A Luna's Awakening

S1 E3

Marisol's POV:

As we all got off the bus in the forest, I was slightly in awe. It was beautiful here. Chels stuck by my side as we both anticipated being paired up for the trip. As predicted, the teachers announced for us to find a buddy, and Chels and I locked arms. Our teacher eyed us for a moment as we walked over to her.

"You guys could pick other partners too, you know." She said with a soft frown.

"Maybe for the project. I trust Chels with my life in a forest. If there was a bear she would fight it." Chels nodded along to my words.

"And if a squirrel stole my stylus for my pad, Mari would climb a tree to get it back for me." I nodded as well and our teacher sighed deeply.

"Girls, this is not-" She cut herself off with a soft head shake. "Fine. Just don't get lost." She looked into my eyes. "Or try to bring anything home." She looked at Chels. We both looked at each other and I could tell we were thinking the same thing, killjoy. Still, we nodded our agreement, and she directed us to the side with the other approved pairs.

We watched a couple of pairs get rejected as two troublemakers tried to pair up and two of the laziest students tried to stick together too. Lastly, the two most popular girls were separated as well. Then, with the pairs set, some of them not too happy about it, we turned and walked into the forest as a group.

I shifted my backpack straps on my shoulder as I took in the beauty around us. Finally, after going about 100 feet in, the teachers turned to us. The head of the art department stepped forward and he cleared his throat.

"About 500 feet in that direction is a chain link fence. We will not go over, under, or around it." He said as he swept the students while pointing to our left. "In that direction, if you see a large estate you are to turn and immediately come back here, because you will be on private property." He said, while pointing to our right. "Finally about 300 feet that way is a small river. We are allowed to cross, but only so far as you can see the river. If you cross it and lose sight of the river, you have gone too far," he said while pointing over his shoulder. "Is that clear? If you don't understand, raise your hand."

When no one raised their hand, another teacher stepped forward with a box in her hands. He reached in and took a whistle on a lanyard out.

"You will all be getting one of these. These are to be used in only one of two ways. Either to alert one of the staff to your location or for emergencies. If you need a teacher to come and see you for any reason, give two short but loud blows." He gave two short blows into it but quietly. "Like that but louder, of course. If there is an emergency, give a long loud blow, and we will rush over to your location. If you get lost, do not try to find your way back. Use the signal blow first and if no one responds, the emergency whistle. Is that understood?" He looked around as people nodded to confirm. "Alright. Come collect a whistle, and you can go explore with your partners."

Chels and I walked over and got a whistle each and put them around our necks. We headed towards the direction of the river first. The leaves crunched under our feet as we walked.

"Tell me if you see a chipmunk. I really want to draw one." I said to her and she nodded. We wanted to move away from the crowd, so we could see some animals. We found the river pretty easily and sat on the bank as I pulled out my sketchbook. We were one of the few pairs that had come this way first, so it was quiet so far.

I pulled out my pencils and drew some of the colorful trees in front of us. Chels took out her pad and lost herself in a drawing as usual. When she was creating she was always in her own little world. I heard a soft rustling and looked up to spot a small brown animal running through the leaves. I jumped up and shook Chels' shoulder as it climbed the tree on the other side of the river.

"What?" Chels said in slight annoyance.

"I think I saw a chipmunk climbing that tree." I pointed at it and she frowned. "I'm going to jump the creak and see. Want to come?" She frowned even deeper at the small creak down the short bank in front of us.

"I don't want to get wet. If you want to risk it, be my guest, but don't go past the treeline." I rolled my eyes at her.

"This is supposed to be fun Chels." She shook her head firmly and I sighed. "Fine. Just stay here and finish your work. I am going to see if I can spot it."

"Good luck." She mumbled as she went back to her work. I ran down the bank and jumped over the small creak pretty easily. I made it over to the tree just in time to see the tiny chipmunk run over the branches to another tree. I chased him to that tree and pulled my sketchbook up. I followed as he changed trees again as I worked on my drawing. When I finished, I beamed in pride and turned to look at Chels. Except I didn't see her. In fact, I didn't see the river either. Man. Chels was never going to let me hear the end of this. I walked in what I thought was the right direction.

I saw the treeline but as I walked through I came out in a clearing that wasn't for the river. It was a small grove and there were three wolves lounging in the sunshine. They jumped up as they saw me and growled. I stumbled back in shock and fell on my butt. As I tried to remain calm, I tried to think of what I knew about wolves. I just had to stay calm, right? Not act like prey and stay very still.

As the big black one took a step forward, I shut my eyes. Just leave. I begged them in my head. I don't want any trouble. I dared to open my eyes just in time to see the claws. I turned and managed to avoid them digging into my face but felt them rip into my arm. I yelled as the wolf's teeth grabbed at my top. The other two approached and the one on top of me dug its claws into my sides. I screamed in pain. The smaller ones whimpered at the big one, and it growled harshly at them.

It looked down at me and opened its jaws. This was how I died. I lifted my arms, and it dug its teeth into my arm all the way to the bone it felt like. I screamed again. I was going to be ripped apart by a wolf. What a way to go.