CHAPTER FOUR

I became aware of something in the trees that was white and dashed across, but I couldn't visualize it owing to its speed. It's either an animal or a ghost-like figure.

I want to scream for help, but I can't because my voice isn't strong enough.

I stared up at the sky, thinking that this was it, the end.

I felt a sturdy noise, loud through my ear, which prompted the leopard to roar in a horrible growl, much louder than whilst it charged at me. It's big, it's really big more than I expected.

It bolted into the woods a few seconds later, in general out of fear, however additionally because its tongue was blocking off my airways. I wiggled around in terror before realizing the leopard had stopped moving.

My nostrils were violated and I became nauseous by the overwhelming stench of a fur-clad beast and the most disgusting breath I'd ever smelled. However, the seemingly lifeless body encouraged me to remove its gaping jaw from my face. I gasped for air and tried to push it away from me, but it was simply too heavy. Because my right arm was stuck underneath the leopard's body, uncomfortably pressed against my stomach, I didn't even manage to push its head away. And my left arm was simply insufficient.

I became even weaker as a result of the overwhelming power of defeat and helplessness. When I felt something warm and wet dripping onto my neck and chest, my eyes welled up with tears. It was a bloodbath. I could see the emptiness in the bear's eyes, staring coldly into my soul, as red, sticky, and thick blood seeped from its nose and mouth like a small flood.

But then it struck me, was it dead?

How? I knew it had I'd heard someone hitted it. But who is this threat coming from?

Who was the one who killed the beast. What about the little girl? Who are girl's parents? The lady? No. She's no. Wasn't it true that the girl was alone? But then again, who would leave a little girl alone in the woods?

"Trust, take care" she'd warned, and she couldn't have been more correct.

As the leopard's dead weight rolled off of me, I was abruptly jolted out of my reverie.

"Are you okay?" someone inquired, and I squinted to see who it was.

I was actually surprised to meet something other than dangerous animals intent on killing me. The little girl's voice was still ringing in my head, despite the fact that a part of me was screaming with relief. As a result, I only responded with a light nod.

"This is a big leopard. You're extremely fortunate that I was able to smash it before he got a good grip on it. Are you in any way harmed?"

I wasn't certain. Was I right? Wasn't the blood that had now protected my complete chest location from the bear? I propped myself up on my elbows and checked to look if my limbs have been nevertheless intact, which they have been. But as I sat up, I felt a pointy ache at the facet of my rib cage and winced in ache. I touched the location with shaking hands, remembering quick flashes of the bear's huge paw knocking the air out of my lungs, and I pressured myself now no longer to consider it.

I was finally able to focus enough to study him more closely after he asked, "Are you okay to stand?" and reached out his hand to me. He was a colossal figure. With a bit of a beer belly, he's muscular. His hair was orange brown and long enough to peek out from beneath his shabby baseball cap, so I guessed he was in his middle ages, and his face was covered in stubbles that were almost long enough to be called a full beard. His teeth were yellowed from smoking and drinking coffee, and his deep voice sent shivers down my spine. This kind of creature is different but thanks he saved me. Nonetheless, I took his hand in mine and let him pull me up. This must be the father of the little girl. I can't utter even single, I'm out of words.

"You don't seem to say much, do you?"

His small eyes grew even smaller as he squeezed them together in a snarling grin, and he laughed in a strangely hoarse, barking tone. His appearance did not make me feel any better. Nonetheless, I was grateful to be alive, as well as to no longer be alone.

"Don't be concerned. You are not obligated to do so. However, I believe you should bathe in the river. With all the blood, it looks a little grotesque." He laughed again, and I realized he wasn't joking when I looked down at myself. But the prospect of walking around in wet, cold clothes afterwards made me wonder if it was such a good idea. Nonetheless, the thought of walking around like this was unbearable to me. So I backed away slowly from the slightly intimidating man, nearly tripping over one of the bear's paws. But I didn't fall because he grabbed my arm and held it steady.

"Wait a minute, lady...?"

He wanted me to say my name, but I couldn't because my voice was gone and my mouth felt like it was full of sand.

"By the way, my name is Garner. But everyone just calls me Kover... isn't that too far from my real name? I'm not sure why they referred to me as this."

Garner. Sounds like Goner.

I nodded once more and tried to smile, but it felt as if my face had frozen into a lifeless expression, and my smile had devolved into an odd grimace. He motioned for me to walk towards the river, and as soon as the cold water engulfed my feet, I snapped out of my daze. I didn't want to undress in front of the man, so I removed my knitted cardigan and rinsed it as thoroughly as I could, as well as the tank top and jeans that I was still wearing. Finally, I washed my face and hair, whining about the freezing cold water and the excruciating pain in my wounds.

As I walked back to him, Kover studied me quietly, a sly grin barely visible on his face. But I saw it, I didn't like it much.

"Don't worry lady. At the camp, we have dry clothes for you "I shook off the bad gut feeling, I don't also understand what he's pertaining and said as if he knew what I was thinking about minutes ago. He rescued me, and he clearly wants to assist me. It's just that I'm paranoid.

This is my first time seeing objects and materials like this. "Please stick with me. It isn't that far away." But it felt like an eternity before we arrived at our destination.  I hurried to stand in front of the bonfire, which was situated in the a shelter made of sheets of fabric or other material wrapped over it. "There! Our camping tent!" And I knew they call it as a tent, a large pile of wood, and a makeshift bench made out of a large trunk, as it was nearly pitch dark and I was shaking like a leaf in the cold autumn night.

"Nick!" yelled Kover, and I heard some rummaging in one of the tents before a tall, dark-haired man emerged from the opening.

"We've got visitor!" 

He exclaimed, "I'll be damned!" and smiled broadly.

This man had long hair, which was probably a sign that they'd been together for a long time, but he had shaved.

He was like startled when he saw me, "Your eyes.. are green. With gold fleeks." he  mumbled in a mesmerized voice.

"Yeah, I'm captivated." said Kover.

Nick got Kover and witnessed him whispered something but I can't figure out what is.

"How does a young girl like you survive in the middle of nowhere?" and his sight was fixed to mine.

He extended his hand to shake my hand.

"My name is Nicholas, but you can call me Nick."

However, he frowned with concern when he felt my cold hand in his.

"You're cold.." 

Then he move toward Kover's direction and whispered something.

"Oh, I think she needs more than that," Kover said, and I tensed up at the thought of his words' ambiguous meaning. But then he quickly added; and I relaxed a little. 

"Yes, of course! What went wrong? Have you gotten your feet wet in the river? "He inquired as he walked sideways into the tent from which he had emerged. He returned with a stack of clothes sheet about a minute later.

"Here. You can change your ripped cloth around your body." 

I did as he said, hesitantly, while listening to the two men converse and Kover telling Nick about the leopard incident. And I felt sick to my stomach when I overheard them discussing going back to the leopard tomorrow to flay it.

"I mean, it's really nice fur."

"Without a doubt. But I think it's time for us to call it a night. It's too dark to do that kind of work.

"Aside from that, the girl is most likely hungry. What's her name, by the way?"

"I'm not sure. She hasn't said anything since I met her, so either she doesn't speak or she's too shaken by what happened to..."

"Ahh, my shoulder hurts," Nick explained.

"It's Charlotte—" I interrupted in the middle of a conversation to say. Both men turned to face me, who was dressed in what I assumed were Nick's clothes, standing in front of the tent. The strange masculine odor lingered on my skin, but I was extremely grateful to be out of my wet and freezing clothes.

"Ah it's a nice name, a free woman.."

"Ahah! It's a different name, a unique and a unique means bibi laba diboo" Klover continued sounding creep.

I don't know what they mean but I just smiled.

Nick pointed to a thin rope hanging between two trees, and both men nodded.

"Your clothes can be hung there, but I doubt they'll be dry in the morning. It's far too cold outside. However, if you wish, you are welcome to stay."

In contrast to Kover's intimidating stare, he looked at me with curiosity.

"In any case, where are you going? You weren't dressed for a trip into the woods."

"I'm not sure. What am I doing here?"

"Do you have any idea what I'm talking about?" Everyone went on a silence. 

My stomach knotted up with anxiety as all of my blood in my body began to freeze.

It's all about civilization. How did I find myself alone in a forest? It's completely illogical!

"Yeah. You're also quite far along."

Both men burst out laughing.

"Do you want something to eat?" Nick was the one who inquired. Nick was one of my favorites. He was a nice guy. Kover was not.

"Good. Do you like deer?" 

The memory of the deer I saw flashed back to me. "You killed the deer?" "Y-you killed the deer? And serve it as a food?!" "The one I saw a while ago?" Both men looked at each other, perplexed.

This guys are eating deers, I can't imagine eating an animal. It's like it's forbidden. 

I can't eat it, but I was so hungry at the time that I could eat almost anything.

"T-that sounds..  g-good," I finally managed to say as I stood there watching Nick prepare a meal for the three of us. I noticed them both casting sidelong glances at me, I felt a little creep towards them. But I chose to ignore it and instead stare into the fire, trying to recall something.

I didn't eat much and didn't touch the meat. I excused myself.

Anything. But it was as if everything had been erased from my mind, leaving only the last twenty-four hours, which had been nothing but a nightmare.

The two were all full an hour later, and the two men's conversation had died away. I was still deep in thought, but as I snuggled into a thick blanket, I gradually felt my body relax. 

My experience here in the wilderness can be frightening, but it also provides opportunities to personally experience wilderness. In a rapidly urbanizing world, understanding the benefits of interacting with nature is critical for maintaining and improving well-being. In the back of my mind, the little girl's words kept ringing.

Take care.

But, before I knew it, I was fast asleep.