Unexpected adventure

Nora stands still, taking in the breathtaking view that unfolds before her eyes, down the slopes of the mountains.

The unworldly scene of multiple shades of purple and orange, coloring the morning sky before her, as the sun was rising on this side of the planet, was soul capturing material.

Made you simply, thank the Gods above, that bestowed the grace of simply viewing this unimaginable sight, upon you.

She brings the bottle of water to her lips, taking down a couple of sips, her eyes still glued on the majestic horizon.

It practically sweeps you off your feet, to a realm of magic...

She lets herself inhale the crisp mountain air. Her lungs renew with fresh oxygen, jolting with cool energy her whole body.

She sighs, looking at the seemingly untouched natural surroundings.

My name, is Nora.

I’ve been a loner, all my life. Doesn't even register anymore. It's stopped making me wonder about it, a long time ago.

For some unfathomable reason, I’ve never had friends or people I could hang out with.. and honestly, I’ve always kinda liked it that way. It’s always been hard for me to open up to others, finding myself, unable to bond with people..

I dare say…not out of lack of warmth in character.

I’m always friendly at work, always carry an impromptu smile on my face, always ready to assist, and support. Charismatic qualities -they tell me-, that help immensely with my work at the Rehab Center for Cardiac Patients.

The human heart….The myocardium.

I originally discovered my fascination with it, when dad suffered his first, extensive myocardial infarction. A mean bastard, that had hit him hard and had nearly taken his life.

I was only 14..

But dad, like the fighter he was, walked out of the dangerous predicament, tired but standing tall, in only 15 days. Astounding every doctor in the hospital that treated him.

I heave an involuntary sigh. Yep…My dad, the warrior…

The opposite of me…the worrier.

Nora hated that particular trait of hers…The control freak…the overbearingly sober view of life she had. The inexplicable urge to be on top of things, to have control over everything, because, let’s face it, nobody could do things “as well as she could”!… Ugh….!…..

Definitely the wrong attitude for one’s own good…

I’m such a freak… She mocked herself crooking a smile.

She heaved another sigh.

She felt her lips going up to a grin, realizing just how many times she had released one of those sighs, during the short time she had made a pause, while admiring the spectacular view of nature.

Yeah…turns out, she needed this outburst to the wild, a lot more than she had originally thought..

She put her thermos back to her backpack, fastened the straps of the pack on her shoulder blades, collected her walking sticks off the ground and headed back to the hiking trail. She had chosen a relatively easy mountain trail, since she hadn’t visited the mountains for quite a while. And, despite her young age, the prolonged abstinence of such a strenuous outdoor activity, wouldn’t have allowed her to try her stamina, by choosing a more difficult mountain path. She had decided to take a mountain hike, in order to loosen up and exercise with safety.

So…an easy mountain trail, was the logical choice.

After a little while longer, the trail begins to go downhill, the surrounding environment changing, into one of the forests I’d been admiring, from the higher grounds above. Around me now, tall, bulky, magnificent trees with huge trunks, towered towards the sky, signalling the change of scenery.

I shake my head, remembering that I have never used this path before. However, I’m packed with a compass, a map and of course, my cellphone.

I’ve always tried to prepare carefully for such hikes in the wild, fully aware of how dangerous and unpredictable nature can be. So, I’ve turned my location on and have advised the guys at the Center, of my whereabouts this weekend. They know of my love for mountain hikes and although, I’m not particularly close with anyone, they respect me enough to keep an eye out, every time I inform them, of my next excursion.

I respect them, in the same way.

I’m not expecting to deal with extenuating circumstances on this venture; however, the path I’ve chosen is distant and despite this exact remoteness, being the primary reason for me choosing it in the first place, I’m not prepared to set aside the possibility of unexpected occurrences.

I’m aware of countless stories of people, even professional athletes, who went on mountain activities and came up, facing all sorts of problems, even life threatening situations.

So… better be safe than sorry.. Like my dad, used to say.

Under my light gait, the trail remains easy on the eyes, allowing me to maintain a nimble and comfortable pace.

After a while, the forest around me, starts to build up real quick.

I watch as the trees, are now huddling closer to one another, their bulky trunks towering over the ground, their branches hovering above the forest bed, as if they’re trying to reach the skies above.

I watch in awe, as flimsy sun rays are sneaking down between the leaves, shedding their dim light all around me.

I’m thinking, that soon I have to make a stop, get some rest, munch on something light and pick up the energy I need, to continue on with my hike.

I’m looking forward to my break, as now, the forest around me, reveals a small stream, running down the mountain.

I’m a bit estranged, as I know that the water volume should be minimal this time of year; the rain season has yet to start, however, I watch the stream before my own eyes, full of water, gushing down from the tops above, making a swirling sound on the river bed.

The forest is seemingly serene and I can hear the chirping of the birds, above my head. From a distance, the sound of a hawk reaches my ears, the magnificent predator probably being out on a hunt.

I feel the sounds soothing my soul, instantly uplifting my spirits, despite the pangs of tiredness pinching my muscles, after the long hours of hiking.

I take a look at my watch. Only to be surprised by the realization, that indeed, several hours had passed since my last stop on higher grounds.

I shake my head in awe. Nature always had the knack of carrying me away….

“Just a little while longer” I coo myself mentally “and I’ll make my stop for lunch”.

My mind is at ease, knowing that I had the whole route planned in a way that, until sunset, I should be back at the plateau, where I had parked my car.

A designated arrival and departure point, for mountain hikers.

Sometime later, I find myself squatting on a rock, right by the softly roaring stream, with the bag of food in my hands. Gazing at the clear waters, allowing my mind to wander, over the astonishing natural environment.

My thoughts dance away, free of anxiety and gloominess.

The ponder of opening the book I have stashed in my backpack, peeks my mind, as I settle my glance around the forest. I play with the idea of reading a little, hoping that I can maybe delve even deeper in the much needed relaxation that I’m looking for..…

But, something's been vexing me for a while now...

For some reason, at some point while relishing the natural habitat, I’ve started to feel inexplicably uneasy and restless.

You learn to trust your natural instincts while in the wild, so I know, there is definitely a reason for feeling so antsy out of the blue.

I’ve been trying to pinpoint why.

I have high confidence in myself, mountains aren’t new to me. I’ve always had this inherent readiness for the unexpected, which has served me quite well over the years, on my numerous expeditions to the wild.

And yet, now, I know I’m missing something...

But what??..

My eyes fly over the forest, searching in circles, trying to discern what is wrong with the picture..

Maybe some wild animal, having strayed from its hunting grounds. A highly unlikely possibility however, as hunting territories of local fauna, laid higher and deeper in the mountains.

There shouldn’t be any wildlife, so far down the slopes…

Or at least, that’s what the information I had gathered for this particular area, reported. My research for the territory, was solid. I’m always thorough.

Control freak....

How strange….

Could my mind be playing tricks on me? I realize, it’s been a while since the last time I’ve been out here..on my beloved mountains. And I’m aware, of the intense impact nature has over people, who’ve been living in the cities for the most part of their lives..

Right?…

My brain is working overtime, in an effort to analyse and comprehend the current situation.

Suddenly, I feel my blood pumping heavily in my veins. I’m overwhelmed by the eerie certainty, that there is something transpiring, that I’m unable to log into.

Suddenly, I hear the soft growling coming from somewhere in the dense trees…I’m slowly rising up in calm moves, looking around, my eyes piercing through the forest, unable to decelerate my thumbing heartbeat.

But, I can’t see a damn thing out of the ordinary, despite the sufficient light around...

There is nothing out there!....

And yet, something is terribly wrong….

I can almost feel it to my bones.. My skin crawls…My stomach clenches. The suspension and heaviness around me, are thick as thieves.

Out of the blue, the muffled sound of ruffling, dry leaves behind my back, hits my nerves and I turn around by instinct…

Only, to feel the raw force of the bulk that hits me like a freight train and the searing pain of teeth, sinking into the tender flesh of my side neck...

Nora’s brain, barely has the chance to record the image of a mountain lion on top of her, holding her on a tight grip…

The harsh impact, sends her senses to overdrive, shock paralyzing momentarily her brain.

As her body, with the large cat intertwined as one, is about to hit the ground, still lingering in the air, her eyes register the large shadow of another animal, dark and even bigger than the huge feline, flanking the lion with blunt force, compelling it to release the body of its prey..

She feels like a rag doll, being tossed in the air by the ferocity of the two humongous creatures, her body landing on the other side of the stream…..

Nora, feels herself convulse uncontrollably.

Like in a smog, her mind registers the aftershock of severe injury, as the adrenaline is gushing high in her bloodstream.

She feels the rush of cold in her veins, freezing her in time and space..

There was a foggy substance blurring her eyesight and suddenly, she knows she is dying.

Her eyelids blink reflexively a few more times, before she can do nothing to stop herself, from sinking helplessly, into pitch black non-existence…