Kayla's POV

 Kayla couldn't hold back the laugh in response to Skylar's antics. A singular brow lifted slightly, her hazel eyes glued to the party hat atop her friend's head. "Are you sure that's good to wear on a hiking trip?" With the low hanging branches that could be blocking their path, the hat seemed to be a bad idea.

"Well i'm sorry I didn't realize i was hiking with the fashion police." Skylar chose to fake offence, throwing her hands in the air above her head. A few stray band aids falling from her pocket to the dirt below due to the movement. Though some were carried off in the wind.

Kayla rolled her eyes, tossing the bottle of sunscreen she held into the back of her silver jeep. Grabbing the top of the trunk she slammed it closed before turning back to look at her friend. Her finger pointed at her and a playful scowl on her face. "That's MISS fashion police to you." she corrected her friend with a laugh as she grabbed the black jacket from the roof of her car and tied it around her waist.

"Fair, but I don't think dark colors are good for the sun either Kayla." Skylar pointed out. Flashing a teasing smile she bent down to pick her back pack up from off the ground.

"I'll let the sass slide today since it's your birthday alright?" Kayla waved her pointed finger at the brunette. It was a joyful gesture, even if it wasn't her birthday Kayla would have allowed it. Skylar could have literally stabbed her, and the blonde girl (although hurt) would still grant her permission to get away with it.

Kayla adjusted her back pack on her shoulders. Her eyes traveling above her to the sky before moving to the beginning of the trail. "Let's get a move on."

The two had three days to get through, and the next campground was a far hike from their current spot. They didn't have a moment to waste. Skylar laughed before gesturing Kayla to walk forward.

❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂

After awhile of walking the trail, Kayla found herself getting bored. Sure the area was beautiful and gave off a serene energy. With lush trees that lined their walkway, their branches hanging over head, some high up while others were lower. The two even had a glimpse of the native wildlife here and there. But all of that was rather mundane, and no way would that do on Skylar's birthday. Her faithful friend deserved much more, a true adventure she would remember for months to come.

Kayla adjusted the cap on her head a she turned back to Skylar, a mischievous grin pulled across her face. "Wanna go on a quick adventure?" She asked, wiping the beads of sweat from her forehead.

Skylar halted and adjusted her ponytail as she seemed to debate the question. Finally she looked at her golden haired friend weirdly, her eyes curious. "What do you mean, I thought this was our adventure."

Kayla shook her head, her hands moved from her cap to her hips. "No my dear friend, this, THIS, is only the half of it." She spun on her heel to face the trail before them throwing an arm out as she did so. "We must venture into the great unknown. Male a new trail for us and those who come after us."

She turned her attention to another part of the forest that was heavily littered with sticks. "As a great man once said, adventure is out there!" She said, anticipation burning wildly behind her eyes.

Skylar shook her head, laughing as she brought the palm of her hand to her face. "Alright, alright, already. I swear you're so over dramatic. But if we get lost I promise I'll never bake for you again."

Kayla only nodded as she jumped toward the opening in the trees. "We won't Sky, I promise!" She assured her friend. Mapping had been her speciality during basic training. Even without a proper map in her hands this would be a piece of cake for her.

The blonde woman placed a fist in the crook of her waist, the other was raised pointing into the greenery before her. "Let us take our leave"

❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂

Kayla had promised her friend one thing during this trip. The one thing she was sure wouldn't happen, indeed happened. Somewhere along the line in Kayla's excitement she lost focus of her surroundings. Whether it was her miscounting a step, or forgetting a landmark, in a not so short amount of time she had gotten them lost.

No matter how much she tried to correct her mistake, it didn't work. By the time she accepted the fact she didn't know where they were the sky had taken an orange tint and their main water supply had been drained. Kayla held back the string of curses reserved for herself at the predicament. She had made this the worst birthday ever for Skylar.

She let out a groan. "Sky." She said simply turning to she could look her friend in the eye, "I think we're lost."

Skylar's face went blank. "What?" Kayla downcast her eyes to the ground, trying her best to look sorry about the matter. She hadn't done this on purpose, and she wanted Skylar to know that. "Are you serious!" Skylar shouted, fright written all over her features.

Instinctively, Kayla flinched and her friend clasped her hand over her mouth. Her expression forming into one of guilt. "I'm sorry Kayla. . ." She muttered. "I didn't mean for it to come out like that."

Kayla took a deep breath as she rubbed her face. Walking up she gave Skylar a gentle pat on her arm. "I deserved it honestly." and in Kayla's mind, she did. She had pulled one of the most important people in her life into a terrible situation. All because she had allowed confidence to cloud her judgement.

Kayla was a capable woman, and so was Skylar. But if a wild animal charged at them, there was little they could do. "Let's just try to find our way back, without running into anything dangerous." She said, eyes darting about for something she would recognize. If she could find something familiar, the rest would surely fall into place.

Skylar nodded apologetically. "Yeah cause I don't think you can take on a bear." She said, doing her best to lighten the tense mood.

"That sounds like a challenge." Kayla laughed, although she knew she couldn't, not yet at least. "But hey at least we don't have to worry about getting abducted by some serial killer out here."

"Yeah like who's going to take us? Aliens?" Skylar replied, sending both girls into fits of laughter.

Their conversation had been cut short by a loud roar that rose above their laughs and came barreling toward them. Loud snapping sounds followed as the trees shattered to pieces and other plant foliage was crushed. Something black, that reminded Kayla much of a plane was sliding across the ground. And it was headed straight for the duo.

Kayla was the first of the two to act, jumping forward she pushed Sky out of the way and into a nearby bush. Both girls landed on the ground with a hard oof, before they pushed themselves to sit up. They remained still, trying to process what had just happened.

"What was that?" Skylar coughed out, the fear that both girls felt edging her tone.

"A plane?" Kayla guessed, taking no time to hop up and run after it. Part of her hoping that if there were any survivors of the crash, she would be able to offer some sort of help to them.

The dirty blonde woman threw her arms up enough to shield them from the low hanging branches that smacked against her face as she ran. The action affecting her vision slightly. Though she was thankful it didn't block her view entirely.

Soon, she came to a stop at the edge of the sea of trees. She took to leaning against one of them, doing her best to catch her breath as she took a survey of her surroundings. Before her was a clearing, filled with luscious green grass and colorful wildflowers that had been uprooted and thrown about.

Once her rapid breath had slowed the sound of footsteps reached her ears. She was sure they belonged to Skylar, but she didn't bother to look back. "Don't run off like that!" Skylar half yelled while she gasped for breath.

Kayla was barely able to mutter an apology before another sound reached her ears. Her attention snapped from the greenery to the plane. This aircraft in front of them wasn't an airplane. Hell it looked more like something out of a sci-fi horror film then anything they would find on earth.

When a monstrously tall creature emerged from the air craft, Kayla's heart began to race again. It's skin was color green, with what looked like black speckles that ran up it's arms and legs. There was a mask on the creatures face, and it wore armor and something closely resembling fishnets that covered every part of it's visible skin. What had stood out most to her though, were the long black tendrils that hung from the creatures head reaching just past it's mid back.

"Skylar, go now." The brunette seemed to freeze at the command. The creature whipped its head to look straight at Kayla. When her hazel eyes met his masked ones, her heart dropped to her feet.

She whipped back and began shoving her friend back toward the way they had come. "Shit. Shit. Shit." Kayla cursed, glancing back to see the thing charging directly at them. "Sky go! Get back to the jeep!"

She looked back at Kayla with panic in her eyes as she moved forward. "Not without you! I'm not leaving you!"

Kayla pushed her once again. "I have a chance of out running it. I'm going to buy you some time! Now go!" Skylar couldn't argue with that, Kayla had been trained for moments like this. Well maybe not directly but being in the coast guard had it's advantages.

A plethora of clicks sounded off behind the two, causing Kayla to turn. The thing was only thirty feet away now, and was closing in quickly. Kayla turned back to Skylar, desperation filling her eyes as tears began to sting the corners of them.

If she got captured that was one thing, but she didn't want Skylar to be pulled into whatever mess they had in store. "Please. . .just go!" Kayla yelled. Skylar reluctantly nodded and began to run as quickly as she could.

Kayla took the cap from her head and chucked it at the thing. Looking to turn its full attention from Skylar to herself. Once she was sure she had it, she shouted at it before she began bolting. She ran toward Sky before taking a sharp left away from Skylar's path. She would round back later, if she got the chance. For now, all she needed was to keep this thing away from her dearest friend.

❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂

Kayla broke through a thick tangle of bushes, finally catching a glimpse of Skylar. She was ahead of her, about fifteen feet if Kayla had to guess, and she was in one piece.

Relief began to flood Kayla's system, but it was short-lived. Confusion rushed in to take it's place not too long after. How had she rounded back? She shouldn't have seen her yet.

Whatever ever little relief was left, was smashed like a bug under a rock. As Skylar ran, Kayla could only watch helplessly as another one of the creatures that she hadn't seen before, dropped a net onto Skylar. Both girls screamed as it snatch Skylar from the ground. But Skylar's screams were cut short as the thing knocked her unconscious with a wack to her head.

Hopeless fury was all Kayla had at that point. With no weapon or a way out of this, in a moment of pure desperation she grabbed the only sensible thing within reach to throw. A cast iron frying pan she had tied to the side of her bag for cooking.

She pulled it from it's hold and with all her might chucked it at the creature. The cooking utensil ricocheted off its armor and hit the floor. Seeming to be nothing more than a mere annoyance to the creature as it turned to look at her in response.

"Let her go you basta-" Kayla yelped as two clawed hands grasped her sides in an iron tight grip and lifted her from the ground. The creature from earlier had caught up to her. She barely had time to struggle from it when a sharp pain made her entire world go black.