Authors: Christy Torres
“He should be here any minute,” Gisele said, noting the time. Sure enough, the apartment doorbell rang five minutes later, and a thin, handsome boy with a backpack stood at Giselle’s doorstep. He said nothing, and then shuffled his feet a few times. Giselle invited him inside.
“Hi, Ms. Walker,” he finally said, feeling awkward with everyone’s eyes on him. “I’m all set for the big camping trip,” Richard smiled and plopped his pack on the floor.
Richard, these are my best friends- Carla and Jasmine. They live in Los Angeles,” Giselle smiled and introduced them. “And Jasmine has a little brother who’s about your age,” she added.
Richard smiled and stuffed his hands in his pockets. He was not opposed to spending two weeks with a group of beautiful women. That was for sure. However, he didn’t quite know how to act around them, either. “Well, my mom thinks this will be a good experience for me,” he said, and then nodded his head.
“I’m sure that we are all going to have fun,” said Giselle. She took Richard’s pack from him, and offered him some water. Richard thanked her and sat down on the couch. “Now, let’s see. I have our entire route planned, and we’ve got plenty of daylight left. What do you say we all head out in about ten minutes?” Giselle asked. Everyone nodded in agreement.
After everyone had eaten some sandwiches that Giselle made, they hoisted their gear and followed her out of the apartment. They crammed their packs into her Jeep, then Richard got in the back with Carla, and Jasmine got up front with Giselle. It was about an hour to the trailhead, and everyone admired the landscape as they cruised along the highway. When they pulled up at the trailhead, Richard was the first to speak.
“Wow. Look at all the trees out there,” he said. Even though he lived in Colorado, Richard didn’t get out to the mountains much. His family rarely left the heart of Denver. “And look at how much bigger the mountains are here. Cool!” he exclaimed, clearly impressed. Everyone helped get the backpacks unloaded. Then they set up their tents and got the stove going to make some tea.
Richard felt like this was going to be a special journey. He already felt a weight lifted off him just by being outside of Denver. He knew that his sister’s arrival would be enough for his mother to deal with right now, without having to worry about him, too. He sat on his sleeping bag as the sun set and felt thankful for being outside.
“This is a really special place,” said Giselle, as she propped her head on a mini-pillow that she brought with her. “I used to come here with my dad, when I was really little,” she said reflectively. “Wait till you see the lake tomorrow,” she said. Everyone got comfortable, and soon a communal silence fell over the camp.
Stars mingled overhead, and a slight breeze swept through the campground. Carla poured some tea for everyone, and they sat admiring the stars. Jasmine made a few cups of noodles with her camp stove, and they passed around a big bowl to spoon out portions. Once everyone was full and warm, they slid into their sleeping bags and gazed at he sky. Within a matter of minutes, every one of them had fallen asleep.
Richard heard the noise first. It was s faint rustling, but loud enough to wake him from a solid sleep. “Ms. Walker, what was that?” he asked.
Giselle jolted up and rubbed her eyes. It was pith black so she reached for her flashlight and scanned the immediate area. “I don’t see anything, Richard,” she said.
“I know I heard something. Maybe it was just a mouse,” he said, trying not to overreact.
“If you want, I’ll go take a peek around those trees,” said Giselle. Carla and Jasmine were still asleep. Giselle slipped on her boots that sat right next to her sleeping bag. She crept slowly to the first grove of evergreens that sat about twenty feet from their camp. The breeze had picked up and she heard a few rustles from the branches overhead, but nothing significant.
“Do you see anything?” Richard asked curiously.
“I don’t, Richard,” Giselle called back. She was just about to head back to her sleeping bag when she felt something on her arm, and then a hand over her mouth. It happened so quickly that she had no time to react. Someone, or something, breathed into her ear. “Meet me at this tree tomorrow morning. Make sure you show up,” he said. Then he released her and sprinted away into the night. Giselle tried to catch her breath, unsure of what had just happened.
Giselle ran back to her sleeping bag and slid as far down inside as she could. Richard got out of his and crept next to her. “Are you okay, Ms. Walker?” he asked.
“I think so,” she said, her voice muffled from speaking through the sleeping bag.
“Did you see anything?’ he asked. Jasmine tossed in her sleeping bag.
“No,” said Giselle. “But I think I heard something.”
“What do you think it was?” asked Richard, becoming a little scared.
“I don’t know. Probably a deer,” she said, lying. Giselle wanted to tell the truth, but she also wanted to make sure that Richard wasn’t afraid. She decided to simply keep the information to herself, and to follow the orders that were given about showing up at the tree in the morning.
“Okay. Well, I’m going to try and go back to sleep,” said Richard, and he slid back into his bag.
Giselle didn’t sleep all night. She was too nervous about what awaited her in the morning. She figured it might just be a prank. Hopefully she wouldn’t be faced with anyone who would harm her, and she figured if that were the case, the perfect opportunity would have been earlier, when she was alone, by the tree, in the dark.
When the sun came up in the morning, Giselle was the first one out of her sleeping bag. She used her camp stove to make some coffee, and then sat on a log, watching for a sign from the trees. Richard, Carla, and Jasmine were sill sleeping in their bags, and Giselle thought this might be the perfect chance to see if the mystery person reveled himself behind the tree.
Without making a sound, Giselle put down her coffee and slid a pocket knife into her pocket. She picked up a fallen tree branch, and held it by her side as she walked stealthily to the trees. She didn’t hear anything, and peered over her shoulder to make sure that the rest of her crew hadn’t stirred yet. Just hen she heard rustling in the branches, and the sound of a branch breaking off a limb. Giselle froze in her tracks, and then craned her neck to see what was responsible for the noise.
“Over here,” a voice whispered, and Giselle’s eyes darted in an attempt to locate the voice. She moved cautiously and then stopped when she reached the base of a large evergreen situated behind a boulder. It was the same tree she had heard the voice from the night before, only she didn’t recall there being a large rock in front of it. She peered around the side, and before she could say a word, a hand reached for her arm.
Giselle wanted to scream because the surprise startled her, but again, a hand covered her mouth and a man’s voice spoke in her ear. “It’s okay, Giselle. Nothing is going to hurt you,” he said, and then pulled a strand of her hair away from her face. “I only want to talk to you, want to tell you a story,” he continued.
“Who are you?” Giselle hissed when he released his hand.
“I’m Owen Ruby,” he said, and then moved in front of Giselle so that she could see him. He was a tall male with dark black hair and penetrating green eyes. He wore a gray leather jacket and a pair of jeans with studs on the bottom. Giselle thought he looked out of place in the mountainous landscape, and mused that he appeared to be more suited for a photo shoot or a movie role. He stared at Giselle intently and then took her hand. “I need you for the pack,” he said, and Giselle looked at him alarmed.
“Ms. Walker?” Richard yelled from the camp-site. He was probably worried since she wasn’t there, thought Giselle.
“’I’ll be right there, Richard. I’m just looking for some good kindling,” she lied. Owens’s eyes remained fixated on her.
“I’m from the Alpha Diamond Pack, and we live on the other side of Silver Lake,” said Owen. “Our pack has been here for over five years, and for us to stay dominant, we need to make love with an alpha female,” he said, then waited for the reply.
“This sounds outrageous,” said Giselle. “Alpha Diamond Pack?” she questioned him. “I’m not buying this story. What is it that you really want from me?” she asked, looking over her shoulder to make sure that Richard wasn’t wandering around.
“I told you the truth. Our pack is one of the longest surviving from the Diamond lineage. Our ancestors were the great wolves of Diamond Peak,” he motioned to the mountains that jutted before them. “But when development got big, and forests were cleared out, many from our pack didn’t make it,” said Owen, looking sincere, his eyes wide as he continued his story.
“So, you are trying to keep your pack alive, but you aren’t even a wolf,” said Giselle, not convinced. “I mean, you look like a guy who just got off a cruise ship,” she smirked.
“Giselle. I sought you out. I knew you were coming here yesterday, and I wanted to make sure that I found you,” he said. “I look like this now, but that’s part of my protection. I have secret powers that allow me to shift and I will show them to you,” he whispered, crouching beneath the rock when he heard approaching footsteps.
“Ms. Walker,” Richard stood next to her, looking exasperated. “I was getting’ nervous over there. Jasmine and Carla wanted to know where you went, so I said I’d come look for you. Everything okay?” he asked. Then he looked around, suspiciously. “You’ve been gone for awhile,” he said.
“I’m fine, Richard. I promise. Sorry. I had this pile of kindling but then I stopped to go to the bathroom and I can’t remember where I put it,” she laughed. Owen remained still behind the rock.
“Okay. Well, I guess we can walk back together,” he said, looking at Giselle.
“Sure,” she said. “Let me get the pile that I put behind this rock,” she said, and quickly ran behind the boulder. Owen grabbed her arm and looked into her eyes. “I need you,” he said. “This is an important story that you can be a part of. Please come back tonight,” he said.
“But we’re packing up camp and heading in deeper today” whispered Giselle. “We’ll be at Infinity Campground by about three,” she said.
“I will find you there tonight,” said Owen. “I know exactly where that is,” he said, and then touched Giselle on the cheek. She could feel an electric sensation from the mere tips of his fingers. Without saying anything, she backed out from behind the rock and caught up with Richard. Only once did she turn around to look behind her. Owen was gone.
“Girl, what the heck have you been doing” asked Carla. Her sleeping bag was rolled up and her coffee cup was balanced on a rock. She was basking in the sun with her legs propped up on a log.
“I was just looking for some good kindling,” said Giselle, cramming her sleeping bag into its sack, and packing up her stove and pillow. “Then I got a little distracted. It’s so beautiful out here, isn’t it?” she asked, changing the subject.
Jasmine piped up. “Beautiful is an understatement. I’m ready to get closer to the lake, though. Let’s go!” she popped up and adjusted her hiking shoes. Jasmine was tall and beautiful, and seemed right at home in the beauty of the wilderness.
“Okay, let’s go,” Giselle agreed. She looked at Richard, who had been packed up and ready to go for the last half hour. “You ready, bud?” she asked. Richard nodded his head and began walking.
The trial meandered through the valley before ascending the ridge. Both Giselle and Richard were clearly in good shape, moving at a good clip even with the weight of their packs. Jasmine and Carla moved a little slower, but eventually got into a good rhythm, and managed to keep up for the rest of the hike. When the four reached their destination, they all heaved their packs onto the earth and then plopped down on the ground.
They all drank from their water bottles, and then Giselle offered to pitch the tent. Within a half hour, their camp was set up, just in time to watch the sun set. After eating some noodles and sipping some hot chocolate, everyone gathered around the grille, and Giselle volunteered to look for firewood.
“Well, I don’t know, Giselle,” laughed Carla. “Last time you went out looking for wood, you were gone for an hour and you came back empty handed,” she said. Giselle just smiled.
“I think this time I’ll have better luck because it’s more of a necessity,” she declared. “We all deserve a great camp-fire tonight, so this time I’ll be sure to come back with the goods,” she winked. Richard was preoccupied with a rock that had lichen on its side, and Carla was napping on a boulder. “I’ll be back soon,” said Giselle, and she turned around and headed east. This time she did find some firewood, and she carried it back with two hands then dumped the huge pile in front of the grille. Jasmine had taken it upon herself to make everyone some soup, and Carla was preparing the ingredients for s’mores.
“Wow, Ms. Walker. We’re going to have a big fire with all that,” Richard was impressed with the load she delivered. He reached for a few of the larger pieces and stacked them next to the grille while Jasmine poured soup into tin cups for everyone. Carla set her s’mores aside and helped Richard separate the smaller pieces form the larger ones. Then Giselle gathered some leaves and pulled out her lighter. Richard was impressed once again with Giselle’s outdoor skills.
“Okay, campers, here we go,” Giselle squatted and sparked the fire. Richard moved in closer and sat down next to Giselle. She added a few smaller branches on top until the fire was crackling and bright. The sun had dipped behind the ridge and the temperature dropped almost immediately. Jasmine reached for her big fleece jacket, and Carla wrapped a scarf around her neck.