The sun streaming through the trees woke Andor. He had to pee, but Lilli was lying across him and he did not want to wake her. They were both wrapped in a mylar blanket, it was much colder at the lake then it had been the first night in their tent. The mylar crackled loudly as Andor “Uggh stop moving, you’re squishing me.”  “Sorry. Nature calls.” Andor said as he unzipped the tent.  The tent was covered in dew and as Andor crawled out of the tent his back was soaked by the cold droplets rolling down the tents’ fly.  “We gotta figure out a better place to call home.” he said aloud as slipped on his boots and sprinted towards a nearby tree. There was a low mist on the lake, and clouds were swirling off the ridge line of the peaks that surrounded the tree-sheltered side of the island where they had made camp. Lilli stumbled out of the tent, yawning and stretching.  “What’s for breakfast today? And please don’t say canned dolmas again.” “Nope, I have a special breakfast for us. I was saving it for when we got here to celebrate.” Andor said with a wide grin, partially because his bladder was now empty and the thought of a delicious breakfast. “Oooh that’s exciting, what is it?” “Real eggs and hash-browns.” Andor said as he held up a half dozen eggs nestled in a camp pot which he had padded with grass and moss to keep them from breaking. “Where did you find those?” Lilli said licking her lips. “One of the cabins had a chicken coop. When I checked inside all the chickens were gone but their fridge had a bunch of eggs.” “Only six!?” Lilli groaned. “You left the rest?!” “Well, only six would fit in this camp pot and my pack was already ridiculously heavy. Don’t worry though I hard boiled the rest and they’re in a jar pickling as we speak. In a few days we can go back and bring up a load of supplies and we’ll have jars of pickled eggs.” “Pickled eggs!? Gross.” Lilli said as she mimicked a wretch. “What!? You’ve never had pickled eggs before?” Andor yelped in shock. “Oh you have to try one, they’re delicious. You’ll love them.” “Ugg yea, I’m not so sure about that… You keep saying that we’re going to stay here. I don’t think I can live in a tent up here for more than a week though.” “Me too, I had enough of living in a tent in Syria to last me a lifetime." “The island is growing on me.” Lilli said as she cracked the eggs and mixed in some hot sauce. “it is a magical spot for sure… I mean just look at the view!” As if on cue right as she said it the clouds parted and the sun poked through illuminating the lake which was crystal clear and shimmering like a million diamonds as the faintest breathes of wind caressed its surface.  “I know I can’t wait to pig out!” Andor said plopping another log on the fire. Then he placed the hash browns on a large flat stone next to the hot coals.  “Hey I have an idea!” Lilli exclaimed in excitement.  “Okay, let’s hear it.”  “This may sound kind of crazy but what if we closed off the mouth of that cave in the center of the island [^1] and turned it into a sort of hobbits hole?”  Andor sat there for a few moments thinking about what Lilli had said. “You know that is a great idea. Beats the heck out of making a cabin, like I was thinking. It would save time having to make four walls and a roof if most of it’s already done. Great idea babe! Let’s go check it out after breakfast!”  ![[Andor_Mountain-iii2 1.jpg]] Lilli tossed another log on the fire and rubbed her belly.  “That was delicious! I’m absolutely stuffed.” “Me too. I’m excited let’s go check out that boulder field in the middle of the island." Hand in hand they walked through the forest towards the middle of the island.  It was a small island and as such they didn’t have far to go before they reached the boulder field.  Andor let go of Lilli’s hand. “We won’t fit through there side by side” he said as he pointed towards a small gap between two boulders.  They zig zagged back and forth picking their way through the boulder field. Some were small enough they could climb on top of. Others were bigger than a car. Other times there was barely enough room to fit through while other gaps between the boulders were wide enough for them to walk side by side through. “There it is!” Lilli cried out. “Our new home!”  In front of them was the massive boulder. The side facing them was overhanging. It was perched atop a sandy plateau that was ringed by rocky cliffs that were about ten feet tall.  Where the boulder overhung it created a large covered space.  “That would be a great spot!” Andor said as ideas began to fill his mind of how they could turn it into a permanent home. Breaking into a run he scrambled up the cliff via a hidden cleft in the cliff face.  “Oh that’s cool!” Lilli said with a gasp “It’s like a hidden door!”  “Wow look at the view!” Andor said as he stood inside the cave and pointed out towards the lake.  The mouth of the cave faced the lake and since they were perched above the wind gnarled trees growing along shore they could see to the opposite shore. Behind them casting a shadow on the island was Andor’s peak. “So the boulder field only has one or two routes through. It should help keep us safer.” Andor said excitedly “We could construct a wall inside the cave to protect us from the wind.” “Just imagine waking up to that view every day.” Lilli said as she plopped down into the soft sand. “You know… I like it… a lot. Great idea babe to come here. There is just something about this spot, the energy here is special.”  “It is isn’t it? Oh and check this out.” Andor said turning around. Lilli followed him into the back of the cave. “Do you see it?” Andor said pointing at the rock roof. “Are those hieroglyphics?”  “They are! From the Shoshone Indians.” Andor said as he excitedly pointed to the various hieroglyphics on the rock face. “I discovered them. Years ago this cave was overgrown with shrubs. It hardly looked like a cave. I was bored one day and decided to see what the boulder face looked like behind all the foliage. I started hacking through it and digging and pulling out shrubs and brush. There was a bunch of arrowheads, pots, and even some beads. I brought them to the local reservation. A few weeks later an elder came up, and visited this spot. They performed rituals here. I guess they never really told anyone about it. Better that way so it wouldn’t get overrun.” “It is a special place for sure. I can feel it.” Lilli said as she wrapped her arms around herself as chill ran down her spine. “I didn’t know this place was sacred. Do you think it’s okay if we stay here?”  “I hope so, we don’t have much of a choice.” Andor said with an inflection in his voice that let Lilli know he wasn’t sure. “I mean the elder said the Shoshone ancestors used this cave as a shelter and that it had religious significance.” “I hadn’t thought of that…” Lilli’s voice trailed off. “I just wish we could ask for permission first.”  “Yea I agree.” Andor said staring at the ground. “How about before we move in we thank the spirits of those who came before us and made this place home?” “How would we do that?” “So many people are hurting right now… maybe we ask for guidance and express our gratitude for this place and what it could mean for our survival…” “Maybe we should also make an offering of thanks, recognizing that we are grateful for this land that will sustain us and provide us a way to possibly survive this global catastrophe.”  As if to highlight the seriousness of their situation a huge peel of thunder erupted and reverberated in the cave causing their ears to ring and even the dust to swirl and drift in the wind.  “I think that’s a great idea babe” Andor said as he stood. “Let’s go get our stuff and bring it up here before the rain comes though.”   Andor and Lilli stopped at the bank of the lake, picked up a large piece of bark from a pine tree that had washed up on the shore and placed a small handful of pistachios that were in Lilli’s pocket on the bark and set it adrift on the lake.  Lilli and Andor stood on the shore and watched the bark drift out into the lake. “Thank you spirits and all the life around us for your wisdom and for giving us the means to survive during our time of great need.” Lilli said as she clasped her hands together. She and Andor stood there quietly watching their floating offering of benevolence drift further away from shore. Then in a nasty guest of wind it was overturned by the tumultuous water. They bowed slightly and then scampered back to camp to collect their things before the tempest of black clouds unleashed its furry upon them.   “Those rain clouds are looking pretty ominous,” Lilli declared. “We should get busy, or else we are going to get drenched.” “I’ll go grab the tent and bring it up to the cave.”  “Perfect, I’ll meet you there. I am going to grab collect some firewood before it the rain gets here.”  Andor took off at a dead run for the forest where they had left the tent and their two packs. With a full days food eaten the packs were a lot lighter now.  I think we have enough food for another day and a half. We better get to work finding more though if we don’t want to starve Andor thought to himself as the first drops of rain began to fall from the sky. A few minutes later Andor came bounding up to the cave wearing one pack on his back and the other on his chest and clutching the tent, which he had wrapped around himself like a great coat.  “Find any good firewood?”  “Yup, got one load stashed in the back of the cave. I’m gonna go get another load.” “Perfect. Let me put down this stuff and I’ll come help you. No telling how long this storm I going to last.”  Andor and Lilli spent the next fifteen minutes or so running back and forth along the beach and into the forest collecting dead wood. They had amassed a rather large pile in the back of the cave when the skies opened up and hail the size of quarters began pelting them.  “Ow! that fucking hurt!” Lilli screamed as a large hailstone bounced off her collarbone leaving a nasty welt. “Leave it!” Andor said dropping a load of branches. “Just run!”  Together they ran through the rain, hail, lightening, and peals of the thunder.  Water was gushing off the top of the boulder but inside the cave it was dry and safe from the raging storm. “This is going to be a great spot to build a home.” Andor said with a shiver. “It is.” Lilli said with wonder peering around the dry and spacious interior of the cavern.  “I am gonna get a fire going. I’m soaked.” Lilli said as she peeled off her sopping wet clothes.  It was a primal moment - two lovers standing naked in a cave while the tempest raged outside. Soon enough they had a small fire going and the tent pitched inside the cave.  Naked, they crawled into their sleeping bags, holding each other as the heavens unleashed an unholy maelstrom. [^1] ### Next Chapter: [[21 - Settling In 🍄‍🟫]] ### Previous Chapter: [[19 - Escape 🏕️]] [^1]: [[2 - The Beginnings of a Dreamer 🏔️]]