress of the rain and the lovely things Samantha was doing to her. The stress of the last couple of days receded, and she let the pleasure work through her. Their pursuers, the brutal miles they had walked, the many miles still to be covered, the ache and pains\u2026 All of the worries that had weighed on her were set aside, and she focused on enjoying this erotic moment.<\/p>\n It was one of the things she loved about being with Samantha. No matter what was going on around her, when she was in Samantha\u2019s arms, the world melted away. It was just the two of them, and nothing else mattered. She hadn\u2019t known it was possible to get so wholly lost in someone, to have her attention so completely captured. Samantha was her everything.<\/p>\n Right now her \u2018everything\u2019 had her making these little noises of excitement she couldn\u2019t quite hold back, try as she might. Samantha was making it impossible to keep quiet. She could only hope no one was close enough to hear her as another cry escaped her.<\/p>\n Her hand was on the back of Samantha\u2019s head, and her hips were pushing her pussy against Samantha\u2019s mouth and fingers eagerly. The girl had her toes digging into the mud and her knees a little weak. The caress of her tongue across her bud and the tease of her thrusting fingers against her g-spot had Michelle tiptoeing along the edge of ecstasy. There was only so much of this her young body could take, and Samantha already had her at that plateau. She just needed a gentle push, and she\u2019d fall right over the edge into bliss.<\/p>\n In the end, it wasn\u2019t Samantha that gave her the push, although she was definitely the one who got her there. It was the rain on her naked body that made her come undone. She hadn\u2019t been sure about this when Samantha said she wanted to do it outside in the rain, but Michelle was glad the girl had talked her into it. There was something incredibly sexy about the feel of the rain on her bare skin, the feel of the water droplets as they rolled over her breasts and down her taut stomach. It was erotic and naughty, and Michelle cried out as the thrill finished her off.<\/p>\n The orgasm shook her to pieces, knocked her legs out from underneath her. Suddenly on her knees, she laughed as the feel-good juices started to flow. Feeling as light as a feather, she hugged Samantha and gave her a lingering kiss.<\/p>\n Michelle was a little surprised when Samantha laid back and pulled her atop of her. Smiling down at her, Michelle said, \u201cYou know you are lying in mud, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha kissed her, said, \u201cIt\u2019ll rinse off.\u201d<\/p>\n Laughing, Michelle kissed her, again. She ran her hand up Samantha\u2019s side to cup her breast. When the girl moaned into her mouth, Michelle knew she was ready for more. Michelle kissed Samantha\u2019s neck, tasted the rain on her skin. Moving lower, she kissed her way down Samantha\u2019s lovely body, taking her time to let the anticipation build. Samantha\u2019s body writhed every time Michelle\u2019s lips brushed her skin.<\/p>\n By the time Michelle gently spread her girlfriend\u2019s legs wide open, Samantha was more than ready. The first flick of Michelle\u2019s tongue drew a thick moan from Samantha and her back arched out of the mud. Michelle ran her hand up the girl\u2019s stomach and kneaded one of her breasts, not letting up on her bud. Samantha\u2019s back arched, even more, pushing her breast into Michelle\u2019s hand eagerly. Michelle teased her straining nipple until Samantha groaned and sank back to the mud before letting her hand slide back down her rain slick stomach.<\/p>\n Slipping two fingers into Samantha\u2019s hot, slick core, Michelle found her g-spot and teased it with little twitches of her fingers. The pressure on that sensitive spot drove Samantha\u2019s body wild, and it was hard for Michelle to keep her mouth to the girl\u2019s bud as she writhed. It didn\u2019t seem to matter, the excited sounds Samantha was making. Again, Michelle hoped no one was in earshot because she wasn\u2019t about to stop what she was doing. She wanted to see just how much pleasure she could wring out of Samantha\u2019s body, wanted to see that dazed smile Samantha always gave her after she came. It was such a sexy little smile.<\/p>\n Doing this in the mud and rain must have excited Samantha because it didn\u2019t take long for Michelle to sense the tension gathering inside of her girlfriend\u2019s body. She thought the girl was right there, her body at its limit. Michelle remembered her own orgasm, how the rain on her naked body had been the straw that had toppled her over. She wondered if it was her fingers and her mouth that made Samantha try out in ecstasy or if maybe the rain had helped.<\/p>\n Michelle leaned in for a kiss and Samantha pulled her down atop of her, again. They sank even deeper into the mud as their tongues teased each other into a much more heated kiss. Michelle gasped as Samantha suddenly rolled them and she was on her back in mud that was halfway up her sides. It was cold, and she had mud in some weird places.<\/p>\n Samantha smiled down at her, gave her a playful kiss, \u201cI didn\u2019t want to be the only dirty girl.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGee thanks,\u201d Michelle said, laughing.<\/p>\n Stealing one more kiss, Samantha got to her knees and straddled one of Michelle\u2019s hips. As their muddy bodies nestled together, Michelle realized what the girl had in mind and she stopped caring about being in the mud. As Samantha began to grind her girlhood against Michelle\u2019s, Michelle\u2019s hands dug into the mud looking for something to hold onto. The mud sucked at her buttocks as she tried to push her hips up into Samantha\u2019s thrusts, making obscene noises that the rain couldn\u2019t quite drown out. It made both of them start giggling. She had to give up the effort, just let Samantha do all the work for both of them. Samantha\u2019s pneumatic body was more than up for the challenge, the roll of her hips drawing moan after moan from them.<\/p>\n Michelle kind of wished it was daylight out. She loved to watch the sway of Samantha\u2019s body as she did this. Samantha moved with such sensuality and grace, the push of her hips mesmerizing. Closing her eyes, Michelle could see the twist of her lovely body as clear as could be. The memories of the past times Samantha had ridden her like this was permanently burned into her mind, and she\u2019d never forget how sexy the girl looked atop her.<\/p>\n The roll of Samantha\u2019s hips started coming faster and faster, the girl really grinding against her. The pressure on her bud was delicious, and she was grabbing at the mud. As it squeezed through her fingers, she needed something more substantial to hold onto, so she put her hands on Samantha\u2019s backside. Her fingers tightening on Samantha\u2019s buttocks, she urged the girl to move even faster.<\/p>\n Samantha had her right on the edge of coming, again. The pressure on her bud was too much to bear, and her body was ready to explode. She heard the sharpness in Samantha\u2019s cries, and she realized the girl was close, too. Atop her, Samantha\u2019s body started to lose its grace as she came but she kept it together long enough to finish them both off. Their climaxes gripped them almost simultaneously, and they shook through them together.<\/p>\n \u201cHoly shit,\u201d Samantha laughed, leaning in for a kiss. It was a tender kiss, the fire of desire burned out of them, finally.<\/p>\n The passion abated, for now, Michelle realized she was lying in three inches of mud. Distracted by Samantha\u2019s capable body, she hadn\u2019t noticed how cold it was half buried in mud. She started shivering. \u201cYeah, it\u2019s kind of cold,\u201d Samantha said, kissing her, \u201cI hadn\u2019t noticed before.\u201d<\/p>\n Getting to her feet, Michelle said, \u201cI guess we were distracted up until now.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha laughed and moved into her arms, said, \u201cI guess we were.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGonna have to add this one to the list,\u201d Michelle said, kissing her.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m definitely never going to forget it,\u201d Samantha said.<\/p>\n \u201cGood,\u201d Michelle said, stealing one more kiss, \u201chelp me get the mud out of my hair.\u201d<\/p>\n ———————————–<\/p>\n Stepping up to the cave\u2019s opening, Michelle looked out at the misty forest. Dawn was just breaking, and everything was peaceful. The rain had passed, but the mud was still around. It could make walking a chore, and they would be leaving clear prints from now on out. Hopefully, the storm had would erase their old tracks and throw their pursuers off their trail.<\/p>\n Still looking out at the foggy forest, she wondered if they had ever found their trail in the first place. Were they still looking to the north of the camp for them? To the east? Had they found their prints at the camp and were following them south? Had they broken camp and gotten the hell out of Dodge? Cut their losses?<\/p>\n Michelle wished she had the answers to these questions, but she had no idea where the men from the camp were or what they were doing. She could only assume they were still hot on their heels.<\/p>\n After their roll in the mud, they had eaten then gone back to sleep. They had awakened before the sun was up, feeling a lot better than when they had first stumbled upon the cave. They were still a little sore and stiff, but they had a smile on their faces when they looked at each other.<\/p>\n She glanced to the left of the cave opening, saw the pan they had left out to gather rainwater last night. It was filled to the brim, and she carefully carried it back inside. She poured it straight into the thermos, since it didn’t need to be purified first.<\/p>\n Michelle went to where Samantha was using her camera to film the mural. When she fell in beside her, Samantha said, \u201cMaybe someone will want to know about this place when we get back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll turn the GPS on, get the coordinates,\u201d Michelle said, walking back to the fire, \u201csee where we are, while I\u2019m at it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe can eat something then get ready to start moving, again,\u201d Samantha said.<\/p>\n \u201cSounds like a plan,\u201d Michelle said, stopping on her way to the fire to scratch Blue behind the ears. She was about to turn away when the wolf\u2019s ears suddenly perked up. Blue\u2019s posture changed in an instant, and she sprang to her feet. Michelle\u2019s heart started racing as the wolf growled low in her throat. She ran to her backpack picked up her bow and quiver. She turned just in time to see a black blur as Blue ran out of the cave.<\/p>\n Outside there came a short burst of gunfire and savage barking and growling. Then came a scream of pain and panicked cursing, \u201cOh shit! Fuck! Oh God!\u201d<\/p>\n Fumbling an arrow onto the string, Michelle ran to the opening of the cave. She saw one of the men from the camp on his back, trying to keep Blue from his throat. Dark red circles were spreading on the fatigues he wore, evidence that some of Blue\u2019s attacks had made it home.<\/p>\n Drawing her bow, Michelle yelled, \u201cEasy, Blue. Don\u2019t kill him!\u201d<\/p>\n Blue backed off from her attack, her posture still threatening.<\/p>\n Samantha appeared at the mouth of the cave, her bow in hand. Michelle called over her shoulder, \u201cPack everything up. We are leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha disappeared back in the cave.<\/p>\n \u201cJesus, it bit me,\u201d the man cried in pain, holding his side, \u201cfucking thing bit me!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are lucky I stopped her,\u201d Michelle said, her arrow aimed at his chest, \u201cnow hold still, or I might change my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFucking bit me,\u201d He whimpered.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere are your friends?\u201d Michelle asked, looking around.<\/p>\n \u201cMy friends?\u201d He asked.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were three of you,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cFuck you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cBlue,\u201d Michelle said. The wolf growled deep in her throat, her teeth bared. She let out a sharp bark, and the man lost control of his bladder.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, okay,\u201d he said, shielding his face from the attack he thought was coming, \u201cwe lost your trail! We fanned out, looking for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Michelle was glad her bluff worked because she didn\u2019t think she had the stomach for actually siccing Blue on him. She felt a little queasy just making the threat.<\/p>\n \u201cAre they close enough to have heard the gunfire?\u201d Michelle asked, spotting the AR-15 lying in the grass a ways from them. She circled that way, bending down to pick up the assault rifle. She slung the bow over her shoulder, ejected the magazine to make sure it was still loaded, then popped the clip back in place. She flipped the selector switch to semi-auto, figuring the gun would be a handful on full auto.<\/p>\n It might still be too much gun for her, firing one round at a time. She hoped she never had cause to use it.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he said, flinching when he glanced at Blue, \u201cI don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour radio,\u201d Michelle said, pointing with the gun, \u201ctoss it here.\u201d<\/p>\n The man fumbled the radio off his belt, threw it to Michelle. He grunted as the move cause more blood to spring from his torn side. Looking down at the blood pooling between his fingers, he blubbered, \u201cI\u2019m hurt bad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKeep putting pressure on it,\u201d Michelle said, then to Blue, \u201cI need your help, Blue. I need him to call his friends and tell them he was shooting at a wolf and everything is okay, but I need to keep him from doing something stupid like trying to warn them. Do you think you can help me?\u201d<\/p>\n The wolf looked at her for a moment, then moved slowly toward the cringing man. He tried to crawl away, but Blue closed in on him. She put his throat between her teeth, bit down just hard enough to dimple the skin but not hard enough draw blood. The man froze, stark fear in his eyes. He looked at Michelle, silently begging for mercy.<\/p>\n Michelle felt a little sick, but she didn’t let it show on her face.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to put the radio to your mouth,\u201d Michelle said, lowering the rifle, \u201cif you do what I say, I\u2019ll tell Blue to spit that nasty neck of yours out. If not\u2026 Well, you know what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, okay,\u201d he whimpered.<\/p>\n \u201cI want you to tell your friends you saw a wolf, freaked out and started shooting at it\u2026 You are fine and still looking for us. Haven\u2019t seen any sign of us. Got it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d he said, a fragile hope on his face.<\/p>\n \u201cBetter be convincing,\u201d she said, kneeling beside him and putting the radio next to his mouth. She pressed the button.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Danny,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Michelle let go of the button, waiting for the reply. The radio crackled, then a tinny voice said, \u201c…What\u2019s up…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWatch out for wolves, man. A big, black bitch just buzzed by me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201c…Is that what you were shooting at…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFucking thing was huge,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n There was laughter on the other end of the line and Danny asked, \u201c…Did you at least get it…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d the man said.<\/p>\n \u201c…Keep your eyes open, then. For any sign of the girls, too…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, yeah. You too,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Michelle pulled the radio away from his mouth and hooked it on her pocket. Straightening up, she said to Blue, \u201cYou can let him go.\u201d<\/p>\n Blue\u2019s teeth tightened a fraction more, and the guy cried out, then Blue let him go.<\/p>\n \u201cI did what you asked,\u201d the man said, his eyes going from Blue to the assault rifle.<\/p>\n \u201cYou did,\u201d Michelle said, looking down at him. His right calf was bleeding pretty bad, and the bite on his side was weeping freely. She didn\u2019t think he was in any danger of bleeding out, but he was going to need stitches and antibiotics soon. He didn\u2019t look in any condition to follow them. She doubted he\u2019d be able to put any weight on his leg any time soon. Without his gun or his radio, he wasn\u2019t a threat to them anymore.<\/p>\n Samantha appeared at her side with her pack. Putting the gun between her knees, she shrugged into it. With the assault rifle cradled in her arms, she asked, \u201cYour friends are further east?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d he said, looking at her curiously, \u201cwho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Michelle asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t act like a scared kid,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about me,\u201d Michelle said, then to Blue and Samantha, \u201cwe better get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are just going to leave me here?\u201d The man asked.<\/p>\n \u201cUnless you think that\u2019s a bad idea?\u201d Michelle asked, raising the muzzle of the gun. It was an empty threat. She had no intention of using it.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no,\u201d he said, holding up his hands.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n As they were walking away, the man called, \u201cSeriously. Who the hell are you, kid?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust a girl trying to get home,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Continue to Part Eleven<\/a><\/p>\n Kneeling by the river, Michelle rinsed out her waterproof backpack liner. It still smelled liked smoked meat even after she dunked it in the water several times. Shaking her head, she thought that smell might never come out. Blue sat … Continue reading
\n\u201cWe better get cleaned up and move this into the cave,\u201d Michelle said, sitting up.<\/p>\n