Camping With a City Girl

A Harrowing Tale of Survival

Camping With a City Girl

What was that?

I don’t know.

There’s something out there.

Probably.

What is it?

I don’t know… A raccoon, maybe. An opossum.

(*Howling*)

Are those dogs?

No, coyotes.

Coyotes?!

(*Howling continues*)

It sounds like a lot of them.

They can make it sound like it’s more than one.

I heard of a girl that was killed by a pack of coyotes.

Maybe.

She was hiking alone in the woods.

She shouldn’t have done that.

She was really small.

Definitely a bad idea.

They could rip right through this tent.

They probably won’t.

Probably?

Most likely.

(*Twig breaks*)

What was that? It sounded close.

It could be a deer.

With antlers?

Maybe.

I’ve heard of deer attacking people.

Not very often.

But it happens.

Sometimes. Just don’t go out there wearing your Ugg boots.

Why?

It may have been a relative.

Could it be a bear?

Possibly.

Are there bears around here?

I’ve heard of a few sightings.

Here?

Well, not in this specific area, but not too far away.

Have you seen one?

Nope.

What if there’s one here? What if he comes up to the tent?

Don’t invite him in.

I have to pee.

Hmm… Probably should’ve done that while the fire was still going.

Why?

You’ll be fine. Take a flashlight.

Then they’ll see me.

They’ll see you anyway. Animals can see in the dark.

Will the flashlight scare them away?

Sure.

What if I see something?

Yell at it.

Yell at it?

Yeah. Wave your hands around, make noises, and shine the flashlight in its face.

They don’t like that?

Nobody likes a flashlight in their face.

What if I make it mad?

Nah. It’ll be scared and run away.

(*Zipper opens*)

Leave the door open in case I need to run back in.

Okay.

Blaaah!

Did you see something?

No, just making sure.

Blaaah-bladdle-aahhh-pubble-ubble…..bvbvbvbphlevelevel….

(*Babbling sounds become fainter*)

(*Crickets chirping*)

(*Babbling begins again and grows louder*)

I’m back.

I heard.

(*Zipper closes*)

Did you see anything?

There were two glowing eyes.

Big or little?

I don’t know. They were close together.

Did it come after you?

No, but it was staring at me.

Thank God you survived.

I won’t be able to sleep.

Do you want to go sleep in the car?

Yes.

Copyright © 2023 Brandon Ellrich

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