Two little girls are lucky to be alive after they spent 44 hours lost in the Northern Californian wilderness surviving off of rainwater.

It all started on a Friday afternoon when Leia Carrico, 8, and her 5 year-old sister Caroline asked their mother if they could go on a hike. This was not unusual for them at all, as their family often goes on hikes, so their mother gave them permission.

However, things took a turn for the worse when Leia and Caroline wandered too far down a deer trail on their family’s 80-acre property in Benbow, and they soon realized that they were lost when they passed the same metal poles multiple times. This let them know that they were walking in circles, but though darkness was falling, the sisters managed to stay calm.

Thankfully, Leia and Caroline remembered all of the survival skills that they had been taught from their various summer camps and favorite television shows. On their first night, temperatures plummeted and it began to rain, so the girls draped one of their jackets over a huckleberry bush and huddled together underneath for warmth. They drank rainwater from the huckleberry leaves, and Leia told Caroline to think happy thoughts whenever she got scared.

Meanwhile, their parents had reported the girls missing and a massive search was launched for them. On their second day in the wild, the girls remembered that it was important to stay put, so that’s exactly what they did. They spent a second night huddled together in what they called their “huckleberry home,” hoping that rescuers would soon find them. During both nights, Leia stayed up to look out for wild animals while Caroline slept.

Finally, on Sunday afternoon, the girls heard rescuers calling their names. Their family was overjoyed that they were found safe and sound!

#searchandrescue #update Leia and Caroline were found approximately 1.4 miles south of their residence near Richardson’s Grove. Here’s a first look from the scene where first responders located the girls.
Press release with more information as soon as possible today. pic.twitter.com/k2bUTQOtrt

— Humboldt County Sheriff (@HumCoSO) March 3, 2019

Police officers were amazed at how smart and brave the young girls were throughout their ordeal.

“Hypothermia could have set in, but they kept dry. That was the key thing for these girls,” said Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal. “As far as their appearances go, no scratches, they weren’t wet. They were smart enough to stay under canopies of tall trees and stay near tree trunks. They hiked all the way to the location and stopped when they knew they were lost. That was exactly what they were supposed to do. They looked like they were out for a stroll, like they were gone an hour from the house.”

Misty Carrico, the girls mother, said that while they will not be going on any more daytime hikes alone, she’s just happy to have them home.

“I’m trying not to punish them,” she said. “They saved each other. I’m the proud mom. I raised super heroes.”

Find out more about their harrowing ordeal in the video below!