Chapter 9 Time To Explore

Cassie’s fun, like really fun. I’m definitely glad Beth wanted another friend. Cassie is currently in the cafeteria’s kitchen, grabbing as many snack bags as possible while Beth and I are lookouts. The majority of the camp is still at the fire, but of course, we got hungry. And Cassie, being crazy, suggested we just steal some. I wasn’t too hyped on this idea, but they got me there.

I glance at Beth, and she’s already looking at me with a giddy smile, making me burst out laughing. I bring my hand to my mouth quickly looking around, trying to shut myself up, but one more look at her, and we’re both laughing.

Probably hearing our cackling, Cassie comes out of the room, her arms full of food. And I mean full. She’s quite a muscular girl, which helps her fit even more bags in her arms.

“How are we gonna sneak all this into the cabin?” I ask the important thing we all seem to be forgetting.

Cassie shrugs, “We’ll split it between ourselves and make it seem less like we robbed them.”

That’s how we end up trying to inconspicuously walk into our cabin with all of our hands full of bags. My parents would go crazy if they saw me right now. We somehow make it inside the cabin without being stopped or accused, though we get a few weird looks. Our snacks are emptied onto my bed, and I’m even happier to have Cassie.

“Where have you been all this time?” Beth voices my thoughts.

She chuckles, pushing her black hair behind her ears. She’s a pretty girl with dark tan skin that makes her short dark hair stand out more.

“I’ve been here the whole time.”

“What cabin?” I ask this time, taking a seat on the wooden floor.

She looks a little taken aback by my question, but recovers quickly. “Cabin one. We’re stuck more to ourselves, but they’re all boring over there; you two are more fun.”

Beth likes her response.

“Speaking of fun, there is a party in two days at the clearing; you guys should come.” She continues.

Beth looks to me for a sort of approval, to which I nod. It’s not a bad idea to get out there and try something new.

“Yeah, we’ll be there. You can get ready here with us.”

“Great, but don’t tell any tattlers there will be booze.” She warns us.

“Any hot guys on your side of the camp?” Beth changes the subject.

Cassie rolls her eyes, leaning onto the bedframe of the bunk bed. “No, not really, what about here?”

Beth wiggles her brows, looking at me, causing Cassie to sit up straighter. “Who?”

“You can’t tell anyone.” I give her a pointed look, and she nods in agreement.

“He’s a counselor, the tall blonde one. His name is Kai.”

“Only the hottest counselor at this whole camp. You can’t miss him, he’s always looking for Anna.” I roll my eyes this tiem throwing a bag at her on my bed.

Cassie looks intrigued. “Really? Are you guys dating?”

“No, just mild flirting, and he does not chase after me. Beth is just bored and making something out of nothing.”

“Don’t say I told you so when he shows up at our door tonight. Or maybe the window.”

“Bethy, it’s time for you to find your own romance for the summer. Which is not mine.”

“I think it’s cool, a forbidden love tale, what more can you hope for at a place like this?” Cassie adds, making Beth point at her with a 'told ya so' look.

“I guess it’s fun and he’s hot, so what does it hurt?” I finally give in and agree with them.

They love this, and although it is out of my comfort zone, it’s fun to have girl chat again.

While trying to sleep that night, the cabin is quiet, the only noise coming from the bugs at the open window above my dresser.

It’s a calming noise that almost lulls me back to sleep, but then I hear a rustling. My body jolts, bringing me to high alert. The rustling is coming from my window directly. Then a low growl. An animalist growl.

There is something at my window. I contemplate sneaking out of bed to the window, but I don’t want to chance it being something like a bear. It moves again, and my curiosity about what it could be is almost boiling over when a howl breaks through the quiet night.

A wolf is howling, and the large animal at my window takes a step back. Unable to stop myself at the idea that this might be a wolf, I slither out of my bed, taking slow, light steps to the window. I almost let out a gasp at what I see.

A large dark brown wolf walks away from the camp to the tree line. It’s far too large to be a normal wolf, and if it weren’t for its large tail, I would have mistaken it for a bear. That was at my window. I didn’t even know they had wolves here. I thought wolves were smaller than that.

I can’t tear my eyes from it as it enters the darkness of the trees.

I shiver at the idea that it could be lurking around here. 

“I’m telling you it was as big as a bear.”

“Wolves aren’t that big, trust me, I’ve seen them here, and they are far smaller than a bear.” Beth shakes her head, putting more food into her mouth.

“I know it’s weird, but it really was that big.”

She shrugs, “I don’t know what to tell ya, maybe you were hallucinating from your sleep.”

It’s my turn to shake my head. She won’t listen, I won’t keep telling her. But I know what I saw, and I’m going to try to find proof. Today, Beth is doing her own thing.

It’s my turn to explore without anyone holding me back.