The brakes of the old Chevy grinded as it came to a halt at the edge of the forest clearing. Collin fiddled with the stubborn handle of his door, before stepping out onto the dry compact dirt. The passenger side door groaned as it was thrusted open with unnecessary force.

"Try not to rip the door off, I haven't saved enough money to get a new car yet, "Collin grunted at the young woman that got out.

"Keep your pants on, I will be careful," replied Rachel, only seconds later to fling the trunk open so hard that it rattled. They began to unload the contents, sleeping bags, tent, portable stove, and many other things. Taking a second to appreciate Rachel, Collin counted himself lucky that Rachel had decided to spend the weekend with him, rather then take her usual business trip on the weekend at the end of the month.

"Let me help with that," Collin called ten minutes later as Rachel unzipped the bag containing the tent and dumping it's contents on the ground.

"I don't need you to help, I been campming more times in the last few years then you have in your entire life."

Rachel's reply was dripping with indignation, but that was one of the many reasons he loved her.

They had been dating for one year to the day. However it took less than three months for him to know how he had felt about her. Tonight was the night Collin was going to seal the deal. Sure they had been together only a little bit of the year since they met, in that very park, but Collin had known for a while there was no one else he wanted to spend his life with. Deep down he had know the day they met.

"I will be back in a bit guys, I'm going for a walk," Collin called over his shoulder from the edge of the campsite. His friends glanced over at him waving their hands dismissively. Collin traveled along a worn dirt path connecting on campsite to another, before moving on a cemented road, that was the main guide in and out of the park. A cool wind swept his hair, while the fresh scent of pine invaded his nostrils. He strutted down the winding road till it formed into a concrete bridge. Collin patted across the paved surface to the center of the structure and leaned over the rail to gaze down onto the rushing water below. The river babbled, as fish swam beneath rippling surface, thrusting back and forth to propel themselves forwards towards the unwary insects that had landed on the water's surface, like biological torpedos. Inhaling deeply, Collin closed his eyes, and listened intently to the symphony of nature. The steady rushing of the river, the rustling of the wind through the trees, and the calls of birds spreading the days gossip. As Collin relaxed a shrill screech shattered the air, and he snapped to attention like a soldier.

The cry resounded again, sounding reminiscent of when the puppy he had as a boy, had gotten stuck in the dog door, and starting waling for help. Not wanting to leave an animal suffering Collin jogged the far side of the bridge, across the curve of the road, and penetrated the wall of trees. The cry issued again, from Collin's right, this time with sounding the screaming of a creature that had broken its leg. After ten yards of weaving through the trees, Collin approached a large shrub, and wedged his way through it the branches scratching his arms and leaving marks. On the other side was a clearing encircled by trees, with a large oak breaking out of the pack and leaning towards the center.

From an extending branch hung a cord, and dangling by its foot upside down was a large gray rabbit thrashing violently causing it to swing gently back and forth.

"It's okay, calm down now, I'll let you go," Collin chirped soothingly Extricating himself from the bush and slowly approaching the terrified rodent, careful not to make any sudden movements. Reaching out smoothy, he grasped the base of the knot, and proceeded to pry it apart with his short fingernails. The rabbit made the job difficult flailing it's body like a fish on a hook. Collin could not blame it, for all it knew he was the one that set the trap and intended to eat it.

After thirty seconds of struggling with the knot, Collin managed to unslip the loop, and the rabbit's foot flew out. Landing on its front feet, the animal gave Collin a single wide eye stare for a fraction of a second, before bounding off towards the trees, chittering as it went. Collin smiled at his good deed, and motion to turn back towards the bridge when a shout ran out.

"Hey what the hell do you think you are doing? You just released my dinner."

A young woman leaped out from a large bush, and dusted herself off, stomping towards Collin in a huff.

"Your dinner? Don't you know hunting is illegal in the park?" he snapped his cheek cheek raising in indignation.

Collin's irritation faltered when she drew near and he got a proper look at her face. She had silkie shoulder length hair, round almond eyes, a straight nose, and full lips. Collin stared lost in her eyes until she branshised a finger at him.

"What do you think you're doing just freeing people's food like that," the woman snarled, actually curling her lip like an agitated dog.

Collin's fist tightened, his face burning, though if it was solely from anger or something else he wasn't sure.

"I saw an animal in trouble, so I sprung into action, they are innocent and are more helpless than humans so they need protection," Collin glared back at her his gaze focused like light focused through magnifying glass, and just as scorching.

The woman's eyebrow raised in skepticism, but her bluster deflated somewhat.

"Sure you say that now but, choose between helping a human and animal we both know which one you would choose," she shot back fumming so much that smoke could have been whisping out of her ears.

"The animal first of course then if there's time the human," Collin stated with unwavering conviction that was backed up by the stirn grimace that was chiseled into his features.

The woman gazed at him appraisingly, studying his face. When seemed to decide he was sincere her agitation fell away, and her red lips cracked into a sheepish.

"I like man who have their priorities in order, I would invite you to eat with me but I don't have anything for dinner," she conceded with a casual shrug of her shoulders.

Feeling his rush of pride and defiance, start to evaporate, Collin felt his face warm up from her flattery.

"I got plenty of hamburger's I brought if you don't mind."

Her face lighting up with the most dazzling of smiles, the woman whipped her hair out of her face, and seized Collin's hand, which caused a jolt in his chest.

"Okay lead the way, and while we are at it, my name is Rachel, what is yours?"

"Collin."

Rachel cracked a toothy grin as Collin lead her back across the bridge.

"I have always liked that name."

Blinking out of pleasant memory, placed the last of the flashlight on the picnic table, organized by size.

"It's to bad we couldn't get one of the sites we were staying at when we met, but Red Valley, is popular this time of year," Collin said watching Rachel pound the stakes into the ground. She possessed enough strength that she could drive them all the way in with two swings of the hammer.

"I don't care which site we pitch as long as we are a stone threw from the trees, the river, and that you are are sleeping on the air mattress next to me."

Collin's face went pink with warmth unable to stop his lips from splitting into a wide smile.

"Are you sure that this is what you want to do for our first anniversary? I did find several fancy hotels."

Rachel scoffed as she did everytime Collin asked that question.

"This place is special to us, beside a fluffy bed is to soft for me, same pretty much goes for your air mattress, I could easily be comfy in the ground, you wimp."

Rachel was a tough, outgoing, an empowered woman, who didn't believe in do things in a way that made them easier or more convenient. If she had had her way they wouldn't have brought food for dinner, they would go out and hunt. The only way Collin had been able to avoid that scenario had been to remind Rachel that hunting was illegal around the vicinity of the camping grounds. The toughest part had been trying to convince her that it was unwise to not have cell phones with them.

"My father camped without mobile phone's and his father before him, and almost the entirety of human existence."

In the end Collin found the issue was going to end in a blowout so he had relented.

A couple hours later another group arrived at the neighboring campsite, about fifty yards towards the river from them. They were loud from the second they stepped out of their vehicle, taking no time to bring out the beer.

"Assholes," Rachel declared an hour later of watching them tread on the surrounding vegetation, tossing their beer bottles to the ground carelessly. "Idiots like them is why nature is going to hell."

Collin watched Rachel fume, continually casting angry glances at their neighbors. One of the things Collin admired about Rachel almost as much as her in your face taking charge attitude, was the strength in her convictions. She often said that most of humanity was destroying the planet and the they needed to be weeded out to the benefit of nature. Collin wasn't so extreme in his views but if such assholes were to suddenly be wiped out he wouldn't fret to much. He loved animals as much as humanly possible though he didn't think he would kill to protect one like Rachel said she would, and deep down he believed she was serious.

Hours later, they sat around the fire the tent and site set up, as they ate their dinner of roasted salmon. Rachel wanted to each rabbit, but Collin couldn't eat it again for a year after doing so several nights a week for months, it being Rachel's meat of choice. Taking a deep sniff of the intoxicating aroma of the roasted fish, Collin reclined in his camping chair, and cast his gaze skywards.

"The stars are awfully beautiful out here," Collin said wistfully after several minutes of silence, to which Rachel nodded, half mindedly focusing her attention in the direction of the jerks campsite, the fact it was pitch black didn't stop her from focusing in like a laser, in fact Collin often felt like she could see in the dark.

"Of course it's got nothing on your beauty."

Rachel snorted like a disgruntled pig, and shot him a glare.

"You know how I feel about that mushy stuff."

"Yes, and that's just to bad because it's not to stop me from what I'm about to do."

Without Rachel turning her attention on him, Collin swiftly stood up and sauntered over to the stump she was perched muscles tensed to react as they always were. She only noticed him when he lowered himself on one knee, and slipped a small tan cloth covered box from his pocket, opened it and presented it in front of her face.

"Rachel Sandulf, will you make me the happiest man that ever lived?"

It was obvious from the slack jawed stare Rachel gave him that she was dumbfounded, as she looked at the diamond ring glistening in the light of the fire. After several seconds he face stiffened to its causal firmness, and without any hesitation said, "No."

Collin felt his heart slowly disintegrate, as he stared at her stone solid face. Even if she had decided no, Collin had expected her to have taken some time to contemplate it atleast.

When he crumpled forward, Rachel placed her hand soothingly on his head.

"You need to understand I'm not saying no to marrying you, I'm saying no to marriage period."

His face shriveling in to one of confusion Collin looked at her to elaborate hoping so how that it would shelter his fractured heart from anymore damage.

"Look marriage is archaic institution created by the long reigning patriarchy, to suppress women and prevent them empowering themselves. I will have no part in perpetuating such an insult to womanhood."

Lowering his eyes to the ground Collin knew her well enough to know she was being sincere, and felt frustrated with himself for not knowing she felt that way. His self beat up was interrupted when Rachel placed her hand under his chin and forced him to look up into her eyes.

"But that doesn't mean I don't want to spend the rest of eternity with you, because I can't imagine life without you."

Her eyes held such a loving glow that Collin felt his heart solidify from being rock solid to solid steel.

"Now I hope you kept the receipt for that eyesore because I don't need so worthless mineral form to show your love for me."

Collin jumped to his feet like a rocket and wrapped his arms around her so tightly that he forced the air from her lungs in a huff.

"I guess we will have to find an alternative form to express the bond we share," he sniffed over her shoulder."

"I have some old world, non catholic functions in mind, especially if you don't care if we go a little pagan," Rachel chortled as he released her before straightening up.

The edges of Collin's mouth curled into a smile as weak as toothpick. Empathetically Rachel's face crumpled into a smile, before she seized the back of Collin's head, reeling him in so she could plant her lips on his.

Surprised Collin grunted, but when she released his crainium, his lips were stretched into a tight smile.

"Now, come to the tent, and we can take advantage of the cushiness of the inflatable mattress," Rachel whispered, coaxing him with a seductive motion of her index finger.

An hour of passionate expression, and physical intimacy later, they cuddled on the queen sized air mattress, which was now slightly deflated so that it sagged in the middle pulling the two against one another. Collin lay on his side, his head resting on Rachel's shoulder the rest of his body curled against hers. His chest slowly rose and fell pressing it into her arm, as he snoozed. Like a true man Collin had passed out the second he had reached orgasm, luckily he almost always hit Rachel's target on the first try, tonight had been no exception. Rachel was particularly happy he was out, that meant he never got the chance for his great disappointment to flutter around his brain like a neurotic butterfly.

Rachel on the other hand was wide awake, the brightness on her iphone turned to a soft glow, as her eyes flitted across one page of her horror novel after another. She was impervious to the frights of even the most prolific writers, but reading the attempts of hapless people trying to avoid death at the hand of some monstrosity that stalked them made her run blood flow with excitement. She had turned the page onto chapter twenty when there was a shout from across the field.

"Paul it's not safe to smoke next to the propane you dumbass," laughed another one of their neighbors, though his merry tone suggested he was more amused then concerned. Thus was followed by the blast of glass shattering and the tingling of it's shards raining on the ground.

As hysterical laughter rang out through the clearing, Rachel's fist coiled so tightly that her nails dug into her palm. Then mocking echo was shattered as a musical ping issued from her phone. Glancing at the screen, Rachel's eyes swept the text message that had just arrived.

Well my mistress, have I waited long enough?

Rachel gazed down at Collin's slumbering form cuddled against her arm like a child, then replied. Indisposed right now, will sneak away in a few hours, start your fun without me.

Keeping Collin in her peripheral vision, she smashed the send button so hard the colors on her screen of her phone distorted. She just had to wait a few hours, and then she would return to where she truly belonged.

Mich stumbled on the gnarled tree roots that wove their way across the ground making the walk troublesome. From the way he was swaying to the point he had to extend his arms to maintain balance, even he could recognize he was plastered. Arriving at a tree so tall that its branches snaked out of sight in the black sky, he unzipped his fly, whipped out his penis, and began to as his father would put it drain the lizard. As he relieved himself he stared at the tree with bleary half opened eyes, a dopey smile etching his face.

A sharp snap, possibly a twig ripped through the silence, drawing Mich to a sloppy focus.

"Hey Paul, is that you man, ahh fuck."

Having been distracted Mich had loss control of the stream and had spattered his shoes, with sour smelling urine.

"Dammit Paul, you made me get piss all over my new Niky's you dick," Mich slurred hostilly, while fumbling with his zipper for several seconds.

The putrid smell of rotten of animal and the earthy scent of damp soil carried on a breeze that swept over Mich's shoulder. Then the crunching of leaves from somewhere beyond the dark curtain that surrounded Mich. Sweat now trickling down the back of his forehead, he whipped around to the direction he thought he had come in, and began the stumbling trek across the snaking roots back to camp. After about ten shaky steps, Mich heard deep ragged breathing behind him, and then felt a moist heat on the back of his neck. His heart imploding in terror Mich broke into a flat out run, constantly tripping on his drunken feet every step of the way. When ever had been behind him pursued, it's four feet pounding the ground in rapid succession so forcefully Mich could have sworn he felt each impact in his toes.

To horrified Mich didn't dare look over his shoulder at his pursuer, that changed however when the thing grabbed his leg, five sharps pains searing his flesh. Mich's mouth opened in a silent scream as his leg was yanked out from under him. He face planted on the roots that swam in the soil, chipping his front teeth. He didn't get time to register the pain because he was dragged backwards, then grasped on the shoulder and flipped over like a hamburger patty on the grill.

On his back he finally got a look at his attacker as the moon cast gloomy light through a gap in the canopy above. Sharp saliva glistening teeth were bared a foot from his face. Mich gaped his mouth to scream, and would have succeeded that time, except the monstrosity covered his mouth with an enormous fur covered hand, it's inch long claws piercing through his cheeks and digging into his gums. Mitch Screamed against the hand, as one of his teeth was ripped out. Then the creature yanked Mich's head up with one swift tug, before slamming it down into a rather thick root. Blood splattered it muzzle as it repeated the act, with brutal feriousity. When it had finished Mitch's Skull was fractured and caved in like a broken egg shell.

Then cruely it raised his head till his lifeless shoulders were of the ground, and using it's jaws it clamped down on the corpses throat and savagely jerked it back and forth in a way reminiscent of a dog with a chew toy. There was the harsh tearing of bone, sinew, muscle, as the torso crumpled back to the ground with a sickening thud. "Its job done the creature pried the dismembered head from its jaws and hurled it against the nearest tree, with such force that it stuck to the trunk with a nasciating splat. Raising on two long muscular legs, it lumbered away from the gruesome scene, towards the direction that the unfortunate man had been heading in.

Collin's eyes opened blearily, straining for several seconds for his vision to focus. The first thing he saw was the shadowed canvas wall of the tent. Realizing he must have shifted his position in his sleep, Collin with the momentum of a log rolled over to replace his head on Rachel's shoulder. As he did the first sign of something being wrong was he never collided with her form. When he came to a stop, his stomach clenched to find the sleeping bag next to him collapsed. Sitting bolt upright Collin cast a glance around the tent but every corner was vacant except for their bags.

Relax, he thought to himself, she probably just went to the bathroom. If that was true, then why did he have a knot in his gut, telling him something was wrong. Forcing himself to lay back on the mattress, Collin tried to sooth his frantic mind, telling it, everything was fine, but it just kept up its agitated montra, Somethings wrong, go find her now. It only took five minutes of struggling internally for Collin to finally unzip his sleeping bag, extricated himself, gropped in the darkness for his pants.

Grabbing the flashlight that was placed next to his pillow Collin wrenched the zipper of the tent open, and stepped into the tarp where his shoes stood, like a stubby sentries. Jamming his bare feet into the adhesive innards of the shoes, Collin fumbled with his laces, his fingers as responsive if he were trying to tie the knots with pencils. Flicking on the light, he cast its beam around looking for footprints left by Rachel. After several second's of frenzied searching he illuminated tracks moving away towards the bathroom's. Still unable to calm the torrent of paranoia in his rabid mind, Collin set off after the prints, just to make sure and sooth his fears.

The trek soon became treacherous, as maze of roots erupted from the ground among the trees, Collin's heavy, and sluggish legs, becoming unsteady. This proved problematic not only were there no longer dirt on the path, so he had no more footprints to follow, but the roots were uneven and knobbly to walk on. All he could do was point his light downward and pick out the best footholds. It was slow going, but after thirty seconds, Collin spotted the soft glow of the bathroom lamps. Foolishly feeling confidant Collin took his eyes of the snaking roots beneath his feet, and focused his attention on the structure ahead. It only took five steps for his right foot to become snagged on a rock, and Collin toppled onto his stomach, all the air becoming forced from his lungs from the impact, with a loud oof.

Pushing his upper torso off the dust layered floor, Collin struggled to inflate his lungs for several terrifying seconds. Once they started to expand again, Collin rolled onto his back and cast his flashlight around to see what he had trodden on. Looking back on the fall, he had remembered the obstruction was solid but still somewhat soft and to giving to be a rock or a root. The first thing the like caught in it's gaze was a shoe, cocked to the side the owner's foot still in it.

"Hey you alright buddy?" Collin hissed into the dark, not wanting to be to loud because the hairs on the back of his neck had just erected themselves and it felt like they were no longer alone.

When no reply came, Collin using his vibrating hand traced the light along man's legs, and up his torso. Upon reaching the shoulders Collin's extremities went numb with a chill. In between them was just a bloody stump, the spine ripped a couple inches out of the gaping opening, tilted towards Collin so that it looked like a chalky white eye stalk that was observing him.

"Holy Fuck."

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If you enjoyed the story so far, please favorite and comment with feedback, it helps me know what I am doing right or wrong.