A Yeti Heart

in homestead •  7 years ago 

This is a collaboration between
@cecicastor and @tatswaru

cave.jpeg

Chapter 9 – The Mysterious Cave

I woke up feeling toasty warm and snug in my sleeping bag, not quite sure of my surroundings. Before long it dawned on me where I was and why. The fire had gone out during the night, but obviously, the camp site had not been discovered by any wild predators.

I discovered that I really didn’t have much of an appetite. Reason prevailed and I made myself a breakfast of dehydrated eggs, canned mushrooms and cheese that Adit had packed. I also unpacked some hard tack biscuits that I soaked in some sweetened tea. Breakfast sat like a large rock in the pit of my stomach.

I layered on my clothes: cotton T-shirt, wool shirt, sweater, long-johns (compliments of my mom!) sweat pants, waterproof nylon pants, wool socks layered over cotton ones. I had placed my leather hiking boots near the fire last night so they would be dry this morning. I pulled the toque and mittens on that my grandmother made me for Christmas two years ago. I felt a little like Charlie Brown whose mother bundles him up so much for winter, all you can see is his eyes as he waddles out the door to play!

I managed to pack up the camp and heave the pack over my shoulder without forgetting anything. I trudged out onto the path without glancing back.

After a time, the path led to a great yawning gorge. A shimmering silver ribbon of water flowed far below. There was a very old and rickety wooden bridge suspended from large tree stumps on either side of the gorge by frayed braided ropes. Hesitantly, I stepped forward and tried the bridge with one foot.

It shook and swayed under me. Took a large gulp of air and inched my way across clinging on to the ropes for dear life without looking down. Whew!! I made it! I am relieved that it didn’t break while I was crossing!

It began to snow big fluffy flakes. The sky had gone from silver grey to a darker more sombre shade. Snow was falling faster now and the wind was beginning to howl. The evergreen trees looked very decorative with glistening white snow blanketing the bowed branches and the ground. Perhaps it would be wise to find shelter until the storm passes.

The snow was already knee deep when I spied a cave entrance near the path. I decided to seek shelter there until at least morning if the storm blew over by then. Hopefully, the cave wouldn’t be “home sweet home” for some wild animal!

I lit my Coleman lantern and peered inside the wide mouth. I didn’t see anything wild, but I did see a scattered bunch of firewood close to the opening! Someone had used this cave for shelter before. It was a bit dank, dark and mouldy inside, but a fire would soon make it cheery.

I got busy and soon had camp set up. I boiled some water for tea, had a hard tack biscuit with canned beef stew for what I assumed must be my dinner. I think that my sense of time is some what skewed.

My body felt sore but I was not sleepy. I decided to take a closer look at my temporary home. As I looked up at the roof of the cave, I noticed something that looked like drawings. How could that be possible? The ceiling was a good 10 or 12 feet above the floor. I needed to investigate this further!

I grabbed the lantern and searched for something I could stand on. I found several relatively flat rocks and piled them under the drawings. It was a bit wobbly but at least I’d get a better look. Carefully I extended the lantern as far as my arm would safely reach to shed more light on the roof.

These are like no other cave drawings that I have ever seen! They are not as primitive as cavemen paintings, yet not sophisticated. It appeared to be a blend of stone etchings and drawings in dye or paint with amazing colour. The subject matter appears to be of animals and large upright figures hunting a mountain goat. Maybe yetis have been here! I am so excited about the prospect of finding the yeti that I shook. I lost my balance and slipped off my tower of rocks! Fortunately I did not hurt myself.

Logic told me that I should rest before I start out again in the morning. As I curled up in my cozy sleeping bag, I heard the wind howling outside the cave like a banshee. I hoped that the storm would be over by morning. Just as I was drifting off to sleep I thought I could make out a humanoid figure near the mouth of the cave through the blowing snow.

Yetiin snow.jpg

All photos courtesy of pixabay or deviant art

To be continued...

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@cecicastor
Seems that someone likes to write stories. Anyone starting out from the beginning would want to read it all.
What I did read was interesting.

Francis

Thank you for stopping by and taking a gander...

Great written and I love the way you telling the story, like I'm there walking beside in the snow so alive 😉 Cheers

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Wonderful writing! Waiting...what will happen next...:)

Really good!!

I am glad that you liked it :)