The Camping Trip: Part Three

by lynx and Elleni, my pet Shoyru

I don't know how long it was after I had fallen asleep, probably only a few minutes but Flowal nudged me and I sat up. It was dark and you couldn't see anything so I felt for my flashlight and turned it on. "Yeah?"

"You were just joking about the thing, right?" Flowal said uneasily. "Right? Elleni?"

"Yes, of course." I tried to smiled with reassurance. "It was just a story that Lynx made up the first time I went camping. Lynx makes up all sorts of things."

"If you say so..." Flowal started not sure what was being said. "I never believed in the thing, anyway."

A twig snapped out side. "OH MY FAERIE QUEEN!" Flowal screamed and pulled the sleeping bag over her head.

I cracked up laughing as Rabbit, Flowal's Bearog, jumped into my arms. "It's only Rabbit, Flowal."

Flowal came out from under the sleeping bag and took Rabbit. "I knew that. How did you find me Rabbit?"

"She probably followed us."

"Want to tell scary stories again?" Flowal asked. Neither of us were sleepy now.

"Sure, you go first."

She told about Warf that's head was hanging from the balcony of its owner's house and the owner couldn't figure out what the dripping sound was. Poor Warf "Now you tell a story, Elleni."

"Hmm..." I couldn't think of a new story.

"Tell the one about the thing again."

"Okay. There was this Usul that got separated from her owner while walking in the forest. It started to get dark and the Usul leaned up a against a tree to try and get some sleep and maybe find her owner in the morning. She heard a twig snap behind her and she climbed up the tree, shivering with fear." Flowal started shivering.

"She looked around at the ground but saw nothing. Her Owner had told her about the Thing in the forest that gets lost pets and campers. She tried not to be scared because she knew the thing lived off fear. She heard a low growl and couldn't help but be scared. She tried to tell her self it was nothing, but she knew it was the thing. She heard it creeping closer not caring about the twigs it was breaking." Rabbit yelped because Flowal was hugging him tightly.

"She climbed farther up the tree, hoping the thing couldn't climb. It scratched at the bottom of the tree trying to climb. Finally, the thing leaped up and the Usul could feel its breath on her feet. The Usul screamed and kicked the thing off the tree climbing higher up." Flowal hid inside the sleeping bag.

"In the distance some Lupes barked and scared the thing away, but not before it said, "I put on my best low scary-like voice and said, "I'll get you one day."

Flowal let out a scream and came out of hiding. "I wasn't scared."

"Let's try and get some sleep." I laid back down in my sleeping bag and closed my eyes, but sleep didn't come for awhile.

I must have fell asleep sometime because I woke up to the sound of birds chirping. Flowal was still sleeping. I sat up, slid out of my sleeping bag and crawled out of the tent. It was hot, the sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

I looked out over the edge of the cliff and down into the water. The water was so clear and beautiful. I flew slowly down into the water for a quick swim. It was about thirty feet from the top of the cliff to the lake.

I dove into the water. It was nice and cool, it wasn't that deep either. You could see all the way to the bottom when you looked into it. I came up a minute later and heard: "Elleni?!"

Flowal was peering over the cliff. "I thought the thing had got you."

"I'm fine, wanna come for swim? The water is nice and cool."

"Yeah, sure." I flew up to where Flowal was and grabbed her by the arms and lowered her into the water. I doubted that she wanted to jump thirty feet.

I swam closer to the waterfall. I took a breath and dove under the waterfall. When I came up on the other side I saw a small alcove. Couldn't exactly call it a cave because it was too small. You could see the end of it from the beginning.

I swam back under the waterfall and called Flowal to come over. I dove behind the waterfall again and climbed up on to the ground of the alcove. Flowal climbed up beside me.

We walked to the back of the cave and looked around. It was bare except for a few rocks here and there. My stomach started growling so I figured it was time for lunch.

Flowal and I dove back into the water and under the water fall. I flew Flowal up to the top of the cliff. Once up there. We headed to where our tent was but it wasn't there. Our sleeping bags and backpacks were still here, thankfully.

"Who would take your tent?" I asked.

"I've got a pretty good idea who," Flowal said as I handed her an apple and a bottle of water from my backpack. "Rofal."

"I've got a plan," I said and took a bite of my apple.

To be continued...