December 11th, 2019

"I need to fill my bottle," one of the guys said. "I'm parched from running."

"Good luck with that. Everything is frozen," Aziz said.

"Why don't we go up to the school's well? That water won't be frozen," another guy said.

I thought about the ban on drinking the school's water, but I kept quiet. Nobody else seemed to be concerned. Plus, I wasn't the one drinking the water.

We left the forest and headed back down the icy road, but instead of going to the school, we headed to the well.

The tower was gated off and about a fourth mile back from the road. It was easy to ignore the "No Trespassing" sign and pass through. Someone of the guys circled the tower to find a small outdoor spigot while the rest of us waited.

Aziz, out of blue, ditched our small group and began circling the gate. He took off running and disappeared into the forest surrounding the tower.

"Aziz! What are you doing?" one of the guys began walking toward where Aziz had run away. "Get back here!"

"Take a look at the snow!" Aziz reappeared from the trees.

"Footprints," I whispered, walking closer to Aziz.

"Yellow!" one of the guys screamed.

"The yeti must be peeing here," Aziz said. "Gross, since the ground soaks it up. Good thing the water gets filtered."

"Eck. Are you sure it's yeti pee?"

"What other animal has those footprints?" Aziz folded his arms across his chest.

I still had a hard time even believing the yeti was real. How was I really supposed to believe this yeti was peeing all over and getting into the tap water?

Then again, maybe yeti pee was the mysterious substance getting into the school's water and making everyone sick...

No, that's crazy.

"Let's go guys. We filled up," Enrico said, leading the group that had gone to get water toward us.

"I wouldn't drink that water. Remember the ban? You'll probably get sick," I pointed out.

"I'm parched," one of the guys whined. "I've already gotten the cure anyhow."

I shrugged. "If you say so."

"Let's head back," Enirco said. And so we did.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

"We need to get that yeti! I just know it's making everyone sick!" Florrie said, sitting across from me on her bed.

It was Friday morning and I had gone over to her dorm early that morning. I liked her in the morning, when she hadn't put on her makeup yet.

"Do we?" I raised a brow.

"Yes! The water guy said he couldn't find anything leaking into the water so it must be the yeti!"

"Technically there are other variables-"

Florrie yawned. "Stop being a nerd," she teased playfully. "The water won't ever be truly safe to drink until the yeti is out of the picture."

"So, let me get this straight..." I pinched the bridge of my nose. "You want us to climb up the snowy mountain and kill a possibly fictional yeti? Just so that the school water might be safe to drink again?"

Florrie's face brightened with her signature smile. "Yes!"

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

After school, I went to my dorm to wait for Florrie. The rest of the student body was in their dorms, packing up to leave for winter break, but we would be going to hunt for a mysterious yeti.

A knock on the door announced my girlfriend's arrival and I got up to answer the door. I found Florrie decked out in winter gear and carrying a duffel bag. Her cheeks were pink with the cold and her cold jacket brought out her round, doe eyes.

"You look cute," I said slowly.

"Of course I do. You ready?"

I nodded and we left the boys' dorm. Soon, we were off school grounds and on the snaking mountain road. Florrie unloaded the gun she had brought in her duffel and left the bag itself by the school gates.

We hiked upward silently until we got to the forest area I had entered only days before. The plan was to circle the forest and then check the water tower. Any signs of the yeti were to be shot at.

I'll admit: it was a stupid plan and probably a waste of time... But there wasn't much harm we could do up in the isolated mountains.

I'll admit another thing: I just wanted to hang out with Florrie before we went our separate ways for two weeks.

The forest was thick and hard to navigate. Since the snow was so sturdy, I could still see the dents from yesterday's ordeal. I led Florrie along until we reached a tiny stream that connected into other streams.

"I'm guessing the yeti stays in a general area... so if this is around where you saw it yesterday, then it's probably nearby." Florrie sounded so smart even when she stated the obvious.

"Let's keep looking. I say we follow the streams. They might lead to something bigger."

We walked along the streams until we reached a clearing. I looked at Florrie and found her doe-eyes staring back at me.

"I bet you think this is pointless, but thank you for coming with me." Florrie got really close. Her body was a magnet to mine. I closed my eyes and puckered my lips thinking she was going to kiss me. My bubble burst when cold snow smashed into my face.

"Ohhh. You're in trouble now!"

A snowball fight broke out between us. I could've given her a bloody nose with one hit, but I went easy on her. I kept my eyes on her, only looking away to form more snowballs. I noticed Florrie plop down on the ground, signaling her surrender. However, I was still being pelted with snowballs. I saw a flurry of white running towards me and Florrie.

"The... yeti..." Florrie said, breathing heavily.

The yeti changed directions when it realized we weren't playing anymore. I grabbed Florrie and started to run back into the forest away from the yeti.

"What are you doing? Chase after it!" she screamed.

"I'm taking you to safety first," I replied.

"PUT ME DOWN!"

I dropped Florrie and watched as she ran in the direction of the yeti. Knowing I had no choice but to follow, I rushed after her in the snow. We chased the yeti through areas of thick trees and snowy clearings. I had no idea Florrie had such stamina. We went so far we passed the water well and then circled back to an area close to our starting point.

I was at the point of collapse when the yeti turned and dove under a spiky rock. Florrie rushed around the bend and her jaw went slack.

"Wha- wha-" I could hardly get out a breath as I jogged to the side of the spiky rock.

"It's... it's the yeti's lair!"