he walked briskly

leaning into the blustery cold wind

his body tensed as the cold penetrated his thin jacket

his face and exposed ears were stinging

his empty stomach growled

more than 2 days since his last meal

but sheltering from the cold was his priority

food would have to come later

the terrain was rough

but he measured every step

an injury could be fatal here

survival requires intense focus

he spotted a structure ahead

visualizing a night of shelter

it was an abandoned shack

part of the roof remained

gathering wood for a fire

nature had preserved a few dry timbers

soon a fire was glowing in a corner 

taking care not to burn his numbed limbs

anchor points for a hammock

would keep his body off the cold damp floor

sleep was calling

but his belly ached for food

leaving the fire well stacked

he found a boggy patch of ground nearby

pulling up plants with starchy roots 

a simple meal quickly prepared

cold and hunger subsided

he slept soundly

a noise startled him

a black bear lunged toward him

he rolled from the hammock

pulling a knife from his belt

three stabs into the bear’s flesh 

saved him from certain death

the bear retreated

remaining still for a moment

adrenalin replaced by intense pain

deep wounds bleeding heavily

cutting down the hammock

wrapping the fabric around his abdomen

securing it with string

blood soaked through

too weak to travel

he had to summon help

building a fire outside

sending up smoke signals

nobody came that day

he stayed up all night

keeping the fire burning

another day of smoke signals

he drifted off late in the afternoon

woken by a helicopter above

a voice told him to lay face down

he was soon handcuffed

airlifted to hospital

with a police guard

patched up and returned to prison

plotting his next escape