Mandy had always felt more at home in nature. She had left her Subaru WRX at the trail-head over three days ago, and since that time the civilized world had melted away, leaving just her, the breeze, and the sky.
She had been off the beaten trail for nearly half the time, following ridges and deer trails into the wooded wilds. Her only companions were her overstuffed Kelty pack, and her GPS. She wore tall danner boots, green L.L. Bean shorts, and a tank top which she covered with a red arc’teryx jacket in the cool mornings.
Around her the world was painted in green, the grass, the trees, the clover in the meadow. The scent of fir and juniper danced through sunbeams as it rode the wind to her nostrils with each deep breath she drew as her toned legs propelled further and further from all her cares.
She slept in a suspended hammock at night, drinking in the stars and moon. In the distance she heard the howling of wolves, their mournful wails as beautiful as the sparkling sky itself. She joined them, pouring all her rage and grief and loneliness into the air.