Scouts Honor-The Last Merit

Todd F. Dessinger

Six teens—Tyler, Caleb, Ally, Tommy, Ruiz, and Ryan—enter a remote part of the Canadian wilderness for their final Eagle Scout survival challenge. Guided by three scoutmasters (Peter Voss, Daniel Reed, Matt Reyes), the group is separated into a self-led camp to test independence and wilderness skills. On the first night, a violent thunderstorm lashes both camps. Unbeknownst to the teens, Matt Reyes is attacked and killed by a rogue bear while checking on them. The bear then ravages the scoutmasters' camp, leaving nothing but blood and broken gear. Morning reveals silence. Tyler and Ryan venture to the scoutmasters’ camp and find signs of a brutal bear attack. With no communication, no equipment, and no adult supervision, Tyler informs the group that their leaders are likely dead—and that they must leave this area before they become the bears next victims. They must work together to survive and try to make it back to civilization alive. A group vote splits opinions. Tyler, Ally, Tommy, and Ruiz decide to leave the area immediately. Caleb reluctantly agrees, resenting Tyler's rising influence. Ryan, shaken and susceptible to pressure, sides with the majority despite his fear. As they pack to flee, tensions start to build. Caleb lashes out, accusing Tyler of being the self appointed leader of the bunch. Ally intervenes, defusing escalating conflict. Tyler maps a route using a torn scoutmaster map; Tommy recommends heading for a known ranger outpost halfway through the park. A distant grunt reminds them the bear still roams the area. As the group journeys through terrain—dense woods, shifting weather, and emotional minefields. Caleb’s ego clashes constantly with Tyler’s suggestions, seeing it as him trying to lead the group. Ruiz starts questioning Caleb’s judgment, causing cracks in their friendship. Tommy finds some old hiking and camping gear along the way, hinting at previous expeditions into this part of the forest. Ryan’s injury worsens. Strange movements in the woods make Ruiz paranoid—he suspects they’re being watched. After walking for hours through the forest Tyler suggests that they stop and set up camp for the night, giving Ryan a chance to rest his injured ankle. Tyler begins to start a fire and the others begin to set up tents. Caleb tells Ruiz that they need to go back and try to locate the sat phone because It's the only way out of here. Ruiz tells him that it would be almost impossible to find the phone, but Caleb tells him bears don't eat phones so it must be somewhere around the area of attack. Ruiz states that Tyler search the area and couln't find it. Caleb states that Tyler must have not looked hard enough. Ruiz then asks about the others? If they go back looking for the phone, they would be splitting up the group and that would not be wise. They have a better chance of survival if they stick together and it would be to dangerous to go back because of the bear. Caleb senses Ruiz shift in loyality and quickly changes the mood by telling him that he maybe your right, and it was just a thought. Ruiz continues to help set up camp, Caleb looks at him from afar with a sense of betrayal. The group sits down around the fire and eat. Later that night after everyone goes to bed, then Caleb vanishes. The next morning the group discovers Caleb's absence. Ruiz tell's the group about what he and Calab talked about the day before, about Caleb wanting to return to the original camp to look for the sat phone. The group debates what to do, Tyler decides he will go back for Caleb and the group will stay put till he returns. This will also give Ryan a chance to rest his injured ankle. Tyler finds Caleb a couple miles from the camp on his way back to join the others. An argument insues about him leaving the group. Caleb tells Tyler that he has no right to tell him what to do and he better stay out of his way. They both return to the camp were the group is. The group, displease with Caleb's actions ask him if he found the sat phone? Caleb tells them he couldn't find the phone but did find the remains of one of the scoutmasters. He thinks it was Matt Reyes, but he couldn't be sure. The shocked group were left speechless. Caleb claims to have heard something... deep in the woods. So he decided to come back. But along the way he continued to hear noises, like something was following him. Debates start to flare over how to handle this new information. Tyler suggests that they must keep moving towards the ranger station, especially if what Caleb said is true, whatever was following him may be closer than they think. Caleb suggests that they stay were they are and hold their ground and use some of the weapons they have fashioned to fight what ever is following them. Fear, fatigue, and power struggles grow. After a brief debate on what to do and what direction to take, Ally, Tommy, and Ruiz agree with Tyler that they need to keep moving towards the ranger station. Again, Caleb voices his displeasure of the group always siding with Tyler. This starts a slow progression of Paranoia & Delusion within Caleb. He starts misinterpreting others’ actions. He starts believing more and more that Tyler is undermining him on purpose or possibly thinks the group is conspiring behind his back. The group breaks down camp and continue their journey towards the rangers station that is at least a 2 day trek. As the group travels through dense terrain for the good part of the day, they take a break. The first death in their group happens. Tommy wanders off briefly to investigate some plant life by a stream. Ruiz calls out, but he doesn’t respond. Then they hear a sound—low, guttural, and far too close. Tyler, Ruiz and Caleb rush towards the sound of screaming. By the time they get to the stream the only think they see is blood stained plants. Across the stream they see movement in the the brush of the forest moving away from them. Ruiz calls out frantically for Tommy but gets no response. Tyler sees Tommys journal on the bank across the stream. He goes after it to retrive it. Once there he sees bear tracks on the bank. He retreats back across the stream and tells Ruiz and Caleb that Tommys gone and they had better get back to the others. Once back with the others, Tyler explains what has happened. Caleb sees Tommy’s death as proof they should’ve stayed put—he feels vindicated, causing more friction. Ryan spirals further—his injury and fear now coupled with loss. Tommy's death shakes the group deeply and shift the tone of the story to a much darker place. Death is becoming more of a reality for the group, unlocking feelings and choices they have never had to face before. Tyler becomes even more focused, determined to protect the group and find their way back to civilization. Caleb tries harder to prove Tyler's incompetence—blamming decisions the group voted for on Tyler, escalating arguments, and even endangering the groups thought process on purpose to show he’s “right.” At the moment, Tyler refuses to engage in Caleb's seemingly preposterous accusations. Instead Tyler proposes a plan to stay steps ahead of the threat that is currently on everyones mind(The Bear). Tyler now knows this bear is systematicaly hunting them, and if they don't do anything about it, the chances of them making out of the forest alive is very slim. Tyler suggest that first they try to hide their scents by rubbing natural materials on their clothing. Dirt, pine needles, leaves—these help mask their scent with familiar forest smells. Then hike upstream for about a quarter of a mile them cross the stream. The bear went across stream with Tommys body, so it knows they are on this side so it will cross the stream again to continue to hunt them down. By crossing the water, running through a stream might dilute or mask the scent trails. Tyler also suggest that he will double back, creating a confusing loop which could buy time for the others escape. Ally is against the idea because Tyler would be the bait. Tyler explains he has no intention of being a sacrificial lamb in all of this. His plan on doubling back has risks, but he plans on making the bear hunt in the oppisite direction of where they are heading. Ruiz asks how he plans on doing this? Tyler pulls out his knife and explains to the group that he's going to use his own blood to draw the bear in the oppisite direction. Then travel by stream to rejoin them, further throwing off the bears scent. Caleb quickly agrees with Tylers plan, drawing mixed reactions from Ally, and Ruiz. As Tyler grabs some supplies and starts to rub pine needles and mud on himself he is approched by Ally who starts to do the same as does everyone else. Ally wishes him luck and tells him to be careful. She gives him a kiss on the cheek. Caleb sees this while helping Ryan. His reaction is one of disgust and jealousy. Tyler heads out as the rest of the group heads upstream as discussed. As Tyler vanishes into the thicket, the group silently treks far upstream—muddied, tired, Caleb half-believing in Tyler’s gamble. Caleb leads the way, muttering about “how nature honors the brave who feed it's children.” while Ally and Ruiz assist Ryan. Ruiz continues to notice the change in Caleb's state of mind. They cross the stream and stop in a clearing just beyond. Everyone’s quiet. Then—a distant gutteral growl. The kind that echoes from far away. Like thunder minutes after lighting flashes in the sky. Ruiz suggest that they stop and and wait for Tyler seeing it is close to nightfall. All verbally agree exept Caleb who just sits down. Ruiz gathers some wood and starts a fire while noticing Caleb scrapes cryptic symbols into the dirt, each line more erratic than the last. His fingers moved fast, like they were channeling something he couldn’t contain. As darkness fell, Ally, Ruiz and Ryan sat around the fire. Caleb leaned against a tree. No one spoke, they just looked at the fire crackling. Then all the sudden words could be heard. “Tommy was weak,” Caleb muttered. “He gave himself to the forest. An offering—flesh and blood for Mother Nature.” Ruiz wanted to believe his friend was just grieving in his own way, trying to make sense of it all to ease the pain. That this was just shock. But Caleb’s words felt... foreign to him. Borderline psychotic. Ally got to her feet and stepped closer Caleb, eyes locked on. “Tommy didn’t die because the forest took him,” she said. “He died because none of us respected it.” Caleb looked up, his face a mask of quiet delight. “You think it was disrespect?” “No,” Ally said. “I know it was. This isn’t mysticism. It's biology, it's instinct.” She turned to the others. “We didn't just stumbled into a predator’s domain, we entered willingly.Tommy wasn't a sacrificial offering, he was a casualty of our ignorance." Silence. No one answered. Caleb smiled then—thin, eerie, almost reverent. “Yet it has spared you thus far.” Ally didn’t blink. “Because I don’t pretend it speaks.” Caleb glared into her eyes. His lips parted, but no sound followed. The corners of his mouth twitched—not a smile, not quite. One hand drifted up to touch the bark of a nearby tree, slowly, as if it were listening. He tilted his head, ear turned slightly toward the trunk, like he was straining to hear something only he could perceive. Caleb looks at Ally and says "There are different types of disrespect... One should be careful. Especially out here." Then, he takes a step back. Not fearful—deliberate. Reverent. The others shifted, sensing something off, like a thread had snapped beneath the surface and none could see where it unraveled. Caleb’s eyes never left Ally, but something behind them wasn’t entirely present anymore. They all suddenly hear some twigs snapping in the distance. They all take a defensive stance. For a moment it's an eerie silence... then Tyler emerges from the darkness. Everyone but Caleb is happy to see him judging by the look on his face. Ruiz asks Tyler if his plan worked? Tyler says he belives so and says that he saw the bear heading in the opposite direction, following his blood trail. Tyler also says that it is indeed a black bear, and a big one at that. After he lost sight of it he headed upstream, walking in the water to throw off the scent. Caleb asks how he found them in the dark. Tyler explains that after traveling for awhile he climbed a tree and saw the glow from their campfire. Ally says that was Ruiz's Idea. Tyler thanks him while Caleb gives Ruiz a evil glare without anyone noticing. Tyler asks Ruiz to help him set up some makeshift bear alarms just in case. They take some twine with some of there metal drinking cups and set up a perimeter around the outter part of their camp. If something hits the twine the metal cups will make noise and alert them. Tyler decides to take first watch while the other get some sleep. The rest of the night proves to be uneventful. The next morning, the group awakens to an eerie stillness—no birdsong, no wind. The fire has gone cold. Ruiz reports that after he took over watch from Tyler, nothing remarkable happened. Tyler does a quick scan of the perimeter; none of their makeshift alarms were triggered during the night. He and ruiz take them down so they can be used at there next camp. Everyone is accounted for. Caleb continues to seem distant, sitting against a tree, eyes open and unmoving, looking like he hadn’t slept. The group eats a silent breakfast of dried rations and filtered water. The mood is heavy with exhaustion and continued thoughts of Tommy. Tyler estimates they’re about a day and a half from the ranger station. He suggests breaking camp early to gain distance just in case the bear attempts to pick up their trail again. Ruiz goes over to Caleb and asks him what his deal is? Why he's acting so different. Caleb confronts Ruiz on the fact that they have been friends since grade school and all the sudden Ruiz is siding with Tyler? Ruiz explains to him it's not about siding with anyone, it's about surviving the element. And in his opinion, Tyler's suggestion made good sense. It wasn't anything personal. It's clear Caleb has issues with that but doesn't make a big deal of it in front of the others. The group moves out. Ryan’s limp is slowing them down. Ruiz and Ally help support him. Caleb trails behind the group, muttering softly to himself. Ally occasionally glances back, concerned. Tyler notices but says nothing—for now. As they pass through a narrow section of the forest with thick underbrush, Ruiz discovers the compass is missing from Tyler’s belt pouch. Tyler accuses Caleb of taking it. Caleb smirks and denies it. A short search turns up the compass—sitting on a hollow log, not far from where Caleb had been resting during their last break. Caleb shrugs. “Maybe the forest didn’t want us to leave.” Tyler warns him: “If you endanger this group again, I swear—” Caleb quickly get's in his face: "Swear what? On your honor, to do your best to God and your country and to obey the Scout Law? Tyler pushes Caleb away from his face and says: "What are you talking about?" Caleb continues his rant: "To help other people at all times, at least those who are obedient to your rule. To keep physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight to guard myself from tyrants. Must we not forget the outdoor code? As Americans, we must do our best to - Be clean in our outdoor manners Be careful with fire Be considerate in the outdoors, and Be conservation minded. And most importantly, to be Trustworthy" Caleb looks at Ruiz "And loyal" The group is silent for a moment. Caleb starts to walk in the direction they are heading, with his back now turned he raises his hand with his first index finger extended and says "Be Prepared!". Ruiz looks at the group and says "He's losing it" Tyler says "Come on, let's move out". The group continues there trek towards the ranger station. Emotional Fracture – Ryan’s Despair / Ally’s Anchor Ryan collapses after several hours of slow hiking. His ankle has worsened. Ryan starts to panic under the stress of his situation. Ally calms him down, wrapping it tighter, whispering that they’re close. She’s becoming Ryan’s emotional anchor. Caleb watches the interaction with quiet judgment He walks behind Ruiz whispering into his ear, “The weak always get carried. Until they become dead weight.” Ruiz glances at Caleb who is walking away from him but says nothing. Tyler suggest that with Ryan's condition they set up camp for the night. Everyone agrees except for Caleb who remains silent. Nightfall – Last Camp Before the Ranger Station As night falls, Ruiz and Tyler begin setting up a fire again while keeping the perimeter tight. The group sits around the fire, except for Caleb who is in his tent. They start discussing the next days plans and how they are going to help the worsening Ryan. Ryan assures them that he can make it. Painful as it is, he will fight the pain. With that said, Tyler says “Then we’ll push at first light. No matter what.” The group echos his words saying "No matter what". Caleb lay in his tent listening to the groups conversation with a blank stare. Tyler volunteers to take first watch, Ruiz volunteers to take second watch. They sit around the fire for a bit the go to bed. Arrival at the Ranger Station After an uneventful night and full day of hiking, the group finally arrives at the ranger station — only to discover it's abandoned and decommissioned. The building is weathered, the radio tower rusted, windows boarded or shattered. Caleb immediately lashes out, blaming Tyler for following Tommy’s suggestion to head here instead of finding a different route. Ally interjects, reminding Caleb that everyone voted on that decision, and how dare he pin it on Tyler now that Tommy is gone. Ruiz and Ryan back Ally, agreeing that it was a group decision made with the best knowledge they had. Storm Approaches – Shelter Found Distant thunder rumbles, lightning flickers in the distance. A storm is rapidly approaching. Tyler suggests they find a way inside before the weather worsens. The group splits up to check for an entry point. Ruiz locates an unlocked window and crawls inside. Moments later, he opens the front door for the others. Just as the storm hits with torrential rain and wind, the group takes refuge inside. Inside, the station offers limited supplies—no communication tools, and only sparse, outdated gear. It’s clear this won’t be a rescue point. That night, the group discusses their next move, concluding that their only option is to trek to the nearest town marked on the map—at least a week away, even at full pace. With Ryan’s injury slowing them, Tyler proposes hunting and fishing to survive along the way. Everyone agrees—except Caleb, who remains silent and withdrawn. The Next Morning – Fracture Deepens They set out again the next morning toward the closest town. After hours of hiking, Ryan collapses, clearly worsening. Caleb seizes the moment, saying: “Look at him. He can’t even stand. You really expect him to make it another week?” Tyler defends Ryan, insisting they’ll help him no matter how long it takes. Caleb suggests leaving Ryan behind with a tent and supplies, claiming they can send help once they reach safety. Ally explodes, calling the idea cold and inhumane. Caleb argues it’s logical, blaming Ryan for slowing them down and even suggesting Tommy might still be alive if they hadn’t had to accommodate Ryan’s pace. He escalates further, saying tough choices have to be made, and even proposes Ally stay behind with Ryan if she’s so committed to him. Ruiz, Ally, and Tyler exchange a silent moment—torn but not persuaded. Tyler ends the debate: “We stick together. No matter what.” He steps toward Caleb. “You understand me?” Caleb stares him down: “Sure, you’re the boss, right?” The Fight – Human Conflict Turns Violent As Tyler turns to get his pack, Caleb attacks. The two brawl violently. Ruiz tries to break it up—Caleb punches Ruiz, knocking him down. Tyler recovers and lands a punch on Caleb, who then grabs his handmade wooden spear. Tyler grabs his own—they square off. Bear Attack – Chaos Unleashed Just as tension peaks, the black bear charges out of the forest, knocking both boys aside and immediately mauling Ruiz. Tyler springs into action, stabbing the bear with his spear. Caleb rises—freezes, conflicted and afraid. He hesitates, watching. The bear turns its attention to Tyler. After a brief, brutal exchange, it swipes Tyler into a tree, dazing him. The bear returns to Ruiz, grabs his leg, and begins dragging him into the forest. Ruiz screams Caleb’s name, pleading for help. Caleb stands still—then smirks. Ruiz sees him. Realizes. Betrayal. The bear disappears with Ruiz into the woods. Aftermath – Caleb’s Final Severance Ally sees the entire moment. Her face—shocked, horrified, disgusted. Caleb glances at her, and realizes she saw everything. Tyler, still dazed but rising, looks from Ally to the drag marks—then to Caleb, confused. Caleb meets his eyes. Says nothing. Instead of offering help or explanation, Caleb turns and walks off into the woods alone, effectively leaving the group for good. Decision to Move On Tyler gathers himself and grabs his spear—intending to chase after Ruiz. Ally stops him. She tells him Ruiz is gone—the bear has him. Tyler reluctantly agrees. They help Ryan to his feet, bruised and limping, and continue toward the nearest town. Aftermath of the Bear Attack – The Group Fractured Tyler, Ally, and Ryan move forward—quiet, shaken, and physically drained. No one speaks about Caleb. His betrayal lingers like a wound they can’t address. Ryan is emotionally spiraling. He blames himself for slowing everyone down, for Tommy’s death, and now Ruiz’s. Ally reassures him, but even her words feel hollow in the face of what they’ve just witnessed. Supplies and Survival Rations are almost gone. Tyler attempts to fish in a shallow stream, catching only one small trout. They build a small fire that night, cooking the fish with a few remaining dried rations. Tyler and Ally take turns staying awake to guard the group. No sign of the bear that night—but the forest feels like it’s watching now, no longer hiding its intentions. Meanwhile: Caleb Alone Intercut scene: Caleb, now alone, wanders in the wilderness, murmuring to himself. He’s smeared mud across his chest, wears no shirt, and carries his spear like a ceremonial object. He talks aloud to the forest, as if it's alive. “You asked for blood. I gave it. You spared me. I understand now.” His transformation is complete: no longer a rational scout as he was when he entered the forest, but a feral, wilderness-possessed zealot. Psychologically decompensated, Mentally unmoored or disoriented, Trauma-induced dissociation. All of these are a picture perfect representation of who and what Caleb has become, or transitioned into. Death of Ryan – The Unpredictable Loss Days later, Their progress is slow due to Ryan’s ankle injury and with no further attacks by the bear, and no sign of Caleb. Tyler, Ally and Ryan approach an area where they are going to have to climb the side of a small mountian. Tyler leads and they are able to navigate the steep ascend by following ledges along the side of the mountian. As they approach the top, Tyler has to climb a very small part were the ledge stops but he should be able to pull Ryan and Ally up one by one. Tyler lays flat on the ground securing himself and reaches out to grab Ryans hand. Ally helps move Ryan into position. Tyler grabs Ryans hand then all the sudden the ledge starts to give way. At the last second Tyler grabs Ally's hand as well. The ledge crumbles under Ryan and Ally's feet, they both hang suspended in air with Tyler being their only lifeline. Ryan starts to panic, Ally is calm, telling Ryan to relax and to stop moving erratically. Tyler tells Ryan to use his other hand and good foot to climb and assist him in pulling him up. Suddenly Tyler starts to get pulled over the ledge. Tyler tries to dig his boots into the ground more but it seems its only a matter of time till he loses his anchor. Tyler starts shoting to Ryan to climb. A paniced Ryan sees what's happing to Tyler and all the sudden starts punching Ally's hand, the one holding on to tylers other hand in attempt to make her break her grip on Tyler so she will fall and be less weight for Tyler to hold. Ally screams at Ryan, asking him what he is doing. It dosen't take long for her to figure out his intentions. Ally tries to block his punches to her grip with her other hand. Tyler is screaming at Ryan to stop, all this movment from Ryan is causing him to slip further over the edge. Tyler screams at the top of his lungs at Ryan to stop, Ryan glances at Tyler for a quick second with a narcissistic morally compromised look. Ryan's reaction is shaped more by panic or trauma than intent, making the psychology behind his motives more complex. Even people with strong moral compasses can act unpredictably when fear takes over. And that's what's happing to Ryan at this moment. Tyler recognizes this and pleads one last time for Ryan to stop. Ryan continues his assault on Ally's grip with Tyler. Suddenly Tyler lets go of Ryan. As Ryan falls to his death, his scream echoed for a full second... then nothing. The forest swallowed it, like it had been expecting the sound all along. Ally weeps silently as they see Ryans lifeless body below. Tyler pulls Ally up and they rest for a moment, the silence between them heavier than grief alone. In the distance, a muddied figure holding a spear is seen. It's Caleb, he had witnessed all of it from afar. He get's a crazed look to his face and start to mumble while walking towards the scene, he says "Were not so different after all, are we Tyler." Laughing after that. After Ryan’s Death – Campfire Confession That night, Tyler and Ally set up camp near a small clearing just off the trail. Both are emotionally and physically drained. They sit quietly around a small campfire. The silence lingers before Tyler finally breaks it. Tyler explains his decision to let Ryan go—he had no choice. If he hadn’t, Ally would have fallen, and they all might’ve died. Ally listens, nods slowly, and admits that she saw it in Ryan’s eyes—he wasn’t there anymore. Something inside him broke. She tells Tyler: “You saved me. That’s what matters now.” The moment grows tender. They embrace, and after a beat, they kiss, finding the first semblance of peace in days. The River – Caleb Returns The next morning, Tyler and Ally resume their trek, following a river trail that leads toward a waterfall marked on their map. As they navigate the slippery shoreline, Caleb ambushes them, striking Tyler in the back of the head with the butt of his spear and shoving him into the river. Ally screams and attacks Caleb with her fists, but Caleb coldly punches her in the gut, then delivers a knockout blow to her face. She collapses. Caleb stands over her and mutters, “Stay put. I’ll deal with you in a moment.” Tyler vs. Caleb – The Fight Begins Tyler rises from the river, waterlogged and groggy but still standing. Caleb wades into the river to confront him—a full brawl erupts. Caleb initially has the upper hand, fueled by rage and Tyler’s dazed state. Tyler regains composure and lands a 1-2 punch combo, sending Caleb stumbling backward into the river. Bear Attack – Chaos Reignites Just as Tyler moves to regroup, Ally calls out to him—Caleb is rising from the river, knife in hand, ready to strike. Tyler spins to defend himself—but before Caleb can reach him, the black bear explodes from the brush, tackling Caleb into the river. A vicious underwater struggle ensues—Caleb stabs the bear, but it shrugs off the blows. Tyler grabs his spear and dives in to help, stabbing the bear multiple times from the riverbank. The bear retreats, wounded and dragged slightly by the current, but not dead. The Climb – Caleb’s Final Betrayal Tyler pulls a bloodied, semi-conscious Caleb out of the river. They reach a small rockface they must scale to escape the water. Tyler begins climbing, then helps Caleb up behind him. As Tyler reaches back to assist, Caleb shoves him—Tyler tumbles off the ledge and into the river again, landing hard. Caleb smirks and begins to pull himself to the top, but doesn’t notice Ally charging toward him from above. Ally's Revenge – The Kick Caleb’s head and hands breach the top of the ledge. Ally arrives at full sprint—fury, betrayal, and adrenaline fueling her. She kicks Caleb square in the face, launching him backward off the ledge. At that moment, the bear—now almost free of the river’s current—rises in front of Tyler, ready to strike. Caleb falls directly onto the bear, knocking both of them into the water. The river current seizes them—and drags them over the edge of the massive waterfall. Caleb’s scream echoes through the canyon as he and the bear plunge to their deaths, vanishing into the foam and jagged rocks below. Aftermath – Escape and Reflection Tyler scrambles up the ledge with Ally’s help. They both stare out over the waterfall—silent, breathing hard, unsure whether to feel relief or horror. The bear is gone. Caleb is gone. Only they remain. Ally says softly: “It’s over.” Tyler: “Yeah... but not for us.” They gather what’s left of their supplies and begin walking again—toward town, toward survival.