Earl Bumpkin

Smashing through the pounding rain Earl swiftly directs his truck away from a fallen branch; suddenly there was a snap and the truck immediately dropped and started sliding across the pavement. The truck heads towards the edge of the road and "Whoosh" the truck is now weightless while falling towards the creek-bed 120 feet below. Inside, Earl, knowing he is screwed, prepares for the impact that is coming. He sees the rocks through the spider web of glass in front of him and is met quickly with a big patch of green. A tree branch about 2 feet in diameter slams into the front  grill of the car. Earl lurches forward his head almost puncturing the shattered windshield, his seat belt straining against the impact. But the car doesn't stay still for long; it starts to fall backwards towards the large green creek though slower this time. "Splash," the car lands into the water right-side up and starts drifting downstream.

Earl, suddenly aware of his surroundings, realizes that if he stays in the car he will drown. He has to get out now. Terrified Earl tears off the seat belt and hastily grabs the door handle; with water leaking into the car at his ankles through the windshield small holes of water start forming and spew water. Struggling he, tries to open the door but the water outside won't let him open the door. He's trapped and can’t get out he glances to the back seats and then through the windshield which is slowly leaking water. He looks down and sees the water in the car which is now at his knees. He looks back at the windshield and realizes if he could break it he could escape. Looking back again he notices a glimpse of a handle, he grabs it and sees that it is his umbrella. He takes the thing and starts whacking the windshield more water pours in and soon it is up to his waist. Here, patience is not a virtue. "Bang bang bang slosh," he did it the water came in and swept him into the backseat and smashes him against the back window. Pain sears through his back and shoulder but there was still hope. He had to block out his pain if he even possibly wanted to survive.

Gasping for breath in a small pocket of air on the ceiling he takes a deep breath and dives into the water. Sediment was fluttering over every surface of the car finding residence on the new object. This clouded Earl's vision but he kept going, pushing his way through his beloved truck. After a few seconds Earl was losing breath and to make it better he had found the front windshield the hard way. He swam and instantaneously he had a sharp excruciating pain shooting through his head. The water near his head became a light pink tint advised he was bleeding. He ducked his head under the shattered remnants and pushed himself out of the car accidentally  dragging his leg into the mouth of the ferocious glass. He jerked his leg away and headed up towards the surface there were glimmers of light then everything slowly faded to nothingness.

Coughing, Earl wakes up on a sharp river bed with pebbles and rocks surrounding. He begins to take consciousness and sits up doing this gave a burst of pain and he immediately stops moving he looks down at the surrounding rocks and finds them all to have a light red stain then he looks at his leg and sees it. A gash about an inch deep going down his entire calf. He glances at his hands and sees the cover of lacerations. Then he looks at his drenched shirt which had the faded symbol of The Rolling Stones but you wouldn't have known by looking at it. The shirt he was wearing was a crimson red instead of white. Earl leaned his head back on the ground looking up into the late evening sky. He heard the noises of the forest he was immersed in. He was stranded with a huge possibility of death. He had nothing. No defense. No Shelter. No food. No help. No Chance; but most of all he was tired he lightly closed his eyes and he soon returned to the familiarity of the nothingness. 

Sun beating down on his face Earl opened his eyes and was blinded. He moved his hand to cover his face. His skin burned as he touched it. He sat up eyes still closed nervous of the blinding light. He began to blink and eventually open his eyes fully. It was morning and he heard the chirp of birds high up in the canopy of trees. He heard the babbling gurgle of the creek and smelled the fresh scent of rain drops. But this was no time enjoy any of these aspects if he wanted to live he would have to something to stop the blood he was losing and he would need to eat something. The first major problem was his leg and head were the main contributors to the loss of the valuable scarlet amber. He turns his head towards the closest tree and starts to drag himself towards it. What he finds under that tree is the typical things you would find under it. Sticks, Leaves, Grass. "Wait a minute," Earl mumbled to himself. "What is this," picking up a small dandelion looking object. He turns his head to the right, nothing. The to the left and towering over the other trees was a cottonwood tree which had dropped the thing. Earl knew what he was going to do.

Earl grabbed a branch and stripped it of its light furry coat. He put the trees seeds into his wounds, wrapped leaves around the bloody cotton put sticks going down his leg and he had himself a homemade splint. He was now losing less blood but he still need other necessities. He was parched looked down toward the creek and decided to hobble down there and get a drink. Sitting down next to the cool water Earl cupped his hands and slowly began drinking the water. He felt fresh and invigorated giving him new hope; but he was still lost and that was still the same. He looked up the creek were he must have started his unfortunate journey. He saw nothing and knew he was probably miles and miles from the truck . He looked downstream and saw a huge rock face towering above the trees. So he slowly started his quest to the big rock.

Upon arriving, the thing was way bigger than he had thought. It blocked all sunlight which made it nice and cool. Walking alongside the rock Earl came to a small dark cave. It looked dangerous but it was his only form of shelter so he climbed in. Inside it smell nasty like mold and rotting wood. The dripping of water and the squealing  of tiny little bats fluttering around the ceiling filled his ears. Deeper yet he heard a growl…. Almost deep long groan. But this noise wasn’t human, not at all. This noise was from something big something HUGE. Earl gasped for breath and stopped walking through the dark place. He knew he was in trouble so he turned around and started swiftly walking for the exit but then he stopped in his tracks. There was breathing deep long breaths ones that did not belong to him. Spinning on his heels he is now face to face with a huge Grizzly Bear. Retracing his steps he slowly walked backwards but his clumsy brace snapped and he screamed in agony. The bear did not appreciate this and came charging towards the helpless wreck that Earl was. Earl rolled to left and the bear slammed into the spiky cavern wall. It released a deafening roar a turned towards Earl. Earl scrambled to his feet and began limping away from the beast. The bear charged and this time it hit. Earl went tumbling to the ground his head smashing against the rocky floor. He flipped over and saw the bear, huge in his eyes standing on its hind legs. Then it stopped making noise went down on all fours and walked away. “What the h***,” Earl mumbled. Using his arms he started scooting his bottom against the ground towards the exit of the cave.

The chirping birds made Earl aware that he was close to the exit. A cool breeze was blowing on the back on his neck, turned his head around and saw the trunks of trees. Although it was dark he could see the final few birds gracefully dancing in the sky before sundown. Earl attempts to stand but his leg shouts at this plan and immediately kills it. He scoots himself over to the rock face and shimmies his body up it. He standing but not without the wall’s help. It is dark now and Earl decides to fight through the pain. Throwing his leg forward he balances on his good leg then brings his bad leg forward. Pain searing through every inch of his body Earl fights to stay up and pushes forward. His leg collapses and he falls to the grass losing strength and hope. Tired, thirsty, and faint Earl is lost, shrouded in nights mysterious cowl looking for a way out. Laying there motionless Earl breaths his breaths as though he was drowning. Slower, slower, slower, his heart was puttering like an engine without fuel and then it gave up.

The lifeless lump of warm flesh and bones that was once called Earl lays limp in the morning light. Flies begin to gather around their newfound feast.  Then the flies look up: one, two, three, and then they all stare as the grizzly bear familiar with Earl steps out of the cave and smells the morning dew.   There are two more partners, however, both young and playful.  Cubs.  They stop and then sniff again; happy with the peace.  A snout gives a nudge to the two cubs, who curiously walk over to the fly-ridden corpse.  The curious cubs clutch the grotesque leg in their mouths and drag the snack to their den where it is never seen again.