with only one good leg. Nope. The more I thought about it the more convinced I became that I couldn’t rock climb to get down. It would mean hanging by my fingers until my good foot found a hold. I searched the area for an easier way down but every place I looked had a long drop off. I was stuck for the night. In the morning maybe I’d be able to follow Shadow’s route down.
I curled up with my back against a large rock, my hunting knife in my hand. I tried to sleep but the binding hurt my leg and I worried about what I would be facing the next day. I wondered if anybody knew I was out here needing help. I couldn’t count on it. I had to keep going until I got to the Jeep. I’d do that first thing in the morning. Then I’d have to drive the Jeep. That would be painful too. Shit and double shit. I was deep in it this time.
Shadow found a place to curl up and slept where he could see me. I really wanted him to lie beside me because I could have used the warmth but Shadow never was very cuddly. I slept fitfully. I awoke in the night shivering but it wasn’t dangerously cold so I just tolerated it. When I could see well enough to make my way down the canyon I headed out again.
“Let’s go home,” I told Shadow hoping he’d go into automatic and lead me down the canyon. He showed me the way he got past the large rocks. I sat and scooted down a trough worn through the rocks by thousands of small flash floods. My leg screamed at me with every movement. I looked down the canyon for the pine tree that marked my camp. Yes, I can do this, I thought. Just head for the lone pine tree.
Thirst drove me to the creek but the detour cost me. The way down the canyon was rougher around the creek, so I lost precious time. I made my way back to easier terrain and forced myself to walk downhill. When the pain became too intense I hopped and then crawled until at last I stumbled into the clearing by the flat rock. I army crawled into the hideout and collapsed. Shadow pushed his way in with a concerned whine. I was hungry but I didn’t have the energy to cook. I grabbed the bag of trail mix, a bottle of water and drifted off to sleep. I awoke thinking I should go to the creek and take off the bandages and wash the wound but gave up on that idea. The creek, thirty feet outside my hideout, felt like a mile away. The trail to Creekside might as well have been on the moon. I drank the tepid, bottled water then drifted off again.
When I woke up I was determined to try and make it to the trail. It was becoming apparent that nobody had gotten any of my messages. While feeding Shadow I wondered how many meals he had missed. I had missed the same meals, but I had no appetite. I was feeling feverish and dull headed but decided to set out. Small goals, that’s what I needed. Just make it to that rock, I thought. And when I felt the rock beneath my hand I would pick a tree. Just make it to the tree, Cass. One goal at a time. I was reduced to crawling before I lost sight of my camp. The next big rock loomed ahead and I headed in that direction.
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