Swallowing her food down she stopped for a moment as she recognized the music and snapped her head around for the source only to realize the music was gone, the station's regular music was playing. Turning around she realized she was in a small panic as her breathing had become sporadic, looking at the boy she saw he hadn't noticed as he continued enthusiastically scarfing down his food. Taking a few deep breaths to slow her breathing she returned to eating, wondering what that was.
Sometime later, with food eaten and paid for and with a polite wave and a smile to an enthusiastic boy in the window waving excitedly, she took her time going towards the mountains on foot. Having food in her stomach helped her focus as she checked her maps and realized she could start looking easier for some of the places marked from the diner. Not very enthused about the trek but looking forward to a hopefully quiet weekend with nature, she began walking. Rita wasn't too much of a city girl, but camping wasn't a common practice for her, but she would be rewarded whether she found Ms.Weatherly or not.
She let her mind wander, smiling at the thought of how working in a department involved with your college credits was counted towards her work study requirements. And with the world beginning to change, making Parapsychology into a more proven science, she might actually stomach committing to her minor instead of Psychology, depending on how this trip goes. "Whether or not Ms. Weatherly turns out to be some sort of medicine woman, at least it'll be nice to get out of the office for a while." She said to herself as she began going through the woods.
Hours later, with an aching body, she took her pack off and sat on a random overturned log and took out her map. It was getting close to sundown and she'd have to set up camp, but for now she guessed it was about 1730 or 530 in the afternoon. Looking at the map with the fading sunlight beginning to turn shades of orange and amber, she had managed to mark off at least 1 of the nearby spots while managing to not get lost.
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The cabin in question was abandoned, and thankfully with nothing calling it home... yet. The walls were still good, though the door was no longer on it's hinges, but by the look inside, a bear smelled scrapes and decided to investigate. Thankfully, nothing like a skeleton in the corner or blood staining the boards was anywhere to be found within. Although the smell of scat and other things filled the dwelling among broken furniture and a few broken pots, no one seemed to call it home for some time. To the best she could tell, they simply moved, whether into town or elsewhere, let alone when, was anyone's guess.
Letting her eyes wander the spots on the map where she might live she guessed she'd be done in about 3 days, but that was before she actually got out here carrying everything. The bag weighed a lot but it was manageable for her size, the issue was it was everything she had out there to survive, so she couldn't leave it anywhere to check on places since she might lose track of it. With a weary sigh she got up and began looking for a place to camp for the night.
Walking for a bit more, she eventually came across a spot where someone else had once camped, it was a small clearing with a circle of rocks for a campfire already set. Deciding here was probably the best place she was going to find for now, she began the process she'd practiced a few times of setting everything up.
About an hour later, with the light of the sun almost completely bled from the sky, Rita sits with her arms crossed. The cold not bothering her a bit, covered in a blanket in a fold up chair, next to a makeshift fire of some nearby sticks she gathered. Her tent is set, with a small emergency radio playing classical music as it hangs by a strap from the back of her chair, as a kettle begins to steam on a grill set over the fire.
Taking the kettle with a stove glove she bought to make it easier to be near the fire, she poured the hot water into a cup with a teabag in it. Holding the hot tea with both hands after putting aside the kettle, she let it steep as she leaned back to stared up at the stars with a quiet smile on her face.
Being further into the mountains, the light pollution was noticeably less as she admired the view. Having waited long enough, she took the teabag out and took a slow sip to let it warm her from the inside. With a contented gulp, she sighed contentedly while continuing to admire the stars as she listened... to... "what?"