Three against one?

[Blase]

Closed for myself and Gamina

------------------------------------------------------


"I'd say it's about three miles away. You hike along the power lines for awhile, then cut into the woods - you have to know where, there isn't really a path - then you sort of follow the terrain for awhile. The last part is climbing in: You climb up a cliff - Well, sort of a cliff; more like a really steep bank where you have to grab onto trees and bushes sometimes, then climb down into the hollow. Takes about an hour and a quarter to get there."

Rob finished speaking, and three pairs of eyes turned to Jennie.

It was a warm summer's day that looked to be getting warmer as they all stood beside a low rail that bore a sign warning sternly against trespassing on the path that the power lines high above their heads took as they marched away through the woods. Rob, who had proposed the hike out to a spot he knew, was dressed like his two companions in jeans, sneakers and a light t-shirt. He was dark-haired, unlike his friend Dave, who was blond, and both a little shorter and a little quieter than Rob. Josh, the third member of their little group, stood perhaps half an inch shorter than Dave, and had hair that was an uncommon mix of red and blond.

"Anyway, it should be fun," Rob continued with a shrug. "You up for it?"

 

[Gamina]

Jennie just shrugged, it was weird to be out with everyone without her brother here, but she figured that just because he had left for college early she shouldn't have to live as a shut in. |

"Doesn't sound all that hard." She said condident as while she was not athletic, she was pretty fit for an eightteen year old. "But are you sure you know the way?" She asked pointily remembering a story from her brother Thomas about how Rob had once completly miss read a map during their scouting years.

 

[Blase]

"I... Just because..."

"Don't worry," Dave put in mildly as Rob searched for words. "He doesn't have to follow a map this time."

Rob smiled ruefully at the gentle laughter that followed.

"Yeah, thanks for the vote of confidence, guys," he said when the chuckling had died down.

"Alright, anyone who isn't afraid of getting lost in the woods and wandering forever, follow me," he continued, flicking a glance at Jennie's tank top before turning to start down the path.

After a moment, the others started to follow.


Having Jennie along was a bit unexpected. All four knew each other, and had certainly hung out in the past, but Jennie was a year younger than the boys, her presence in their circle having come about mostly because of her older brother Thomas, currently absent because he had accepted an invitation to visit a cousin in the same state where he would be starting his freshman year of college in about a month. Still, when the boys had run into Jennie just as they reached the starting point of their hike, it had seemed natural enough to invite her along.


"Hey, Rob," Josh spoke up unexpectedly as the small group began to move, "If Jennie's concerned, why don't you let her take the lead? It's just a straight shot until we get to the turning point, right?"

Rob turned back to regard the others. "Sure," he shrugged. "Why should I hog the glory of being the first one through every spiderweb?"

"Jennie, would you care to lead?"

 

[Gamina]

" I would most certainly not want to take point, thank you very much" She said laughing

"I might be concerned with your ability to lead us, but I still think we have a better chance getting there when the one leading actually knows where we are going"

She said as she did remember than next to the spiderwebs, her brother had always told her that the only reason Ladies first was a thing, was because that was the easiest way to check out a womans bum. And while she trusted the trio as they had never been innapropriate in her vasinity, they were still teenage boys

 

[Blase]

"Okay, cool," said Rob, and with that, the group set off down the path with Rob in the lead, Dave just behind him, and Josh and Jennie bringing up the rear, walking more or less side-by-side. The unguarded entrance with its discouraging sign disappeared after just a couple minutes.

"Wow," Josh commented a short time later, "it feels like we're really away from everything here."

"This is nothing," Rob responded, indicating the power lines that still towered overhead. "Once we leave the path, you're not even likely to see a plane, let alone anything else man-made. It's like the Garden of Eden all over again."

 

[Gamina]

As they walked deeper off the beaten path, Jennie was fairly silent taking in the sights. She had been planning to go swim today but was glad she had decided to go along on this hike
Surprised to see how foreign this place looked while it was still well within the reach of jer hometown.

Taking a sip from her water she turned to Josh "so other than getting lost in the wilderness, any exciting plans for this holidays?"

 

[Blase]

Josh glanced at Jennie, seeming a bit surprised at being addressed.

"Nah, I guess I'm boring," he laughed. "Just point me deep into the wilderness in pleasant company, and I'm good."

His gaze flicked back to the trail.

 

[Gamina]

"I am the same. Although I would not label that as boring." She said thinking about a better way to put it. "More like keeping my schedule open to be able to jump on more exciting and spontaneous actions when they arise"

 

[Blase]

"Ha," Rob laughed, overhearing. "Exciting and spontaneous...?"

"I know, why don't you jump on Josh's back? That'd be spontaneous, anyway. Let him piggyback you to, oh, that second pole." He pointed to a pole a hundred yards or so away.

"Dare ya."

 

[Gamina]

"Sounds like a great idea"

Jennie says laughing jumping unceremoniously on Josh's back. "Giddyup" she says pointing forwards

 

[Blase]

Josh stooped for just a second to allow Jennie to mount, then straightened up, not seeming terribly burdened by a hundred pounds of girl.

He shook his head and huffed, giving a credible impression of a horse's whicker.

"Hold on tight," he cautioned, then took off, Rob and Dave now following him and Jennie.

He couldn't sprint on the gravel-covered earth and risk a fall, but he did his best to trot, covering the distance at a good pace while Jennie clung to him and his friends came laughing behind.

Arriving at the second pole, he stopped to let Jennie dismount.

Rob and Dave came up as Jennie regained the ground and Josh stood, taking just a moment to catch his breath.

"You sat the saddle quite well, Madam!" Rob said to Jennie.

"I trust our friend proved a worthy steed."

 

[Gamina]

Jennie laughed as she grabbed Josh's shoulders and did her best to put her hips into the trot as if she was riding her own horse. As the four of them were laughing, reaching the pole she slid back of the guy's back, laughter still resonating in this secluded nature.

When rob complimented her saddle work she gave him a little courtsy "Well I have been known to ride a stallion or two in my days" Thinking about her horses she totaly missed the double meaning of her words. When he asked if he proved to be a worthy steed, she patted his side before rubbing it. "Oh he is such a good steed" she says in a puppy voice before breaking out in laughter again.

"So fearless leader, whats next?"

 

[Blase]

"Well, I didn't realize you were such an accomplished equestrian," Rob said with a broad smile. "Obviously you weren't challenged at all by that little romp."

"But it's more challenging to ride bareback. Take off your shirt, Josh."

Without comment, Josh smoothly pulled his t-shirt up and over his head, revealing not a weightlifter's physique, but the body of an active youth.

Holding his shirt out to Jennie, he asked, "Are you ready to take the reins and mount up again, my lady?"

 

[Gamina]

" well I have been riding since as long as I can remember." She said looking around to figure out what the next step in the journey would be. When Rob mentioned Bareback riding an inkling of unease rose into her mind, but as Josh smoothly took off his shirt and handed it to her the thought went out of her mind.

"We are okay. Let's save some of his strength for the way back" she said but without thinking about it she just threw his shirt into her backpack

 

[Blase]

"Careful, Josh. She wants to ride you home," Rob laughed.

"Maybe you're not so boring after all," Dave put in as they resumed hiking.

Josh just shook his head and did the horse whicker again, giving Jennie a quick smile before looking away.



"That rock is where we turn away from these power lines," Rob said, pointing down the path to a large rock on the edge of the woods. A few minutes later, they were standing beside the it.

"Okay." Rob gestured towards the trees. "This is where we go in."

 

[Gamina]

Jennie playfully punches Rob in the arm as he commented on her plans. "Hey don't spoil the surprise" She said as again with her mind on horse riding she completely missed the double meaning. But as they made there way deeper into the wild she just looked around trying to make sure she could situate herself

 

[Blase]

As they walked along, it wasn't hard to see what Rob had meant by follow the terrain. The contours of the land lead downward in a general way, also tending towards the right, relative to their present direction.

It was cooler under the trees but still warm enough to be pleasant; a day in high summer.

After perhaps twenty minutes, Rob gestured with spread hands as they continued walking. "What did I tell you?" he asked the group. "No buildings. No roads. No planes. Just us and the real world. Nothing man-made."

"Nothing at all," Dave agreed, looking around. "Just what we're wearing."

"Well, we couldn't ask Jennie to carry everyone's clothes in her backpack," Rob replied. "That wouldn't be fair."

"More to the point, the backpack would still count. That's man-made too," Dave mused in the manner of someone pointing out an obvious flaw in someone's logic. "She'd have to stash it somewhere."

"This next part is a small step down," Rob said suddenly, quickening his pace and opening a momentary lead on the others until they matched his pace after a couple steps. He lead them to the edge of a slight drop. It was only a foot or two, but it required that one stop and step carefully off a large, flat rock.

Rob went first, then looked up. "Jennie, this might be a little high for you. Take my hand if you need it," he offered, extending his right hand in case Jennie felt the need of assistance.

 

[Gamina]

The walk was absolutely gorgeous and exhilarating when they stopped for a second she just basked in it. She was brought back to earth by the guys bantering about something.

As she caught her name and the need for her to stach away her backpack she put two and two together. "Might I remember you gentlemen that we to are technically man made..." she said shaking her head. Not that she hadn't caught herself looking at Josh's fit torso and wonder how fit the other two were but something in the back of her head warned her that this was the wrong place and time to think of such things

But shaken the thought she smiled at Rob and took his hand

 

[Blase]

With Rob's help to steady her, Jennie stepped off the rock and landed safely an instant later. He gave her hand the slightest squeeze and smiled before releasing his grip, then spoke again as the other two boys rejoined them.

"Well, we're getting close, lady and gentlemen."

"Just up ahead is the part we have to climb."

And so it was, the land rising steeply on their left; not quite to the point that it required technical climbing, but vertical enough that they started up with words of caution to each other, taking their time and making sure they had firm grips on small trees or whatever sorts of anchors were within reach.


A few minutes of scrambling brought them to the top where, as Josh, in the last position, stepped onto more or less level ground, Rob gestured Jennie to the front so that they could all see equally well.

The hollow, as Rob had called it, was a wonder. The steep drop immediately behind them gave way to a gentle, grassy slope that lead down to a clear pool, perhaps twenty yards across and looking unexpectedly deep in the center. The far bank was mostly rock, a stair-step of flat natural platforms that lead up from the water's edge, almost seeming to have been purposefully designed to allow both access to the pool and leisure to lie beside it.


"Holy shit," Josh said in an undertone as they stood taking it all in.

"Well, did I tell you the truth about this place?" Rob queried everyone.

"Wow. Nothing man-made," Dave murmured to no one in particular.


"I don't know whether you two are trying to bore Jennie to death or make her run away screaming with that kind of talk," Josh interjected.

"Jennie is not afraid," Rob said firmly, stepping back to regard the girl. "Jennie is not afraid of long hikes, deep woods, steep climbs... or charging, shirtless horses." Rob's smile came out again, quickly.

"You cannot scare Jennie."

 

[Gamina]

The climb was more challenging that expected, mostly due to her jeans not really giving her the freedom of movement needed to navigate some of the portions of the climb. Luckily several times during their ascend, did Dave made sure to grab a hold of her ankle to steady her. As they finaly reached their destination she whistled at the view, suddanly very happy that she was swim ready.

When the boys started to bicker again she raised her eyebrow, but laughed as Rob had her back.

"You are damn right, maybe it is even you guys who should be afraid" She said with a malicious little smile on her lips

 

[Blase]

"Okay, Miss Tiny-But-Fierce," Rob said.

"Prove me right."

"Truth or dare?"

 

[Gamina]

Roleing her eyes at the question Jenni shook her head as she loudly sighed something about "kids"

Then putting her hands on her hips and straigtning her back she just say.

"Dare"

 

[Blase]

Rob paused for a moment, clearly a bit surprised, then recovered.

"Take off your... shoes and socks, and go get your feet wet."

"Tell us how the water is."

 

[Gamina]

Kicking off her shoes and peeling of her socks, Jenni was reassured by how benign the dare was, walking to the water she confidently strode in and imidiatly regretted that decision as the water was ice cold. luckily her back was turned to the boys so they couldn't see her face.

Smoothing it over with a happy smile she turned around. "Its great!"

Then pointing at Dave to see what he would pick, she smiled again as he picked Dare. " I dare you to dive in and tell us how deep the water is" She said slowly moving out of the pool to keep clear of the splatter zone


(D)

 

[Blase]

"As you wish," Dave responded.

"But I suggest you turn your head, Miss, because I'm am NOT going to soak my clothes!"

He took a few steps toward the water's edge, then stopped, gripping his t-shirt.