Week 10 prompt 47

47. Nature red in tooth and claw. The Law of the Jungle. Survival of the Fittest.

I step onto the peak, I've made it. This is the highest point I have ever been. It is certainly an unexpected triumph. Two weeks ago I had no idea what this might feel like. Two weeks ago, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
***
An announcement comes over the intercom, 'Only one week until the Outing Club leaves for Big Bend!' I am sitting in homeroom and getting excited. This will be the first time I have been past Massachusetts, my first plane ride, and my first hiking trip. It is going to be great. Some of my best friends are going too, we are shopping for hiking gear after school.
***
This is the day, we are finally leaving for Big Bend! I have no idea what to expect, just that it will be so much fun to be on vacation for the first time. I envision hotel rooms and restaurants. A few hours hiking here and there. We take bus to Boston then board a plane. I am ecstatic.
***
It's our first day and we don't waste any time, tents are set up, and we are off for the hike. Our first mountain is only a few miles up. Everyone is talking about it like it will be a walk in the park, literally. I organize my pack and fill my Nalgene bottles. I think I'm ready.
***
When we return from our second day of hiking, everyone is amped up to play soccer. There is a perfect flat area not too far from camp. I am embarrassed to say no, but there is no way I could run with these blisters. I take off my shoes to see the new skin and band-aids I covered them with are at the bottom of my socks. I wonder how long it took for that to happen, 5 minutes? That's how my feet feel. I don't know how I am going to continue this for another 5 days. I am lucky I have been an athlete my whole life of I would never be physically ready for this. Hiking all day in the desert, over 100 degrees everyday, miles away from the comforts I am used to. And to think, blisters are whats holding me back. I have five days to heal these heels before our biggest hike. 16 miles.
***
Today is the day. 16 miles ahead of me. My blisters haven't healed, but I've gotten used to them there. Like dogs have been nipping at my heals to motivate me up the mountains. This is the most exhausted I have been this whole trip. Why did we save the biggest for last? But I am determined. I will make it to the top even if I have to crawl there.
A few hours into climbing, I find myself alone. But there are people just out of view ahead of, and behind me. I'm at a fork in the trail, I continue on the path I have been on. About a half hour later, I can't hear the singing that has been annoying my the whole time. The girl behind me must have fallen back. Maybe she stopped for lunch. I keep going, determined to make it to the peak.
I have been alone for too long now, I think I am lost. I must have chosen the wrong path at the fork I came to. What did I do? I am alone on a mountain and don't know which way to go. I realize the only way to go is down, that's where everyone will end up eventually. But I don't want to give up. I have come to my own fork. Turn back to find my group, or continue on to conquer this mountain on my own?
I decide to push on. This journey is a lot more difficult when you don't have support from another human being. Now it is a personal battle. I have to make it to the top. At this point, it is closer to a rock climb  than a hike. The breeze is stronger than before, I must be getting close.
***
I hear voices. Lost on a mountain for a few hours and already I'm going mad. I step up onto a plateau and see most of my classmates gathered at the top of the mountain taking pictures. This is it. I make my way over and wait my turn to climb the tallest point to have my picture taken.
I give my teacher my camera and step onto the peak, I've made it. This is the highest point I have ever been. It is certainly an unexpected triumph. Two weeks ago I had no idea what this might feel like. Two weeks ago, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. But now that I have made it, I wouldn't change a thing.