Chapter Three

It took Chris several hours to drive the convertible up The Point, and even then, he got it stuck in front of a tree that had fallen across the path. That meant, of course, that he had to hike the last mile or two on foot. It was a horrible muddy trek that had him pausing a few times to catch his breath and gather his bearings. He could see a tiny cabin at the top of the mountain though that was slowly getting closer and closer by the second. That had to be where Chrisabeth was.

"I'm almost there...You can do it," he said out loud as a way to coach himself.

As he made it up the last steep incline, he came to a sudden standstill. Standing at the head of the path was a big black bear. It was staring back at him in his bacon outfit, letting out a guttural growl.

"Oh no. No, no, no..." Chris started to take small steps backwards, hoping to discourage the bear from getting any closer. "I'm not a piece of food...Don't get any bright ideas bear..."

The bear, seeing its potential dinner backing up, moved closer with a louder growl this time. Cursing under his breath, Chris moved to tear off through the underbrush. To heck with playing dead. He knew if he did, he still might become that bear's dinner.

As Chris ran through the underbrush, getting pricked at by the branches that stuck out at him, he moved to yank the hoodie off. The cold air rushed over his chest, but he didn't care at that point. All he cared about was making the bear stop thinking he was food. He threw the hoodie behind him as he heard the heavy footfall of the bear getting ever closer behind him. Just when he thought for sure he would become bear food, a loud gunshot sounded off through the air.

Chris immediately threw himself face first onto the ground. His stomach pressed into the gravely dirt underneath him as he lay panting there, waiting to see if another gun shot would sound out. When he didn't hear either the bear or the gun, he dared to look about him. He saw the bushes behind him waver a bit; the rear end of the bear disappearing quickly into it. The gun shot had scared it off. Chris let out a sigh of relief as he lay on the ground, panting. With his cheek pressed against the dirt, he laid there until a shadow suddenly overshadowed his own body. He lifted his head and looked up to see a woman in a green dress standing a few feet near him; a rifle in both hands. The woman in the green dress had honey colored locks framing a face that Chris found looking eeriely familiar.

"Chrisabeth?" He asked with wide eyes as he moved to sit up.

Her eyes widened at that, but as Chris forced himself to sit up on the ground, she recognized her long lost twin. She could see the resemblance between the two of them. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at Chris. Chris moved to stand up. He was soon standing right in front of Chrisabeth. He reached out a hand to gently wipe a tear away that was escaping down her cheek.

"Hey...it's okay now, alright? I'm here...I'm sorry it took me so long..."

She had her arms wrapped about him in an embrace before he could say anything else. She hugged him tightly, burying her face in his shoulder. He hugged her back just as tightly, rubbing small circles on her back to try to sooth her.

"Chrisabeth, why are you hiding up here on this bear infested mountain alone?" He asked her softly after a few minutes of silence had passed.

"Because I can't..."

"Can't what, Chrisabeth?" asked Chris, gently trying to coax the truth out of her.

"I can't yodel..." she finally said with a soft cry. "I've always had the desire to yodel like Prattania, Evanessa, and Hemsworthia, but I can't, and they mock me for it."

Chris pulled back from Chrisabeth to look at her with a small frown on his face. That must have been what Kipper had been referring to back at the restaurant. Seeing how hurt she was lit a fire of anger within him. He felt so enraged that he felt nauseous.

"Chrisabeth, I won't let those girls make a fool of you. You want to yodel. You're going to yodel. Come with me to the Running of the Swine. It starts tonight. We can face them together. I promise."

Chrisabeth looked shocked at Chris' proposal, but then became overwhelmed by the kind gesture.

"Are you serious?"

"Of course I am. We may not have met until this very moment, but I can assure you, I've never meant a promise to anyone more than I do to you right now."

"Thank you, Chris..." She said as she straightened up.

It was then that she seemed to finally notice that Chris was not wearing a shirt.

"What happened to your shirt?"
"I took it off when I was running from the bear," admitted Chris as a blush crept onto his face. "I was dressed in bacon looking attire."

A look of horror came over Chrisabeth's face.

"Where did you get the bacon clothes?"
"From that restaurant 'Hog Tied' down in the town. My own clothes are in the car down the mountain a ways. Why do you ask?"

"Oh dear...No wonder you look so green in the face." Chrisabeth moved to escort Chris gently over to a cluster of trees. "'Hog Tied' is known for giving people accidental food poisoning, bless their souls."

As Chrisabeth explained this, a wave of nausea came over him in waves. He moved to lean up against the tree trunk, trying his best to hold it down.

"Then why are they still open?" Chris managed to ask.

"The town is small enough that no one cares, and no one wants to upset Kipper."

Another wave hit him, stronger than the last. He soon saw his meal coming back up as he leaned heavily against the tree. Chrisabeth stood by him the whole time, gently rubbing his back.

"Welcome to Scandoshka, brother..." said Chrisabeth softly.