I wake up to my face being licked.

My first thought is: Oh my God, Vaughn is insane. However, I don't think that his tongue is enormous, long, flat, and...slobbery?

My eyes fly wide open as I quickly sit up. It's still dark out, meaning it's before 9 am, and before me in the firelight stands an adorable dog.

It's a huge dog, brown, and incredibly fluffy. Long ears, kind eyes, a patch of white fur on its chest. It sure looks like a Newfoundland to me.

And, the drool only seems to confirm and solidify that assumption.

"Oh, my God! Vaughn has a dog!"

I look around for the man, but when I don't see him, I go back to petting the sweet canine in front of me.

"Hey, you. You a good dog? Hm?"

I pat its head and rub its ears as it continues to try and lick me.

"What's your name, buddy?"

"Moose."

I glance up to see Vaughn standing at the entrance with a frying pan and a bow and arrow.

I'm a bit confused as to why he has the bow and arrow right now, but I just nod and smile, going back to paying attention to Moose.

If he were a black Newfie, he would kind of look like a black bear. However, the name still suits him. Moose.

Moose plops down beside me, partially on my blankets, but I totally don't care, because he rests his head on my lap.

I pet him as he sighs in contentment.

What a sweet dog.

My mind recalls talking to Roan about how knowing a dog's personality can give you insight into their owner's nature.

However, I don't read too much into it this time. I definitely have no idea what Vaughn is like.

Roan.

I wonder what he's doing now. Is he still in Chickaloon, or did he go back to his brother?

Is-

Wilson.

The name jumps back into my head in correlation with Roan, and suddenly I remember clearly now. That day when he showed me his license in his wallet. It read: 'Roan Wilson, Bounty Hunter.'

And this Wilson guy was the one John wasn't too 'keen' on.

I'm about to ask Vaughn about it some more before I see what he's doing.

Which is frying up some meat over the fire.

And, there's clearly only enough for one.

I notice that the sun is beginning to rise, and faint light is flooding the sky and taking away some of the forest darkness.

I glance at the nearby bow and its quiver, which are leaning by the entrance of the cave.

He wants me to hunt something first before I can eat, doesn't he?

He sees me staring and says, "Bring something back that I can fry up, and I will."

I shake my head. Unbelievable.

I look down at the cute dog and decide that I don't want to go hunting today.

Moose lifts his head when I reach over and take a can of beans out of my bag, holding it out to Vaughn. "There you go."

He looks at it, not taking it. "You know what I meant."

I nod. "Yes, I do. However, it is only my second day out here, and I would not like to spend it hunting. You want me to survive? Fine. But, I choose to survive on beans today. In fact, I would rather starve to death than hunt today. Okay?"

He sits quietly across from me for a while, making my arm hate being extended awkwardly for so long.

Finally, he takes the beans out of my hand and without a word, sets them beside him.

I take that as, 'Fine, I'll cook your stupid beans.'

I also take it as an opportunity to ask: "Vaughn, do you remember how we were talking about a Wilson from the village?"

He nods, not looking away from the frying pan.

"You said something about my uncle not being too keen on him?"

He nods again.

"Do you happen to know how old this Wilson is, or was?"

"No. Why?"

"Because a guy named Roan Wilson was the one who drove me here to Chickaloon. His father, Richard, lives here."

His eyebrow raises slightly, and he says matter-of-factly: "I'm guessing it was his father, then."

I nod, petting Moose again. "Okay, so when I go to the village next, I'll have to try and talk to him."

"Is that smart?"

I look away from Moose and back to Vaughn. "What?"

"Think about what was said last night."

I think for a second, then nod. "Yeah, so?"

Silence.

"If I recall correctly, you were the one thinking how ridiculous it was that I assumed Wilson didn't like John."

"Do you know where he lives?" He changes the subject.

"Yeah, Roan told me."

"Do you trust Roan?" He asks.

"I knew him for one day, so no."

"Yet you road in a car with him here?"

"He's the bounty hunter that I mentioned."

His eyebrows furrow. "Yet you road in a car with him here?" He repeats.

"Well, I made it here, didn't I?"

"He may have found out about you by now, though."

"Maybe," I answer. "I'll just have to be careful."

Thirty minutes later, and I've finally been given my beans and gone to the outhouse again.

Surprisingly, Vaughn didn't feel the need to escort me there this time. Instead, he sent Moose with me.

Now, I was surprised, because seemingly sweet Moose turned out to have a meaner side. If I deviated only slightly from the pathway that I had taken the night before, he would growl slightly.

All the while, I thought that the growl sounded a bit familiar, and I had a feeling I'd heard it somewhere before.

And on the way back to the cave, it finally clicked.

"It was Moose growling at me last night, wasn't it?" I ask Vaughn.

I knew it sounded familiar.

He doesn't say anything as he stands up and grabs the bow and arrow, leaving me with the small hatchet.

"It was, wasn't it?"

No reply.

Hopefully, it was, because that would explain why he seemed to be so indifferent regarding an animal growling nearby in the dark.

I have no idea what he has planned for today; all I know is that I refuse to hunt.

He whistles and Moose gallops over to him from his spot in the woods, tail wagging.

"Stay here," Vaughn tells the dog, who immediately goes by the fire and lays down.

Then, the man walks out of the cave and into the woods to the left, moving deeper through it.

I follow after him, "What are we doing?"

"Hunting."

I stop. "I'm not."

He keeps on walking without a word.

"But, I thought you don't trust me enough to leave me here alone?"

"Moose won't let you near my cabin."

He's getting farther away from me, and I have to make a decision.

I really don't want to stay here. Granted, I could hang out with Moose.

I start running after him. "While you go hunt, could I just like...go look for my uncle's camera?"

"No."

"Why not?" I frown.

"John was last seen in the village. He brought his camera with him there. Meaning, the camera could be anywhere in town. Besides, even if it were out here, you'd scare away the deer. And do you even know what John's camera looks like?"

"No, but you do. Tell me, what does it look like?"

I anticipate for him to go into detail, but all he ends up saying is: "Canon."

I frown, waiting for him to go on. But, he doesn't, so I say, "Fantastic description, you're just a real help, thanks."

We walk in silence for a while, looking around for any signs of wildlife. I don't know how long we travel for, all I know is that my legs are getting tired. I'm about to say something when Vaughn stops suddenly, near a large, very climbable tree.

"Climb that and stay there."

I look at him, confused. "Um...why?"

"Because you said that you aren't hunting today, nor do I want you with me. So, climb the tree and stay in it."

"I'd rather go back to the cave then hang out in a tree."

"Then do so. Keep your eyes open for wolves."

He starts walking forward again, leaving me behind.

Wolves? So close to his cabin?

I stand in the spot he left me, debating on whether or not to climb the tree or go back to the cave as I watch him disappear from my view.

Do I really want to risk coming across a wolf with only a little hatchet in hand?

But honestly, how likely is it that I'll even come across one?

I turn around, deciding to risk it, only to see something dark gray flash through the trees in the distance, multiple yards away. It's low to the ground but big. Fast.

Panic and fear set in immediately, and without thinking, I sloppily haul myself up the tree, ascending as fast as I can.

I climb as high as I have to get until I find a suitable, big limb to hang out on.

"Holy crap...was that a wolf or what?"

I glance below and around me continuously, keeping my eyes peeled.

I think this actually just might be the most alert I've been so far.

Mainly because the idea of being ripped apart and torn to shreds by wolves really just doesn't appeal to me.

I'm too scared to risk walking to the cave. I wasn't really paying attention to how far of a walk it was, but I know it wasn't very short.

Great, just great; I've been treed!

Like a black bear being chased by a couple of guard dogs.

This sucks.

What am I supposed to do up here?

A part of me hates the idea of hanging out in fear and hiding up in a tree while I wait for Vaughn to return.

He's probably going to think I'm totally weak and pathetic, now.

Why didn't I want to go hunting with him again?

Because I didn't want to kill an animal. That's why.

But, I also know that I have to do my part if I want to survive out here alongside my uncle's friend.

Which includes hunting.

What happens when Vaughn gets something, anyway? Does he drag it all the way back here, bleeding? Won't that draw in the wolves?

If that's the case, I hope he doesn't kill anything today. Otherwise, there is absolutely no way that I'm sleeping in the cave tonight, even with Moose around. As much as I hate to admit it, wolves would totally kill the cute Newfie so quickly.

Bear would stand no chance.

And, if Vaughn wouldn't let me sleep in the cabin, I would climb a tree and strap myself to some sturdy, wide branches, like Katniss did in the Hunger Games.

Anything to escape the wolves.

Don't get me wrong, I love wolves, and I think they're gorgeous creatures. However, I'm not too fond of the whole extreme predator side.

They're like the terrestrial version of orcas. Hunt in packs, top of the food chain, majestic creatures, extreme killers.

I love both animals, I just wouldn't trust to be around them in their natural habitat.

My mind travels back to Vaughn.

How long does he usually go hunting for?

Would he really just direct me to wait in this tree all day? Or, for hours on end, not knowing how long he'd be?

Yes, he probably would.

After all, I just met him yesterday and don't know him at all. And, I probably never will with the way things are going. And if I'm honest? I'm totally fine with that. I mean, sure, he's cute. However, looks don't really matter to me if the guy in question is going to ignore my existence.

Plus, I'm gross. I haven't brushed my hair or teeth yet today, and not being able to just hop in a shower whenever I want is giving me anxiety.

Anyway, I don't even think we'll ever be friends. I doubt he'll ever open up, and even if he did, what would I say?

I sit bored in the tree, twiddling my thumbs while I hum that Sabrina Carpenter song softly to myself.

I don't know for how long I sit there, debating random, stupid topics with myself. Anything that comes to mind, I think intensively about.

What percentage of people prefer pancakes to waffles, like I do?

How many people actually enjoy Lutefisk?

Why do British people pronounce 'schedule' like that?

Where did the snickerdoodle cookie get its name?

When did it become okay to act civilized everywhere except for all the places you're supposed to act civilized?

Who named the blue-footed boobies?

I wish I had my phone and some wifi, so I could look up the answers to such mysteries.

After a while, I can't think of any more questions, and I'm on the brink of taking a nap right here in the tree and hoping I don't fall out.

That is until Vaughn enters my line of vision, dragging a dead, cut-open doe along with him.

I gag, feeling the very distinct urge to throw up immediately.

On second thought, I am so glad I chose to hang out here in the tree instead of insisting on hunting with him.

"That's absolutely disgusting, holy crap," I tell him when he comes near my tree.

His head snaps up immediately, looking surprised.

"Oh, you didn't expect me to be here, hm? Yes, well, I didn't either. I was about to head back to the cave when I saw a gray figure run past through the trees," I point to where I saw it. "Pretty sure it was a wolf."

His brows furrow as he looks in the direction where I pointed, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," I answer, starting to descend.

As I do so, the rancid smell starts to become more prominent.

I cough as I back away from Vaughn and the deer, thoroughly nauseated.

"Wait," he says, and I hear a plomp.

I turn around, seeing he's dropped the deer.

I start to feel nervous, wondering what he's going to say. "...Yeah?"

"Drag the deer to the cave."

I look at the red, dead deer lying lifelessly on the ground that's turning the pure, white snow into a crimson, winter-time murder scene.

My first thought is, No way!

But then, I remember he wants me to work and survive, so I state: "Since I didn't hunt or kill it or anything, I have to drag it."

He nods once.

A part of me wants to devote myself to thinking that he just wants to make my life miserable. However, deep down I know that he probably just wants me to do my part.

Basically the same thing.

I hesitantly walk over to him, cringing instantly at the smell and sight from being so close to the dead thing.

"Drag it by the front legs. Never the back."

"Why?"

"It creates more friction when it's dragged by its back legs, slows you down."

I nod, uncertainly, picking up the front legs and pulling forward.

It barely moves.

Holy crap, this thing is heavy.

I keep pulling and pulling until I'm moving myself and it along at a steady pace.

Vaughn walks behind, occasionally assessing how I'm doing and silently judging me, while the rest of the time he spends surveying the area around us.

I'm glad that he's keeping watch. Hopefully, he'll let me know if a giant wolf comes bounding out at me.

I pull and pull and pull until we've gotten within a few yards of the cave.

That's when Vaughn tells me to stop.

"Good job," he says, and I'm utterly surprised.

Leave it to him to praise me for doing something like this.

"Thanks...but won't this draw the wolves in?" I ask him.

Vaughn says bored, "It will."

My eyebrows furrow, and I instantly imagine being surrounded by a dozen snarling, vicious wolves. "And I have to sleep in the cave that's right nearby?"

He shakes his head, and I get hopeful that he'll allow me to sleep in his cabin. That idea, however, comes crashing down when he says, "You can sleep in a tree tonight."

I also shake my head, with disapproval. "No way! I'll fall out!"

I know that I was just about to fall asleep in a tree earlier, but now it's different. It will be nighttime, and I will be freezing cold, and there will probably be wolves around.

He doesn't say anything as he motions for me to drop the deer's legs, and I do so, just now realizing I'd been awkwardly standing there holding them.

It's a good thing I touched it with my choppers; otherwise, my hands would be looking very gross right now.

Honestly, to see the deer in its current state is kind of making me want to go vegetarian. However, I know that doing so is unrealistic in my situation. I need all the protein and food I can get.

I follow Vaughn to the cave, where Moose is lying right where we left him. However, when he sees us, he immediately comes running, tail wagging.

I pet him after Vaughn does, "Hey, Moo-Moo."

I notice my uncle's friend look at me in my peripheral vision. "Moo-Moo?"

The first thing I do is ignore him, walking to my spot by the still-burning fire as I take off my choppers. The second thing I do is put some wood on the fire, checking my tablet to see the time.

12:31 pm.

Huh. It feels later than that.

However, the thing that grabs my attention the most is the notification on my tablet that has shown up.

I suck in a sharp breath when I read it, eyebrows furrowing instantly.

"What?" I hear Vaughn ask, but I don't say a word back. I don't even glance up at him.

Instead, I just re-read the words on my screen.

Clue: 'PMS is coming up.'