It was an eerily dark night as I ascended into the mountains. Visibility was low from the fog rolling in. There was a red tint that permeated the sky. Not a soul to be seen in the usually lightly traveled area. I walked down a small valley over a stream through a sparsely treed forest and when coming out the other side, it was as if I warped from civilization to wilderness.

As I continued up, I heard a rattle of some bushes which startled me for a moment, but not to worry, it was just a bird. There were some thoughts of why am I doing this conflated with thoughts of how cool this is. I settled into a relaxed state of mind, almost a meditative state. My brain seemed to go on auto pilot as I reflected on life, “Why am I doing what I’m doing?” Thoughts were popping into my head of what could be, what I could do next.

Now having passed the first leg of the trail, I looked out over the city which seemed so distant. There was a usually full soccer field, now empty, lights shining on it for seemingly no reason. Not much activity in the vicinity either. Having now settled into my isolation, all the sudden I see some lights on the trail above. It startles me, but I quickly here voices and identify them as bikers. I know they’ll be coming around the curve so I make them aware of my presence. I get no response. They pass by me and it feels like they’re racing out of there for whatever reason.

Soon after they pass I see a thigh high weird looking creature that I have never seen before a mere few feet from me. It is lengthy and has a very long tail with a silvery-grey coat. I look at it curiously and it looks at me. I think nothing of it, but I draw my weapon. I keep my eye on it as I walk passed. It continues to look at me but doesn’t move. I walk backward for about twenty feet. Nothing happens so I continue on.

The red tint has now evolved into a crimson sky. Visibility continues to change. For a few moments it would clear up, but soon enough the fog would roll back in. At times I could see only my feet and a few feet of the trail. Thoughts of going back down and getting out of there crept into my head and there was a mild sense of danger, but the excitement of the unusual atmosphere and the lust for adventure overcame it.

I finally arrived at camp. It was a nice relief to get the heavy pack off. I set up my tent and got my stuff organized as I prepared for bed. I looked around, everything was good. Having worked up quite an appetite on the long hike up, I started chowing down on my cookie. Just a few bites in, I hear a large rustle from the bushes, much larger than the birds that I’m used to hearing. This was significant! Immediately my heart began racing. I jumped up, grabbed my head lamp, and saw the eyes of the beast. I grabbed my weapon and I was ready for battle. Nothing else mattered and my only thought was I am here all alone. It was perform or die. A primal feeling came over as I inched toward the beast. It inched toward me. I was not backing down. We stared at each other, and for a brief moment I lost its eyes in my light. Not good because it was hard to see anything. My heart really started racing, but then I finally got the eyes back in my sight.

We stared at each other for what seemed like the longest minute of my life. At this point, my fight or flight settles down and I begin thinking about how I’m going to sleep knowing the beast is around. I begin walking toward it. It holds its ground continuing with the glazing stare. I get within striking distance and we circle around. I go for a kick to the head, but it quickly jumps out of the way. We continue to circle. It lunges at me and grazes my hip but I get a knee to the shoulder as it’s moving away from me. With one final kick attempt, I graze its backside as it jumps away and hisses at me. Having now sufficient distance between us, it decides to retreat. I maintain my fighting stance as it walks away with its tail between its legs.

As it retreats into the night, I resume my pre bedtime rituals. I ultimately fall asleep, however with heightened awareness. As morning approaches and the birds begin chirping, I wake up with a new outlook. In a sense it’s a great feeling having regained touch with my primal being. It is a break of dependence on others for security. There is no security in the wilderness, only what you provide yourself.