Apparitions

I sat beside a river eating some berries because of my neglectful father when a movement caught my eye on the other side. A pair of hazel eyes met mine and blinked. I sat as still as a boulder, waiting to see what would happen. A robin called and the eyes looked away, seeming to listen to the bird. A moment later, a rustle of leaves announced my stalker’s departure.

I let loose a relieved breath I hadn’t noticed I was holding. The person was only there for a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity. They seemed familiar somehow like I’d seen them before. Then I realized that they were just like mine. I, Zahra, had the same shade of hazel as the person across the river. They weren’t my father’s because he is not in the state to be moving about, plus I haven’t seen him since the fight.

The fight was two nights ago, on a dreary afternoon. My father had just gotten back from hunting and was starting a fire when men leaped out and took him away. I had run after him, wanting to help when I tripped and blacked out. The next thing I knew, I was where I started. A fire was blazing beside me and venison was cooked and cooling beside me. There was no one there to greet me when I woke, and ever since I have traveled towards my father, I hope.

Now, heading east and nearly starving myself, I wondered if I would make it. I had to eat more than just plants. I needed something filling like fish or deer. I was afraid to eat most of what I saw because I had no idea if it was poisonous or not. I only ate what I was taught, which wasn’t much. My father did all the work when he was around. I was only allowed to get blankets out for the night and put them away in the morning. I couldn’t get water, food, sharpen knives, or even learn how to defend myself. So, if I were attacked, I would panic.

Seeing the eyes today had me flitting about in fear of being followed. I didn’t want to be kidnapped or killed. I was only sixteen years old and I wanted to see more of the world. I wanted to get married to someone and have children, but that wouldn’t happen if I didn’t learn how to fend for myself. In a way, I hated my father for thinking this was okay.

I finished my berries and stood up, stretching to loosen my limbs. My auburn hair blew out behind me as the wind picked up. I looked up at the sky and groaned: large storm clouds gathered a short distance away, making the forest darker than it should be. I had no idea where to find shelter in a situation like this, other than not by a river or lake. I knew that I needed to be on higher ground, but everywhere I looked seemed on the same level as me.

I bent down and picked up the pack that was my father’s and slung it across my back. It was heavy with supplies I didn’t know how to use like knives, large rocks, and more bizarre things, but I didn’t have time to learn what each one was and how to use it. My father was in danger, and I needed to help him.

Somehow.

Leaving the river in my wake, I backtracked a mile or two to a cave I had seen earlier. When I looked inside, nothing was there, but then again, I wouldn’t know anything about that considering I can’t even hunt. My father had to have known that I’d be on my own someday and need the basic skills to survive, right? Or did he just assume that he’d be with me every step of the way doing all the work, even when he got old and immobile?

Legs burning and back aching, I found the cave and peered inside. It was dark and musty, but overall, comfortable. Or as comfortable as a rock bed could get inside a cave. I took a step inside, then halted when I heard heavy breathing. I couldn’t see the animal, but judging from the sound of it, it was most likely a bear. And if I was unfortunate enough, a mother bear with cubs. But I didn’t hear more than one animal breathing, so I wasn’t too worried about that. I took a step back out and CRACK! went a branch under my foot.

The breathing stopped momentarily as if scared out of a dream, then a growl rippled the air. As I slowly backed out, a large form loomed inside the cave, appearing to be ten feet tall with black, beady eyes. It was a grizzly bear and from the glare it gave me, it was not happy about being awoken from slumber. In my frightened state, I remembered what my father said about being face-to-face with a bear and not running. Easier said than done! My feet longed to turn and run for the hills, but I knew if I did, I’d be dead before I reached the first tree ten feet away.

I slowly took another step back and kept my gaze locked with my predator. It took a step towards me, sniffing deeply as it did. My heart was going to pound right out of my chest if it went much faster, and I didn’t think I had the strength to pull out a knife from my pack and fight it off. I was going to die here and never see my father again. This bear would be the last thing I see when it slashes me to pieces. This is why you should’ve taught me how to defend myself and hunt! I think angrily.

The bear stretched, showing claws as long as my arm, then sauntered closer. I back away, never taking my eyes off it. I could feel tears burning my eyes as my panic rose and my feet strained to keep at a steady pace. If my father was here, he’d protect me, distracting the bear while I quietly hid. Then, he’d either kill it or scare it enough so it wouldn’t bother us anymore. Don’t think about that! Concentrate on not being eaten! The bear came closer and faster as I made a whimpering noise in the back of my throat. Then, it lunged for me.