As I hid behind the bush, I peered out cautiously, scanning the area for any signs of danger. I had been on a solo hike through the dense forest for hours, and the last thing I wanted was to be spotted by someone or something that could pose a threat to my safety.

Suddenly, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye, and I jerked my head back behind the bush, heart racing. For a second, I thought he could actually see me, whoever he was. But as I looked harder, I realized that it was just a deer grazing in the nearby clearing.

I breathed a sigh of relief and reached slowly for my camera. The deer would make a beautiful portrait for my cabin. Continuing on my way, I felt more at ease knowing that there weren’t any immediate threats. But as I walked, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched. It was a gut feeling that I couldn’t ignore, and I knew that I needed to be on high alert.

Just then, I heard a twig snap behind me, and my heart leaped into my throat. My hand was on the knife strapped to my side. I whirled around, ready to defend myself, but all I saw was a pair of curious eyes peering at me from behind a patch of ferns. It was just a small fox, but in the distance I saw a shadow. A large shadow!

I was deep into the woods at this point and a bit disoriented. It wasn’t clear to me if this trail would lead back to civilization soon or not. I just knew that I had to stay ahead of the shadowy figure. My heart was racing as I stumbled over branches and tripped on uneven ground. Sweat poured down my face, and my breath came in ragged gasps.

The woods had grown increasingly dense as I ventured deeper. Suddenly, I heard a rustling sound that seemed too close for comfort. I turned to look and saw a dark, shadowy figure moving quickly through the underbrush.

Fear gripped me, and I knew I had to keep moving. I glanced behind me, but the figure was still there, chasing after me. I tried to pick up my pace, but my legs felt like lead, and I stumbled again, nearly falling.

My heart was pounding in my chest, and I could feel the sweat running down my back. Finally, I saw a glimmer of light in the distance, and I knew I was close to civilization. I pushed myself harder, ignoring the burning in my legs.

As I burst out of the woods and onto the dirt road, my heart was pounding and my legs were trembling from exhaustion. I had been hiking for hours, far longer than I had anticipated, and my water bottle was long since empty. I collapsed onto the ground and breathed in the fresh air, feeling relieved and thankful to have made it out of the woods in one piece.

As I looked up, I saw the small gas station across the road with a deli inside, and I knew this was the right spot. I stumbled to my feet, feeling grateful for the sight of civilization, and crossed the road. As I entered the gas station I tried to portray the image of a seasoned hiker. Feeling a wave of relief wash over me, I sunk into a nearby booth. I was finally safe.

Sitting in the deli, eating my sandwich and sipping my soda, I couldn’t help but reflect on my foolishness. It was naive to ignore my mother’s warnings about hiking alone, and I had paid the price for it. I vowed then and there to never make the same mistake again.

Taking my receipt, I looked down at my phone. Finally able to get a signal, I smiled to myself knowing that my mother was right all along. She really did always know best.

Some of the links on my site are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

*This was in response to the Three Things Challenge , Fandango’s One Word Challenge and it was originated for the JSW Prompt 3-20-2023 but I blew way past the 300 word count limit. Oops. You can click on the links to learn more about either prompt. 🙂 #hreethingschallenge #3TC #FOWC