The sun was thankfully starting to set as we got closer to our camp. It was an unusually hot day in the mountains that day and feeling sweat dripping from my breasts and inner thighs all afternoon was not pleasant, at least under those circumstances.
At least we recognized where we were by this point, just 30 minutes beforehand I was terrified and disoriented, crying uncontrollably. Now, I was sweaty, tired and extremely pissed off. We had been wandering around for hours trying to find the trail again after my normally intelligent boyfriend had gotten us off the main path and on to some stupid animal trail that led nowhere.
Worse was the fact that Philippe was Swiss and his calm, analytical demeanor was only adding to my frustration. If he told me one more time, "Don't worry Cherie, we will find the trail, we just have to retrace our steps." I was going to lose it! Retrace what steps? Everything looked the same in this part of the woods! Jesus, he was a robot!
As we were in sight of our camp he mumbled something in French and I quickly snapped, "Shut up Philippe, and don't talk to me for awhile". He mumbled something else about me being a "bitch" and then all was quiet. I turned around because I didn't hear his footsteps behind me anymore and noticed he had gone off in the trees, to piss most likely. "Good," I thought to myself, "he's driving me crazy!"
I stomped into camp and dumped my pack off in the tent. I could hear the water of the creek behind me, and I was dying to just go sit in it and wash and drink to my hearts content. I kicked off my hiking boots and peeled off my socks. Tip toeing to the creek, I cautiously looked down river at the camps of some of the other backpackers to make sure they wouldn't see my tits as I tried to slide out of my sweaty shirt, although at that point, I didn't give a shit who saw me!
The cool air of the oncoming evening breeze felt good against my skin and my nipples tightened against the refreshing chill as I unhooked my bra. I unabashedly walked to the river and relished the coming darkness and incredible bath I was about to give myself. The birds had been singing as I arrived at my tent but now everything was quiet except for the quiet gurgle of the creek.
I heard the snap of a twig behind me and said without looking "What took you so long? Did you get lost again jackass?" I said with a mischievous grin. All I got was a grunt. Typical Philippe, I'd probably be punished with the silent treatment for the rest of the day. "Fuck you then Philippe, why don't you just go in the tent and pout?!" I wasn't going to let him ruin my bath.
I reached down and grabbed a handful of water and cupped it up to my mouth. Some spilled down my chest, teasing my already hard and sensitive nipples. I felt the water trickle down my belly and splash on my inner thigh, and down the waist band of my shorts. God that felt good. I pinched and stroked my nipple a bit, I could feel heat growing in my pussy and I groaned a little. "God I hope he's watching," I smiled; I decided to finish my bath before I pleasured myself. I'm always a sucker for delayed gratification. It's the sweetest torture.
I reached down to scoop up some more water and I heard another grunt and then a low grumble. Hanging there upside down I looked between my legs to see behind me. A big brown bear was not 15 feet away from me. Instantly my legs began to shake. I slowly straightened and reached out my hands in a defensive posture saying quietly, "Whoa bear.....good bear."
I moved slowly farther into the creek and he advanced towards me. I had heard that a black bear, unless he was sick, would always do the right thing. I wasn't sure about this bear, he looked more like a grizzly, his hair was a golden brown and he had a slight hump. Jesus, there wasn't supposed to be grizzlies in the mountains of Colorado! I just kept saying, "Whoa bear...good bear." He sniffed the air toward me and let out a horrible, growling groan.
I must have cried out because I heard Philippe down river say, "Kelsey, amie, are you ok?"
All I could muster was "Bear!" I heard him swear as he came running. The bear was still coming towards me, backing me farther and farther into the middle of the creek. I was in the worse place ever if I needed to run.
Philippe started shouting as he threw rocks at the bear, "Look at me you son of a bitch! Come over here you bastard!" The bear turned towards him just long enough to roar at him, then he stood on his hind legs and I just knew we were going to be dead.
Philippe ran for the tent, grabbed something out of his pack and all of a sudden the air was filled with a loud, piercing honking noise. The bear shook his head in frustration, and Philippe sounded the horn again. I guess the bear figured nothing was worth that sound and he surprisingly turned and ran upstream.
Thank God Philippe was always prepared! A damn boat horn of all things! Philippe followed for a short while and noticed that the bear was at full charge up the hillside and most likely wouldn't return.
I stood in the river, shaking and crying. Philippe ran back to me and grabbed me. We stood there for about 2 minutes just squeezing and holding each other. We cried and shook in great gasps, it was a terrifying experience looking at the bared teeth of a grizzly on his hind legs!