Kurui Trail

Noiz walked up to the wooden post marking different directions.

“Come on, guys!” she shouted. “Keep already! I don’t want to be stuck out here around night!” Katie and Brooke had to run to keep up with her.

“We’re coming! We’re coming!” Brooke shouted. Noiz clapped her hands.

“Hurry up!” she yelled. “Hurry up! Hurry up!” The younger girls ran over to her. Noiz put her hands on her hips.

“I told you to keep up,” she said.

“No,” Brooke said. “You ran ahead of us!”

“No, you didn’t keep up,” Noiz said. The younger girls looked up at her, frowning.

“What’s so great about this trail anyway?” Katie asked. Noiz raised her eyebrow.

“What’s so great? What’s so great?! This is the Kurui Trail!” she shouted. “This is one of the best hidden trails on campus.”

“So?” Brooke asked. The kitty’s eyes widened.

“So? So?!” Noiz said. “We’re going to go check it out! Come on!”

“But which way are we going?” Katie asked. “Are we going the mile or the 1.5 mile?”

“1.5, of course!” the kitty said. The younger girls gave her a look of unease.

“Are you serious?” Brooke asked.

“Yeah,” Noiz said. She began walking down the 1.5 mile path. Brooke threw back her head and groaned.

“Quit standing around!” the boss yelled. “Hurry up and come along!”

“Fine!” Brooke shouted. She and Katie walked down the same path.

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The trees blocked out the sun overhead. Everything looking so green around them. The air in felt so warm in the early afternoon. Noiz held out her arms and breathed in the air. She took in the birds singing overhead.

“Isn’t this great?” she asked. “We are reunited with nature!” Brooke and Katie mumbled behind her. The kitty turned her head.

“I’m sorry?” she asked. The girl forced themselves to grin.

“Sure!” Brooke lied. “Listen, how long are we going to be out here?”

“The whole way, of course,” Noiz said.

“You can’t be serious,” Katie complained.

“Suck it up!” the kitty girl said. “This is good for you!” The girls groaned again.

“Girls, cut it out,” Noiz said. But then, she paused as her ears twitched.

“Shhh,” she whispered.

“What?” Katie asked.

“Do you hear that?” Noiz asked. The girls blinked at her.

“Hear what?” Brooke whispered. Their boss’ eyes shifted left and right.

“We are not alone,” she said.

“What?” the girls asked.

“Shhh,” Noiz said again. The kitty froze as a hot breath touched her neck. Her eyes widened as she gasped.

“Oh crap,” she mouthed. A pair of strong hands grabbed her by the waist.

“Whoa!” Noiz shouted. She turned when she heard laughing. A pale man with short dark hair all dressed in black laughed at her.

“Kane?” Noiz asked. The man smiled, flashing his sharp fangs.

“You miss me?” he asked. Noiz gave him a confused look.

“What are you doing out here in the daytime?” she asked.

“I sensed you heading down this trail and just had to see you,” he said. “The trees get thicker to block out the sun.” Kane looked over her shoulder.

“Oh,” he said. “And who are these two?” Noiz looked behind her.

“They work with me,” she said. “These are Brooke and Katie.”

“Hi,” Katie said, turning the lollipop stick in her mouth.

“Yo!” Brooke said.

“Hello,” Kane said, bowing. He turned back to Noiz. “So, what are you lovely ladies doing out here on this trail?” The younger girls rolled their eyes as their boss perked up.

“I just had to see this trail for myself,” Noiz said. “It’s one of the best hidden ones on this campus.” Kane broke into a wicked smile.

“Well, ladies,” he said. “Today is your lucky day. Follow me.” Brooke wrinkled her nose as she raised her eyebrow.

“Why?” she asked. Kane grabbed Noiz by the waist.

“Because,” he said. “I happen to be fond of your boss here. And I decided to be the good guy to you today. Isn’t that right, Noiz?”

“Yeah… Something like that,” she said. The kitty slipped out of his grasp. “We should get going.”

“Okay,” Kane said. “Follow me.” The pale man walked down the path.

“Are we really going to follow him?” Brooke asked. Noiz shrugged.

“Not much of a choice, do we?” she asked. The kitty followed behind Kane.

“Are you coming?” she asked over her shoulder. Katie and Brooke looked at each other.

“Might as,” Brooke said. The girls followed Noiz and their new guide further down the dirt trail.

Walking Along in Nature