card over to see the word, 'Panthera' printed in bold font letters. I scrunched my eyebrows up in confusion and looked over Shira's shoulder to her card. Her card also had the word, 'Panthera' across it. I smiled in excitement. I don't know what the hell does this mean but at least we got the same word.

"Ok, listen up," West said from the Mic on the stage. The Mic let out a screeching sound and everyone groaned. "Evan, get this shit correct!" West called out and the screeching sound faded away before he tapped the Mic once more. "Ok peeps, all of ya folks have a card in your hand? Good. That is your group name. There are three groups in total. Group Raven, Group Bison and Group Panthera." Everyone broke out into whispers and Shira hugged me on the side excitedly. "Thank god we are in the same group."

"Listen up. There are sixty of you present here. All of you will be divided into three groups, twenty each. And, no group will have the same activity as another group. For example, if group Raven goes dancing, group Bison will go swimming and group Panthera will be singing. The activities will be exchanged later. Jamie, put that girl down before I shove your tongue in your ass!" Uncle West suddenly exclaimed and everyone turned to look at this particular Jamie. He was blushing as he put a giggling girl down and took a seat silently. My eyes searched for Auden in the crowd and I still couldn't find him.

I sighed before listening to Uncle West continue again. "Ok now, the leader of group Raven is Dr Billy Hugh who is standing right there. The leader of group Bison is Mrs Rosetta Sinclair and the leader of group Panthera is Mrs Mila Quintana. Go to your respective leaders and the task for tonight will be told to you." Uncle West finished before walking off the stage calmly.

I remembered Mrs Rosetta Sinclair from the ball night. She was the cool lady who invited me to join the association. I have to talk to her later. Whispers and squeals filled the air and Shira looked at me with pursed lips. "Why is my Mom the leader? Now, I can't do any mischievous stuff. She will always be watching." Shira groaned and I laughed at her silly worries. Both of us walked towards Mila who was standing at the edge of the clearing.

My eyes searched for Auden again and I couldn't find him. I sighed and bit my lip in frustration.

"Missed me, Kitkat?" I heard a whisper near my ear and I turned around to see Auden giving me a goofy smile. I couldn't help but smile back goofily in return as he pulled me towards him in an instant. His lips crushed mine and I gave him a sweet kiss back before pulling away. There was a smug smile adorning his lips as catcalls filled the air at our PDA.

Show off.

"Theo and I got Panthera." He whispered before letting me go.

"Same!" I squealed excitedly before hugging him out of happiness. He laughed into my ears as he held me tight. Maybe, this camp was going to be good after all. My belly tingled in excitement once again.

"Ok, is everyone here?" I heard Mila's voice and turned around to face her. She made a headcount and once she was satisfied, she gestured for all twenty of us to circle her. I got next to Shira who gave me a wink.

"Your task tonight is going to be challenging. You guys will work in groups of four." Everyone started whispering and I looked over at Shira with a grin. "No, I am going to choose the members." I groaned along with a few others in disapproval. I felt like I was in high school again, where the teacher purposefully assigns me to the people I hate.

Ugh.

"So, you guys will be riding a fishing boat across the river down there. One member will row the boat, dropping a member off on the other side. Then, come back, pick a member up and drop them off again. Until all four of you are on the other side. The first group to reach the other side wins." Everyone squealed in excitement while I felt a little uncomfortable with the task.

Water.

There is going to be water everywhere. Going on Auden's cabin cruiser boat was bad enough. At least, the boat was not low and the water does not come into the boat. It was tall enough. And, we went to a lake, so there wouldn't be so many waves. But, this was a fishing boat and the water would come in. Plus, this was a river. A river in a forest. The wild type of river and I gulped at the mere thought.

I suddenly wanted to run back to the tent and hide from everyone until the task finishes. I looked over at Auden who noticed my distress. "Do you want to go back? I can tell Mila and we can go back." Auden said and I almost nodded my head at the tempting offer. My eyes widened at what I was about to do.

You are letting your stupid fear get the best of you, Katherine! Who are you? You are Katherine, you are a strong woman. Be brave Katherine. Don't let your past get to you. Don't let your fear of what could happen to make nothing happen.

With that thought, I sighed, preparing my heart to conquer this one fear.

Remember, you—my pretty damsel, got a damn uterus.

Energy and thrill surged through my veins as I shook my head at Auden. Auden widened his eyes, not expecting that before a smile of pure pride took over his lips. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear gently. "It's okay to be scared. Being scared means you are about to do something brave and I am proud of you." Auden kissed my forehead and that was all the boost I needed before I gave him a shaky smile.

All of us walked towards the river. My mind was in a blank mode. I was repeating a mantra in my mind again and again.

Be stronger. Be braver. Make Auden proud.

I repeated this in my mind and Auden held my hand in assurance the entire time. We were separated into groups. I was grouped with Shira, Archie, the tattoo girl and the kind redhead Tessa. I was happy with the group but my nerves were on edge. A horrible memory of my past kept replaying in my head and I tried to push it away.

"Are you alright? You seem a little off." Shira whispered next to me as she gave me the orange life vest. I pursed my lips and took the life vest from her hands. "I just don't like water," I said. Shira nodded, letting the topic go for now.

The boats were ready and everyone was getting on it. It was a huge river. The distance between each group was long and hidden behind huge grey rocks. Shira got on the boat and I stood there, gulping.

Come on Katherine, look fear in its face and ask it to fuck out of here. Be brave.

Mentally scolding myself at my fear, I shakily got on the boat and sat down. I could feel the moving water underneath and gulp. "Enjoy the ride!" Archie squealed excitedly and all the girls squealed before looking at me excitedly.

"Yay!" I weakly squealed much to their disappointment. Archie and Tessa waved me and Shira goodbye and wished us good luck. All four of us decided that I should go to the other side first and get this over with because I look the least interested. Shira rowed the boat and eyed me cautiously, trying to figure what was going through my mind. Suddenly, the boat shook and I screamed in fear as I held onto Shira's arm.

"Calm down Kath, it's just water." Shira looked at me, overwhelmed at my screaming before her eyes softened. "It's okay. I'm here. Nothing will happen. Now enjoy it while it lasts." Shira shouted over the sound of the running water and I let her advice sink into my brain.

I let myself enjoy it. I could feel myself getting loose as I looked at the running water and the tiny fish swimming in it, glistening like pearls under the pale moonlight. The river winds through the forest, welcoming stray flora that comes it's way. It was part of this place, integral to life, yet also a thing unto itself.

The river was almost whispering to me. Like it was asking me to let go of the past and enjoy it. That it was harmless and I welcomed the feeling. The water of life and the community of flora and fauna were perfect. The river breezed whispers like a lover, placing cool kisses on my cheek and tousling my long blonde hair. The breeze coated my eyelashes and I felt ticklish as I looked around.

I was starting to enjoy it.

I smiled a little as I looked around. Nature is beautiful. I looked at the waterfall twenty feet away from me, cascading down the pointy rocks that would end your life if you fell on them. It was a small one. About a one storey height of an apartment building, back in Winston. You could jump from the top, but I think the water is too shallow for that. Who knows?

Fishes swam across in schools.

Below the ruffled water surface, there was a fish—small, barely a dart of silver, yet fast. Without visible effort it moved from plain sight, glimmering in the pale moonlight, into the reeds. Frogs croaked and I looked at Shira who seemed to be enjoying the view as well as she rowed the boat. Building a little bit of courage in me, I looked down at the water and let the tips of my finger glide across them.

It has been a long time since I have touched water. Water in a pond, water in a beach, water in a lake, water in a river, water in an ocean. It's different. The feeling of touching real water, water that comes from nature gives you a different feeling. A feeling of peace. I let my fingers in a little deeper and smiled.

I did it.

I smiled and stretched out my bare hand like a starfish to feel it wrap around my fingers. "We are here," Shira seemed satisfied at the smile on my face and I got down from the boat quickly so that she can continue her way back. I looked around, to see that I was completely alone and I felt shivers going down my spine at the thought of some animal coming now. I looked back to the forest to find any glowing pair of eyes that they show in the movies. After feeling a little relaxed, I looked down at the water.

Bending down, I could see my reflection in them and I looked calm. That's when my eyes looked like they were glowing a little and I frowned. My eyes went down to look at the scales below, dark green scales and I stiffened. The thing under the ruffled surface water started to come out slowly and I couldn't move. The fear was back, even more worst than before.

Alligator.

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