Approximately a mile or two later, Steve stopped at a small clearing on the trail and unloaded his supplies. He decided to rest on a boulder while waiting for Jesse, who trailed about twenty feet behind him. Steve watched a small sparrow as it flew down from the top of a nearby pine tree and lighted upon a small rock pile, diligently pecking at the dirt. His eyes lazily followed the bird as it flew off into the distance. Then they traveled to the source of the sparrow's frightening as a blonde, sweaty head finally emerged over the ridge.

"Isn't it beautiful, Jess?" Steve greeted cheerily.

As if in answer, a panting, beet-red Jesse promptly collapsed to the ground.

Steve knelt down next to him with a water bottle. "Dehydrated?"

Jesse grabbed the bottle and put his hand on Steve's arm. "Bless you, you kind man."

Steve couldn't help but chuckle as he rose to his feet. "Sure. Don't drink too fast, you'll make yourself sick," he warned as he began digging a pit for the fire.

Jesse finished his water and pulled himself up against a boulder, gradually regaining his breath. "Why didn't you tell me we were hiking ten miles up a mountain?"

"It was barely two miles, Jess. And if I had told you it was this far, things would have been a lot worse for both of us. You were complaining enough anyway." He paused as he looked around for some sticks to use for a fire. "You okay?"

Jesse wiped his brow as he seemed to consider the query. "I'll live. I hope."

"Well, in that case, you think you could go gather some firewood? Please?"

"Sure, fine, of course, no problem," Jesse responded sarcastically, trying to stand. "...that is, if I can get up."

He finally did, and stumbled off to gather the wood. Jesse, being the curious creature that he is, decided he wanted to venture a little farther than necessary. He stopped momentarily, with his arms full of sticks and branches, as he noticed some commotion in another clearing across the woods. He stopped behind a large oak tree and quietly spied on the scene of two angry men and one rather nice-looking woman. She was screaming, and the men were beating her and yelling something thankfully unintelligible. "Steve!" Jesse called, a bit too loudly. One of the men looked over to a small clearing behind him and saw Jesse watching. He stood up and raised a gun toward the woods as the other man finished the woman off with a cracking blow to the head. Jesse soon realized he had been spotted and dropped the wood in a heap at his feet, scrambling away as fast as he could. "Steve!" He heard a gunshot and hit the ground, staying there with his eyes closed until he heard no more noise. Then he got up and ran back to camp almost faster than his legs could carry him.