Chapter Thirteen #3
Mo laughed a deep, steady laugh, enjoying their easy back-and-forth.
The pair rounded a decent-sized redwood before the trail spit them back out onto the sand and rocks of the creek.
Mo took a few more steps out and surveyed the new view, noticing the creek had widened even more since their last crossing.
“Let me guess, no bridge?” Mo asked as Aspen stood beside her.
“Nope,” Aspen confirmed before pointing at the bank to their left, farther south. “There is the narrow point, but if you noticed, there are a ton of tall rocks we gotta get over before that point.”
Mo nodded apprehensively before turning to look back at the brush. “No trail back that way?”
“Nope. You either swim, which is impractical, or you scramble.”
“With the packs on?”
Aspen bumped Mo with her hip playfully. “With packs on.”
“What if I fall in?”
“You won’t.” Aspen winked before leading the way. “Now come on, don’t be shy.”
The tall rocks, which were more like a few large rocks leading up to a boulder, covered most of the left side of the bank.
Mo couldn’t see the other side, only the shortened portion of the creek near the end.
She watched as Aspen walked along the wall, finding the best place to climb up.
After a minute or two of careful analysis, Aspen waved her over.
“Let’s go up right here. I’ll go first,” Aspen said cheerfully, Mo doing her best to keep her fears at bay. “You’ve got long limbs, you can do it.”
“But I’m shaped like a pencil,” Mo complained.
Aspen stepped on a big rock to her left, stabilizing herself on the larger boulder before shimmying up to a ledge made by a few flatter rocks.
“And I’m fat and kinda top-heavy,” Aspen replied, pointing to her larger breasts. “Use what you got.”
Mo breathed in deeply, watching each expert move Aspen made until she was at the top, about twelve feet off the ground. Before she could truly chicken out, Mo started her own ascent, noticing immediately how the weight of the pack limited her movements.
“Take it nice and easy,” Aspen instructed from above. “Grab onto the ledge to your right and put your foot on the dark rock.”
Mo did as she was told, lifting herself to the first ledge before working her way to the second one. If she had come across these rocks herself, she would have gone back into the woods to find a way around. But Aspen had a way of making most things seem harmless, so here she was.
“This isn’t a pile of rocks,” Mo grumbled. “This is a mountain.”
“It’s not one solid mass.” Aspen giggled, obviously enjoying watching Mo. “So pile of rocks is more fitting.”
Mo contemplated her next move, pushing herself up to the last ledge before the top with her legs. As she did so, her foot slid a bit, and she gripped to the rocks for dear life. “Shit!”
“You’re okay.”
“I know,” Mo shot back as Aspen was removing her pack up top.
“It’s pretty flat up here, so I’m gonna come and help you with the last bit,” Aspen yelled as she moved her pack out of Mo’s sight.
“Okay,” was all Mo could muster as she looked down.
“Take my hand,” Aspen said, now on her knees above Mo. “Then put your foot over there and push up.”
Mo nodded, following Aspen’s directions.
She put her foot on the ledge and grabbed Aspen’s hand firmly before thrusting her weight upward.
Aspen’s grip was firm, and Mo overestimated the amount of force needed—meaning she launched herself clear over the lip.
They both yelped in unison, Mo’s entire body weight, including the pack, now on top of Aspen.
Mo was practically straddling her, their faces squished together as the pack pushed her torso downward.
Mo pulled her head and shoulders up and off Aspen, but her body lingered, and she looked into her eyes.
“Whoops!” Aspen chuckled underneath but made no movement to push Mo away.
“I made it.”
“Yeah, you definitely did,” Aspen replied, her voice a tad deeper now.
Mo smiled down at Aspen, locking eyes. They stayed like that for a few moments, Mo enjoyed their closeness. How their bodies, even in this state, seemed to feel like they belonged together. Mo looked to her lips, considering her options.
“This is nice but…” Aspen squirmed underneath Mo. “My knee is at a really bad angle.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Mo immediately moved to try to alleviate her pain.
“It’s okay,” Aspen reassured her, helping to untangle their bodies. “I don’t usually like asking attractive women to get off my lap, but…”
“Yeah.” Mo finally let out a laugh. “Knees are important.”
“Indeed.” Aspen chuckled, pushing herself back up onto her feet.
Mo watched her move across the flat top of the boulder, treading carefully to reach her pack.
She watched as Aspen put it back on, in awe by how at ease she was here, how easy everything in nature came naturally to her.
And as Aspen looked back down at Mo, sliding a strand of escaped hair behind one ear, she crossed her arms playfully.
“Next time you find yourself on my lap,” Aspen started, moving toward the opposing ledge. “You’re free to kiss me.”
Mo’s jaw went slightly slack, unable to find a retort as she watched Aspen carefully turn and begin her descent down the other side.