I started to worry when my new comrade left and didn't come back. But it only got worse when I heard the sound of growling in the distance.

"Where did she go? It's been a while, so did she just bail on me? Or did something out there find her first?" I wondered miserably.

So I jumped up to my feet, then started to call out to her. After I realized that I didn't know her name, I started to panic. I ran through the trees, dodging brambles of bush blocking my path. Frantically searching all over, hoping to see a sign.

"Grrr..." Growled something ominous in the woods.

That sounds anything but friendly. I bite my lip in fear, trying not to run away.

"I have to be brave, not the opposite." I thought to myself, holding my head.

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to formulate a plan. That girl was clearly in danger, so I knew what I had to do. I sprinted through the trees, as the growls grew louder.

Once I spotted it, I thought I needed a new set of pants. It appeared to be a berry bush, but with teeth as sharp as nails and branchlike feet. I didn't know what it was, but I wasn't going to stick around to find out.

The sinister creature had turned their attention to me, so I ran from the foul beast. Instead of abandoning my comrade, I had a plan set in stone. Once I lured the monster far enough, I could use my teleportation power to get away and find my friend once and for all.

"Come and get me, you sack of chlorophyll!" I taunted the unknown creature.

"Roar!" The bush monster shrieked, chasing from behind.

It started to gain on me, but I was expecting this. So once I saw a tree clear in sight, I bolted straight for it. I ran right up the tree, pushed off the tree trunk, and flipped over the dreadful beast.

As I landed, my face collided with the ground, as I wriggled in pain. But I didn't have time to whine, not with a hungry monster behind me. So I put my hands together sideways and concentrated, slowly disappearing into thin air.

Next thing I knew, I was sitting in a tree. Now that's someone I recognize, it was the mysterious girl herself! I sighed in relief, then sent her a genuine smile.

"Miss me?" I said with a grin.

"More than you could ever know. How did you find me?" She asked, startled by my sudden appearance.

"Well I got worried when you didn't come back to camp, which made me realize that I don't know your name. So my last resort was to run and look for you. I just followed the beast's grumbling and what do you know. Here I am." I explained while rubbing my arm.

"I noticed the same thing too. My name is Ray, resident–well former resident of Base #0062. Sorry for not introducing myself until now. I thought a proper introduction didn't include being tied up, and the ropes and blindfold were sending a very different message. So I just didn't know what to do at that point. Besides, no one but the Chief has ever asked for my name before." Ray admitted tirelessly.

"Ohh, I get it now. Ropes are interesting since they can be used in more ways than one. But I wasn't thinking about your restraints in a weird way, I swear! Anyway, my name is Joe, Joe Burns. The runaway of Base #0045, former resident of sector 8 at your service." I replied with a well-needed introduction.

"Glad to finally meet you Joe Burns. I don't know much about you and you don't know much about me. But we're a team now, so let's try to look out for each other!" Ray cheered, putting her hand out for me to shake.

But the minute I tried to shake her hand, we heard the bellow of the bush creature from below. Ray steamed with anger, annoyed by the monster's presence. Looked me dead in the eyes, then glaring down at the foul creature. So she did one thing I was trying not to do: fight the bush.

She fell from the tree, free falling without any trace of fear. Once her body met the Earth, she kicked her legs up to push herself up off the ground. There Ray stood, straight and tall as her eyes slowly opened.

Her eyes changed from an emerald green, to a bright gold. Making her look wiser, like an ancient being had descended upon us. It was as if she was hypnotized, with someone else pulling the strings. Was she not the one completely in control?

"Wait, what are you doing?" I yelled from the top of the tree.

"Something that I should have done long ago." Ray proclaimed in a solemn tone.

I sat there, frozen in fear of her gaze. As Ray faced the foul creature, she raised her hands to form a triangle sign, staring the bush down with her golden eyes. Ray had decided to take matters into her own hands. And all I could do was sit and watch.