Beginning After an End
Six years later
The Trees Have Secrets
Another stupid girl lost in the woods. When will we learn? With a sigh, the veterinarian parks her battered pickup on the trampled earth marking the parking lot for a set of hiking trails. Almost everyone knows to bring a partner or a group when abandoning civilization for the (mostly) fenced parks. It’s uncommon, not impossible, for things to wander past the old rusting wire. In particular, a series of wildfires had driven wolves out of their northern nature reserve toward the southern town. Almost everyone was aware. Then again, the more people Ashley meets at work, the more she fears the eventual extinction of common sense.
She should have called a horse whisperer, not a vet clinic. The vet continues grumbling silently as she swings her bag over her shoulder. Most of the time, she travels from farm to farm treating large animals. But for this event, she’s rescuing some idiot rider who can’t coax her horse down a narrow pass-- and apparently has been stuck for hours. It is, by far, Ashley’s least pressing case in a while.
The veterinarian has been particularly irritable this summer, easily overheating in the leather jacket and jeans she wears at all times. That wouldn’t be peculiar on its own as the country vet hides from the sun in her cowboy hat. But, has no one noticed the change in her eyes from foggy blue to rusty brown? The ears ever tucked under her hair and brim? Perhaps they simply can’t remember her any other way.
If Ashley hadn’t seen four other cars and two horse trailers parked on the dirt, she could pretend she’s alone out here. She follows the trail under the trees swaying gently in the slight summer breeze. She listens as a bird’s carefree song confirms that nothing waits in the shadows. For however long this job may take, she is leaving the troubles of peopled places behind. As the vet feels a lull in her self-restraint, she grits her teeth and presses on.
Nine miles uphill. Not impossible for a horse walking at an easy pace. Nine miles under dappled sunlight in hot, still air. A more irritable task for the veterinarian, by choice uncharmed by this little piece of the natural world. She sets a quick pace but never stops to take a water bottle from the small bag at her side. The terrain becomes increasingly steep and uneven but she hardly seems to notice.
“Hello?” Further up the cliffside, a girl spots her and waves frantically. “Hello! Do you have experience with horses? Mine is stuck and I don’t know what to do and I called a vet but it’s been three hours and-”
Two hours. And a half. Ashley takes a deep breath and tunes out the hiker. Some people cannot handle emergency situations. Why do so many of them own pets? Or it is simply her job description that makes panicking pet owners frequent clients.
“Yes, I’m a vet. I’m going to help. Please calm down.”
“Oh thank God I was starting to freak out. I mean I’ve ridden horses before- my mom owns horses- and not often but it was such a nice day-” The girl cannot stop talking, not pausing for breath or even to introduce herself as Ashley joins her at the top of the cliff.
“Please be quite for a just moment.” She sighs, wearily meeting the hiker’s flighty gaze. Oh-- Oops. The emergency vet watches the girl’s eyes cloud over. Despite her contacts, she was still able to make rather strong suggestions. A skill she learned as quickly as possible, making it much easier to hide in plain sight.
“Stay here.” She speaks gently, carefully stepping around the hiker to find her horse. Past a rather sharp curve in the steep hillside, she finds a saddled bay facing toward her, just fitting on the precarious path. The trail here is nothing more than packed dirt, with sheer rock on one side and a near-vertical slope on the other. It nickers nervously and shifts its front feet to a better position on the loose earth.
“Hola chico, ¿cómo estás?” (Hey boy, how are you?) Ashley uses a comforting low voice as she approaches, letting the bay nudge her open hand. “Hey, are you ready to go home?” She takes the reins and gives a light tug. But the horse takes a step back and dust crumbles down the hillside. The stable portion of the trail is only wide enough for one person, not a horse, and he knows it. She could try suggestion, but... she has the distinct feeling that it won’t work. Even if it did, that doesn’t make the passage any less dangerous. The horse got across once. Was she willing to risk a second time?
No. No, today is not the day she watches a horse plummet off of a cliff.
If they couldn't go the nine miles back to civilization, there were two options: One, follow the trail down the hill to more stable ground, then cut through the forest toward the parking lot. With a one-ton animal in tow, the amount of possible detours and backtracking around obstacles is impossible to say. Two, they could follow the hiking trail to its completion-- a more certain path and distance at 15 miles remaining in the 26.2 mile circuit. That is guaranteed to be several hours; if the hiker hadn't prepared carefully then hydration and hunger would be issues.
She gives another long sigh, deciding first and foremost to move the horse to safer ground.
“Vale querido, I need you to back up.” The bay dubiously takes a few backward steps as she prompts with the reins. It halts as a back hoof slips off the path and she murmurs encouragement. Slowly she guides the horse back step by careful step.
“There you go, a little farther.” Ashley encourages the flighty animal. The path finally widens, and the bay turns without prompting. “Vale, voy a traer tu chica. Quédate.” (Okay, I’m going to bring your girl. Wait.)
“Thank you for waiting.” She needs to say the words, though they mean nothing while the hiker stares blankly into the distance. “Please wake up.”
The girl blinks, a puzzled expression spread across her face as her eyes seem to brighten. “And... and I completely forgot what I was going to say.”
“Tell me about your horse.” Ashley prompts before she can think about it for too long.
“Right. You’re a vet, that’s what you care about. God, I should have started with that.” The client shakes her head, showing some awareness of her rambling nature. “Dan. His name is Dan, he’s a thoroughbred, getting older but doesn’t have any problems as far as I know, very used to trail riding. I’m the one who couldn’t find the time-- I’ve forgotten so much.” She tries to laugh, but the sound is cut short by her embarrassment. “And I guess… I’m Hailey. Hailey Jones. I think you need to know that too.”
They shake hands and Ashley give her formal title: “Dr. Winters. Yes, that will be helpful.” She immediately moves on to business, “Let’s find your horse. Lead the way.”
Hailey nods, “He should be just up ahead.”
It’s a short walk to where Dan used to be. Staring in surprise at the open trail, Hailey begins to panic: “He should be here. I left him right here. I left him and oh God what’s happened to him is he lost why did I leave him--”
“Hailey. You’ve had this horse for a long time, yes? He knows you?” Ashley makes a guess-- this is the horse Hailey grew up with. That’s why it was so important for a vet to come check on him. That’s why she was so damn worried. Ashley seems to have hit the mark as Hailey’s words stop.
“Yes.” The hiker’s voice is small, not quite convinced that she should pull herself back together.
“Then he won’t go too far. Let’s keep going, carefully, and we’ll find him.”
Indeed, a few minutes later they find Dan absentmindedly nibbling a few yellow stalks of grass. Hailey is overjoyed, stroking his mane and praising the horse that apparently has always been there for her. Upon finding that her adorations do not include treats, he loses interest.
After horse and rider are reunited, Ashley explains the two options they have.
Hailey complicates the forest route further by admitting that she is “Like, really allergic to poison oak. I turn into a red balloon person and it sucks.” She sets her backpack on the ground and rifles through it, determining: “I have an extra water bottle that’s still full and enough snacks for a few hours. The full circuit sounds like the safest option and on horseback it shouldn’t be too bad.”
One water bottle. Not great but the vet agrees with everything else. Once the plan is decided, Hailey swings up onto Dan’s saddle and nudges his side. With a long, laborious wheeze, Dan trundles away from his one true love- the shrubbery- and they set out.
The hiker tries to strike up a conversation. A one-sided conversation, about the many other adventures she miraculously survived to qualify for this one. Ashley doesn’t quite like her enough to pay attention and her thoughts turn inward.
Despite the lingering warmth summer is almost over. With the turning of the seasons, time crawls forward-- away from an event she can’t remember and can’t forget. Absentmindedly, Ashley tugs at the sleeve on her right arm though her scars are well-covered.
Her first surgery- the first one after- was a complete mess, a memory that refuses to get easier. If Jay hadn't been there-- but in a way he’d made it worse as she stood there trying to focus while listening to his heart beat and staring at the red on her bright blue gloves.
She tries to keep control. God, she tries so hard. But there were still moments. After she was on call for seven days. When she worked through several meal breaks in a row. After she struggled and fought and still lost one. When a boy with jagged, angry lines on his cheek and watery eyes told her Mouse was just hurt and didn't mean it. She shudders remembering that one.
Things will get better. She'll make things better, somehow.
They keep walking for about five miles before Hailey calls for a break. A tree fallen long ago makes for a decent rest stop with surrounding oaks providing plenty of shade. Out of the sun, it’s the difference between a furnace and a stuffy room. Not great, but better. There’s also an abundance of green grass which Dan begins grazing contentedly.
With a long sigh Hailey stretches toward the sky. Ashley is still undecided if bravery or foolishness inspired the girl to wear sunflower-yellow shorts and a pink t-shirt, but she at least had the sense for hiking boots and a baseball cap over her auburn ponytail.
“So what about you? You seem like a cat person.” She sits next to the veterinarian and searches her backpack for a water bottle.
“I’ve never had a cat, actually. It’s always been horses or farm dogs.”
“Huh. Not even a barn cat?”
“No.”
The conversation shuts down as Hailey finds an energy bar and the vet does nothing to keep it going. Not needing anything herself, Ashley focuses on their surroundings. They’ve reached the end of the park, only a short ways from the fence. Or, no, they are at the fence-- what’s left of it. Looking closely, Ashley picks out strands of metal fallen down and buried in the foliage behind them. She should notify someone in Park Management when she gets back-- and include the hazardous trail.
"Do you want a turn?" The hiker gestures at Dan, currently mowing a patch of white clover.
"I'm fine, really." Ashley knows she has the faster walking pace.
“Okay.” Hailey shrugs, then rounds up Dan a second time.
Hiker and veterinarian start walking again, the former finally understanding the latter’s preference for silence. Which is fortunate, as otherwise Ashley would have missed the small rustle of leaves. She motions for a silent stop, listening and scanning their surroundings carefully. Something has her instincts on edge.
“Hello! You’re hikers too, right?” A stranger cheerfully steps out from between the trees. She radiates boisterous energy aided by freckles and wild curly hair uncontained by her safari hat. It’s rather disarming, despite her bright red eyes and the sharp teeth revealed in her smile.
Hailey’s eyes widen but for once her panic is silent as she stills with uncertain fright. Dan nickers nervously and tosses his head but waits for a direction.
The stranger ignores her- focusing on Ashley- and for a moment her smile wavers. “Oooh, contacts! You fooled me for a second.” Her demeanor shifts, becoming more casual but still quite bright. “I suppose you’re rather attached to her then, if you’re walking together.” She waves behind her at-- trees. “Come on, everyone. We’ve a bit further to go.”
Another stranger makes his presence known, “Lily, you won’t even ask? It’s been two days since the last city.” He leans against a tree behind the hiker and vet as if he’s been there for hours.
“And you received rations with everyone else. I remember you being there.” Lily, as her name seems to be, answers pertly. “Her business is not our business.” Her sudden seriousness is no less intense than her previous exuberance and after a moment the other rolls his eyes.
“Wait, how many of you are here?” Ashley looks between the two of them. They’re like her. They’re like her but not bothering to hide. At least, not the way she does.
“Four of us. We’re just passing through, no need to worry.” Another reassuring smile and Lily begins to walk by, a confident bounce to her steps.
Four. She hasn’t seen even one in the entire year she’s been trying to live with this. She could finally get some answers about what she wasn’t willing to risk testing. Just maybe, she could get some help too. Maybe there is a way to be less terrified of herself. “Wait-- where are you going? Can I meet you later? I-- I’ve only been like this for a year and there’s so much I don’t know.”
Lily stops. “Dearie, don’t tell me you were left all alone out here.” There’s a soft sympathy to her words, and a sadness that deepens as Ashley simply nods in affirmation.
“Well, that won’t do at all. We’re going the same direction, aren’t we? Why don’t we walk and talk?”
Hailey’s eyes widen and Dan needs only slight prompting to go back to the end of the lead rope in Ashley’s hands as the vampire steps onto the path.
“Oh don’t fret dear. You won’t remember any of this.” Lily says, ever so sweetly.
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