5. we started our drive into the valley

We started our drive into the valley. Our cabin was a good thirty minutes out. One of Yosemite’s policies for preventing over commercialization. Not a bad idea. So close to natural beauty and doing their best not to capitalize. They were doing a great job. Ironic thing was, they could have used some the money. The roads were shit and needed some tending. Or so I thought.

“Seems like the economy is taking its toll,” Tay tried to joke around. But the SUV was bouncing around like we were in a moon-bounce over the pot holes. And boy were there pot holes. So much I didn’t think they constituted as pot holes any more. There’s usually an edge to a pot hole. The start and the end of a hole. This was becoming more of just broken asphalt.

“Go on the dirt.”

Thomas pointed to the side of the road. But I’m sure Tay was thinking twice about disobeying the law. He acted like he didn’t hear anything.

“Just for this stretch Tay. There’s no one on the road.”

“It’ll get better. This is just a rough patch. You’re not having doubts on my Element are you?”

“No doubts on the car. Just on me from spilling my coffee.”

Tay gave in and we were on the path. Much smoother. The path ran along side and curved with the road up ahead. Although the path banked more right, into the trees.

“Looks like it’ll meet up. Let’s bypass this crap and email Obama later.”

I figured this was the point, but it could as well been back at that fucked up road, or hell, even when we left Los Angeles. We gone somewhere. Where? I still don’t know, but everything at that point in time was about to change. What we left behind was in danger. Beyond the opening of trees that had led us in. Beyond the large rock formations shaped like faces smiling at us. And way past the large Sierra Juniper that waved come back soon. Because before you knew it, the path was gone and we were there. Where ever there was. I still can’t figure it out. Some point between here and there. Limbo maybe? Who knows. It all felt strange.

“Oh… kay.”

Tay stopped at the base of a large Redwood.

“Some road.”

Thomas stepped out of the car sipping on his coffee.

“You might want to see this.”

He said it like what you’d hear in a movie. With a sense of urgency. Yeah, I watch too many movies, because I was expecting something way out of the ordinary. Especially after the morning experience. And with this uneasy feeling bubbling inside of me. I definitely couldn’t sit still. We filed out. It was just the four of us. Tay, Thomas, Joanne, and me. Of course, it wasn’t what I expected. Maybe not what Tay expected either.

“We’re close to Bridalveil Falls. We can probably make our way there.”

That was unexpected. Well, ordinarily a wonderful surprise, but just unexpected for me. I guess if it really what I was expecting, Thomas would be singing a different tune. Something like, “Fucking shit! Look at all those wolves! Ohhh shieeet!!! Let’s get out of here.” Okay, not that animated or full of cursing. He’s not that type. But I think he may if he saw that. He’d drop the coffee too.

But that wasn’t the case.

We exchanged some ideas. Drive back, get to the parking lot, hike up from there, hike from here. One thing we did agree on was wasting time. So of course, we decide to leave the car there and hike. Tay is good with directions. So he’ll get us back here just fine. Yeah. Great set up right? Leaving the car in the middle of the forrest, going on a sic hour hike, and expecting to return just fine. Well, as I mentioned before. I think too much. And seeing too many movies doesn’t help. We were just going to set up ourselves for some tragic ordeal. Guess what. The hike went fine. Full of nature and beautiful things. The path we made meant no one else was there. No premade steps to follow. This was a true hike to the base of the falls. Not to the top of the valley, but I’ve been up there many times. This was different and frankly, better. And that fear that we’ll return lost. Didn’t happen. For some reason I knew we weren’t going to get lost. The direction we went, though staggered, was just east. We were a bit off on the way back, but I could almost smell the exhaust from the car. Not too hard. I couldn’t even believe everything went on without a hitch. It’s a bit messed up of me to think something would.

But I did say we left. And it was true, we went somewhere, away from what happened. Like into a bubble. And now on our return, we were out. All it took was for us to get back to the road.

“Holy shit!”

Yeah, that came from Thomas. And it was kinda from what I’d imagine him seeing. But this was slightly different. We saw wolves alright. Dead mutilated wolves. All over the road. To the side. Against the tree. Even some parts hanging from the branches. You could barely tell they used to be white. I mean, the fur was stained crimson. It was disgusting. A slaughter house was not the right word. That would mean things were orderly. This was chaotic. There was no way we could drive through this. It stretched beyond what I could see. Probably for miles.

“What the hell happened?”

Thomas’ words stopped a bit short when Joanne sunk her face into his shoulder. Her fingernails must have dug into his sleeves.

“Oh God.”

Her little shriek made me wince.

But Tay and I just stared out at the carnage. We exchanged looks. Maybe we should tell them what happened this morning. Or maybe not. Tay had a flash in his eyes. He shifted back into drive and the car kicked up dirt and he peeled out. We had to get back to the cabin some how and fast. I didn’t like the guy, but still.