Ocean blue eyes

It was 6:24 PM when Kenny helped kat and Hanna with their bags, Into the car "that all of it" he said and closed the back sit.

Emma came forward enveloping the girls in a tight embrace "stay safe you two, and don't forget to call me alright" she instructed and they both nodded "we will, love you" kat said before getting into the car, with Hanna at the wheel and her settled comfortably in the passenger seat, the car started and they drove out the mansion, watching the mansion fade into the distance through the side-view mirror as they drove further away. The road stretched out before them, flanked by towering trees lining each side of the road as they ascended a hill.

An hour slipped by unnoticed as they traversed the winding roads, the soothing hum of the engine lulling them into a state of calm. Eventually, the car came to a halt, Hanna assisting Kat in unloading her suitcases from the car.

Now standing by the side of the road, which led into the forest, it was already a few minutes past seven, and the sky had begun to transition from the vibrant blue of daytime to the deeper hues of dusk. The sun lowered towards the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the landscape.

Kat's family's lake house was nestled just in the woods. She wouldn't be able to drive into this part of the woods as the path was too narrow for a car, so she was just going to walk as it wasn't to far.

"Hey, let me help you with that," Hanna offered, reaching for one of the suitcases.

Kat's smiled appreciatively but shook my head. "Thanks, Hanna, but I've got it. I know this trail like the back of my hand."

Hanna felt hesitant, she looked over Kat's shoulders glancing at the small open path into the woods, and she frowned her brows. "Are you sure? It's getting dark, and the woods can be tricky at night."

"I'll be fine," kat reassured her, patting her arm. "You worry to much" she said, also following her gaze "well maybe it a little bit creepy. But it's cool, I can handle that it's a straight path to the cabin so I can't miss it" she pointed out.

Hanna still looked unsure. "Okay, but if you need anything, don't hesitate to call."

"I won't," kat promised, offering her a reassuring smile. "I will let you know when I arrive at the cabin."

With that, kat set off into the woods, feeling Hanna's eyes on my back until she disappeared from view.

After kats figure disappeared From her sight, Hanna sighed and got in the car, before driving off, while kat walked deeper into the woods, memories of past visits to the lake house flooded her mind, each one more vivid than the last. She smiled as she recalled the countless times she shared with her family, in this same woods.

The warmth of her mother's hand clasped firmly in her little one's as they navigated the winding trails together. She had a way of making even the simplest of walks feel like a grand adventure, her laughter echoing through the trees as we explored every hidden corner of the forest, kat could almost hear her voice echo through the trees 'Katherine honey be careful' she would say to kat when she tried to climb up the trees.

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"Katherine, you can't climb the tree," her mother said, looking up at the tree, even too tall for her to climb. Little Kat's cheeks puffed out, "Yes, I can! You said I could do anything if I put my mind to it!"

Elizabeth trailed off, "Well, yes, but..." Kat continued, "And I'm putting my mind to climbing this tree!"

Elizabeth wasn't sure how to respond to her daughter using her own words against her. She gave a thoughtful look, then nodded, "True, I did say that. It is true that if you put your mind to something, you would achieve it. But there are steps to achieving something. You need to be capable and prepared for whatever it is, and you have to build yourself to gain skills for the purpose. You can't want to do something without being ready for throwbacks."

Elizabeth explained, "Okay, let me ask you this, have you ever climbed a tree?" Kat shook her head. "Okay, so you've never climbed a tree before. That means you don't have the skills or experience to do it safely. If you try to climb the tree without preparing yourself, you might get hurt. That's what I mean by 'throwbacks' - unexpected problems that can happen when you're not ready for something."

Kat could understand what her mother was saying, but she really wanted to climb the tree. "But why can't I just try? I promise I'll be careful!" she pleaded, flashing her big round eyes at her mother.

"Trying without preparation is not being careful, sweetie. Being careful means thinking ahead, learning how to do something safely, and being prepared for any problems that might come up. Let's find a smaller tree or a climbing wall where you can practice and build your skills. Then, when you're ready, we can come back to this tree and you can climb it safely."

Just then, Michael and Nathan caught up to them. Michael carried large bags in his hands, and Nathan also carried one. "What's going on?" Michael asked frowning his brows. Kat immediately jumped in front of him, pointing at the tree, "I want to climb the tree!"

Michael's gaze moved down to the little girl in front of him, then to her mother, and Elizabeth shook her head quietly gesturing a 'No'. "No way, Katherine! You can't climb the tree! It's too dangerous!" Nathan exclaimed.

To which Kat didn't like "I can too! You're just scared!" Kat retorted, "I'm not scared, I'm just trying to protect you! You're too little to climb a tree that tall!" Nathan tired reasoning with his stubborn little sister.

Little Kat wasn't going to back down and restored, "I'm not little! I'm a big girl! And I can climb it if I want to!"

"Katherine." Michael called out in a stern voice, She paused abruptly, slowly turning around to meet his gaze. "Listen to your brother, it's too dangerous," he deadpanned.

Though Michael's expression wasn't harsh, his face alone was enough to intimidate anyone, let alone little Kat. She nodded attentively, "Okay, Uncle Michael."

Kat wasn't sure if he was upset with her, so she played the cute card, "Ride?" She stretched her hand out in front of him. Elizabeth shook her head at her daughter's coy intelligence, "Uncle Michael can't give you a ride, Kat, his hands are full. Come here, I will do it," Elizabeth offered, reaching out for Kat. But Michael stopped her, "It's fine, Beth, she can get a ride."

He picked Kat up and made her sit on his shoulders, with both her legs on equal sides of his shoulders, and she held his head for support. The four of them continued on their way into the lake house.

"You aren't angry with me, right?" Kat whispered to Michael, still worried he was upset, as she couldn't tell when he was happy or angry with his always stotic expression.

"I was never angry with you," Michael clarified, and a small sigh escaped little Kat's lips. "Good, you will teach me how to climb a tree, right?" she asked.

Michael hummed " Hmm, Let's find a smaller tree or a climbing wall where you can practice and build your skills. Then, when you're ready, we can come back to this tree and you can climb it safely."

Kat was satisfied with his reply and nodded eagerly. Elizabeth laughed, "Hmm, you better be careful." They heard Nathan warn before storming off forward, still upset they where even considering letting his precious little sister climb a tree.

Back to the present. Each step Kat took, reminded her of her happy days, how her big brother would place her on his shoulders, explaining facts about the trees and animals, and how to escape form wild animals. Kat scoffed remembering how over paranoid he used to be of her safety. All she wanted to do now was get to the lake house. She felt sad but had learned to make peace with her lose. She just had to move forward even though it felt impossible sometimes.

The sound of birds chirping could be heard in the woods. Kat was dressed well for the forest environment, she wore a black army print cargo pants, paired with a black crop top showcasing her slim and a white fluffy hoodie to keep warm from the night's cold breeze.

She pushed forward, her suitcase trailing behind her like a loyal companion. Knowing the lake house cabin awaited her at the end of her journey, promising a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of celebrity life.

As the evening progressed, the sky gradually darkened, giving way to the twinkling stars and the peaceful calm of nightfall. Kat had gotten closer to her lake house, guided by the moonlight and the gentle whispers of nature.

The canopy of trees above her obscured the moonlight, casting eerie shadows on the forest floor. The branches creaked and swayed in the gentle breeze.

The crisp night air filled her lungs, finally, after what felt like forever, she caught sight of the lake house looming in the distance, its welcoming lights piercing the darkness. She could almost feel the warmth of the fire place, just then a rustling sound echoed through the trees, causing kat to jolt. It wasn't unusual for her to hear some animals moving about, but the it spooked her when she heard the sound so close.

She turned around, In the dim moonlight filtering through the tree branches, she caught sight of a magnificent creature emerging from the shadows, at first she mistook it to be a wolf and was thinking of how to make a run for it. But then she saw it was a black husky with mesmerizing ocean-like blue eyes that seemed to glow in the darkness. The husky stood before her, its fur a mix of dark and silver tones, blending seamlessly with the night around them.

Kat's initial apprehension lessened as she gazed into the husky's striking eyes, which held a sense of calm and intelligence. It was as though the husky was trying to communicate something to her with its piercing gaze.

"Oh my God, where did you come from?" She whispered to herself, utterly captivated by the dogs appearance. She called out to it, making a clicking sound, hoping to draw it closer. Each time the sound escaped her lips, she noticed the dog's ear flicker in response.

"Hey boy, are you lost?" She asked softly, her voice barely audible as she inched closer. With cautious steps, she moved towards the husky, watching its cautious yet curious movements. "It's okay, I won't hurt you," she reassured, directing her words more to the dog now as she closed the distance between them. The husky tilted its head sideways, its tongue lolling out in a playful manner. It was a sight that could warm even the coldest of hearts. Almost as if understanding her words, the husky sat down, its intense gaze fixed on her.

She slowly reached out my hand to the husky, feeling its soft fur beneath her fingertips.

"Oh, aren't you just the most gorgeous thing ever? Didn't think I would meet my match today" She joked, her fingers gently stroking its fur. The husky looked at her with those soulful eyes, it's tail started to wag behind him, making kat giggle,

"I wonder where you came from," she asked and She reached out for his collar . "Oh, Lance, what a fitting name for such a regal-looking fellow like yourself," she said, smiling as he tilted his head in response. "Looks like you've got yourself a temporary companion, Lance. How about we stick together for the night and go searching for your owner in the morning? Though I honestly can't say I would be willing to give you up"

As she spoke, Lance barked and nuzzled his head against my hand, his warmth and affection making her heart swell. "Hehe, you're quite the charmer, aren't you?" Kat chuckled, feeling a lick on my face that made her giggle. "Oh, you're such a sweetheart!"

Standing up straight, she looked down at Lance with a grin. "Come on, lance, let's go," kat instructed, to her surprise, he understood and began following her. "You know, you're smarter than most dogs. Your owner must have trained you well," she commented, like the dog could respond to her words continuing Thier conversation as they walked towards the cabin.

Just as they were nearing the cabin, Lance's ears perked up, and he darted off into the darkness.

Kat didn't expect him to suddenly run off, she wondered what happened. With instinct's she ran after him, calling out to him, "Lance!!" "Wait!!" She exclaimed, trying to keep up with the suitcase in her hands.

As she ran after the Lance through the dense woods. The autumn leaves crunched beneath her feet as she followed the dog, its fur shining in the dappled moon light. The dog seemed to be on a mission, darting between trees and shrubs with a sense of purpose. She could barely keep up, her heart pounding with adrenaline.

They raced deeper into the woods, kat couldn't shake the feeling that we were straying too far from the familiar trails. She called out to the Lance, but he paid her no mind, his focus solely on the mysterious destination he seemed to be heading for.

Suddenly, his ears perked up, and he veered off in a new direction, disappearing behind a thick cluster of bushes. Without hesitation, kat followed, determined to keep up with her furry companion.

But when she emerged from the underbrush, she realized with a sinking feeling that she had lost sight of him. Concerned she frantically scanned the surrounding trees, but he was no where to be seen. the realization dawning on her that she was now alone and lost in a unknown area of the forest, "oh no" she breathed out.

Kat's breath came in short gasps as I tried to retrace my steps, but, the winding paths and dense foliage all seemed to blur together. The rustling of leaves and distant calls of birds only served to deepen the sense of disorientation around her.

"Darn it," she cursed under her breath, frustration bubbling up, she had lost Lance. "Where did you go, you sneaky little fur ball?" She muttered, my heart pounding with concern.

Kat reached for her phone, in hopes to find a signal that would lead her back to the rout of the lake house. "Oh, come on, not now!" She tapped the screen furiously as if that would magically conjure up a signal.

"Of all the times to lose signal, it had to be now," she grumbled, feeling a sinking feeling of dread settle in her stomach. "I've been in these woods countless times, and there's always been a signal. But of course, the one time I venture into this part, I'm left high and dry."

"This is just great,"kat ran her hand through my hair, frustrated. "Okay, calm down, focus. I just need to retrace my steps and find my way back," she reassured herself self, though the daunting thought of being truly lost lingered in the back of her mind.