Dakota woke up the next morning and smiled. "Hey handsome" she murmured before getting up and stretching. She got on jeans, a T-shirt, and a sweatshirt. "I'm gonna go ride while you're at school" she reminded him

Dakota rolled her eyes playfully. "Someone's overprotective" she teased, putting on her boots. She kissed him and walked out to the horses before pulling out Secret and grooming her.

Dakota tacked up and mounted up, walking Secret to the head of the trail before stopping. "I don't think we've explored the eastern side...." She said, petting Secret's neck. She jogged her mare to the woods nearby, asking for a lope after a while. She laughed as Secret snorted, crow hopping. "Easy girl." She reminded the mare. Dakota let her have her head, galloping through the sticks and weaving between the trees. Dakota thought she heard a sound to her left a ways, but shook off the feeling. Secret balked suddenly, spooking to the side and tossing Dakota. "Oh shit!" She said, getting up and looking in the direction Secret had spoked. Secret snorted, head low before turning and sprinting away. "Secret! No, come back!" Dakota called to her horse. "Shit" she said, sitting down

Dakota felt her pockets for her phone before realizing Secret had it in her saddle pack. "Shit" Dakota muttered again, realizing she had no way of contacting Nate or 911. She sighed, standing up and heading the direction Secret had taken off. She felt something grab her leg and looked down. A snare had caught her, but thankfully that's all it was. She undid it quickly and kept walking. She was walking for hours before noticing movement on her right, parallel to her and nearly matching stride. She stopped, and the creature stopped too. She looked over and it started right back, moving closer with stalking steps. She gasped, backing up slowly. It increased pace, and she realized it was a small bear cub. She thought it was cute before realizing: baby means mama. She kicked at it. "Go. Shoo. Go away, I don't want to be killed today." She muttered at the cub who was now calling behind him. Dakota heard an answering call before the mama walked around the corner and spotted Dakota.

"Oh shit." She muttered, backing up. She watched as the mother bear walked closer, gaining on Dakota. Dakota's foot slipped and she rolled her ankle, collapsing with a gasp. The mother bear roared at her as the baby called to his mother. Dakota tried standing, but collapsed again. She curled into a ball, hoping to make it out alive. She yelled in pain as a large paw full of sharp claws, slashed at her back. She felt warm blood trickle down her back and arms. She cried out again as claws slashed at her side, more blood pooling around her