Page 5 of Sheltered By the Mountain Man

I smile, proud of myself for rocking this first outing, and tuck my granola wrapper into my backpack. All that's left is another couple of bars and my map. Maybe I'll keep the map as a souvenir. If so, I should commemorate the hike with a picture. I leave my boulder seat to snap a few. Unfortunately, my bladder chooses that moment to give a pointed twist. All the water I drank has caught up to me.

Oh no. I can't wait another two hours until we're back in civilization. I whip my map out of my backpack, scanning the trails for the little people sign that would indicate a bathroom. There's nothing. What kind of barbarians made these trails? I look around. Everyone is paired off again, chatting away as they finish their snacks and clean up. I can't... can'taskanyone about a bathroom. They'd know what I was going to do, and that I was dumb for drinking all my water. The Spandex twins would probably laugh all the way back to the trailhead.

I put the map in my pocket and look around the clearing. There are some thicker bushes right through those trees. Far enough away that I'd have some privacy. God, this is so embarrassing. At least no one is paying attention to me. Once again, I'm almost invisible. Only now that's a good thing.

I slip unnoticed into the bushes and hurry to do my business. I shouldn't be off the trail. Isn't that the number one thing the hot rescue guy said? Don't leave the trail because of bears? I can't get mauled by a bear with my pants down. I'd die. Either of a bear attack or embarrassment, but I'd die.

I'm never doing this again. Brave Bella can figure out a way to be adventurousindoors.

I finish and hurry back to the clearing, trying to figure out a way to slip back in unnoticed. Except that's not a problem.

The clearing is empty. The hiking group is gone.

It’s only been like five minutes, tops. How did this happen? How did they not realize I wasn't with them? Or at least that the group was short of one person?

Thirteen, with you.

Dillon's words come back to me then. Mr. Russo counted twelve again. Only this time, he counted himself and not me.

Okay, I’m not going to panic. They couldn't have gone far, and they're heading back down the trail. I hurry to follow. The path circles back around the clearing and starts down. But less than a few hundred feet later, the path forks. I didn't notice when we were coming up, because the trails just look a little wider there. Unless I'd turned around, I wouldn't have even seen it. Which one did they take? There are footprints going both ways.

My hands are shaking as I pull the map out of my pocket. My chest feels tight, like I can't draw a full breath. Those dumb colored trails twine like snakes. Who even made this map? A sadist?

Calm down, Bella. You can do this.

I count slowly to ten, straining to listen for any voices or laughter up ahead. There's only the light chatter of birds and the rustle of leaves as the wind picks up. When I can breathe better, I look at the map. I find the clearing and trace my way to where I think I'm standing. The trail on the right goes back to the trailhead. If I run, I can catch up with them.

Maybe no one will even notice that I was gone. The thought makes me laugh, but the sound catches in my throat and comes out like a small sob. I rush after the group and hope I don't see a bear.

It's darker now. The sun must have dipped behind the clouds, because it feels like the temperature dropped. I jog back down the trail for what feels like ten minutes.

The group isn't here. I don't even hear them.

I must have chosen the wrong path!

I stop and drag in a shaky breath. None of this looks familiar. But it all looks the same.

I'm shaking so hard I can barely read the map. Who am I kidding? I couldn't read it when I wasn't scared of being lost. I pull my phone out of my pocket to call for help, but there's no signal. Even when I hold it over my head and turn in a slow circle.

I'm lost. Lost on the mountain with no way to contact anyone for help and my hiking group doesn't even know I'm not with them.

My throat grows so tight I can barely swallow. I blink back a few tears and look at the map again. It's no use. There are more junctions than trees on this thing.

What am I going to do?

I start walking again, because at least I'm descending the mountain. The shadows grow darker and thunder rumbles in the distance. Because that makes everything better.

Crossing my arms over my waist to hold my trembles in, I forge ahead.

It takes me a minute to realize I'm hearing a noise. Something out of place in the woods. It's barking.

A dog! A dog means people. It's coming from off the trail, but at this point, I don't care. I plunge into the brush and head for the sound. It gets louder and louder, and it's the best thing I've ever heard in my life.

I don't even notice the shrubs rustling ahead of me until they part, and a huge shape lunges forward.

I let out a startled scream as it crashes into me, moaning. A bear!

No, wait—

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