I missed several challenge words while I was on vacation, so I made this chapter an extended drabble and worked all of them into it. Hope you enjoy! Just a reminder: this is a flashback chapter, Dean's telling Sam how he got out of the woods.
Happy Birthday, Miyo86 and Onyx Moonbeam!
words: pressure, ankle, alarm, ditch
word count: 400
Not So Drunk as You Think I Am
Chapter 10
The creature was gone. Relief. Dread. He had to get to Sammy.
"Hey, guy! You okay?" A male hand pulled him up. A handful of college kids surrounded him—the campers.
He took inventory: unbearable pressure when he tried to breathe—cracked ribs; vision that wavered and blurred—concussion. "M'fine."
"What was that? What happened to you?" a girl asked.
"Bear attack." She gasped. He waved concern off, concentrated on breathing. "M'okay."
"A bear, really?"
He nodded—no use wasting time with the truth. People saw what they wanted to see.
"Right…a bear attacked you. So how'd you get away, then?" the other guy challenged, skeptical.
He indicated the knife normally worn at his ankle. "Fought it off."
"You expect us to believe you fought off a bear? With that?" Annoying guy produced a large knife in a decorative sheath, smugly superior. "Maybe if you had one of these…"
"Nice knife. Too bad size isn't a substitute for skill, or you'd be in luck." He smirked.
"Jack, you told us these woods were safe," the other girl accused, glancing around anxiously. "You didn't say anything about bears."
"Relax, Jamie. He's lying. These woods are perfectly safe."
"Look, believe me or not, I really don't care. Bottom line—it's gonna be completely dark soon. You don't wanna be out here when it is. We need to go. Now." Frustration burned his gut. He didn't have time for this. Their presence might've helped before, but now they were just keeping him from getting to Sam. He turned away to make torches for the hike out. It never hurt to be prepared.
"Maybe he's telling the truth, Jack. Something did that to him," helpful guy pointed out. "Anyway, he needs a hospital. We can't make him hike out alone."
He wanted to protest that on general principle, but…whatever got him to Sam quickest.
"So, what—you're saying we just ditch the campsite, Brian? After lugging all this gear out here?"
Something large rustled trees just beyond the firelight's reach.
Brian looked alarmed. "Uh, if there's a bear out here, I'm okay with leaving. Jamie, Tara?"
The girls nodded, clutching each other.
"Fantastic," he said sardonically, distributing torches and kicking dirt over the campfire. "Now that's settled, let's get going before it comes back. Everyone stay together—there's safety in numbers. No wondering off alone," he ordered.
And they set off into the woods.