Samantha (Corrections Officer)

I scrambled backward toward the waterfall, crying, as I dragged Kairi with me. Being near that thing made me literally weak in the knees. It walked toward us in huge steps. It looked so different from before. What had seemed like a deer now looked like a full-blown monster. I don't know how else to describe it. Water hit my head hard as we reached the waterfall.

I scrambled backward toward the waterfall, crying, as I dragged Kairi with me. Being near that thing made me literally weak in the knees. It walked toward us in huge steps. It looked so different from before. What had seemed like a deer now looked like a full-blown monster. I don't know how else to describe it. Water hit my head hard as we reached the waterfall.

I kept going until I was pressed against the rock wall, in a spot where the water didn't completely drench Kairi and me. Kairi was limp by then. I could see the creature through the waterfall. It stood on its hind legs, watching me. The smell was beyond words, and I almost threw up. It reached out an arm, and I screamed so loudly that I lost my voice.

I kept going until I was pressed against the rock wall, in a spot where the water didn't completely drench Kairi and me. Kairi was limp by then. I could see the creature through the waterfall. It stood on its hind legs, watching me. The smell was beyond words, and I almost threw up. It reached out an arm, and I screamed so loudly that I lost my voice.

Then, out of nowhere, another scream came from deep in the forest. The creature snapped its head around, almost a full 180 degrees, and looked toward that sound, which was similar to its own screech. I was still clinging to Kairi, crying and screaming because its arm was so close. It turned back to me, pulled its arm away, and I heard again in my mind, I am the one of this land.

Then, out of nowhere, another scream came from deep in the forest. The creature snapped its head around, almost a full 180 degrees, and looked toward that sound, which was similar to its own screech. I was still clinging to Kairi, crying and screaming because its arm was so close. It turned back to me, pulled its arm away, and I heard again in my mind, I am the one of this land.

With that, it backed away from me and moved down the riverbank on all fours. It paused where I'd thrown Kyrie's backpack, ripped it apart, and devoured the meat, bag and all. Then it screeched again and ran off in the direction of that other scream. The moment I felt it was gone, I shakily got to my feet and carried Kyrie back to the trail. Along the way, I found my own backpack, torn to shreds.

With that, it backed away from me and moved down the riverbank on all fours. It paused where I'd thrown Kyrie's backpack, ripped it apart, and devoured the meat, bag and all. Then it screeched again and ran off in the direction of that other scream. The moment I felt it was gone, I shakily got to my feet and carried Kyrie back to the trail. Along the way, I found my own backpack, torn to shreds.

I took off my jacket and wrapped it around Kyrie's neck to slow the bleeding. After that, I remember very little, just getting back to my car, driving like crazy, and screaming all the way to the emergency vet. At the vet, they asked what happened. I said it was a bear. They called an ambulance because I was covered in blood, and they couldn't tell whose it was.

I took off my jacket and wrapped it around Kyrie's neck to slow the bleeding. After that, I remember very little, just getting back to my car, driving like crazy, and screaming all the way to the emergency vet. At the vet, they asked what happened. I said it was a bear. They called an ambulance because I was covered in blood, and they couldn't tell whose it was.

Kyrie survived surgery, needed stitches, and had a pad for her wounds. She developed a big bump that got infected but eventually healed. She also had a bite mark above her left eye that healed better. They pulled out a four-inch tooth, which I refused to look at, but they decided it had to be from a bear, even though they said it looked odd.

Kyrie survived surgery, needed stitches, and had a pad for her wounds. She developed a big bump that got infected but eventually healed. She also had a bite mark above her left eye that healed better. They pulled out a four-inch tooth, which I refused to look at, but they decided it had to be from a bear, even though they said it looked odd.

While waiting for Carrie, I tried to look up the trail on the app, but it was gone. I have no idea why or how, and I can't remember exactly where it was. It's all a haze. I do have pictures of Kairi. One is of her with my niece on a hike my mom took them on a few weeks later. Kairi looks nervous in it, and you can see the huge bump on the left side of her neck.

While waiting for Carrie, I tried to look up the trail on the app, but it was gone. I have no idea why or how, and I can't remember exactly where it was. It's all a haze. I do have pictures of Kairi. One is of her with my niece on a hike my mom took them on a few weeks later. Kairi looks nervous in it, and you can see the huge bump on the left side of her neck.

There's another picture of her with bandages around her neck, and a recent one showing the black area where her stitches came out. The last picture is of the top of her head, also black, but now healed. I'll figure out how to post them. I haven't been hiking since, and I refuse to let Kairi out of my sight.

There's another picture of her with bandages around her neck, and a recent one showing the black area where her stitches came out. The last picture is of the top of her head, also black, but now healed. I'll figure out how to post them. I haven't been hiking since, and I refuse to let Kairi out of my sight.

My mom once took her hiking while I was at work, but regretted it when Kairi got so scared they had to turn back. My mom knows about my nightmares. I screamed in my sleep for a couple of weeks. She placed white candles in my room to ward off negative spirits attracted to my trauma. So that's my story. I've heard of people seeing a wendigo and walking away unscathed. I wish that was my experience.

My mom once took her hiking while I was at work, but regretted it when Kairi got so scared they had to turn back. My mom knows about my nightmares. I screamed in my sleep for a couple of weeks. She placed white candles in my room to ward off negative spirits attracted to my trauma. So that's my story. I've heard of people seeing a wendigo and walking away unscathed. I wish that was my experience.

I hate hiking now. My therapist thinks I have PTSD, but I only told him it was a bear. I'm working through it and so is Kyrie. Maybe one day I'll go back. but not anytime soon. If you're going to head into the mountains, please, please prepare yourselves. Mother Nature is unpredictable, and there are things out there that don't make sense to us. Stay safe, seriously.

I hate hiking now. My therapist thinks I have PTSD, but I only told him it was a bear. I'm working through it and so is Kyrie. Maybe one day I'll go back. but not anytime soon. If you're going to head into the mountains, please, please prepare yourselves. Mother Nature is unpredictable, and there are things out there that don't make sense to us. Stay safe, seriously.