A Walk In The Woods

Jenny Williams went for a walk. She wanted to explore the small woods behind her newly purchased property. There appeared to be a narrow hiking trail going through them.

Today was a hot summer day just like any other. The sun was shining brightly, and the temperature was expected to be in the lower nineties. There were a couple of white, fluffy clouds floating overhead. Occasionally they would create a shadow in the sunlight.

Jenny had gotten her backpack together with some hiking/survival gear. She had a couple of bottles of water and some snack food. She took a hunting knife, flashlight, extra batteries, a compass, a bow and arrows, and a light blanket with her. She was wearing hiking boots, jeans, a T-shirt, a baseball cap, and a button-up shirt tied around her waist.

Jenny gathered up her things and headed into the woods. She could tell the trail had not been used in a while. There was some slight overgrowth threatening to cover it up. She used her knife to cut it away where it was needed. After walking for about 20 minutes, she stopped to rest for a moment and look around. She started having trickles of sweat run down her face and neck by this time. She had forgotten to bring a towel.

Wiping sweat away from her eyes with the back of her hand, Jenny looked back down the trail she had just come from. She had made it a little farther than she thought she had. It was a fairly straight trail, and she had no idea where it led. For a moment, she thought she saw a movement. Of course, it had to be the breeze blowing the tree limbs. She rubbed her eyes and looked again. There was nothing to be seen.

Jenny continued working to make her way up the trail. She listened to the birds chirping as she worked and had to shoo away a couple of flies. Looking ahead, she thought she could see the end of the woods. She thought she heard something or someone walking in the trees. She looked around her and still didn't see anything suspicious. She continued clearing the path.

She could see a clearing between the trees now. It looked like she might have a neighbor here. There was a small cottage. It looked lived in. She thought she might finish clearing the trail, and see if she could get someone to answer the door. She turned to cut some more foliage when all of a sudden a bear was standing on its two hind legs ready to attack.

Jenny’s heart was pounding as she stood frozen in front of the bear. She was afraid to move and afraid not to move. She was afraid to breathe too. Just as the bear stood over her, a shot rang out hitting the bear right between the eyes. As the bear dropped to the ground, so did she as she lost consciousness.

When Jenny started to come back to reality, a handsome man about her same age was holding her in his arms and fanning her. She couldn't speak. She could only breathe a sigh of relief, thankful to still be alive.

Notes ▼

Word count 537
Prompt: Summer
Written for

FORUM

No Dialogue Contest-CLOSED  (E) Write a story containing no dialogue, in 700 words or less. #2079495 by QPdoll is Grateful

The Cover photo was taken by me of scenery in Georgia October 2019.