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I spin slowly, letting the gently filtered light wash over my body. Even as a child I was never afraid of this place, exploring the mountains with my parents and grandparents. Fanciful images of fairies and gnomes whirling in my head, promising fun and joy.
I stop at a boulder to relax since I’m nearing the tiny path to the lake. There are so many different trails on this mountain, all of them scenic, but some are more direct than others. Today I chose my favorite route. It’s a little longer than most, but the views and wildlife spotting are the absolute best. Grasping the shoulder straps of my bag, I yank it off my back, place it on a large rock, and pull out my phone, water, and a granola bar.
Tearing the wrapper open, I take out my snack and break it in half, popping some into my mouth and setting the rest down beside me. I tap out a quick message to Blyth letting her know I am on track to reach the lake by sunset and wait for it to go through.
Big mountain. Terrible reception.
A quiet chattering reaches my ear, and I turn just in time to see a giant fluffy squirrel’s tail abscond with my granola bar.
My soft giggle mixes with the animal noises of the woods and disappears.
“Guess you were hungry, buddy?” I call out, enchanted.
My phone vibrates—Message Failed to Send—is scrolled across the screen. Oh well, I gulp my water and dust myself off, ready to get closer to the lake. My toes are itching to slip into the soothing water on the sandy bank. Plus, I want to be there before sunset, that way I can watch the animals that come for a drink. It’s my favorite time of day.
Once my bag is strapped correctly, I hike on, letting my imagination run wild.
“Get your ass in here with me right now,” Drew growls, his lower half submerged in the magical water of Lustre Lake.
He shakes out his hair, spraying little droplets my way, as I smile from ear to ear. My gaze slides from his chiseled jaw, down his muscular chest, to his abs. My mouth waters as I consider running my tongue from his navel, down, down…
A shock of red shoots by my face, as I startle back to reality.
“Hellooooo,” the bird seems to screech as it settles on a tree branch. My mind swirls with confusion.
Is that a parrot? There is no way, it doesn’t make any sense—they aren’t native to Lustre Lake. Gnawing on my lip, I move quietly, trying not to spook my pretty feathered friend. If there is a parrot out here, it’s probably lost.
The red bird is right above my head, but I can’t get a clear view of it, so I shrug my bag off, wincing as the sound of the zipper seems to echo through the forest. Rifling through my bag, I allow it to drop to the ground when I touch the round, bubbled surface of my binoculars. Yes!
Now, I just need a closer look…
Well, fuck a duck.
As always, abso-freaking-lutely nothing in my life is going as planned. Operation Black Moon is officially a disaster.
From my spot, splayed across the damp ground, all I can see is sky and treetops. I attempt a deep breath again, but I just can’t suck in any air. I think the last time I had the wind knocked out of me like this was the one and only time I tried ice skating. Freaking clumsy genes.
Gasping, my lungs finally draw in a full breath, but as I move to sit, a sharp pain slices up my leg and I flop back down to the ground.Ouch.
I don’t even know what to do right now. Just a second ago, I was bopping along enjoying my hike and I’m not even sure what happened. Did I fall? Looking around, I try to piece it all together.
I was sexy daydreaming; I thought I saw a parrot; I wanted a closer look; I stepped on that log and…
Now my ankle and foot are stuck…
Well, mystery solved I guess.Stepping on a rotten log equals bad idea—makes sense. Shifting my weight, I attempt to shimmy my leg out of the wood, but each move causes more pain and my sock is getting squishy. Is it blood? Water? Something wet and foul inside the log?
A shudder wracks my body at the possibilities.
From my prone position on the ground, I try to look around for my bag, wondering if something in there could help me break this treacherous wood. I don’t see the bag anywhere, but then again, stuck like this, I can’t really see much. I reach for my back pocket, not remembering where I put my phone, and of course, it isn’t there either.
Pushing up with my arms, I grit my teeth as my ankle throbs and my knee and hip scream; I look around as quickly as I can, but I still don’t see my bag or phone. Ugh.
Falling backward onto the mossy ground, I stare at the branches above me. My feathered nemesis is still there, its black beady eyes staring at me, unblinking. Looking now, I’m able to see that the silly bird is just a bright red cardinal—not a parrot—seriously, what was I thinking?
Great job, Tilly.
I am so close, I can literally see the lake through the trees, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone around…
