Ash Creek Woods Pt. II

Hammering a stake into the cliff's edge, you clip your harness to a new rope. Shuffling towards the edge, you sit down on the edge as the snow around you slides off the edge and falls. You lower yourself onto the cliff wall and begin sliding down the rope. As you get to your partner's harness, you see that it looks like it was attacked; a large slash cuts the side of the harness in half. There's a trail of red leading to a cave, as you go to take a closer look, I realize it is his destroyed jacket. You frantically look around and find your gaze on a ledge below. A coil of rope sits half buried by snow. You lower yourself further down the cliff. Landing on the ledge, you move the pile of rope that sits at your feet. As the snow slips off the ledge, you see your partner half-covered in snow. You check if he's breathing. He's unconscious but alive, and you clip him to the rope and begin to climb back up the cliff. The heavy weight in combination with the cold slows you to a grueling pace. Reaching the opening of the cave, you peer in. A brown lump sits at the back of the cave. Looking closer, the face and shape of a bear reveals itself. Appearing to be sleeping, you continue on up the cliff. After reaching the top, you pull your partner over the edge. You drag him to the tent. After a few minutes, he wakes, and you ask him how he ended up on the ledge. He has no idea. Exhausted from climbing the cliff, you go to sleep. Sam follows suit. 

An ice-cold wind forces you awake, sitting up, you’re covered in snow. The blinding morning light fills your tent. Glancing around, the tent's side has been ripped open. You shake Sam awake, you frantically put your jackets on, and clamber out of the tent. Inspecting the outside of your camp, it has been destroyed. You stuff your gear in your bags and decide you need to get off the mountain, checking your map, the nearest town is 20 miles away on the other side of the mountain. Beginning to hike over the ridge, you stomp through deep snow. The fresh ice crystals crunch under your feet. The setting sun shining over the ridge washes out your vision. As you finally crest the ridge and the sun fades from your vision, you see a column of smoke rising from beyond the ridge. Long after the sun has set, you and your partner finally reach the source of the smoke, a small lodge partially buried in the snow. Entering the cabin, you find an old ham radio propped up on a small dresser. You brush some things aside and flip on the radio, hoping that you can call for help. A small sheet of laminated paper near the radio has a list of frequencies on it. Scanning the list, you find one titled “EMERGENCY”. Tuning to that frequency, you hear static. Further adjusting the dial, the signal becomes clearer. You say into the microphone “Hello? Does anyone read me?” a voice crackles in response “This is Baker County search and rescue, we read you.” “We’re trapped on Ash Creek Mountain, we have no food and little water. Something attacked our tent. We need rescue. We’re in a cabin on the north side of the mountain, our coordinates ar-” before you can tell the operator the signal goes out. 

Trying to get some sleep, the howling wind keeps both of you up. As the minutes tick by, you stare at a dusty clock hung on the wall. You are freezing as the cabin is poorly insulated. Finally, you drift into sleep late at night. You are awoken as the cabin floods with a violent white light flashing through the window, and a roaring, chopping sound cuts through the quiet air. The cabin's walls shake, and the sound echoes all around. You jump up and try to look out the window, but the lights flash again, blinding and disorienting you. You shield your eyes and recover, and you look again, this time with your goggles on. During the flashes of light, you can make out a slender shape, as it draws closer, snow is flung high into the air. After you gather yourself, you realize it’s a helicopter searching for you. As the searchlight sweeps side to side, it lands on the cabin. The helicopter turns sharply towards you and begins descending, kicking up more snow as it lowers. As it comes to rest on the ground, the door slides open.

The End.