The Ritual
The Appalachian Mountains had long been a place of wonder and awe for the three hikers. It was the perfect place to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and to take in the fresh air and stunning views in all directions. They had spent weeks planning their trip, and the day had finally arrived to begin their journey.
The three friends, John, Sarah, and Matt had set out early in the morning, excited to see all the beauty the mountains had to offer. They had picked a route that would take them through some of the most majestic views and challenging trails. The sun was shining, and the air was crisp and cool as they hiked up the steep incline. The further they ventured, the more awe-inspiring the view became. They had reached the peak, and the panoramic view of the valley below was breathtaking. As the sun began to set, they decided to make camp and enjoy the evening in the majestic mountain setting.
As they were settling in for the night, they began to hear strange noises coming from the woods. At first, they all thought it was just animals, but soon enough the noises became louder and more persistent. In a panic, they decided to investigate, and what they found was far more terrifying than they had imagined.
In the center of the woods was a creature that none of them had ever seen before. It was tall, with dark fur and red eyes. Its mouth was full of sharp teeth and its claws were long and razor-sharp. The creature was a Skinwalker, a supernatural being that had been known to haunt the Appalachian Mountains. The Skinwalker began to circle the three friends, growling and snarling as it did so. The hikers were terrified and had no idea what to do. They tried to back away slowly, but the Skinwalker kept advancing. It was clear that it was not going to let them escape.
John: “What do we do? It's not going to let us get away!”
Sarah: “I don't know, but I think we should try to make a run for it!”
Matt: “We don't have time! It's coming closer!”
Suddenly, John remembered a myth he had heard about skinwalkers. He remembered that they feared salt, so he quickly grabbed a handful of it from his backpack and threw it at the creature. The Skinwalker shrieked in pain and ran away, leaving the three hikers safe and unharmed.
The three friends were relieved to be safe, but they were also shaken by their experience. They quickly gathered their gear and continued their hike, but this time they were much more aware of their surroundings. They kept a close eye out for any signs of the Skinwalker and avoided taking any unnecessary risks.
Although the Skinwalker attack was a frightening experience, the three friends were grateful to have made it out unscathed. They learned a valuable lesson that day, and that was to always be prepared for the unexpected. The Appalachian Mountains may have been beautiful, but they could also be dangerous.
The next day, the trio of hikers decided to take an alternate route and stumbled upon a small village deep in the Appalachian Mountains. They were welcomed by the locals, who were curious to know what had happened to them. After they told them about their encounter with the Skinwalker, the locals were shocked. They explained that the Skinwalker was a creature of legend, and no one had seen it in many years. The villagers then went on to tell the hikers a startling truth - the Skinwalker was actually an ancient spirit that had been trapped in the Appalachian Mountains for centuries. It was said that the spirit had been wrongfully imprisoned by a powerful sorcerer, and that the only way to free it was to perform a ritual.
The ritual would require the hikers to gather three items: a feather from a white dove, a drop of water from a sacred lake, and a lock of hair from a wild horse. The hikers were hesitant at first, but the locals convinced them that if they completed the ritual, it would free the spirit and bring peace to the Appalachian Mountains. The trio agreed and set off on a quest to find the items.
After a long and difficult journey, they were able to gather all three items and perform the ritual. As they did so, a bright light filled the air, and the spirit was freed from its prison. In return for their help, the spirit granted the hikers a wish. The hikers wished for the Skinwalker to never again terrorize the Appalachian Mountains. The spirit granted their wish, and to this day, the Skinwalker has never been seen in the Appalachian Mountains again.
The hikers were relieved to have broken the curse and freed the spirit and the witch. They thanked the locals for their help and then set off on their journey, content knowing that they had helped make the world a better place.
John: “Wow, I can’t believe we actually did it. We freed the spirit and the witch and saved the Appalachian Mountains.”
Sarah: “It was an incredible experience. I’m so glad we decided to take this trip.”
Matt: “Me too. I’m just glad we made it out safely. That Skinwalker was no joke.”
John: “I know. But I’m glad we were able to help. Now the Appalachian Mountains can be a safe place for everyone.”
Sarah: “Yes, and we can all be proud of what we accomplished.”
Matt: “We sure can. It was a truly amazing experience.”
A few months later, the trio of hikers decided to return to the Appalachian Mountains. As they trekked their way through the woods, they began to hear strange noises coming from the trees. The noises were eerily familiar, and the hikers knew it was the Skinwalker. They looked around cautiously, expecting the creature to appear at any moment.
Suddenly, a large figure emerged from the shadows. It was the Skinwalker, and it had an angry look in its eyes. It seemed to have remembered the hikers and was seeking revenge. The creature began to circle the hikers, growling and snarling as it did so. In the commotion, one of the hikers tripped and fell, injuring his leg. The Skinwalker took the opportunity to attack, and in the chaos, John and Sarah were killed.
Matt was left in shock as the Skinwalker disappeared into the night. He was devastated by the loss of his friends, but he was determined to avenge them. He returned to the village, where he enlisted the help of the locals to track down the Skinwalker. After weeks of searching, they finally found the creature and were able to trap it in an old mine.
The hiker then performed a ritual to break the curse that had bound the Skinwalker for centuries. As the curse was broken, the creature vanished into the night, never to be seen or heard from again. The hiker returned to the village, relieved that the Skinwalker was gone. He knew that his friends had not died in vain, and he was grateful to have freed the Appalachian Mountains from the terror of the Skinwalker.
A few months later, Matt left alive prepared to leave the Appalachian Mountains. As he trekked his way out of the woods, he noticed something strange in his pocket. It was the magical item that the Skinwalker had given him when it was freed. He had almost forgotten about it in the chaos of the last few months. The hiker was stunned that the item had survived the ordeal, and he knew that it must have some special power. He decided to take it back to the village, where he hoped the locals would be able to tell him more about it.
When he arrived in the village, the locals were amazed to see the item. They explained to the hiker that the item was a powerful talisman that could grant wishes. Matt was overjoyed and he quickly made a wish for his two friends to be brought back to life. Much to his surprise, the wish was granted and his two friends suddenly appeared in front of him. He was elated to see his friends alive and well, and he thanked the Skinwalker for its gift. The three friends then set off on their journey, content knowing that they had been granted a second chance.
The trio of hikers returned home with incredible stories to tell. They recounted the tale of their encounter with the Skinwalker and the magical item that had brought their friends back to life. The story quickly spread throughout the region, and people from all over the world began to flock to the Appalachian Mountains in hopes of experiencing a similar miracle.
The hikers were humbled by the attention, but they were also happy to have spread a message of hope and courage. They knew that their story would inspire others to never give up, no matter how difficult the odds may seem. The Appalachian Mountains will always be a place of wonder and awe for the three hikers, and they will continue to tell their story to anyone who will listen.
Hailey Barnett is a sophomore here at Midway majoring in Sport Management, with a minor in psychology. She is also on the Bowling Team!