Avenge the Adventure

Chapter 7

Choice Two

He decided to follow Steve.  Sam kept a good distance back so Steve wouldn't see him.  When he gets to the cabin Steve goes inside while Sam goes to the side window and listens.  Steve and Natasha sit down.  Sam sees her and thinks about that day Steve told him he thought he saw a woman in the forest.  Sam stays silent as Nat starts to speak. "Okay, tomorrow the forest will test you, there is no way to know exactly what it will do but I know you can do this" she reassures him.  "What if I fail? Then all my friends will die, me included" Steve says worried.  "That won't happen" Nat says confidently.  "How are you so sure?" Steve asks. She smiles "because I know you won't let that happen."  He nods thinking about all the ways things could go wrong tomorrow.  Natasha notices his worry and places her hand on his.  He looks up and into her emerald eyes.  She smiles "it will be okay Steve, trust me."  Sam is so confused and tries to get a better look but falls backwards into the bush.  Both Nat and Steve hear this, so they go outside.  They go to where the sound came from and see Sam on the ground. "Sam?" Steve says. "Hey man, mind helping a brother up" Sam asks.  Steve gives Sam a hand up.  "Sam, how long have you been standing there?"  Steve asks.  "Since I followed you here.  Guess you weren't seeing things when you said you saw a woman" Sam says.  "Steve, no one was supposed to know this can't be good" Nat tells Steve.  Suddenly, they hear thunder, and it starts raining. "What's going on Nat?" Steve asks.  "The forest is angry at you since someone else now knows" she tells him. "What does that mean?" Sam asks.  "The test is off, you failed which means" Nat starts "it's going to kill us" Steve finishes.  Bang, lightning strikes making a tree fall.  "There has to be a way to stop it" Steve says. "But what?" Sam asks.  Another lightning strikes but this time by the waterfall.  "Come on" Nat yells.  The 3 of them head to the waterfall as fast as possible.  When they get there, they look around for some sort of sign.  The wind blows pushing them in the direction of the cliff at the top of the waterfall.  The 3 of them climb the cliff and look out and down at the falls.  "Now what?" Sam asks.  Another lightning strikes hitting a tree, but it doesn't fall over.  The lightning strikes 3 more times.  Natasha looks at the 4 trees and notices small letters engraved on them.  She notices it spells a word.  Then it hits her. She walks to the ledge and looks down. Steve notices this "Nat, what are you doing?" he yells. "I know how to stop this" she tells him.  "How?" Sam asks. She looks down "I have to jump" "What?" Steve says going over to her.  She looks up at him "Look at those 4 trees that the lightning striked, each has a letter, and it spells FREE, I have to jump so the forest can be free." She notices he's still confused so she elaborates "I have to give my soul so the forest will have its freedom, it's not mad at you it's using this as an excuse to be set free." "Why can't it be me then, not you?" He asks. Nat sighs "it has to be me, I am its soul, so I have to jump." "No, I won't let you do this Nat I can't lose you" Steve says grabbing her wrists. Sam watches feeling guilty, if he had just stayed at the cabin and trusted Steve this wouldn't have happened. "It will be okay Steve, think about it if I do this you and your friends will get to go home" Natasha says trying to cheer him up. "But you won't" he says sadly. "Please Nat don't do this I need you" Steve pleads. "I love you" he confesses. Nat smiles a sad smile "I love you too." She leans in and kisses him. He kisses back savoring all he can. Natasha then gets free of his hands and falls backward down the waterfall and into the water. Once she hits the bottom a gust of wind goes out into the forest. The rain stops and the sun comes out. Sam walks up to Steve "it worked." Steve nods "Ya" he says sadly. A path of flowers is created meant to lead them out of the forest. The two guys head back to the cabin and tell the others they found a way out. They don't mention Natasha or any of the other stuff for fear the forest might get angry. They all pack bags and go to bed early so they have enough energy for tomorrow.

As the group is getting ready to leave in the morning, they notice Steve is missing. "I'll find him, be back soon" Sam tells them. He goes to the waterfall to find Steve standing there watching the water flow. "Hey" Sam says, "were ready to go." Steve stays quiet. Sam walks up to him and places a hand on his shoulder "I'm sorry man but think of it this way, live for her, live one life for the two of you." Steve sighs "thanks Sam." Just as they're about to leave a bright light flashes blinding them. When it's gone and they look back both stand there in total silence. Laying on the rock beside the water is Natasha unconscious. Steve runs over to her and checks her pulse. Its steady. He smiles "Nat" he says softly. Slowly she opens her eyes. "Steve" she says. His smile grows even more. She sits up and looks into his blue eyes which are filled with happiness. Steve looks her up and down noticing that her dress is made of huge red flower petals. After he looks into her beautiful emerald eyes. "I love you Nat" he tells her. "I love you too Steve" she says. Then he pulls her into a long and loving kiss full of emotion. When the two break apart they stand up. "But how?" Sam asks. "I think the forest set me free too" Nat says smiling. Then they hear this whisper in the wind "come back once a year and enjoy your freedom as I have given it to you." Sam is a little freaked out "guess we'll be back next year anyways we should get going" he says. The 3 walk back to the cabin where the rest of the group is. "There you are we got to get going I'm sick of this place" Tony complains then he notices Natasha. "Who is this beautiful lady?" Tony asks flirting. "Watch it Stark and this is Natasha we'll explain everything on the way" Steve tells them a little annoyed with Tonys flirt. "Alright let's go!" Sam yells. Steve, Sam and Natasha explain everything to the group and finally they reach the exit of the forest.

They all go back to New York and the next year return like they promised. Natasha became Steves partner at the Brooklyn Police Department and fit in well with the group especially Wanda. Natasha and Steve got engaged a month ago and decided to do the wedding in the place they met at the waterfall. Tony officiates and the forest gives Natasha a beautiful white flower dress. They exchange the rings and say their vows. "I do" Steve says with a huge smile. "I do" Natasha says with a huge smile as well. Tony pronounces them husband and wife. The two kiss as everyone else cheers. Sam and Bucky mostly who are still together and have now told their group of friends about them. Maybe that camping trip was a good idea after all.

The End.

Hope you enjoyed!