MUD

Part 1 Choices.

Daria felt the dirt and mud pulling at her, trying to rip her away from her friends. A boot pulled off of her foot and she fought back the scream of pain as her ankle snapped. She turned to look at Jane’s tired and frightened face looking down at her. One strong arm reaching down from the second ledge holding onto her with a strong grip.

She felt the mudslide shift the ground under her and she slammed into the rocks losing her glasses as she tried to hold on with her free hand. The rain made everything to slippery and the mudslide that was eating up the landscape they were on was trying to pull her away from Jane and nothing seemed to be able to help.

She heard her sister screaming from somewhere away from the edge, screaming her name.

Daria looked up at the face of her best and truest friend and saw the fear. A sudden wave of debris hit her and almost ripped her free, breaking the grip Jane had on her hand. She watched Jane grab the secure line that had broken minutes ago but it still allowed her to catch Daria, though it almost pulled her over the edge.

“Let me go.” Daria heard someone calling. It wasn’t until it repeated the third time she realized it was her voice.

“You can’t pull me up; let me go before it drags us both away.” Daria cried knowing the choice she was making and she struggled to pull out the knife her father had bought her for this trip.

“No.” Jane said as she continued her fruitless battle to pull Daria back up.

The entire area had been covered with a three-day downpour that had turned the ground into muck and then the flash floods had started. They had been trying to get back to the main campground when they were cut off by the mudslides.

It was supposed to be one last shot of adventure before they all went to college and even Kevin had been bearable for the trip. She had been walking a little away from the group as they tried an alternate route Brittany had picked out on the map when the ground she was standing on disappeared and she was left clinging to the side of a cliff. Kevin had tossed her a line and she had even managed to get it into her harness but when the mud started running like a river around her, the line hadn’t lasted more than a minute. Jane had leapt and thrown herself into the danger grabbing Daria and holding her from the abyss. That line was the only thing keeping her alive now.

She remembered the conversion she first had with Jane about the trip.

“C’mon Jane my parents are willing to pay for you to.” Daria pushed.

“I don’t want to go rock climbing.” Jane answered.

“But Mack and Jodie are going too.” Daria tried.

“Even more reason not to go, why do you want to go?” Jane asked.

“Adventure, risk, one last chance to see the people from high school.” Daria replied.

“I thought the idea was to get away from these people.” Jane whined.

“Please, they’re making me take Quinn.” Daria sighed.

“There will be coffee right.” Jane relented.

Daria could see the others trying to reach Jane and she opened the knife, holding it next to her body. Jane was being pulled across the slippery ledge a few feet down from the main shelf they had been crossing, a quick jerk would pull both of them away from the rock face and they would be carried away.

“I can’t let us both die.” Daria called up through the wind and rain.

“Damn it Daria, nobody is going to die.” Jane said before she saw the knife coming up.

Daria moved to cut the rope but was prevented by Jane wrapping her hand around the blade of the razor sharp knife.
“I don’t think so Amiga.” Jane shouted.

Daria saw the blood run down the handle onto her hand and couldn’t bring herself to pull it free, her mind showed her the damage it would do.

Her mind flashed back again.

“Thanks for letting me come, even if mom and dad made you.” Quinn said cheerfully.

“It’s been nice, I kinda of like you when you aren’t hanging around with the fashion police.” Daria laughed as they sat next to a crackling fire, four days into their trip.

“What do you mean?” Quinn asked smiling.

“Look at you, dirty, covered in bruises and blisters. You hair is a mess and I can’t remember a time when I saw you happier.” Daria answered with a wicked grin.

“I need to get some different friends, don’t I?” Quinn sighed.

“No, you need to GET some friends, instead of people who only want to knock you down all the time.” Daria said and smiled at her sister.
“You have to take care of Quinn.” Daria said, shouting against the rain as she let go of the knife.

“You’re not dumping the Princess on me.” Jane said as she was pulled against the edge and struggled to pull them both back.

“Daria.” A screaming voice said from the ledge and she saw her sister’s face and arm reaching for her despite the ten feet between them. Kevin and Brittany were both trying to pull Quinn away from the danger as Mack tried to grab for Jane.

“Jane please, I’m not going to make it. Don’t die too.” Daria cried as she resorted to begging.

“With my shield or on it.” Jane whispered so softly Daria had to rely on her lip reading to make out the words.

Daria saw the rush of the ground and knew it was to late.
“I love you.” She said looking at Jane right before the ground disappeared below them both and they were swept away.

Mack and the others pulled away from the edge and sat on the soaked ground in disbelief.
Quinn’s tears, the only sound that rose above the thundering downpour.

“It’s not over.” Kevin said as he stood and started grabbing various items from the packs.

“Their gone.” Mack said looking like he was in shock.

“It’s half time, Mack Daddy and maybe we’re down but we ain’t out until I say we’re out.” Kevin said as he packed the equipment into his pockets.

“It’s suicide.” Jodie said.

“I’m going to try to follow them, maybe it will dump me in the same place as them.” Kevin said.

“You’ll drown.” Brittany said crying.

“As soon as the rain stops try to follow, I’ll leave the fire thingees, and send someone for help.” Kevin said strongly as he moved closer to the edge.

“There’s nothing you can do.” Mack said as he joined Kevin standing at the mudslide.

“I can try.” Kevin said and without warning he jumped into the mud and was swept away.

“Damn it.” Mack sighed. “Good luck.” He finished in a whisper.

“Mack, I think the path is still open, we could still try to make for camp. There will be help there, rangers and I think I saw a helicopter.” Brittany announced seconds later.

“Take everyone down the mountain. I’ll follow them as soon as the rain stops.” Mack declared.

“Screw you, I’m going after my sister.” Quinn said from the ground.

Mack looked at the younger girl and sighed knowing that no force on earth would change her mind.

“Fine, everyone else start down and get help.” Mack said.

Mack and Quinn sat under a tree huddled together waiting for the rain to calm enough for them to follow their now missing friends and family.

Part 2 Drip Dry

Daria shifted and her entire body screamed pain at her, waking her from the nothingness that had swallowed her. She slowly started to sit up and tried to look around but without her glasses, everything was a blur.
A few feet away she could make out a clearing; there was nothing else in sight except the remains of the slide. Jane was nowhere to be seen.

She was covered in mud, her right foot was throbbing with pain, and she did not even want to try to stand. As she started to crawl out of the pile, she felt the rope line pull tight; reminding her it was there.

: Please god, do not let this be what I think.: Daria thought as she pulled the line against a dead weight buried in the mud as Jane pulled free from the muck.

“No, no, no.” Daria said as she pulled Jane to her.

Daria grabbed up the still form of her friend and started checking for any sign of life and was rewarded with a blast of mud into her face when Jane started into a coughing fit.

“Yes, you bitch, your alive.” Daria sobbed as she started cleaning the mud off Jane’s face.

“Hey.” Jane said weakly.

“We made it.” Daria said wiping her own face now as her tears mixed with the caked mud.

“Where?” Jane tried as Daria started checking her friend for any injuries.

“No idea, I’m not even sure we’re alive except I think my ankle is broken and it hurts so I’m pretty sure that’s a good sign.” Daria replied.

“Head hurts.” Jane said.

“Looks like you bashed it on something, I think we’re rich cause that means there’s a stash of diamonds around here cause nothing else would be hard enough.” Daria teased as she checked Jane’s eyes and sighed at huge pupils.

Daria started pulling Jane farther from the mud as Jane described what was around them. Jane took a few minutes to look around as she lay on the ground while Daria gathered some loose wood.

“It’s all wet.” Jane said as Daria stacked it up crying every time she put weight or pressure on her foot.

“Not a problem.” Daria said as she stripped off her climbing gear and pushed everything from a roll of toilet paper to what appeared to be a map into the stack before lighting a flare and shoving it into the stack.

The wood was dried and burning nicely by the second flare and Daria dragged Jane next to the fire and started removing her clothing.

She had gotten down past the climbing vest and boots and was pulling off her pants before Jane spoke up.
“Um, what are you doing?”

“I need to get you out of these wet clothes before we get sick.” Daria laughed as she continued to strip Jane until her friends was completely undressed.

Jane tried to sit up but ended up getting sick when she tried so she quickly stopped trying to. Daria removed an emergency blanket from one of their backpacks and wrapped it around Jane, before starting to remove her own clothes.

“Naughty bits.” Jane teased from the ground as Daria wrapped another blanket around her own nude body.

“Be nice.” Daria warned as she sat next to Jane, the two shared body heat, and the fire.


Kevin dragged himself free from the drying mud and looked around. He couldn’t see anything except dirt and rock until a tiny spot of smoke seemed to rise into the air a few miles away.

He didn’t know what it meant but it was something so it was a starting point.

He started making his way toward the smoke walking against the wall of the canyon through the shoulder deep mud. He used the flares to mark the path tossing them on top of the almost solid mud and tried not to think of the girls being somewhere under it.

The night had been a thrill ride for him as he had ridden the mud like a water slide until he had been pushed into a tree caught in the currant and became trapped within its branches. He struggled for hours before he managed to get untangles, then decided to ride the tree until it came to a rest.

A cry caught his attention and he saw someone hanging on to a rock half buried in the mud and water.

Kevin waded across the mud and started pulling the person back toward the safety of the wall. He could tell from the short hair it wasn’t Daria or Jane but that did not matter.

“Hey, can you hear me?” Kevin asked as he started cleaning the man’s face.

“No.” The man grumbled as he pushed away Kevin’s hands.

“How about now?” Kevin said getting louder.

The man opened his eyes and stared at Kevin with a bemused look.

“Hi.” Kevin said.

“Who the hell are you?” He asked.

“Kevin, who are you?” Kevin replied.

“Mike Welsh. I work for the Park service. Are you part of the group from Lawndale?” Mike asked.

“Ya, we got stuck and then two of my friends got caught in the mudslide.” Kevin explained.

“Forget them, they’re dead.” Mike said and looked around.

“What?” Kevin said stunned.

“Look anything that got caught in that is dead. I need to get you back to the camp.” Mike said.
“You’re not and I’m not so they might be ok.” Kevin said forcefully before turning his back to the man and starting back toward the smoke that was steadier now.

“You are crazy.” Mike said before he saw the trail of smoke and knew what it might mean.

“God damn it, wait up.” Mike yelled after Kevin’s back as he tried to catch up with him.


Mack and Quinn were faring better as they made their way above the flooded out area, moving as fast as they could in the direction the mud had been flowing.

“There’s another one.” Quinn said pointing to a used up flare sitting on a rock face, its bright blue tip matched their own.

“Got to give him credit, he left us a trail to follow.” Mack said respectfully.

“Do you think they made it?” Quinn asked desperation creeping into her voice.

“Let’s keep going and keep your eyes open.” Mack said and he pointed to the smoke in the distance.

“Do you think it’s them or Kevin?” Quinn said as she pushed onward.

“Might be neither but all that matters is, it means people.” Mack answered following her.



Daria leaned against the wall with Jane asleep on her lap trying not to fall apart.
: We’re stuck, god knows where with little to no supplies and we’re both beaten up pretty bad. We are so screwed.: Daria thought as she checked Jane’s breathing for the tenth time in the last hour.

She was close enough to keep wood on the fire and she leaned over, checked one of the piles of clothes, and found they were still soaking wet.
: Not that I mind being bare assed with Jane but I was hoping for something else when it finally happened.: Daria thought amused.

“What’s so funny” Jane said from her lap.

“I doubt you want to know.” Daria smirked.

“Why am I sure that things are going to get interesting if we make it out of here.” Jane mused, she still sounded weak.

“How about we say when instead of if.” Daria replied firmly.

“You’re the boss.” Jane answered.

“Remind me to kick your ass as soon as we have a doctor to declare you fit.” Daria said thumbing her friend on the nose.

“You’re just mad because I don’t want to take Quinn off your hands.” Jane said as she drifted back to sleep.

“I hope their all right.” Daria said under her breath.

“But I don’t want to spend two weeks in the mountains away from TV and plumbing.” Daria swore at her mother.

“Daria can you please be reasonable, it’s not like we’re asking you to volunteer for anything. I would think you would enjoy adding some life experience to your writing.” Helen said sternly.

“Then why would I want to take Quinn?” Daria demanded.

“She’s missing you already and I think she needs some one on one time with her sister without her parents around.” Helen admitted.

“How much?” Daria sighed.

“My SUV, we’re planning on buying me a new one and instead of trading it in, you could have it.” Helen offered.

“Ok, but you have to pay the first year of insurance.” Daria accepted.



“How did your parents get you out here?” Jodie laughed as they made camp the first night.

“Bribery.” Daria answered.

“This is going to be great, nothing but the great outdoors. Only one thing could make it better.” Mack said looking over at Kevin who was trying to setup his tent.

“Hate to say it but he did really well on the trail up. I doubt he’s going to fall off the mountain.” Jane smirked.

“I guess nothing can be perfect.” Mack laughed.



“Daria if I did something bad and Mom and Dad threw me out of the house, would you help me.” Quinn asked the morning before the slide.

Daria stared at her sister’s face and decided against the joke. Hiking through the rain and mud had worn them all out yesterday.
“I guess, but don’t count them out to soon. They might surprise you.” Daria stated.

“You’re not asking what?” Quinn replied surprise written on her face.

“Doesn’t matter what, we’re sister’s and maybe even friends after the last few days.” Daria shrugged.

“Thank you.” Quinn whispered into her ear with a hug.


Kevin and Mike continued their trudging through the mud that was quickly drying out and even Kevin knew it was a bad sign, because it would entomb anyone trapped underneath it. The smoke was closer now and he could almost see where it was coming from, that information pushed him on faster.

He tossed another flare onto the hard shell of the mud as he kept walking, pushing away any emotion.




“Look.” Quinn said and pointed to a smoldering flare.

“That’s one more.” Mack whistled.

“Kevin is moving toward the smoke same as us, and you said the flares burn for 25 minutes right.” Quinn said sounding eager.

“Yep, I say we are about 45 minutes behind him maybe less.” Mack agreed.

Part 3 Can we do it again.


Brittany stared out of the second seat in the helicopter and guided the pilot toward the scene where she had last seen Daria and Jane.

“Stay low and go north about two klicks and we should be there, maybe 15 minutes out.” Brittany said calmly.

The pilot looked at her strangely and laughed nervously. “I remember getting those same directions from my copilot in Iraq, I hope this trip ends better than that.”


Kevin spotted Mack and Quinn before they saw him and shouted up to them.

“How’s it going?” Mack called down to him.

“We’re bogged in, the mud’s starting to harden, it’s like walking through concrete.” Kevin called back.

“How would he know that?” Quinn couldn’t help but giggle.

“It was 8th grade and you don’t want to know the rest.” Mack said before shouting back down to Kevin.
“We’re going to go on ahead and see if we can find an easy way down.”

“Did you send someone for help?” Kevin called back up to him.

“Brittany and Jodie.” Quinn answered loud enough for Kevin to give her a thumps up.



Daria woke up with a start and banged her foot on a rock causing her to let out a scream. Jane snapped up, quickly awake and regretting it almost at once.
“What happened?’ Jane asked looking around.

“I banged my foot, I’m sorry I woke you up.” Daria said as she tossed the last of the nearby wood onto the fire as she checked the clothes and found them somewhat dry although covered inside and out with dried muck.

“Any ideas?” Jane asked as she leaned back against the rock wall.

“Ummm.” Daria said when she looked at Jane and realized her friend was uncovered from the waist up, Jane noticed the blush.

“Damn.” Jane said and pulled up the blanket when she saw her best friend go red.

“Sorry.” Daria said as she stretched out on the heated ground near the fire.

“Anything I need to know about.” Jane pushed.

“Do you really want to have that conversion now?” Daria replied.

“No, but I really would love to talk about anything else.” Jane admitted.

“Quinn gave me some news yesterday morning.” Daria sighed.


Mack lowered Quinn down to Kevin and the ranger before climbing down himself. They continued toward the smoke and Quinn found that the mud was now hard enough for her to walk on top of in some places so she stayed ahead of the group suggesting paths through.

“NO!” Quinn screamed and started running forward. She stopped at a spot toward the center of the valley, digging into the dried mud.

Kevin and Mack both hurried as fast as they could to her and found her sitting with bloodied hands cradling a boot.

“Quinn, it doesn’t mean anything.” Mack said carefully.

“She loved these boots.” Quinn cried against his shoulder.

“It’s still laced up.” Kevin said looking at the boot in her hands.

“What?” Quinn said turning to look at him.

“Sometimes in car accidents, people get knocked out of their shoes. Could have happened anywhere upstream during the slide. There isn’t a foot here so I’m going there.” Kevin said pointing toward the smoke.

“He’s right. During a slide or flood things get pulled off. It doesn’t mean anything.” Mike said not wanting to spend too much time sitting still.

“Here let me hel…” Mack started.

“I can walk.” Quinn said as she stood up looking determined.

They group started moving toward the smoke trail again. Quinn carried the boot like a child in her arms.



Brittany pointed down at the clearing and turned to the pilot.
“That’s where they got taken. The flow was moving that way, toward the smoke.”

“Sounds like a plan.” The pilot said as he banked toward the smoke.




“Wow, when?” Jane asked.

“When do you think?” Daria said rudely.

“That’s pretty big, has she told your parents yet?” Jane whistled.

“No.” Daria answered.

“Jake is going to disown her if she’s lucky.” Jane said shaking her head.

“I know. It’s not a subject he’s open with.” Daria sighed.

“I think it’s cool.” Jane said and she turned her head as if listening for something.

“Did you here that?” Jane asked her and Daria started to listen.

“Sounds like a helicopter.” Daria said and she looked around for anything to throw on the fire.

“The clothes.” Jane said pointing at their clothing.

Daria started tossing the clothing on the fire and followed them with the remaining flares and both backpacks minus the little bit of food and water they had.



“Look!” Quinn said as the smoke started turning colors and increased.

“Cool, Mack Daddy, doesn’t that remind you of when I set my locker on fire, by mistake.” Kevin said and quickly added.

“Yes it does. Looks like someone is burning plastic.” Mack said as a smile came to his face.

“What?” Mike said seconds before the sounds of the blades reached his ears.

“It’s a chopper.” Kevin said and waved as it went over them.

Quinn had taken off running toward the smoke and the three men broke into a run after her.
“It has to be her or Jane.” Quinn was shouting as she ran.




Brittany pointed down into the gulch and squeaked with joy.
“It’s Keviee and Mack and Quinn, I don’t know who he is.”

“Looked like Mike, one of the rangers that went out to find some of the late arrivals from base camp.” The pilot responded sounding pleased.

“Look, there’s the fire.” Brittany said pointing to the fire and she squealed even louder.
“It’s Daria and Jane, they look hurt. Can we land?”

“That’s a negative.” The pilot answered. “But we can lower down the rescue baskets. You wouldn’t know anything about working a basket wench do you?” He asked.

“It looks like the same setup as the CH-47 Chinook, I can handle it.” Brittany said as she unstrapped and moved into the rear compartment.




Daria and Jane watched the basket lower itself down to them until it rested on the round a few feet from the fire.

They crawled over to the basket and Jane pulled out a note that was taped onto the pad, quickly reading it.

“The basket was made for one but your both pretty tiny so get on and strap down. Love B.” Jane read aloud.

“Sounds like a plan.” Daria said as she started to crawl into the basket behind Jane.

The basket started to lift them as soon as they closed the last buckle around both of them.
Daria stared into Jane’s eyes and couldn’t stop the smile from coming.

“Don’t get so cocky, you were the one that was sure she was going to die.” Jane muttered.

“I don’t care, we made.” Daria said before reaching over and kissing Jane on the lips.

Jane stared at her shocked when she pulled back away.

“You know you could have warned me.” Jane said as they neared the bottom of the helicopter.

“Consider this your warning. I love you.” Daria said and kissed her again, pleased that Jane didn’t try and stop her.

“You’re not just doing this so what Quinn did won’t seem as terrible, are you?” Jane pushed.

“No.” Daria laughed.

“Ok, then.” Jane said and leaned in and kissed her best friend.

“Oh hey there, do you want me to lower you back down so you can finish.” Brittany said as she pulled the basket in the door and strapped it down to the floor.

“Ummm, no but a warm shower and a bed would be nice.” Jane replied.

“Pizza.” Daria added.

“And a pizza.” Jane agreed.

“Two.” Daria said.

“Make that three pizzas.” Jane said nodding.




Kevin and Mack secured the line to Quinn’s climbing harness and signaled up to Brittany to start lifting her.

As they watched Quinn ascend to the chopper, Mack turned to Kevin.

“You did good Kevin.” Mack said honestly.

“I didn’t do anything.” Kevin shrugged.

“If you hadn’t started following them I would have taken us all back down the mountain and reported them lost. It might have been days before help found them.” Mack admitted.

“And if I had my way we would have turned back when you found me.” Mike said looking up as the cable lowered empty.

“I just remembered what you taught me.” Kevin shrugged.

“Huh?” Mack said clearly confused.

“The game’s not over until you say it’s over.” Kevin said as he buckled the line to Mack’s harness and signaled up to Brittany.



As Mack took a seat after Brittany unhooked him and sent the cable back down, he saw Quinn hugging her sister and crying. Both Jane and Daria looked worse for wear but alive but the shinny blankets that seemed to be all they were wearing made him want to laugh out loud.

Kevin was brought up next followed by Mike last, who closed the door and made everyone strap in. Brittany returned to the side seat as the pilot turned and flew back toward the nearest hospital instead of the camp.

“Fun trip huh.” Mack said down to Daria and Jane.

“I don’t know, I’m really enjoying myself right now.” Jane said lifting their intertwined hands to her lips and kissing Daria’s.

“I love you.” Jane said smiling.

“Me too.” Daria returned the smile.

“Let’s do this again next summer.” Kevin said grinning.




Jodie met them at the hospital and informed them their parents had been called and were in route already.

Quinn made sure that Daria and Jane got a shared room together and stayed by her sister’s side until their parents arrived. She disappeared shortly after Helen and Jake showed up.

“You should tell them.” Daria said as Quinn dropped in while they were checking with a doctor, trying to find out how long Daria needed to stay.

“I have some time.” Quinn shrugged.

“It won’t be as bad as you think.” Daria smiled and squeezed Quinn’s hand gently.

“I’ll think about it.” Quinn agreed.

“I thought about it and it’s the best choice.” Quinn said.

“Are you sure, it won’t be like it is on TV.” Daria warned.

“I’m sure and maybe then I’ll be ready for college, they’ll pay for it.” Quinn said sounding sure.

“Dad’s not going to be happy.” Daria said feeling a little proud of her sister.

“It’s just for a few years and maybe they can help me grow a little.” Quinn shrugged.

“So what Branch?” Daria asked.

“Army. I know that grandpa Morgendorffer was a Marine but I have a few more choices in the army for skills.” Quinn stated.

“What are you thinking about studying?” Daria asked.

“Maybe Medical tech. They have a lot of choices and I’m still looking through them.” Quinn answered.

“Is this really what you want to do?” Daria pushed.

“Yes. I signed the papers and everything. I have to report three weeks after I graduate from high school.” Quinn informed her.

“That gives you just under a year. Can you get out of it, if you changed your mind?” Daria mused.

“Ya, but that’s not going to happen. I’ve been thinking about this since Daddy took me to Arlington to see Grandpa’s grave.” Quinn smiled.

“That was 5 years ago.” Daria whistled.

“Yep.” Quinn laughed.

“I’ll be there and you can stay with me if it gets to weird with Dad.” Daria said accepting another hug from her not so baby anymore sister.