Avery Kay - Short Story - Jackson County
Item
Title
Avery Kay - Short Story - Jackson County
Description
Journey of Survival
Abstract
Journey of Survival
“It would be fun Josh said,” But as I felt my shattered leg and looked up at the 50-foot cliff made from sandstone, I thought this trip is looking anything but fun.
Trees all around me block out the sun. I could hear birds chirping their songs.
“Scott!”
When I couldn’t bear it any longer, and my eyes started to shut, I could see Josh running over to me.
Everything feels broken and mangled. Even opening my eyes hurt. I can’t see anything but one bright light about 10 yards in front of me. “Scott!” Josh yelled.
My eyes still haven’t adjusted yet, but I could see an outline of Josh’s body by what I think is a fire.
“Are you okay?” Josh asked as he ran over to me.
“Other than feeling like I should be dead right now, yeah,” I said sarcastically.
“You gave me a very good fright,” said Josh. “I thought you were in a coma and would starve to death.”
“Speaking of food, you got anything to eat?”
“Oh yeah, hang on a moment.” Said Josh as he ran out of the rock overhang, we were under. After a couple of minutes, Josh came back with one of the MREs we had in our bags.
“How do you feel?” asked Josh
Other than the agony in my broken leg, I think I’m just sore.” I explained.
“I think I have some bandages in my bag,” I told him.
Josh walked over to my bag and dumped everything out. Eventually, he found the bandages and carefully wrapped up my horrid-feeling leg. Josh also wrapped a big stick around my leg to keep my leg straight. It brought a little relief but, it still felt like there would be no end to the agony. CRACK!
“What was that?” gasped Josh.
“Probably just a deer,” I said, questioning myself.
“How far are we from the nearest town?” I asked.
“Well, we have been walking for three days, and we walked one a mile every 30 minutes for six hours, so 36 miles,” Josh explained.
“Well, get ready to walk tomorrow.”
“You ready to go, Josh?” I asked.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” said Josh.
The first couple of hours were nothing but uphill climbing. Eventually, we arrived at the flat ground. The thick forest all around us. I used to wonder what was in the depth of it. My grandpa used to tell stories of killer bears terrorizing anyone who went into the woods.
After a while, my leg started to throb. Suddenly Josh stopped and didn’t move.
“Josh, what are you doing?” I asked.
That’s when I looked in front of me and there stood on two legs. It was probably fifteen feet tall with matted, brown fur and huge yellow teeth. There was a tall tree 50 feet away; maybe we could out-climb it, but with my leg, it would be almost impossible. It would have to work.
“Josh, when I say to start climbing, don’t stop for me,” I told Josh. “Run,” I whispered. We sprinted to the tree and started to climb but as soon as we took off the huge grizzly started to chase us down. Climbing the tree was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It felt like an impossible task. I could see josh in front of me, and he climb on a branch. When I thought I couldn’t take it any longer, I made it to the branch where Josh was. That’s when I looked down and saw the grizzly about a foot away from my feet. I could see the black in its eyes. They were as black and deep as space. I very painfully pulled myself onto the branch. When I looked back down the bear was circling the tree.
“What do we do now!” asked Josh “Other than our knives we don’t have any weapons.”
“I think the best thing to do is just to wait it out.” I said, “Try to get some shut eye.”
Morning came, and the grizzly was still sitting there. It was like he was taunting us.
“Scott, that bear isn’t going anywhere, and you have a family,” said Josh. “there’s a river just over there. If you keep heading east, you’ll make it to the nearest town in a day.”
“Josh, don’t, please!” I begged.
“I’ll be okay. Just promise you’ll come back for me when you make it.” Said Josh reassuringly.
“I promise.”
Josh jumped down and sprinted towards the river. Like I expected, the grizzly started to chase him down. I knew this was my chance to run. I climbed down the tree as fast as I could. Before I took off, I turned around to a gruesome sight. The bear had caught Josh and had his arm in his mouth. His arm snapped like a twig with red metallic blood inside. The last thing I saw was Josh climbing a tree to safety. I knew I had to run. I could barely see in front of me through all the tears. I took out my knife and vowed I would kill the bear no matter what, even if it meant my own life. Like it was fate, the grizzly leaped out of the bushes and jumped on top of me. Thinking I was about to take my last breath the bear bit my hand. Luckily it was the hand with my knife in it. What felt like knives go into my arm, but I could also feel the warm wet feeling of blood drip from the knife to my hand. The bear feels a hug thud. The bear was dead. I started in the direction of home and to get help for Josh. Away from all the terrors I’ve encountered.
“It would be fun Josh said,” But as I felt my shattered leg and looked up at the 50-foot cliff made from sandstone, I thought this trip is looking anything but fun.
Trees all around me block out the sun. I could hear birds chirping their songs.
“Scott!”
When I couldn’t bear it any longer, and my eyes started to shut, I could see Josh running over to me.
Everything feels broken and mangled. Even opening my eyes hurt. I can’t see anything but one bright light about 10 yards in front of me. “Scott!” Josh yelled.
My eyes still haven’t adjusted yet, but I could see an outline of Josh’s body by what I think is a fire.
“Are you okay?” Josh asked as he ran over to me.
“Other than feeling like I should be dead right now, yeah,” I said sarcastically.
“You gave me a very good fright,” said Josh. “I thought you were in a coma and would starve to death.”
“Speaking of food, you got anything to eat?”
“Oh yeah, hang on a moment.” Said Josh as he ran out of the rock overhang, we were under. After a couple of minutes, Josh came back with one of the MREs we had in our bags.
“How do you feel?” asked Josh
Other than the agony in my broken leg, I think I’m just sore.” I explained.
“I think I have some bandages in my bag,” I told him.
Josh walked over to my bag and dumped everything out. Eventually, he found the bandages and carefully wrapped up my horrid-feeling leg. Josh also wrapped a big stick around my leg to keep my leg straight. It brought a little relief but, it still felt like there would be no end to the agony. CRACK!
“What was that?” gasped Josh.
“Probably just a deer,” I said, questioning myself.
“How far are we from the nearest town?” I asked.
“Well, we have been walking for three days, and we walked one a mile every 30 minutes for six hours, so 36 miles,” Josh explained.
“Well, get ready to walk tomorrow.”
“You ready to go, Josh?” I asked.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” said Josh.
The first couple of hours were nothing but uphill climbing. Eventually, we arrived at the flat ground. The thick forest all around us. I used to wonder what was in the depth of it. My grandpa used to tell stories of killer bears terrorizing anyone who went into the woods.
After a while, my leg started to throb. Suddenly Josh stopped and didn’t move.
“Josh, what are you doing?” I asked.
That’s when I looked in front of me and there stood on two legs. It was probably fifteen feet tall with matted, brown fur and huge yellow teeth. There was a tall tree 50 feet away; maybe we could out-climb it, but with my leg, it would be almost impossible. It would have to work.
“Josh, when I say to start climbing, don’t stop for me,” I told Josh. “Run,” I whispered. We sprinted to the tree and started to climb but as soon as we took off the huge grizzly started to chase us down. Climbing the tree was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It felt like an impossible task. I could see josh in front of me, and he climb on a branch. When I thought I couldn’t take it any longer, I made it to the branch where Josh was. That’s when I looked down and saw the grizzly about a foot away from my feet. I could see the black in its eyes. They were as black and deep as space. I very painfully pulled myself onto the branch. When I looked back down the bear was circling the tree.
“What do we do now!” asked Josh “Other than our knives we don’t have any weapons.”
“I think the best thing to do is just to wait it out.” I said, “Try to get some shut eye.”
Morning came, and the grizzly was still sitting there. It was like he was taunting us.
“Scott, that bear isn’t going anywhere, and you have a family,” said Josh. “there’s a river just over there. If you keep heading east, you’ll make it to the nearest town in a day.”
“Josh, don’t, please!” I begged.
“I’ll be okay. Just promise you’ll come back for me when you make it.” Said Josh reassuringly.
“I promise.”
Josh jumped down and sprinted towards the river. Like I expected, the grizzly started to chase him down. I knew this was my chance to run. I climbed down the tree as fast as I could. Before I took off, I turned around to a gruesome sight. The bear had caught Josh and had his arm in his mouth. His arm snapped like a twig with red metallic blood inside. The last thing I saw was Josh climbing a tree to safety. I knew I had to run. I could barely see in front of me through all the tears. I took out my knife and vowed I would kill the bear no matter what, even if it meant my own life. Like it was fate, the grizzly leaped out of the bushes and jumped on top of me. Thinking I was about to take my last breath the bear bit my hand. Luckily it was the hand with my knife in it. What felt like knives go into my arm, but I could also feel the warm wet feeling of blood drip from the knife to my hand. The bear feels a hug thud. The bear was dead. I started in the direction of home and to get help for Josh. Away from all the terrors I’ve encountered.
Youth(s) First Name and Initial of Last Name
Avery Kay
Age Division
13
Category
Short Story
County
Jackson
