I didn’t feel the instinctive push to wake twenty times throughout the night to feed the fire. My limbs aren’t bogged down by exhaustion. There’s a crisp alertness in my brain that’s been lacking since chronic fatigue set in years ago. I haven’t slept that well in long enough not to remember. The credit for my restful state goes to the beauty still bundled in her fluffy pod.
With an outstretched arm, I offer her a bit of assistance. A quick yank and she’s slamming into my torso with a squeal. “Are you fully awake yet?”
She blinks at me, her baby blues blown open wide. “Yeah, that jolt might be better than caffeine.”
I give her a wink. “You’re welcome. I’ll get us breakfast.”
“And I’ll be waiting. Yum, yum.” She pats her belly, rustling the wind-resistant fabric underneath.
“It won’t take long. You can time me.”
Blakely holds up her wrist that’s visibly bare. After tapping at a pretend watch, she stretches onto the tips of her booted toes. Several snaps and cracks sound from her spine when she bends in half. Maybe a massage will be in order later. Of course, that will only lead to me doubling my frustration. Not that I’ve been avoiding trouble so far.
After tossing a few logs on the smoldering ashes, I set my aim on the river. My steps falter within three feet of the pit. Our camp is ravaged. Not that there was much to destroy beyond trees and dirt. Chunks of wood and greenery are strewn in every direction. How the hell did we miss this? The noise must have been deafening. I glance at Blakely to find her surveying the crime scene with the same disbelief as me. It’s surprising how much damage a storm can cause in nature. The forest looks more trashed than a frat house after a weekend binge.
And this morning? Daylight is breaking as if none the wiser, hiding any involvement behind a swatch of blinding rays. The mischievous happenings that occur during the darkness of night are a problem for the stars and moon. How ironic.
I kick at a discarded clump of broken twigs. It’s odd to think of us moving along to a different spot, hoping for better. What we find might be in worse condition. The spark inside of me refuses to dwell, nurtured by the woman responsible for igniting that flicker. I stride forward with straightened shoulders and stronger resolve.
Even with the temporary drop in temperature, the water is packed with a rainbow of scales. Catching fish has never been easier. I have four trout on a spear within two minutes. It takes me another ten to have them cleaned, cooked, and served.
I pass Blakely a bowl and drop down beside her. “The assholes who thought we couldn’t survive in these woods didn’t consider the stocked stream.”
“Or the fact you’re a seaman at heart.”
A bouncy chuckle trembles the dish in my hands. “That’s one hell of a title.”
“You’ve earned it.” She wiggles her brows at me. “So, what’s on our agenda for this fine day?”
I glance up at the brightening sky. The cascade of late dawn basks over us, creating a yellow and orange veil over the blanket of fresh snow. “If the weather cooperates, we should continue down the river. I’m hoping we come across a valley or the trees thin out at a certain point. Then we can build a bigger brush fire.”
“With the smoke signals?”
“Exactly.”
“Okay, I love that plan.”
Her beaming grin will have me agreeing to just about anything. With a bob of my head, I do exactly that.
Survival tip #19: It’s no joke that the right passenger is vital on an adventure, especially when traveling left.
I dip my paddle into the rippling tide, angling our canoe to avoid a jagged rock. We’ve only been traveling for a short stint, according to my rustic form of measurement. The sun is still lazy along the eastern horizon, resistant to rise farther until commanded. Bursts of pink and purple stretch across the sky in preparation for a long day. I can’t sympathize with that lagging feeling. For once, the fringes of depletion are a memory of yesterday. Our outlook has a brighter view thanks to several solid hours in a heavily insulated sleeping bag.
The wilderness provides a dynamic soundtrack for our early departure. Babbling gurgles from the river greet us. A flock of rowdy birds rustle in the treetops. Random crackling and rattles send out alerts as the forest awakens. My mood sways upstream to