Read the story Lost in the Woods: I never thought departing the trail just a little would be a big deal. My parents had cautioned me so many times about wandering off and how easy it is to get disoriented. But, I wasn't planning to go very far. In fact, I kept looking back to make sure I could retrace my steps. Looking back didn't work. All of the trees began to look the same, and nothing looked familiar. It wasn't until I finally decided to make my way back that I realized I was lost! I had gone much farther, and for much longer, than I had planned.

The warmth that the sun had brought to the forest in the daytime was now quickly disappearing. My parents' warnings came racing through my head. What did they tell me to do if ever I got lost? Over and over they drilled into me, "The most important thing to remember is S. T.O. P.!" It's an acronym for sit, think, observe, and plan. I stopped, sat down on the forest floor, and pulled my knees in close. It was cooling off, and a light drizzle was dampening the forest. I was lonely and scared. I knew that to survive, I had to stay warm, and I needed to drink water. Before I got any wetter, I made a very crude lean-to from the nearby branches and foliage. I managed to collect a bunch of dry leaves for a mattress. It was dark now. I took off my T-shirt and wrapped it around my legs, pulled on my hoodie, and curled up on the bed of leaves. I couldn't sleep. It was a cold, dark, and spooky night, and I was hungry.

It felt like forever before the dawn filtered through the trees the next day. I knew I had to remain calm and make my whereabouts known. My family would be searching for me. I pulled out the only tool I had brought with me, my voice! I began to yell as loudly as I could,

"Help! I'm over here!"

Soon, very faintly at first, I could hear voices. I knew it was the search party, so I kept yelling and then listening. They kept calling out my name, and I kept replying until we were together. My dad was holding me close when he reprimanded me,

"Don't you know you were late for supper? I'm disappointed that you wandered off. I'm glad you told us where you were going, and I'm proud of you for remembering the survival techniques. But, I bet you won't do that again, eh?"

"Nah, I think I learned my lesson," I answered sheepishly.

Read the story, The Rescue:

Captain Henry was said to be one of the best divers in Bayfield, Wisconsin, and now he is said to be the best ship captain. However, this evening on Lake Superior was different from any other evening that Captain Henry had seen. It was a wavy and stormy night on the lake. Captain Henry was directing all of his strength to hold the steering wheel and control the ship. The waves were the size of mammoths, and the boat continued to fill with angry water. Captain Henry yelled at his fellow sailors to scoop out the water that was weighing down the ship, but the sailors could not work any faster. "We are sinking! We are sinking!" shouted the sailors.

Captain Henry knew that they were in trouble. With little time to spare before the ship began to sink into Lake Superior, Captain Henry made an urgent call to his older brother. His older brother had helped him with everything from cuts to broken bones all of his life. He was a father figure to Captain Henry. Coincidently, his older brother was also the strongest, bravest, and most dedicated coastguard in Bayfield, Wisconsin. Luckily, with Lake Superior just north of Bayfield, Captain Henry's brother would hopefully be able to rescue them soon. Captain Henry began to desperately flash the emergency lights on the boat so that his brother could find him. In the distance, the sailors pointed to a boat coming their way and tooting its horn. As Captain Henry's brother arrived, he threw a rope to the sailors and pulled them to safety. Standing on the boat, wrapped in blankets, the sailors, Captain Henry, and his brother watched the ship sink. "All good things must come to an end," stated Captain Henry, sadly. "But, hey! Now, you can practice your diving again and go see your ship at the bottom of the lake," joked Captain Henry's brother.

How is the main character in Lost in the Woods and the main character in, The Rescue different?

In one story, the main character is an adult who is trying to keep their fellow people safe, and in the other story, the main character is a child who is trying to stay safe.
In one story, the main character is rescued by a family, and in the other story, the main character is rescued by friends.
In one story, the main character is resourceful, and in the other story, the main character is inexperienced and useless.
In one story, the main character is thinking about how their brother can help, and in the other story, the main character is thinking about how their sister can help.