Lost in the Appalachian Mountains-The way

part 1 Lost in the Appalachian Mountains

Lucy had gotten comfortable maybe to comfortable here. She had gotten use to wild prey soup, that is at least what she called it. She was mostly welcomed by everyone here. The girl with the black hair had a name. Blue sky. Blue sky was part native American and part white. Her mother and father were cousins, so the side effects were on her face. deformed and twisted. Like a horror movie, but lucy had gotten use to the whole face thing now. She was safe, had a full stomach. She had lost part of time and was now part of this lost tribe. Had it been weeks or months? She missed home and wanted to go back.

Blue sky had taken lucy out of the lost tribe. She showed her how to hunt and track. Blue sky was a force to be recon with. She didn’t say much, neither did anyone in the lost tribe. They communicated by body language and how they dressed and even by the grunts and sounds they made. Lucy was the only one who spoke any clean and understandable English.

One afternoon Lucy and Blue sky were out picking berries for lunch when a black bear charged lucy. Lucy screamed bloody murder. Before lucy could do anything, Blue Sky threw her arrow and then finished the bear off with her dagger. Lucy ran over to blue sky, but blue sky acted if nothing happened. Lucy was thankful for her friend and what she had done. They used the black bear for food, tools and the fur for clothing. This way of life was not what others thought it was. This group of people were judged. All they wanted was to be left alone.

Winter was coming, blue sky motioned to Lucy that she didn’t think lucy would survive the winter. Lucy knew it as well. She was more scared of the snow and cold then the black bear. The cold could be deadly as well. She wasn’t used to it. She was used to the good time with friends and having hot chocolate. Blue sky had gotten a small bag of items and gave it to lucy. Blue sky took her hand and pointed towards the forest. Lucy knew what she meant. She couldn’t stay here and expect to survive. So, one brisk morning blue sky took lucy and the small bag of items and they headed towards the town that lucy lived in. Lucy didn’t know how to get back. Blue sky had permission from the elders and made sure to take lucy back to her people.

The way to the town was long and dreadful. Bugs, animals, and uneven terrain. Lucy was not good at this whole wild lifestyle. Blue Sky made it look easy. They traveled for about three days and then on the fourth day blue sky stopped and pointed to the church steeple in the distance. Lucy knew what she meant. over the hill and pass the river was the main road leading out of the Appalachian trail head. They both walked down and headed toward the river. The river was cold and the rapids thankfully were down stream. As they neared the road Lucy wondered how her family would think of her. skinny and dressed in some fur and her street clothing. She gave the items back to blue sky; she wouldn’t be needing them. Blue sky turned toward lucy and said,” Your people need you.”. Lucy was spell bound. She never heard her talk a full sentence. How did she learn English? So many questions. Lucy nodded back and then took several steps up the main road. Her car was gone but she knew how to get home.

When she looked back blue sky was gone. Lucy wasn’t surprised. she walked into town and went straight home. Her family was elated and couldn’t believe their eyes. They thought she died for sure. She was taken to the hospital to be looked over. She had a lot of cuts and bruises but nothing that couldn’t be treated. Her hair was a mess and a hot shower felt amazing. No more pond baths. The next few months were filled with laughter and company. She didn’t talk much about the past. She didn’t mention blue sky. No one pushed the past and the local authorities were just glad she was alive.

Every once in a while, she thought about Blue sky and how she was doing. The lost tribe people just wanted to live in peace. So lucy didn’t bring it up. As for the other four missing people that vanished in the woods. Blue sky stalked them as well, but she couldn’t save them. Mass hysteria didn’t help the situation.

The months turned into years and finally one spring another person went missing in the same part of the forest lucy had. This time it was a man, a teacher studying the area. They found him naked and clinging to life. with a well written note attached to the tree he was sitting against. It wrote:

Tried to save him, he needs help.

Lucy knew it was blue sky.

Originally published at https://sjjr.substack.com.