Alone at the Lake?

Heart skipping, feet tripping

dawn greets me as I amble off

traipsing around the tranquil lake…

tons better than any tonic!

Not a soul within cooee

oh blissful life!

Sporadic birdsong rends the stillness.

The startling whip-crack of a nearby Whipbird

sets my steps faltering.

An uneasy tingle creeps up my spine

an unshakeable, unrational sensation of

unobserved eyes that linger long

Utter Folly…

Isn’t it?

*

Unbidden

fingers massage the back of my neck.

The Itch ups the ante.

But why?

Distractedly, I check…

no errant spiderling

floating on its silky thread.

Muddy joggers squelch

scuffing, scattering

pungent leaf litter.

The rhythmic shush, shush, shush

a barely uttered whisper.

I am alone…

Aren’t I?

*

A mere dozen heart beats or so, ago

all was sunny, safe, secure

but that was before.

Before…

being swallowed up by the isolation of

this lonely rainforest trail

Before…

the canopy of towering kauri pines

blotted out blue skies

quenched feeble rays of sunlight.

Before… this unnerving itch

at the nape of my neck.

I’m all alone…

Aren’t I?

*

With a mental shrug

I plunge deeper, ever deeper

into the waiting arms of the forest

expecting its typical warm welcome.

My feet led me here

without a single fear…

I keep a sharp eye out for snakes lurking near.

Today… my anxious eyes peer and strain.

What just moved?

There! Out on the periphery of my vision…

the faint rustle of undergrowth echoes.

A foraging Pademelon?

Or a colourful Brush Turkey?

I hope!

*

Do I detect a faint whiff of smoke?

A bushfire maybe?

Improbable. Not here on this dank, deserted trail

water droplets drip, drip, dripping off tangles of twisted vines!

Nerves strung more tightly than a suspension bridge

I hesitate…

Doubts swamp my reeling mind.

Loud wailing suddenly reverberates in the trees

before me — behind me — all around.

Turn back? Never!

Back towards the treacherous threat trailing me?

A flutter of wings erupt high above…

A Spotted Catbird shrieks again.

All’s well?

*

Inspired by rainforest hikes on the Atherton Tablelands.

Written for the below challenge: