Sweet Summer

Chapter Two :

Natalia nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. "Yeah, I think so. I've never been on a hike this long before."

"Don't worry," Parker chimed in, giving her a reassuring grin. "We'll take it slow. And the view from the top is totally worth it."

The group began their trek, the trail winding upward through the trees. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Birds chirped overhead, and the rustling of small animals could be heard in the underbrush.

Alina walked beside Natalia, pointing out interesting plants and wildlife along the way. "Look, that's a redwood tree," she said, gesturing to a towering trunk. "They're some of the tallest trees in the world."

Natalia marveled at the tree, her earlier anxiety melting away. "It's beautiful. I've never seen anything like it."

As they continued, the trail grew steeper, and the group paused occasionally to catch their breath and drink some water. Despite the challenge, the camaraderie among the campers kept spirits high.

"Almost there," Parker called from the front. "Just a little further!"

With renewed determination, the campers pushed on, and soon they emerged onto a rocky outcrop with a breathtaking view of the valley below. The expanse of trees stretched out as far as the eye could see, with a river winding through the middle.

Natalia stood in awe, taking in the beauty of the scene. Alina nudged her gently. "See? I told you it was worth it."

Natalia smiled, her heart swelling with a sense of accomplishment and gratitude. "You were right. This is amazing."

"Told you it was worth it." Parker said, looking at the two.

As the campers began to rest at the top of Eagle's Peak, Hayden wandered a bit away from the group, driven by his curiosity. He moved through the underbrush, noticing the way the forest seemed to grow denser and darker the further he went.

Hayden's attention was caught by something sticking out from under a pile of leaves and twigs. Brushing aside the debris, he found an old, leather-bound journal. The cover was worn and the pages yellowed with age, suggesting it had been there for a long time.

Hayden's eyes widened as he carefully picked up the journal. He glanced back at the group to make sure he wasn't too far away before opening it. The pages were filled with handwritten notes, sketches, and maps.

One entry caught his eye:

"June 15th, 1985 – There's something strange about this forest. I've heard whispers at night, and I've seen shadows moving just beyond the firelight. I must find out what's causing this, but I fear I may not return..."

Hayden's heart raced as he flipped through more pages, finding descriptions of eerie encounters and sightings. The last entry ended abruptly, as if the writer had been interrupted.

He quickly tucked the journal into his backpack, deciding on if he should tell his brother or keep it a secret.

Hayden rejoined his group which made Parker say "Where have you been?."

"I was just looking at the animals." Hayden lied

"If you say so, well guys. It's time for us to go, we wouldn't want to miss everything else now would we." Parker said with a soft chuckle

And with that the group was walking down the trail, Hayden's eyes wandered off and he seemed nervous, "..Hey, Are you okay?." Natalia asked softly. Hayden nodded his head yes which made Natalia leave him alone but was still worried.

Later that night as the campers were asleep, they all found themselves together in a forest "What the.." Alina muttered before they all heard a loud and painful scratch which made them cover their ears as they saw four pairs of glowing red eyes which made them freeze in fear till it lunged its claws out which made Parker yell "Run!."

As the campers ran, the creature ran as well; its movement seemed frantic and aggressive. The sound of snapping twigs and heavy footfalls grew louder behind them, driving them to push themselves even harder. Hayden's breath came in ragged gasps, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Over here!" Alina shouted, veering off the main path and leading the group towards a dense thicket. They crashed through the underbrush, branches scratching at their arms and faces. The creature's guttural growls echoed in the darkness, growing ever closer.

Natalia stumbled, nearly falling, but Hayden caught her arm and pulled her upright. "Keep going!" he urged, fear sharpening his voice. They burst into a small clearing, their lungs burning from the exertion.

"We can't outrun it forever," Parker panted, glancing nervously back at the dark forest. "We need to find a place to hide or make a stand."

Alina's eyes scanned the area, spotting a large, hollow tree at the edge of the clearing. "There! Inside the tree! It might buy us some time."

The group hurriedly squeezed into the hollow trunk, crouching in the cramped space. They held their breath, the silence around them broken only by the distant howls of the creature.