Valley of Vulnerability

 A photography enthusiast goes to the Big Bear Valley in hopes of finding new opportunities - both for her passion of capturing nature at its finest, and perhaps love - but instead finds herself getting first class tickets to an adventure of unparalleled force.

Upon getting into the valley, Lisa checks in to a comfy bed and breakfast where she runs into a local park ranger, Ben, who captures her attention. Lisa assumes there is little to any chance with the handsome ranger, and continues on her way with plans in tow for a week of wildlife photography like she had never had before. To her surprise, however, Lisa seems to keep running into this park ranger who also seems to be interested in her and the work she does.

After a few days of being in town, a massive storm hits the valley and leaves much of it in desolation. Roads are closed, and much of the valley has turned into a sight which can be hardly recognized. While things are just starting to settle down, however, Ben announces that there are missing people and if anyone in the community can help with a search and rescue, then all the help is welcome. Lisa can’t turn down the invite as she feels compelled to help the community which welcomed her like family.

As Lisa goes on this mission to help find missing people of the town, she encounters formidable foes in the form of flora and fauna, and surprising natural disasters that have never been heard of before. One missing person was found in what appeared to be a depression in the earth’s surface, perhaps a sinkhole, in which the skier had went off into the pit and was sucked into the snow. Lisa’s encounter with the unbelievable leaves her almost afraid to continue on this mission.

Just as Lisa decides she wants to turn around and go back to the town, she realizes all too late that the road which normally would take them back is completely gone. What now remains looks like a mudslide that left a swamp, and she is nearly attacked by a predator in the wild that cannot be seen easily. As if in tune with nature, Ben shows up just in time to rescue Lisa from the near attack, and they find a way back to the main group of the search party.

With time and luck on their side, they manage to find a few survivors from the storm’s assault on the valley, and they all safely make it back to the main town with the help of a rescue helicopter that Ben was able to contact to help with the search.

Word count: 450