Bump In The Night

Four miles into the dirt, I had enough for the night. My back was sore from driving and the temps were dropping rapidly. I opted to leave the tent packed and crash inside the car. The wind was howling and if outside, I knew I'd be up all night cursing the cold, breathing in sand. Not tonight.

I typically sleep well in the back. I've rigged up blackout curtains and pack enough blankets to keep me warm. On this night, it wasn't the cold that kept me awake. Howling came in all directions. A foreigner had entered their territory and to them, that also meant enemy.

2:34am. I suddenly felt surrounded. The howling turned to barking. Were they talking about me? Letting the others know I was there? The chorus grew closer. Investigating my presence. A pack of coyotes can be vicious if they're hungry enough, but I wasn't too concerned surrounded by mostly metal.

3:03am. Growing tired, I had enough of their cries. One fist on the horn and a flick of my headlights sent them running. The power of my voice overwhelmed their need of curiosity. This may be their ground, but I'm not the type of business they want to mess around with.

7:11am. I woke to an electric blue sky. 28 degrees felt more like -10 when I cracked open the rear hatch. I quickly healed my frozen breath with a warm cup of coffee and a few scoops of oatmeal. Scanning the area, I noticed a small cave in the hill behind me. Large enough for let's say, a coyote family to live in maybe?

Now it all makes sense. Time to hit the road...