Endless Summer

Out of The Frying Pan, Into The Fire

Silhouetted by moonlight at the edge of the mountain, Estela squares off against the colossal crab. A massive claw snaps at her. Estela dives, rolling around its side. She stabs forward with her spear but the crab knocks it aside, out of her grip. Estela teeters on the edge of the cliff, barely keeping balance. The crab charges once more.

"The hell are you doing, Katniss?" Jake calls out. "Move your ass!"

At the last second, Estela dives forward, vaulting over the crab's shell, narrowly threading through its slicing pincers. She snatches her fallen spear and thrusts it at the crab, but it's already spun around. It catches the spear. Estela pushes forward with all her might, trying to shove the crab off the edge, but its sharp legs dig into the earth.

You look to the blue fox. "Furball, blast the ground beneath the crab!"

Furball breathes a blast of cold ice, this time under the crab's feet. It forms a slippery sheet of solid ice. Estela forces the spear forward, sliding the crab back on the ice. It tips back over the edge of the cliff, plummeting out of sight.

Estela looks back at you, wiping sweat from her brow. "Quick thinking there. Now, one of you wanna tell me what the hell you're doing off the resort grounds?"

"We're calling for help." You explain the situation to Estela.

She shakes her head. "You shouldn't have left. I told you to stay put."

"Isn't it worth the risk?" You retort.

"Is it?" Estela asks. "If not for me, you'd be dead right now."

"But we're not, are we?"

Estela stares at you. "No. Not yet."

Grace takes a step closer to the girl. "Estela, how did you find us?"

"I just went towards the sound of you all screaming bloody murder."

Michelle shrugs. "Fair enough."

"So, Sarah Connor," Jake starts. "you gonna tell us where you've been the last two days-"

"No."

Jake holds his hands up. "Cool, good talk."

Estela turns from you and heads down toward the rainforest.

"Where are you going?" You call after her.

Estela glances over her shoulder. "The crab survived. It will be coming for you. I'm going to hunt it down and finish it off. You're welcome."

Just before she disappears into the darkness below the jungle canopy, she looks back over her shoulder and meets your gaze. And just like that, she's gone.

Grace rubs her arm. "I sure hope Estela can fight that crab all on her own."

Your dream from earlier that morning echoes in your head. You step forward. "You guys keep going. I'm gonna help her stop that crab."

Craig looks at you like you've gone crazy. "Dude, seriously? You're gonna go looking for that thing?"

"She saved us once." You say. "I won't let her do it again without help."

Furball trots after you, as if to follow. You shake your head. "Wait here with the others, little guy. I'll be back."

Sean meets your eyes, trying to read you. "Good luck, Y/N. Catch up with us if you can."

You nod. "Will do."

Jake stands next to you. "I'll go too."

"No. Estela's going to be mad enough one person came after her." You reason. "If we both go, she'll send us packing."