Normally, when in the woods, I pack a sidearm. At least one cougar I'm aware of has stalked me. It’s a sobering feeling knowing you could be lunch or at the very least mauled. During my times in the woods I've stumbled upon a couple of bears but they were more afraid of me than I was of them.
This particular trip was at the end of a very hot July. I have a four-man tent I employ for these trips. Normally my campsites are off the beaten trail, away from formal campgrounds. The larger tent helps hide my gear while giving the illusion that more than one person is camping.
I decided to camp in a fairly remote area this time. My camp set up went quickly as usual. With my food stashed safely away, my belongings secured it was time for an evening hike. I took a few pictures of the sunset over the western hills, some birds and a couple of flowers. Upon returning to camp, I noticed another tent had been pitched not too far from mine. I didn't think much of it, but I did wonder why someone would camp so close to me when there were thousands of places to choose from.
I put my pistol away and started making dinner. I'd look over at the other camp from time to time to see if I could catch a glimpse of my neighbor. Around dusk, I heard some voices, then two young women, perhaps in their twenties, emerged from the timber.
They wore their hair in ponytails, (one was a redhead the other a brunette) and cut-off denim jeans, plaid shirts over their tees and hiking boots. From what I could see, they were both great looking and in good shape. I just hoped they weren’t here carrying a grudge against hunters and wouldn't bother me.
My dinner consisted of steak, asparagus and baked beans, with a micro brew to wash it all down. While it was cooking I unfolded my maps and switched on my GPS. I set about trying to find a good place to scout in the morning. I’d heard some good stories from other hunters that this area was ideal for elk, which meant not so good for deer. There was a pond along a trail, which would be a good wallow and a place for the elk to drink.
I heard the girls giggling as they got out their tiny backpack stoves to fix their dinner. Their reactions to their choice of cuisine could be heard through the trees; laughs then gagging noises as they took turns sampling their meals. I felt somewhat sorry for them. It didn’t sound as if they were enjoying their menu selections.
When my steak was finally ready I placed it on my plate with the warmed up beans and nicely grilled asparagus. A smile on my face I thought, not too bad for a single guy out in the middle of nowhere.
Meal complete, dishes cleaned and put away, I opened another beer. It was time to relax and enjoy the solitude until the sun set around ten o’clock. Well, not total solitude, my neighbors giggled and laughed constantly. Fortunately, the entrance of my tent faced away from the girls, so they couldn’t see me without actually coming over.
Since it was rather toasty out, I positioned my air mattress so that, with the fly open, I could view the clear night sky. Lying in my bag, I heard the indistinct sounds of the girls talking float over, indistinct like white noise. My thoughts turned to the few times my wife, Julia had joined me on these trips. I missed her company. Julia would stay in camp and read as I hiked looking for my prey. Upon my return we'd talk about our days activities as we ate dinner and listened to the sounds of the forest. The feeling that she was probably looking down at me, reading my thoughts, skirted through my mind. The lump in my throat quickly passed as a stifled back a tear. The stars above me shown brightly. Thinking one might be my love, I whispered “good night”, then dropped off toward sleep.
Before I completely drifted off, I heard the giggles from my neighbors turn into what sounded like moaning. An approving smile lit up my face. I hoped the girls were enjoying their evening, as had my wife and I, many times.
My trusty wind-up alarm clock shook me from a deep slumber about five. Rolling off my mattress and donning my camo clothes, I grabbed a quick bite for breakfast, then slung on my day pack to hit the trail. Since there weren't any noises and the tent next door was dark, my assumption was that the girls were sound asleep. Holstering my pistol then securing the tent I headed out to look around the areas I had marked the night before. Bow hunting teaches one patience and stealth (if one wants to kill anything, that is). I crept out of camp without making a sound.
Making my way down the trail, I walked silently, taking in the clean crisp air. Being out here alone (almost) with my thoughts made me smile. After about an hour I turned off the little LED headlamp on my ball cap. The sun had climbed high enough through the fir trees that I didn’t need it anymore. I continued my slow pace, taking in the various contours of the terrain, pausing now and then to sit and listen.
The morning consisted mainly of spotting and stalking. I’d pause every so often, hiding among the smaller trees to see if any animals were around. Generally, deer and elk sense hunters before being seen.
With my digital camera around my neck, I was hoping to get some shots of any large animals in the area. Sadly, none could be found this morning. Hopefully, the afternoon would be different. Most animal activity occurs immediately after dawn or immediately before sunset.
By noon, my hike had taken me to the farthest extent of the areas on my map. Not having seen any fresh sign or heard any animals, I sat down on some rim rocks above a nice pool of water to eat lunch. The sun felt warm and inviting on my face as I opened my pack for lunch.
My camera set off to one side in case something appeared, a rock served as a back rest while I ate lunch. Merely sitting there alone, feeling like the only one in the world was intensely gratifying. I took my time eating, savoring each moment. From time to time, a bird would swoop close over me or a chipmunk run up to me, discovering I was a living and breathing thing.
Lunch complete, I adjusted my pack to make a small cushion, then closed my eyes for a quick nap of maybe twenty minutes or so. After a few minutes, I was brought back to consciousness by the sounds of splashing water. Waking from my light slumber, I reached for my camera. Crawling on my belly to the edge of the rim rock I gazed down at the pond.
Peering down from my semi-concealed perch among the rocks at the waterhole below, I brought my camera to bear on the pond. Glancing over the surface, I spied ripples spreading out across the murky water. Hopefully there was a large bull elk wallowing at their source. Scanning further across the surface, past some tall fir trees I discovered the origin of the waves.
My neighbors had found the pond. Both young ladies were playing, skinny dipping in the cool water, completely unaware of my presence. Watching for a bit through the lens, I noticed they were very nice looking. Neither one had a tan line. The brunette 's hair hung to mid-back, while the redhead's locks stopped below her shoulders. Each had perky, full breasts that jiggled each time she moved. Further down their sleek frames, only a hint of hair showed where I would have expected bushiness. The redhead had what looked like a butterfly or fairy tattooed on the graceful curve slightly above her ass.
The girls played without a care in the world. They took turns diving under water then rising quickly to kiss. Their playfulness and their sleek bodies reminded me of otters. The game was simple: one girl dove under for a few seconds while to other tried to guess where she'd surface. The diver would surface near her partner then plant a kiss on her lips. They continued their game for quite some time. Finally, the redhead surfaced, took the brunette into her arms and kissed her deeply. They stood for quite some time, kissing and fondling each other.
After a few more minutes, the redhead slipped her hand between the brunette's legs. The brunette arched her back, reveling in her lover’s touch. After a few more minutes of exploring, they kissed deeply once again. The redhead broke the kiss, took her lover's hand, and guided her to a blanket sprawled out on the shore.
The brunette laid down with the redhead facing her, legs open. The redhead slipped her thigh in between the brunettes open legs. Placing herself on top of her lover, she rubbed her body against the brunettes. Up and down, her thigh pressed into the other girls pussy. The brunette wrapped her legs around her lover; her arms massaging the redhead's back. Each time the redhead moved up, she made sure their nipples contacted. They continued there dance for some time. As the redhead moved they both became more excited and I could hear their moans from my perch. Two lovely young women enjoying each others company. I was getting aroused watching them make love. But, it didn't seem quite right, so, I quietly backed away from the ledge I grabbed my pack and still being stealthy, slipped off my perch and back onto the trail.
The rest of my hike that afternoon wasn't as thrilling as watching the girls. I did manage to sneak up on a couple of large mule deer bucks feeding, and took a picture of a large 6 x 6 bull elk. All were noted on my map with a way-point on my GPS.
I sauntered back to camp in the early part of the evening. Altogether, it had been a good day. The girls had returned to their camp and were sitting around laughing and sipping drinks.
Having put my things away, I spread my map out on the table, grabbed a beer then returned to continue studying. The cold beer was refreshing going down. The picture of those two sleek young naked bodies breezed through my mind. They weren’t models, but they both had very lovely bodies.
Out of the corner of my eye, while marking my map, I noticed the brunette approaching. Setting my GPS down, I stood to greet her.
She smiled offering her hand to shake. “Hi, I’m Sandy.”
“Hello, I’m Jay nice to meet you.” Offering my hand. If only I were thirty years younger, I thought to myself.
She pointed to my pistol. “Do you always wear a gun when you camp?”
“Sandy, I've hunted for a few years. I've been been stalked by at least one cougar and I have stumbled across bears. It’s better to be prepared than to become a snack especially when you’re alone. Cell phones are useless out here so I figure it’s either them or me. I’d prefer it to be them.”
“But cougars are so cute.”
“I’d never shoot one unless my life was in danger believe me.”
She began to look a bit worried, “You’re serious aren’t you?”
“Yes, you never know when one is watching. They like to hang out up in the tree limbs so they can pounce on an unsuspecting deer or elk. I’ve stumbled upon a few kills in my time. They cover their kills to hide them from coyotes so if you see something like that you know a cougar is near.”
She shivered a bit at that then glanced back at her friend, who was pouring another glass of something, as if checking on her safety.
“We were wondering if you were out here hunting or what. Cherise and I, were figuring you were, since you had camo clothing on.”
“I’m just scouting for hunting season. I hunt with a recurve bow.”
I was trying to be polite, waiting for the anti-hunting tirade to begin. “I’m trying to get some good pictures too. I enjoy photography as well.”
Changing the subject she smiled, “What kind of camera do have?”
“I have a Nikon D750, I switched from film to digital many years ago.”
As we talked, Cherise walked over with their drinks. She handed Sandy one, then slipped her arm around her waist. I took this to mean that Sandy was hers and for me to keep my paws off. She gave me a look I interpreted as staking her claim.
Both young women were very sexy looking but Cherise also had amazing green eyes. The two beauties made a cute couple, standing there sipping from their plastic cups, Cherise’s arm around Sandy’s tiny waist.
“Jay, this is Cherise, Cherise, Jay.”
“Nice to meet you Cherise, we were just discussing wildlife photography.”
“Oh cool, we’re here just to get away for the weekend, do some sight seeing and relax.” Cherise said.
She looked at the pistol in my holster, figuring Sandy wasn’t scared of it she wouldn’t be either.
“This place is perfect for that. I was kind of surprised you two camped so close to me, with the whole forest available.”
“Well there is a really nice pond about two miles down the trail. You may have seen it during your hike.”
“No, I went off in a different direction this morning. Maybe I'll check it out tomorrow,” I lied.
I went to my cooler for another beer offering them one, they declined since they had their wine coolers.
Sandy’s nipples begin to grow as Cherise’s hand massaged her lower back. If I had to guess, I would say Sandy was fairly new to same sex relationships. She did seem to enjoy Cherise’s attention yet was embarrassed by public affection.
“Did you guys have a nice hike today?”
“Yes, we went down to the pond just after lunch and had a nice swim.” Cherise smiled as she pulled Sandy a bit closer.
Sandy blushed, “It was very refreshing.”
As we stood there talking a pack of coyotes began their locating calls. The girls looked a bit worried as the coyotes let out different cries, trying to locate each other for the evening hunt.
“Don’t worry about them, they’re looking for each other. They won’t bother us here in camp as long as you have your food stored properly.”
They both nodded and took long sips from their cups.
“What are you doing for dinner, Jay?” Cherise wondered.
“Tonight is marinated chicken along with some garlic squash and French bread.”
Both their eyes lit up as Sandy confessed, “We just brought a bunch of dehydrated stuff and wine coolers.”
“Well, I always bring more than I can eat. You’re welcome to combine your stuff with mine.”
They chimed in together, “If you’re sure.”
I laughed, “Yes, I'm sure.”
Thoughts of them wrapped together earlier in the day flashed through my mind once more. I pictured myself between them. I’d be spent, but it would be fun for me, hopefully for them too. I’d never make a move on either of them after seeing Cherise so protective. Besides why have a sixty year old man when you can have a twenty year old sweet thing?
They ran to get their food to prepare dinner together. We all talked about our lives while cooking. Cherise was an animal behaviorist and Sandy was an artist. They had met when Cherise had taken her cats over to Sandy’s to have portraits made.