Samantha (Corrections Officer)

The trail circled the meadow, and it was all stunning. The mountains in the background, the sound of rushing water. It was one of the most gorgeous places I'd ever hiked. Kairi and I were near the center of the meadow when she stopped in front of me and stared straight ahead. She usually walked a bit ahead of me, so when she stopped like that, I trusted her instincts and stopped too.

The trail circled the meadow, and it was all stunning. The mountains in the background, the sound of rushing water. It was one of the most gorgeous places I'd ever hiked. Kairi and I were near the center of the meadow when she stopped in front of me and stared straight ahead. She usually walked a bit ahead of me, so when she stopped like that, I trusted her instincts and stopped too.

Before I even looked, the smell hit me, a strong, rotting odor that burned my nose and made my eyes water.

Before I even looked, the smell hit me, a strong, rotting odor that burned my nose and made my eyes water.

i lifted my shirt over my nose feeling sick and turned to see what kairi was staring at in the middle of the meadow stood a deer ive seen does before but never a buck and its antlers were enormous think the deer spirit in princess mononoke it was breath-taking but that smell was unbelievable the deer was facing away from us looking toward the mountains

i lifted my shirt over my nose feeling sick and turned to see what kairi was staring at in the middle of the meadow stood a deer ive seen does before but never a buck and its antlers were enormous think the deer spirit in princess mononoke it was breath-taking but that smell was unbelievable the deer was facing away from us looking toward the mountains

I thought maybe Kairi's food had spoiled, but when I checked, it seemed okay. Then, when I glanced back up, the deer was looking directly at us. Kairi's hackles went up, and she whimpered nervously. I'm Native American, so I grew up hearing about wendigos and skinwalkers, plus I've listened to plenty of scary stories on YouTube.

I thought maybe Kairi's food had spoiled, but when I checked, it seemed okay. Then, when I glanced back up, the deer was looking directly at us. Kairi's hackles went up, and she whimpered nervously. I'm Native American, so I grew up hearing about wendigos and skinwalkers, plus I've listened to plenty of scary stories on YouTube.

When Kairi reacted that way, I got a bad feeling in my gut, despite already feeling sick. I realized it had to be a wendigo. These creatures were only supposed to be in the stories my grandmother told me, not in real life. She was the one who really knew about them, but she's gone now. No one else in my family has her knowledge. I looked at Kairi again when she whined, then back at the creature.

When Kairi reacted that way, I got a bad feeling in my gut, despite already feeling sick. I realized it had to be a wendigo. These creatures were only supposed to be in the stories my grandmother told me, not in real life. She was the one who really knew about them, but she's gone now. No one else in my family has her knowledge. I looked at Kairi again when she whined, then back at the creature.

It started to stand on its hind legs. Holy hell, it was tall and turned to face me. it began walking toward me and i was about to run when i heard something in my head i am the one of this land suddenly it charged at me full speed i screamed called kyrie and took off running she was right behind me i was crying as i ran because i heard it crashing closer smashing through everything in its way

It started to stand on its hind legs. Holy hell, it was tall and turned to face me. it began walking toward me and i was about to run when i heard something in my head i am the one of this land suddenly it charged at me full speed i screamed called kyrie and took off running she was right behind me i was crying as i ran because i heard it crashing closer smashing through everything in its way

My adrenaline was so high that I just kept moving, not even thinking about a direction. The trail narrowed, and thorny bushes appeared. They scratched and cut my arms, but I barely felt it. Just as I thought it was about to catch me, it swerved off to the left, while I kept going straight. I dared to look back. Both it and Kairi were gone. "'Kairi!' I shouted.

My adrenaline was so high that I just kept moving, not even thinking about a direction. The trail narrowed, and thorny bushes appeared. They scratched and cut my arms, but I barely felt it. Just as I thought it was about to catch me, it swerved off to the left, while I kept going straight. I dared to look back. Both it and Kairi were gone. "'Kairi!' I shouted.

Right then the trail dropped about a foot onto some rocks." I stumbled off the drop, hit my head and started bleeding a little, though I barely noticed. I stood up, looking around frantically, when I heard Kairi cry out to my right. ''Kairi!'' I yelled. I was sobbing and had no idea what to do. I saw a river leading up to the waterfall I'd heard earlier.

Right then the trail dropped about a foot onto some rocks." I stumbled off the drop, hit my head and started bleeding a little, though I barely noticed. I stood up, looking around frantically, when I heard Kairi cry out to my right. ''Kairi!'' I yelled. I was sobbing and had no idea what to do. I saw a river leading up to the waterfall I'd heard earlier.

Suddenly something heavy slammed into me, and we both fell. I hit my head again and then saw Kairi, her neck covered in blood. Kairi? I cried. She was whimpering and breathing heavily. Her backpack was ripped in places. Before I could do anything, a scream echoed from the woods. I looked toward the waterfall, and somehow I managed to pick up my 85-pound dog and run.

Suddenly something heavy slammed into me, and we both fell. I hit my head again and then saw Kairi, her neck covered in blood. Kairi? I cried. She was whimpering and breathing heavily. Her backpack was ripped in places. Before I could do anything, a scream echoed from the woods. I looked toward the waterfall, and somehow I managed to pick up my 85-pound dog and run.

I don't know what my plan was, just that the waterfall seemed like safety. I almost reached it when I heard the creature land on the same rocks I had. I tripped and looked back to see it staring right at me. Its eyes were black, or maybe there was nothing there at all. I tore off Kairi's backpack and threw it at the monster, hoping it would go for the raw meat instead of us.

I don't know what my plan was, just that the waterfall seemed like safety. I almost reached it when I heard the creature land on the same rocks I had. I tripped and looked back to see it staring right at me. Its eyes were black, or maybe there was nothing there at all. I tore off Kairi's backpack and threw it at the monster, hoping it would go for the raw meat instead of us.