The son of mr. Crow was not nearly as scary as his father, but he also had dark purple circles and was little taller than me. He had an athletic build and light brown hair, with eyes the same color.
"Let's all make a closer wheel here so I can talk a little about the ride and also comment some rules, ok? You can come, don't be shy! We will spend more than 10 hours together, it's good to know each other and why not trust each other a little, huh? "
The others arrived, and I noticed that James stood behind them, not caring, as he had apparently tried at the table a few minutes earlier. I couldn't help but think part of it was my fault… Me and my giant mouth, who always speaks before thinking… But if there was one thing I learned from this my way is that nothing can be done of the words that just came out, just move on and don't brood.
The guide introduced himself, his name was John and he claimed to have been born there, knowing all parts of the mountain and its secrets from a young age. As they were one of the most distant lodges, we should always be careful when walking so as not to be alone in the forest, as it was rich in wildlife and we could be in a not very favorable situation.
"Not that I'm saying we're going to find a bear or anything, but we might come across some wolverine or elk and they might get scared and react more territorially, okay?"
"Are there many nocturnal animals around here, John?" - asked another woman in the group.
"We have birds, rodents and even wolves, ma'am… Why the question?"
"From the sound we heard last night! Looks like some wolf hunted some prey yesterday… "- and some boys commented quietly that they too had been scared.
"I've only heard about that sound so far, ma'am… It wasn't enough to wake me up. I think there's no reason to worry. Surely these woods are very busy at night… "- and smiled sideways, again explaining our path and, apparently, putting a stone on the subject.
The adventurous troupe was then made up of Ana, Noel, and Jacob, friends from business school and Canadians who decided to get to know the Rockies before leaving for business; Niki, a very introvert Austrian who wanted to find some wild animal and live to tell the story in his town; James and I, who didn't talk much about himself, just that he was Canadian and already knew the Rockies and "missed" it [speaking in the most perfect portuguese: SAUDADES] — and using that word looked exactly at me with an enigmatic smile.
John asked us to get in the van that he would come next. With their father's help, they brought a gallon of fresh water to the back as well as two shotguns, explaining that they were necessary to ward off some more distant animal. As we do not have this experience with guns in Brazil, it shocked me a little, but I swore to myself that nothing was going to disturb this vacation and, therefore, let out a "Whatever God wants!" and forgot.
Since the van must have about 15 seats, everyone could sit by the windows, with Niki searching for the farthest distance from the people, the three very close friends, and me in the middle of the van, with James on the opposite end.
It was explained that we would go about 15 minutes by van and from there, walk to one of the slopes, in a climb that I did not know if I could do, due to my chronic sedentary lifestyle ... But I would try and explain later if it was not possible to continue with the group. Although the guide said never to be alone in the woods, nothing prevented me from waiting at some point of their return, what I didn't want to do was delay them or even worse anticipate our return! From time to time John warned of some curiosity of the way and when he warned that the last 6 minutes would be of an amazing pine forest and the landscape began to look the same, I decided to open my backpack and drink some water, leaning back a little on the bench and get psychologically ready to walk.
"What are you afraid of?" - I heard James' voice ask clear and low and when I opened my eyes I saw that he had moved closer.
"Not quite afraid, you know… It's afraid of not being able to follow the walk. I am very sedentary and as he said some parts will be rising, I didn't want to delay the group; I'm recapping if it was a good idea to do this part of the journey, that's all… "- I said softly too, because I didn't want the others to start judging me already. If there were to be judgment he would come just in time, when we had to decide whether we would continue the tour or not. I smiled then, looking out again and seeing the same pines I turned my eyes again and he was not so close, he had returned to his old post, near the opposite window. The movement was so fast that I wondered if he actually sat next to me at some point or if I was talking to myself at the last minute.
"We're here, guys! Let's team up so it's easier to look at each other, okay? I could see that some pairs have already made, so if it's okay for everyone, I'll keep them: Ana with Noel, Liura with James and Jacob with Niki "- as he said this he went to the back from the van and brought in four flares, got one and gave another to each pair, explaining how it worked and asking to be fired if they got lost, and through voice or other means it couldn't be found. But whatever happened, to keep our pairs.
As the guide put on his backpack, I noticed that a slightly higher flag was coming out of it and fluttering, like in those big groups of Orientals in Toronto. Indeed, when following someone, it seems much easier to follow the flag than the person itself, a strange but functional fact.
The place was beautiful, of lost - literally - the breath. There was one way among the pines that could always be seen, marked with some yellow or orange ribbons on one tree and another. It seemed impossible to get lost here, but it was the point that most worried the guide, he even told stories about tourists who were found a few days later, all alive, but always asked us caution and informed that would make stops every hour hour so we could explore beyond the trail with our duo. I saw a lot of crows, a lot of insects, beautiful butterflies and from the corner, a bald eagle, and squirrels that made me smile as I remembered the Ice Age movie.
"What are you laughing at, girl?" Asked me mr. James and with a mischievous look I answered:
"I don't know how much you like cartoons, but whenever I see a squirrel I remember the Ice Age! There is no way not to laugh "- putting my hand in front of my mouth and being "censored" by a "don't believe it", along with a shake of the head.
"Ahhh! Will you tell me that you have no ability to dream? Life is so much more fun that way!"- I was forced to defend myself by attacking, otherwise he would spend the next hour dumb and I didn't intend for that to happen!
"Am I old enough to watch cartoons? Look at me!"- and stopped, showing himself and puffing out his chest as if he were a winner.
"Dreaming is not about age, James… it's about ability! And if you lost yours, don't worry! It's always time to get it back! I'm not a young woman myself (I was already 38) - I took the opportunity to show myself how he had done a few seconds before - and yet, I just made an almost weird chat with me for simply smiling in the middle of the Rockies! You have to agree that it is quite a feat for those who simply made an association of funny images in the mind and externalized it in a smile!"
His face shifted, first from that winner's face, to attentive, and in the end he was also smiling a smile that wanted to come out but that he was keen to keep hidden.
"'that's right! You have a peculiar way of looking at life, that I don't deny! And it reminded me of a person or two I know, which brought me good memories. Point to you, then!"- and touched walking again, as we had been somewhat behind the expedition.
As I was about to take the step to follow him I heard a "stand still!" From him who, with his hand outstretched, showed me a snake, a "Western Rattlesnake" crossing my path and stopping before me. I didn't move, despite the overwhelming urge to want to go back as soon as possible! Especially when she started making the rattle move… Oh my little heart! James quickly picked up an almost L-tipped branch and approached sneakily, taking advantage of the rattlesnake's distraction in me, if breathing had not been a standalone act I would have continued to hold my breath and it was just when I needed it catch the air once the snake decided to pounce! Honestly, I don't know what happened… My body fell backwards, and at the same instant James came from behind and broke the attack, propping the branch on her head and leaving her "fuc*" of life! Her whole body shifted and curled on the branch, trying to break free; when I opened my eyes I saw his fully inside mine, asking worriedly, "Are you okay? Hurt?" and as he said that his other hand was against the snake, clutching it to his throat.
"I'm… I'm ok... I guess" - I would answer while I felt to check if something hurt. Then I thought of the snake: "You're not going to kill her, are you?!" - lifting and wiping the ass from the stones.
"Of course not! She's as scared as you, right? Going up the path, I'll meet you in a moment, I'll leave her more in the woods, ok? "- and was joining words to action and plunging into the bush.
