The Forest and The Cat.

Chapter 4: Maple Trees.

I frantically looked around, getting dizzy from how much I was turning. I stared into the trees surrounding me, and I realized that they were maple trees. the three-point leaves made my skin crawl, remembering Maple, the "cat." I cried out loudly, "KAYLA! WHERE DID YOU GO?!"  the words escaped, a pain in my throat following, I could not lose her. I couldn't live without her. Looking back, it's surprising I didn't know I liked her.

I ran into the darkness, suddenly bumping into what felt like a wall. I fell on my butt, screaming and scrambling back. I saw antlers in the shadows, slowly moving side to side. like it was trying to figure out what I was.  "NO!"  I screamed on the top of my lungs, sprinting to the other side of the tree circle. where it was light.  "CALM DOWN, BAILEY-" Kayla crept out of the trees, walking carefully, and quietly.  "It will hear us."  she knelt down, shushing me.  "What- I... I thought-" ...  "It doesn't matter, we need to get out of the light, it might be a monster, but I don't think it can see very well in the dark."  she interrupted me, giving information she shouldn't have known.

"But we can't see in the dark either!"  I protested, not wanting to go back into the thick forest.  "Fine."  she turned to me with a sigh, "still have the flashlight?" ... "No."  I looked down, my voice choaked up.  "Alright, then we'll have to try without it, come on."  Kayla lifted me to my feet; it was surprising how brave she was acting. especially with Maple somewhere out there.  "...if we don't make it out..."  I started, holding her hand as she led us through the tall, looming trees.  "Hm?" she turned to face me.  "..." an awkward silence fell for a moment.  "I- ...You're a great friend, I'm glad I met you."  I held myself back as I spoke. she then went for a hug.  "Me too."