Sojourners

 Hmm… Down would be a risky decision. After all, I’d probably have to go back up. Going upwards could be fun but it would also be tedious because I would have just come down. I was tired. Up wasn’t an option unless I could fly. I tilted my head and stared blankly at the bluish gray sky. Then I peered around at the massive mountains that encircled me. All of them were so different but they all shared one awful yet delightful failing. Trees. The trees clothed each mountain in austerity. Their identical choice of adornment prevented me from deciding which mountain was my mountain. To be honest, I’m starting to go in circles. Let’s forget about eliminating the already eliminated options and move on to practicals. I call them practicals but I’m not a practical person so my next choice is easy even though theoretically it could be a matter of life or death. 

   “Right or left?”

 Always go right. You could call it a leap of faith. But I’ve learned to listen to my Guardian. His advice is normally decent. In fact, it’s always good and I’m the only one responsible for not following orders well. Right it is. Now, for the leaping part. I take a deep breath, and sprint along the top of the hill. My camo hunting boots with thick rubber treads thud heavily on the newly upturned soil. Right before the hill begins to slope downward, I leap. Ouch, I landed decidedly flat footed and pain shoots up my back. What else is new? I bite my lip, shrug and confidently turn towards the right. Let’s define the current Right. It’s actually a path which is definitely a change, I suppose, for the better. Its soft, ruddy soil looks fresh. Some spots on the path are a bit mucky after the recent rain shower. I was disappointed by the rain shower. It was boring. I was hoping for a terrifying tempest with wild winds and terribly, gigantically tall jabs of lightning. Instead, I got a drizzle. The path is sloping steadily downward. The Right isn’t overly exciting but that’s ok, I’m ready to start the journey home. There’s only one problem. I don’t know where “Home” is. The word is evasive after all. I consider earth to be my home. But being the impractical person I am, I’m being absolutely practical with my intentions. Home, in this case, is a mountain house somewhere amidst several mountains, scores of trees, and undoubtedly other mountain houses. 

   I’m lost. I’m clueless. I’m still going right. Until the path begins to veer to the left. Now what? To the right lies several brambles, lush, green underbrush and absolutely no trace of a path.

“Which way?” I ask my companion cheerfully. 

To the right.

I liked that way more anyway. I descend a little further and then begin to climb up the base of another mountain. Once I reach the ridge, I look down at my watch. It’s been almost 3 hours now since I left the house. At first, I had hiked along ridge after ridge of the surrounding mountains. Then I had decided to head back. Naturally, I found a new way back. I make a point of never backtracking. I had slid down the mountain and crept along its side for a while. Then I had discovered a creek flowing merrily downward. I was hoping that it would connect with a path so I followed the creek all the way to the base of the mountain. I never found any paths. Hiking back upwards and sideways, I had eventually come to a path that led me to a clearing. The clearing was on top of a treeless hill. The same hill where I realized that I was lost and encircled by dreadfully similar mountains. That’s when I realized that not only was I lost; I was lost completely. Backtracking would be too complicated. So yes, I was lost. Right. That’s where I’m going. I would go north, but I don’t know what direction that is. My mind equates the word “north” with “alto” or “the heights” so that’s where I’m headed. Ever onwards, ever higher. It’s so freeing.

Leaves. Naturally, they come from the lavish amount of trees surrounding me. I sit down despondently. Surrounded by trees and thoroughly disoriented, I contemplate whether or not I should begin to build a fort to spend the night in. The sun hasn’t set yet. Of course, I could try to find a road but that would honestly be a last resort. I look straight ahead. There is a path. I’m beginning to really detest paths. They don’t seem to lead anywhere. The clear tinkle of running water rushing over rock echoes below me. 

“Should I forward?” I ask my Guardian. I’m weary by now and starting to wonder if any further effort is worthwhile. 

Take courage. You got this.

I rather grumpily sit up. Without warning, I begin to slide downwards at a rapid pace. With nothing to grab onto, I shut my eyes and hold my arms close to my sides hoping that I don’t slam into anything. Blindly using my feet, I come to an abrupt, grinding halt against a tree. Opening my eyes, I stand up and shake the dirt out of my shirt. 

“Thanks for the push,” I sarcastically retort. 

My Guardian grins and steadies me as I shakily continue to trek downwards.

You were moving too slow. 

I glance over balefully at him and then continue. I’ve reached the stream by now. I cup my hands under the chill mountain water and rinse the sweat and dirt streaks off of my arms and face. Refreshed, I head upwards again.

Unsurprisingly, I make the stupid decision to jump down onto the path. The pain in my back is slightly less severe since I remembered to land on the balls of my feet, absorbing the impact in a cat like manner. I’m stubborn by the way. I hate being restricted. It’s a good thing that I went on this hike alone, no one else can be blamed for how horribly my back will hurt tomorrow.

I’m with you little sister.

“How could I forget?” I smile at my Guardian’s faithful reminder. “After all, who else would push me down mountains and help me trip over stones and tree roots if you weren’t around?” My Guardian tactfully ignores my response. 

The path leads to a property line. I have no moral qualms about trespassing. However, this particular section of private property happens to be the top of a cow pasture which means that trees are decidedly lacking. In other words, I’m painfully visible to anyone who happens to look in my direction. I opt to slip under the barbed wire fence and head down the other side of the ridge. Wavy, spring-green grass bedecks the hillside. I continually stumble across lucious clumps of wild onions. Flowers dance in the wind. It’s a pleasant change of scenery. A gray strip snakes away in the distance. It’s clearly a road. Matter of factly, I decide to head to the road and look for a way back. It’s not ideal but at this point, do I have any other choice?

Nearing the base of the mountainside, I find another path. Reluctant to head towards the road, I trudge along the path. Looking out to my left, in the direction of the road, I see two fences, several fields, and no trees. There are farmhouses though. I’d rather not go that way. What if I got caught? I don’t think anyone would shoot at me but that would still be an awkward situation. I decide to follow the path instead. It slopes upward. 

Verso ‘l alto.

I’m dead tired by now and ready to go back to the ‘building a fort’ idea. Spending a night in the mountains would be neat. I’m always up for an adventure. Oddly enough, I hardly ever hike alone. I prefer companionship. To cheer me up, my Guardian starts up a new tangent of conversation.

If you could select a group of people to go on a hike with, who would you choose?

I smile. Forming my own “fellowship” has always been one of my favorite pastimes during hikes.

“Pier Giorgio for sure,” I answer, “and of course, Kateri, and you. I’d also want Isaac, Katie, Dominic, and Aiden. Isaac, for his sense of direction. Katie, for the fun of it. Dominic, for his skill. Then Aiden could be our bodyguard.”

What about Elijah?

“Dude, he would be too slow.” 

Not any slower than Aiden.

“That’s debatable. Besides, his hip is hurt.”

Mhmm.

I sigh, what’s the use of arguing with someone so incorrigible?

I’ve reached a curve. Leaning on the dead stick that I had recruited earlier as my staff, I took one last lingering look at the road winding along below me. Then, taking a deep breath, I trudged onward. Rounding the curve, I looked up and to my surprise, I saw an impressive black ATV parked up ahead. Three men stood leaning on the back of it. I waved. One of them waved back. Picking up my pace, I was soon within earshot. 

“Hi! I’m lost!” I hollered. 

One of the men, obviously the elder, smiled and shouted back,

“You’re not lost!” Now standing next to them, I grinned and said,

“Really?”

I know that my Guardian was laughing while I talked with the men. How joyfully and adeptly he had kept his secret. With each right turn, he had brought me closer to the man who knew my grandparents, was familiar with all the identical mountains, and most importantly, he knew that I was found. Mr. Carson, my good samaritan, confidently pointed out the way back to the mountain side and then he offered to take me part of the way on his Mule. Eagerly, I climbed on and watched as we left the trail swiftly fading behind us. He stopped on the ridge on the mountain and pointed ahead,

“Just head along that ridge and eventually it will dip down and meet up with a path. Just follow that path and you’ll be home in no more than 30 minutes.” 

“Thank you!!” I waved goodbye and then hiked ahead with renewed vigor. 

   My first stumbling block was a barbed wire fence. I rolled under it since that was more fun than walking alongside it. Although I was minorly worried about getting lost again, I continued down the mountain. To my intense relief, I soon found a path. This time, I was on good terms with the path. It was leading somewhere. I jogged ahead, eager to make up for lost time. The path steadily sloped upward, growing steeper and steeper. I pummeled ahead pushing my palms against my knees with each step to set the pace. Soon, I would be home.

   Thirty minutes later… I’m tired, the path had at first seemed familiar then it lapsed into new territory. I went from exhilarating high to depressing low with each new curve of the path. The imaginary clock continued to tick. 

I’m gasping for breath, The path continues to wind upwards, curving incessantly. Finally, I collapse. I lay down breathing heavily. 

“Just a few minutes,” I pant. Lazy rays of sunlight filter in through the tree branches above me. I pull my hat over my eyes and struggle to catch my breath. Gritting my teeth, I push myself up.

Keep going little sister. I’m with you the whole way.

I begin to run again. 

Not long after, I found my way home. I don’t know if I’ll be in the mountains ever again. I hope so. Being lost is a strange way of finding freedom, especially since I’m always most dependent on my Guardian during those adventures. Maybe that’s part of the reason why I love them so dearly. There are still mountains to be climbed and new terrains to be discovered. Perhaps, I’ll be wandering for a while longer. After all, “home” is an evasive word. There is a home I have been seeking ever since I can remember. The greatest adventure continues. I’m still trying to find friends to journey through the wilderness with me, searching and searching, hoping that one day, someone will call out and tell us that all this time, we’ve been found. If you want to join, it doesn’t take much, all you need is faith the size of a mustard seed.