Post by Catcher Reeves on Aug 29, 2021 15:40:28 GMT -5
Late in the afternoon, he dropped the rucksack full of tools and personal items onto the dry ground, fluffing up some dead leaves in the air from its heavy landing. It had been a week since they were at the tattoo shop where they first discussed showing Cloud and Feather around the area, camping being one of the ultimate goals for them to enjoy the wilderness. They would all have the option of being in their natural state and having no better ideas to counter Cloud, who in turn wanted his sister to have some fun, Catcher ventured to make this a reality. Unsure of how Natasha truly felt about this, she had been instrumental in setting this up since he didn’t take the initiative with Cloud to set a date in stone; they were always distracted at the end of every attempt, hanging out until they both forgot the point, masters of procrastination.
He unbuckled the sack and unrolled the tent that was stacked above the flap; extendable, connecting metal poles were stuffed inside as he picked them out and counted the number, laying the black sticks aside in order. Knowing how to camp and enjoying it were two different things, he was never going to be able to crack two rocks together and make a fire but he really didn’t try too hard to know for a fact he was neither an outdoorsman nor a city boy, something versatile in between. Shaking the material out, he spread it to make heads and tails of the correct sides and fed the poles through the seams. Eventually the right shape began to form, and he hooked the metal loop to the stake as he pushed the corners into the earth as deeply as possible to stabilize the set up tent.
While he was prepping, he was waiting for Cloud to show up with the rest of their camping stuff, wondering if Feather would bring some tepee or bohemian yurt, amusing himself with the idea her quirkiness was an aesthetic he enjoyed. Remembering Natasha laughing as he struggled to stoke the fire at the beach, he didn’t ask what she was going to bring or do, assuming she really didn’t have to undertake any tasks except bring things she wanted. They were wolves, and they were free spirits in a woodland; aside from a covering to sleep in, he didn’t even think an couple of nights required much more than food. He would just run into town to get whatever else they required, if it was absolutely necessary; they had no contingency plans for emergencies and he scratched his head as he thought.
They would have all arrived together if they had used Seth’s truck but he hadn’t expected him to commit to this random trip since he was busy working on a recent intake at the shop. With the rest of his friends, they were informed but he never pegged them for campers, other than Claude who was probably already out here searching for one of the great fabled creatures on his list of collectible fantastic beasts. If anything, they could stop by whenever they wanted, just for a good time; he might even ask them to bring food they didn’t have to roast or eat out of sealed bag, if they rsvp. He crawled half way into the tent to smooth it out, oddly enjoying the confinement as he looked around, debating to spread inside first. Since it was covered, he wasn’t sure he wanted to use the sleeping bag anymore, but those were never comfortable so he brought everything he stuffed it with like a padded roll up topper and a thicker blanket and a fleece; they just all came together for comfort if he slept outside and he forgot to take them out. Now it would come in handy if he had to give the tent to Natasha.
Sifting through the bottom of the sack, his sets of clothes were simple and stuffed in ziplock bags to stay waterproofed, creating more space as it flattened all the air out. He suddenly realised he had to check if Cloud remembered to bring essentials and texted him, receiving a simple yes; his bike was heavier duty and without the saddlebags, it could carry the tank of clean water and food supplies instead. Crawling out, he left his belongings in the bag aside the tent and starting looking for dry, cracking branches; he wasn’t as naïve as before with the bonfire, that time he hadn’t been in much of a mood. But the terrain and lack of moisture in the air made it easier to start here. Playing with fire, wasn’t something he wanted Natasha or Feather to see, but he liked watching the flames get higher, smelling the burning match enough to taste the heat. He was fixated on the red and orange lights dancing in the shadows of the darkening overcast sky, standing over it lost in the mania.
Last Edit: Aug 29, 2021 15:40:51 GMT -5 by Catcher Reeves
Post by Natasha Black on Aug 30, 2021 17:41:05 GMT -5
Stuffing a few things in her hiking pack, and looking around her room Natasha was going over a list of items which she had picked out double checking making sure she had packed everything. It had been some time since she had actually gone on a trip where she had to plan so she was worried she might have forgotten something. She had tasked the evening with bringing a few items which she essential for being put in the woods. She had packed a cooler full of food and a bunch of fruits and vegetables, she had found out Feather was vegan and out of respect to her new friend going to try to eat plants based but if she couldn't there would be some extra MRES she could eat.It had been a while since she went camping, going out multiple times before she had lived in Washington. I might have actually shocked people but for multiple summers she had gone away to bushcraft camp. Where she learned not only how to build shelters from sticks and rocks, how to make snares and fish traps, identify what sort of plants were edible in the woods and even start a fire with a bow drill. The problem with Washington was the constant threat of rain so there would be no way she would be able to impress the others by starting a friction fire. It would probably take hours to achieve and it wasn't worth the waste of time. When she could spend the extra time cuddled up with Catcher on log.
The more time she spent with him, the more she began to miss him when he wasn't around. She felt the happiest she had been in a very long time and a part of her was selfish. She was surprised he had agreed to go camping, she had found this a little victory, a way to get Catch alone or just away from Candella and Veronica. She didn't need their judgment, it didn't help when she was around them it felt like they were trying to set her on fire with the way they looked at her. Tash wanted to be true to herself and explore these new found feelings without people saying she was a tease or just wanted attention. She feared these changes in her just as much as she found them exciting. On top of all that she would ne in the woods with Feather and Cloud whom she felt were both who were almost wildcards in her life, Catch seemed to get along well with Cloud well where she and Feather almost felt like a long lost friend ready to join her on any journey through life. Whatever this camping trip turned into, she knew it would be one which might shape the direction of her future.
Tash grabbed her flannel long sleeve shirt and quickly left her bedroom, she had been alone again and had the house to herself as Billy had been away on a fishing trip for a few days. So she had no one to say goodbye to as she grabbed the rest of her items and piled them into her trusty little Volkswagen and headed for the river. The drive to the river was quiet. Instead of blasting music she played it softly in the background, as she tapped her fingers happily to the cheerful pop music she had found herself listening to more lately. Pulling off the road she parked her car and grabbed what she deemed essential for now and made her way to where they had agreed to meet. Being the one who was in charge of planning she wanted to get an early start, maybe set a few things up to impress the others but when Tash arrived she could see Catcher who seemed to have set up a tent and was transfixed on a fire which actually seemed to be burning very well. "Wow,look at you go. Tent, fire all your missing is some roasted meat on a stick."
Last Edit: Aug 30, 2021 17:57:57 GMT -5 by Natasha Black
Post by Catcher Reeves on Aug 31, 2021 0:45:36 GMT -5
Her voice startled him out of his trance as his head snapped around to see her. He opened his mouth to say something, hurried by the surprise but ended up just smiling sheepishly for a moment, looking to the embers sparking on the ground as he absorbed what she said. ”That actually sounds good, if the meat ever gets here.” Replying absentmindedly, he knew Cloud could never resist a roasting stick of anything and he just hoped he remembered to bring what Feather could eat; unsure how she coped so well with the scent of cooking flesh when she was repulsed in general.
Strolling away from the warmth of the pit, he took his hands out of his pockets and transitioned from that casual walk to rush at her, grabbing her by the waist. It was funny to scare her so that she might instinctively move away but he was hugging her before she could, making her drop the stuff in her hands, laughing as he caught her with little resistance. ”I know… I should’ve left it all to you, girl scout.” Snuggling her with his face, he squeezed her softly as if he melting on her then let go, grasping her arms to keep her where she was standing for a minute longer. Glancing around them at her items, he believed she definitely didn’t carry all her stuff with her and was more prepared than she was showing, the rest of the essentials probably sitting in her car, ready to save the day. It was that or she was truly out for the camping experience; if Cloud found out she could trap or fish, he would push for it three votes against Feather’s one.
”Are you sure we don’t need to get anything else from your car?” Jokingly he leveled himself to her height to scan her eyes; his own lit with curiosity, sliding his hands off her arms, gathering she would say she was sure before he picked up the bag that obviously had her personal items. He held onto it, pressed against his chest like a stuffed animal, rendering it a precious hostage to annoy her. ”Good thing Cloud’s bringing his guitar so we can have campfire songs, scary stories and then… some urban legend will come to life and try to kill us.” Catcher was judging her reaction, reading her mood by throwing out random things in one sentence, almost reverting to how he used to treat her; she was still on the pedestal, beyond reach, his prom queen. Despite the hangover and the life altering confusion at the beach, he didn’t want to change the way he was with her and didn’t realize what a dangerous progression that could be, if he was irresponsible about their unspoken feelings. They both didn’t have facts for what happened to her with her ‘near death’ experience, no normal person would believe she had actually died and he had come to terms with using that to describe it, avoiding the reality that he was the one who let her lifeline be cut by the fates.
”I’m wondering what you’ve brought…” He told her as he patted the bag exceptionally gently on purpose, teasing her and troubling her at the same time, taking a few steps backwards towards the tent. There was nothing she would be embarrassed about, nothing she would mind him seeing but no girl he had ever known enjoyed having their purse or bag examined by him; it only amused him more that they had secrets in the form of everyday items. Like the day she had dumped Candela’s bag, he wanted to see what was now in hers but he was only taunting, having nothing better to do while waiting for the other two.”Nothing special in here for me?” Pretending to look at the bag sadly, he put it down inside the tent with a careful toss into the rolled up opening; doing so meant he decided she could have it if she didn’t want to share with Feather. For all he knew he would pass out in front of one of the logs or stumps they’d sit on by the fire, indirectly giving her privacy. That was not his goal but Cloud was probably going to make him high and tired.
”You look nice.” As he stood a gap between them, he finally noticed what she was dressed in; different to how she normally was, judged from the limited times he had seen her and what was burnished in memory, refreshingly rural enough she could have been the poster girl for Abercrombie & Fitch. That would be a popular catalogue, he mused without revealing the full extent of the compliment more than a friendly opinion. He didn’t want his gaze to appear goggling at her, eyes flickering aside, listening for anyone arriving, rustling the back of his hair as he scratched his head, an idea coming and going. ”Would have been nice to watch a movie out here.”
Post by Natasha Black on Aug 31, 2021 16:04:54 GMT -5
Hiding her smile was impossible,as got up and dash towards her she tried to move quickly but with little effort letting him pull her in towards him little butterflies she had been feeling spark to life with his touch. She dropped her bag onto the ground without a care as his face pressed closed to hers. "You could have, but they wouldn't have impressed me with your city boy camping skills." She was planning to impress her friends and build a little wooden lean-to structure for them to sit around for the night just in case it rained but tents and tarps would work just as well with little effort. She gets less dirty without having to carry a bunch of muddy sticks around to build her handmade shelter. She still could but she wouldn't let Catcher’s work go to waste.
His eyes met her as he squatted down a bit and she looked back at him cautiously as he seemed to be trying to read her."There's a bunch of stuff in the car. I wasn't sure what Cloud or would consider roughing it" She had been out in the woods before with whatever she could carry on her back which back before she changed for the first time it wasn't much at all, maybe just over fifty pounds which included water and food didn't give her much for anything else. Her bag was soon scooped up and she tried to reach for it but he grabbed it and played it in like it was something precious and she rolled her eyes. There wasn't really much of her bag, just some personal hygiene stuff in this bag. There was no way she let Catcher see her messy unkempt. She probably is the only one worried about bringing eco-friendly soap and shampoo anyway. Just because she was roughing it didn't mean she had to be dirty.
"Campfire songs actually sound fun,as long as you sing along with me." She tapped him on the nose with a finger like she knew he was hiding more from her then she knew. He could probably sing or had more hidden talent than her own. "I'm really not good at telling scary stories I'm not afraid of much anymore,except you looking in my bag." She teases swiping at it again half-heartedly. She was happy that he stopped teasing her and put it in the tent. She also had a tent back in the car if it was needed but she rather shared, one the best parts of camping was the company and memories they would all make together. When a complement came about her attire she spun in a circle looking down at her feet so she wouldn't misstep. "I look good, hiking boots, and khaki pants are totally in style." She laughed a bit. The clothing choice was more out of practicality than style.Usually she is in some sort of dress, or not a dress so tight as a pair of jeans.
It was amusing there because he wanted to watch a movie in the woods with all the nature around to entertain them.Tash had brought her laptop he had plugged it in the night before to charge it, she knew she wasn't going to need it but she had downloaded some horror movies on it just in case someone wanted to say up and need some excitement. “ There’s a possibility I had thought about movies, but you'll have to earn it first.” She turned back around heading back to her car looking over her shoulder seductively, dragging her feet across the ground.. Tash still had the cooler full of food to grab the sleeping bags, and bedrolls she could probably make back with everything in one trip. “ If Cloud and Feather don’t show, we can roast apples and vegetables when I get back.”
Last Edit: Sept 3, 2021 7:57:21 GMT -5 by Natasha Black
Post by Catcher Reeves on Aug 31, 2021 20:45:43 GMT -5
”You might end up teaching us your skills…” They were bound to run into situations where her experiences would come in handy; depending on the activities they could do by the river or hike in the hills, he was pretty confident they were covered even if they had to make impromptu decisions.She never told him anything about her knowledge but from what he remembered her mentions about family campfires, it was undeniable she’d enjoy the great outdoors. When he had agreed to this trip, he saw her as the best person to participate with; every time Claude wanted to hike for monsters, he had to sleep beforehand; they just walked all night with his accursed compass and homemade EMF reader. With her it was hopefully infinitely less like a trek through the valley of death; he might even become a fan, count on a beautiful girl to make it hard to live without though right now he was impartial.
”He’s probably on the fence, explains what’s taking him so long… “ Between always being in some trendsetting style and looking like he came straight from a kid’s sleepover party, Cloud didn’t seem able to decide; he had said to Catcher that planning meant bringing and doing all the things, but in spontaneity, he would have been able to roll in the dirt and be fine. It sent him a mental image of Cloud attempting to make camping glamourous without meaning to, mixing the concept of playing caveman. ”We don’t have to give him a recourse… we can just watch him try to rough it.” A glimmer of cheekiness reached his glance at her; it may be royally entertaining to watch Cloud flounder and be frustrated, knowing the man would just end up laughing at everything anyway. Everything would work out for the best time among them no matter what.
So bold, so demanding; he suddenly wondered if he even knew many campfire songs or their lyrics. The pad of her fingertip pressed lightly on his nose and he wrinkled it just as quickly, staring from her hand to her face as she withdrew, knowing well she was fishing to engage him in something he wouldn’t commonly do. ”That could be arranged…” He said with equal confidence, shaken within from sober shyness; he was aware it was worse than before or whenever he had Seth as a deflector, it was a struggle to act like he didn’t fancy her as much as he truthfully did. She had an exceptionally sweet voice, something airy and angelic that could sicken anyone with a mysterious flirtation; he never forgot what it sounded like the only time he listened to her carry a tune and he knew the whole performance had entranced most boys.
His jaw dropped in overstated awe before he bit his lip in a sneaky grin. She admitted about the bag and it made him happy to know she cared what he thought; though he couldn’t picture her as anything but flawless even out in the woods. ”I get what you mean…” He trailed off, quieting until she had swiped and he flinched with the bag to avoid her even brushing the surface. They were alike after all; in that similarity, he felt bad for her desensitization. It didn’t feel like anything to lack emotions and it stirred him to put some of her loss away, rewind her so the cogs wheeled in unison, pieces put together so she was whole again. He would have told her to be careful what she wished for but she didn’t want to be in fear; he was just intrigued by the fact wolf girls were too guarded and he wanted to see if anything or anyone aside from themselves could break that wall. It was now imperative to scare her and he had a good feeling it could work with Cloud’s help; as long as someone was anxious, it usually spread and Feather was the perfect target for the chain reaction.
”It’s the flannel.” Nodding, his fingers covering his mouth as he checked her out, amused by her little spin, he added. Thoroughly amused as she walked away, moving and eyeing him with that allure she knew worked him, he allowed himself to be openly attracted to her, empowering their bond with disregard of how she might receive it. He paused, as she enticed him with an exchange, skeptical he could ever win her games as he turned to face the side, a split second to consider. ”You just know what I want…” Jogging up to her, her slowed pace gave him the chance he needed to scoop her off the ground. Tossing her briefly so she adjusted to him carrying her off her feet, he took a few steps and spun her around in his arms, toying with her as she was compromised just then, the breeze swirling her honeyed scent by him. A flurry of leaves billowing in a spiral kicked up in a colourful whirl, rippling as they blew about, loosely drifting back down to the ground like bright tattered flakes. He didn’t have to earn anything and he was going to remind her; he always took what he wanted but for her, he made endless exceptions.”Are you going to tell me how to earn it?”
Stopping, he gave her a lasting, gloating look as her head was tilted up towards his, her smooth hair hovering as the ends swayed. ”Apples in the woods… sure, Snow White…” He put her down, steadying her as her boots touched the floor before running where she was headed; the trail of her past movement invisible in the air, a streak of direction to follow. Her car was parked not too far but not too close to the opening of the woods, a dirt path and road leading to that clearing before narrowing into the hiking path they would take back to the campsite. No other vehicle was here, his bike somewhere near where they were set up, covered; the tire tracks clearly printed in the dirt overriding the bicycle path.
What they were here for was in her trunk and he rapped on it once with his knuckles before circling to the windows and seeing her laptop lying in a protective sleeve on the front seat. He was going to grab it the moment she unlocked the car, hold it up to her to falsify claims to his movie even though what he said earlier was simply an imagination he never expected to have; baffling enough he wasn’t sure he could take himself seriously. They should be watching a projector reel of romance against a white sheet between the tall evergreen trees, the deep blue gradient of the night sky and golden stars framing that still screen, twinkling in silence against the crisp sound of the film; a carpet of cushions comforting them under the beauty of the open air and wilderness. It would be something sublime out of a place within his heart that shouldn’t exist, that never had been, she was breathing life to it as he quashed as much as he could with reality.
By the time they returned, Cloud and Feather would probably have arrived, not that they couldn’t distinguish the sounds of their ride from a mile away. ”We'll start roasting whatever you have. Last I checked, they should be here soon.”
Last Edit: Sept 1, 2021 2:58:08 GMT -5 by Catcher Reeves
Post by Natasha Black on Sept 1, 2021 14:19:27 GMT -5
A part of her new she could teach the others a few things, she might show Catcher random Cloud how to make a fish trap or even a small or snare but she really didn't like gutting out the little creatures and when she did it was always someone's respectful and she tried not to waste their sacrifice. " I can teach you boys a few things ,Feather might be a bit harder to impress. She seems very knowledgeable already and I'm sure she doesn't want to learn how to make a snare or skin a rabbit if we catch one." If she did set up snare caught something she would be respectful and make the boys eat whatever she caught. She hoped she didn't seem too brutal talking about killing and gutting a poor little animal but it was a good survival skill to have.
Cloud being hesitant to go camping didn't shock her much, he didn't really seem like much of a woodsman but she knew herself not to judge a book by its cover. She looked as harmful as a barbie doll. "I'm thinking he's just scared of being upstaged by a girl." She laughed because Cloud didn't seem to be one who would enjoy being out in the woods much. He probably loved all the comfort that came with living in civilization, takeout, social media and electronics. Feather really didn't seem like she needed any of it. She would live off water and sunlight if she had the skill to photosynthesize. "I'm betting he will try to bring more than he needs to be comfortable, Feather will probably only let him bring what he can on the bike and make him leave the truck behind." It would be amazing to give Cloud two rocks and tell him to bang them together until they sparked. He would probably a few times before realizing he could just use a lighter. It made a sly smile creep.across her face just thinking about it. She thought maybe she would tell him.thsts how Catcher got the fire started before they showed up, he would probably even attempt it longer.
The more she thought about campfire songs she didn't know many. She just had to try to pull some other songs out of her memories that might be nice to sing around the campfire. She had been practicing on the guitar more while alone trying to find little ways to impress him as she could show him more part of her then what she had before. She was no longer the perfect little cheerleader he might have once thought she was more worried about being popular than actually making ture connections with people. People come and go, she wanted Catcher to stay. Even if it was in her wildest dreams that she one day be whole again. When she was with him she felt more thankful everyday he had come back. "I might have a few more songs in my repertoire, not many but I've been trying." He had given her confidence.
Flannel if that was all that made him compliment that she looked good she might have to add the tartan pattern to her wardrobe more often. "Plad squares are just so ssxy aren't they?" She smiled looking at her royal blue and black patterns button down. As she moved away from him. He took the hint to follow even though she knew they shouldn't leave a fire unattended; it rained enough that the found wouldn't catch fire. A small squeal escaped her lips as he picked her up unexpectedly and kicked her feet as he spun her around his arms grinning from ear to ear. She bit her lip looking up at the sky and shook her head no. "I don't know yet but you're already on your way to with all this flirty behavior… and everyone calls me the tease." Flirty or a tease she was enjoying being close to him being held in his harm made her feel safe and capable of being more again then an empty shell.
"Snow white? I have always felt more like Belle. Does that make you my beast?" Her feet touched the ground as he released her again. Tash wanted to make it to the car first to hide her computer away so he would get his hand on it before she had thought he earned his prize. She locked the door. He had to wait for her to open the door and take the keys himself. Pressing the unlock button on her keychain she popped the truck. Moving over to pull out the cooler, and sleeping bags. She slipped a sheath knife into her back pocket,her tent tried to roll out but she shoved it back in so as to almost hide it from view. She also pulled out a tarp to string head level just in case they have a place to sit under they have a sit and stay dry. She knew he wanted her laptop to chuck the keys in his direction for him to take it from the seat." Take it, you still have to either get the password or guess it. I promise it's not an easy one to figure out." She stacked the items on top of the white and blue chest and closed the door to the trunk ready to head back to camp. " I hope they will be here soon, I don't know what I would do with you all night alone." Tash turned her head She could hear a rumble approaching in the distance, it was loud enough to assume it was a motorcycle or two coming their way.
Last Edit: Sept 3, 2021 7:58:39 GMT -5 by Natasha Black
Post by Catcher Reeves on Sept 3, 2021 5:26:35 GMT -5
”A huntress at work, Feather might throw up.” He blinked at her, matter of factly discouraging this plan since she wouldn’t be able to stomach it at all; then Cloud would probably also be sick, they had a strange twin connection that triggered one another. ”You can just teach him how to fish, he’ll want to stand like a bear catching salmon with his hands…” Joking but not really, he had an inkling the large cat would want to play small cat with a fish tank out in the wild and he just dismissed everything about killing anything unnecessarily. Animals, an extra life taken, it would hurt him even if he didn’t show it; survivalist or not, he loved them more than a wolf should ever, all the more disinclined to embracing that natural predatory side of him. In that instant he understood he was weak for an apex beast, compared to her and any of the pack he would be the hunted in the wild. His only savagery was reserved for the other half of his own kind; humans, where the blood of man grew less valuable to him as the days passed.
”He’s just too busy wearing the ton of stuff he can’t fit in his bags.” It was painfully obvious Cloud was very fond of modern inventions; he was never going to give up his fixes, phone or restaurant food in favour of being fulfilled by mother earth alone. ”I told him to take his bike since I’m not sure Seth is coming.” Without Seth’s truck, he was putting edible supplies on his motorcycle so Feather was possibly stuck with all of Cloud’s ‘necessities’ on hers and Catcher made a face that was a cross of puzzlement and hysterics. It was decided, he had been babysitting a house cat every time he had to make ironed pancakes with a severely hungover musician, comforting him in being a homebody for the consequent days living off delivery and herbs while Feather checked in on them as if they were mental patients at her rehab.”He just doesn’t get you… so in a way you could upstage him by pranking him?”
Shrugging, he knew it was more complicated than that; Cloud’s opinions and thoughts had become as confusing as he was confused by Natasha, which only proved to Catcher that she was his dose of perplexity too. Mind boggling, elephants in the room; they stopped talking about her because Cloud told him only to let him know once they had a status, be it yes or no, on or off.”Really?” He was taken aback that in such a short span of time, she had been so diligent with practice and learning by initiative. ”That’s…” His brows furrowed as he deeply considered her hard work, not really sure she found the hobby fun from cramming.”…great.” Choppily speaking, his broken praise was more thought than encouragement, and he swallowed on impulse to clarify. ”I think it’s wonderful you’re playing again.” There was a scene passing before his eyes; of her sitting on a stool and he was facing her sitting on a table rolling a guitar pick between his knuckles like a flipping coin. Her back was towards the windows, rays of afternoon light pouring through so hazily he could see the dust in that old classroom as she strummed, almost embarrassed by his presence. She was rehearsing and he had devoted the time he planned for himself to use the facility to her, parting as friends instead of acquaintances in the end.”It just seemed like you stopped for awhile.” Comparing it with her demonstration at the tattoo shop, he gaged she rediscovered some passion for the instrument but questioned it only in his mind, afraid her loss of interest had been something to do with her relationship, breakup and subsequently everything in between.
Blue was very becoming on her and he noticed as he had never done before, that she wore it more than other colours. It was truly astounding someone had thought of pink dye for her even if he liked the idea too. He had missed many little things and he didn’t recall why or how when they had been right there in front of him. It felt like being starstruck. He had merely smiled at her when she insinuated he was a flirt; he didn’t think he was a tease, he never was the prude but a notorious flirt, he had been told too many times to count when it simply wasn’t true. Seth certainly didn’t think he was, none of the guys did; just the women. What he did was nothing; it was within their boundaries and no one knew it more than he did because he was the one who wanted to be free of that line.”That’s because you are.”He wasn’t the only one who thought so, but he certainly enjoyed it too much. It was the bait to her lure, anything that heeded him fell on deaf ears when she barely tried. If she upped the ante, it would be a candle he kept trying to touch, burning voluntarily, unconsciously; it made him tick, clicking that innate drive to have what he couldn’t have each time she behaved suggestively, a frailty and struggle keeping him up all night.
”Snow white only because of the apples.” Only when she had reached her car did he answer her further. He had found it amusing she didn’t realize he should have done a magic trick with an apple and asked her fair self to take a bite, poisoned or not. If he had to be honest, his mind was blank when it came to finding a parallel self in a Disney character; there were so many he couldn’t keep track and it wasn’t something he ever thought about. No one ever asked or suggested but he was sure she would weigh similarities and figure it out if she wanted to; it was quite a quirky, nerdy thing which made him think she was cuter. ”That would be for Belle to decide wouldn’t it?”If she had seen the library he grew up with in his home, she would see that he was always going to view fairytales a certain way; dark and cautionary without happy endings. If she was Belle, his collection would have made her so happy; an entire floor of books in multiple languages, illustrated or signed, he almost regretted she would never see it unless he made the ultimate choice for her to meet someone he loathed. Deep down, he knew her prince was still somewhere in the city; he just didn’t want to find him again for her now.
Grasping the keys that shot at him, his fist clenched over it in a flash of reflex, not expecting her to give it up. He had changed his mind about the laptop before she reminded him about password security, itching to guess but also sticking with the reasonable change of heart; it would be more meaningful to earn it, learn what she was about with him in the process. ”Oh, I’ll figure it out.” Smirking at her, he led on the belief he was still going to crack it by trial and error, taking the laptop out of the seat and walking back to the trunk. He handed her the keys so she could lock up once more, chuckling that she stocked the blade on her like Rambo, stealing a glimpse that some items still remained in her car while he took the cooler in his free hand and began walking the same path they came.
”I don’t know what I would do either.” Rolling his eyes, he quickened pace, wondering why she had such a concern; it wasn’t the first time they had spent time alone, night and day blending into one. He almost asked her if something had changed and what she meant because it affected his agreement for them to camp, and he didn’t have to stay but the sound of engines shifted his focus, delaying his choice. ”Actually, I think I hear him right now.” Spinning on his heel, he started walking backwards as he told her, judging that she should now find relief, somewhat mocking Cloud’s appeal to her with a sense of knowing that she found his friend attractive. A moment he should’ve stuck his tongue out at her for. Striding away from her shortly after so he was back near the quaint clearing, it was times like these his personality fought feelings and he lost comprehension of his purpose in getting entangled with her. Other than succumbing to wiles and advances he still could escape at this point, before it was too late, better off not exploring in case she stole a piece of him and couldn’t return it. It was never his style to compete in matters of the heart and the void in her was a whole arena; everything else was already compulsion enough and he wanted what was best for everyone, reciprocating to make things right not wrong.
The fire was crackling without causing a disaster and Cloud had parked the vehicle just on the outskirt of their cozy ring, evidently lazy about the water and food but also logical they could just leave the containers attached. ”Someone was worried you weren’t gonna show.” He called to his friends, wading through the skinny trees until he was in front of them, placing the plastic box on a stump to go help unload.
Last Edit: Sept 3, 2021 5:33:30 GMT -5 by Catcher Reeves
Post by Natasha Black on Sept 3, 2021 17:03:24 GMT -5
She quickly showed her head, she was no hunter,she was a trapper. She wouldn't use a weapon against any animal. She caught small traps because it was what she was taught. She never picked up a gun to hunt, she had been shown how to hold a hunting rifle but when it came to looking down the sights to line up a kill shot she never pulled the trigger. "I'm not a huntress, I just have a few skills up my sleeve if I ever want to try to spend a significant amount in the forest. Who knows, one day I might live in the woods." She had thought about living in a cabin one day. She just didn't know if she could complete life without the creature comforts of electricity and running water. She knew there were ways around the water problem, and she could always go solar but her dreams were too big for her to completely speak to reality.
Fishing did sound like the best idea, she didn't bring any line or rod so she wasn't sure how she would show him how to get a fish without one. She could build a fish basket trap, it would eat up sometime and maybe if caught even one fish Cloud would be satisfied by pulling it out of the trap and holding it in his hands. The way Catcher described his friend amused her Cloud and Feather were a few years other then them, but sometimes she heard the way Cloud acted and she wished she want so reserved at times.Fun was something she was trying embrace she need to loosen up try to forget all the baggage that weighed her down so long. She wanted to be more like who she was a few years ago when she had just arrived in La Push, a sixteen year old girl happy and enjoying the world. Camping as a great way to do this is away from distractions and certain people who just seem to be more concerned about what she did than themselves.
" I can't guarantee that I can get a fish, but that's part of the fun with camping and trying new things." She didn't want to admit that camping was a way to try new things herself to explore more of these newly emerging feelings for Catcher. They were both so scary and yet exciting she couldn't remember if the same thing she had once felt for Quil were similar and she didn't want to. Images of Cloud wearing more clothing than physically needed or even possible filled her head. She could imagine him standing in front of them at the river looking like a giant over fluffed marshmallow ready to dress for any occasion. " If all his things get muddy that's not my fault, he was told only the essentials." She could always take whatever he didn't want ruined and stash them in her car, she could hold them hostage and see how much he bagged to get them back
A prank sounded like a great idea,with people who weren't well versed in camping you could really make them believe a lot. "Oh for sure I own him a prank, no way I'll keep calling me pixie without one."She wasn't completely in love with the nickname but it was better than the ones Calude had given her. She didn't really like nicknames herself when she came to La Push everyone just started calling her Tash, it quickly grew on her and almost preferred it to her actual name. It just seemed so formal now, she wasn't the same girl that back then, time and fate had changed her. He was right though she had stopped playing music, she had lost the inspiration to play it left her the day her life had seemed to fall apart. Now after all she had thought she had found a new reason to play again. "I hadn't even touched a guitar in such a long time. I owe you for the inspiration." Between Catcher and Cloud both seeming to make some sort of comment about her playing at the shop was the inspiration to pick it up and start learning a few new songs. She hadn't had much time but she stayed up late watching instructional videos on YouTube.
She pouted her lips slightly when he turned her comment of being a flirt back on to her. She knew for sure she was flirting with Catcher trying to get him to notice her every second they were alone. She would pull back and retreat her feelings when they were around most of their friends not wanting to be seen like she was just toying with Catcher. Around Feather and Cloud she was different; they didn't know how she had been like before, not having any connections to the past. Now she was different then before more of an upgrade she thought Tash2.0. "Guess I sort of am a flirt now, only for you." She winked knowing that it would just be another thing that would keep him interested.
She wanted every second she could steal from him. She was only playing with thoughts about the Disney princess when he replied back with it being her choice she bit her lips and let her task look like it was distracting her. She couldn't even think about starting anything serious with him. What they had right now was fine, if things didn't develop more she would still be able to get back to being happy. She scooped the other items in her arms as Catcher took the cooler. She was worried that Cloud and Feather didn't show up she say the wrong thinking or do something that was so stupid it would ruin whatever they had got going right now. There were still things she needed to sort out in her head before letting them out of her brain. She watched him rolls his eyes almost feeling like she was offending him and she regretted saying anything at all.
Salvation came when the twins rolled up. She was happy they finally made it. "I wasn't worried, I was just concerned you might have go lost or something."
Last Edit: Sept 5, 2021 6:56:53 GMT -5 by Natasha Black
Post by Cloud Crestfall on Sept 4, 2021 3:07:08 GMT -5
Cloud wasn’t sure what to think when Feather suggested they get better acquainted in the woods. Camping was not what he expected; a strange idea for bonding when everyone would be too busy staying clean and taking forever to make food, sustain themselves while mosquitoes ate them. Being a shapeshifter didn’t mean they were immune to insects; just like bugs were attracted to animals, it remained a flaw in nature’s master plan for them even as mutants. Although he would never have come up with this, when he got here, he was pretty excited; always settling into the adventure immediately after he arrived, he couldn’t help the way he was, carefree and chill.
One look around and he noticed he was bundled up in more layers than everybody else, tank under shirt, under button down, under hood, under jacket, under a thin down vest; his friends and their lack of clothing made him look like the Michelin man. Glancing at Feather with her bohemian, flowing, ‘one with the earth’ vegan recycled clothing, he rolled his eyes at the thought that an hour ago while he agonized in his closet, tossing everything out into a mountain, she had been trying to pick out what he needed and he still ended up overdressed. Normally he was underdressed, but for trips he was the complete opposite; no one would ever expect it unless they had seen the method to his madness.
A bandana covered his mouth as he got off the motorcycle, shutting it down, rustling noises in the friction of his clothing apparent in the silence as he tried to move inconspicuously, hair on the side of his head shaved to reveal the numerous studs in his ear he had decided not to take out. ”How did it get so much cooler out here than in the city…”It was a no brainer, and he already knew the lack of trees in the concrete jungle made it hotter, the dampness from the nearby river driving humidity levels up around them despite the fire burning with vigor. Cloud was talking for the sake of talking and pulled the cloth down so it wrapped his throat; his body temperature was regulated, he was fine and it was not cold but he only knew how to dress for a blazing sun and wintry moon, donning the combination in case it was one more than the other.
Starting to strip all his layers off to mimic Natasha's outfit, he threw a bag of jerky he had been eating as he rode to Catcher. ”I would’ve called if we were lost!” Not admitting he was a little creeped out by the forest in this state, vampires and other shifters about, if they got lost he would have phased but not before leaving an ongoing voice message to Claude and Catcher about how they had to find his dead body no matter what. ”And we would never get lost, she’d start reading the stars and smelling colours of the wind.” He mocked with an ounce of admiration for his twin’s abilities; his nose was an almost broken tool by choice, it was a consequence of his habits but helped him deal with his range of customers and he made it known to his friends, he was never going to be a tracker. Looking over at Feather, he had actually decided not to burden her with what he wanted to pack and cut back on everything large he could bring to prove everyone wrong so she was only unloading her belongings; this was the extent of his roughing it though. ”So she’s got a tent thing and it’s really big and open… just a lot of cloth, we can put it up.” It looked like some circus could fit under there, but he was exaggerating, it was some gypsy thing his sister loved, her room decorated like it was a mystic caravan; the location didn’t fit as much as it did out here and maybe it could be a magical experience after all.
Soon his bike became a drying rack, draped with fabric as he freed himself until he was only garbed with a long sleeved shirt, shorts and long comical socks that reached above his shins, decked out with multi coloured neon, plastic, squiggly bands on his arms that were insect repellent bracelets. For the moment he was in converses, he had boots but they were too pretty for the mud and they would sit in his backpack until he absolutely couldn’t run around barefoot; he was either really careless with his stuff or treated them like something untouchably precious. ”The food is on the left, water is on the right.” He pointed to the tubs strapped in place of his saddlebags and lugged his overstuffed bag to the ground, dragging it to the log so he could sit and open it, the guitar bag slung across his back still; the clasp flew open from the strain when he unclicked it and he pulled out snacks, a bag of miscellaneous hemp cookies, spiked chocolate, a jar of moonshine and a pink insulated bottle. Socks, rolls of t-shirts, underwear, random towels of various small sizes and a hairbrush fell out as he dug for those items, then he stuffed them all back in the bag as if no one saw the craziness. ”Am I supposed to hold the meat here to cook?”
Asking about the fire pit, he wondered how if there was no spit and all he had was a funny metal pot, a ladle, utensils, steel cups he never used, he was supposed to use it. Picturing skewering sticks like a kebab; it was really going to test his patience to eat piece by piece when he usually ate with instant gratification. He had a sleeping bag bundled that he yanked out; their travels across the country had often led them to appreciate the outdoors, just not in this manner. They always chose somewhere open or somewhere sheltered that was not in the wilderness; a motel, a park, an RV, somewhere not totally disconnected. Getting up and dropping the guitar against the backpack, he walked over to the container of food and started digging all the saran sealed packs and plastic boxes of herbs, butter, basic ingredients, chilled vacuum bags, believing he needed a collapsible table and not realising the stump was as good as any chopping prep board, already forgetting the concept of being a Neanderthal. Holding some food and wiggling them in his hands to show his friends with a pleased smile, nodding; he was promoting his own grocery run and needed praise that he had managed to collect all items on a list he was given. Feather’s fruit and vegetables were in her non contaminating storage and he had no idea what she brought but he believed it would complement. He hadn’t been worried about keeping meat fresh because he could plug the container to the motorcycle’s battery, a tailgating beer cooling method biker’s sometimes did.
”So, is this what you do around here for fun Wolf girl?”It was weird seeing her styled like a camper when the last time he saw her, she was in all black; almost a gothic rock chick. He was still not used to seeing his friend next to her since they contrasted so much but today they seemed to match well, a chemical tension strung between them more than before and he was horrified to find his subconscious hoping they could figure themselves out. It would simplify so much for him and Feather, suddenly having the bright idea his sister could help him cheat the process; ask the universe, carve some stick runes in the twilight hour if they had nothing better to do.
Post by Feather Crestfall on Sept 4, 2021 16:39:49 GMT -5
Feather had been looking forward to going camping ever since official plans were made to bring it to fruition. The day at the shop and she had asked to be taken out in the woods Feather had been excited to learn about their new surroundings.she wanted to be able to run free safely in the woods somewhere she could let her inner animal out. Feather loved nothing more than to connect to the earth and feel the dirt under her toes whether it be as a human or as a mountain lion that moved so silent though the forest would badly make a sound. She had packed a bag with minimal items, only packing what she found necessary. She had tried to get Cloud to do the same but even with her thinning out his wardrobe for the woods he still ended up wearing way too much. As long as she didn't have to carry his clothes he could wear a ballgown if he wanted too.
They took off not soon after, Feather's motorcycle carried less of the load, she had trusted her brother to get them to the river and soon they pulled off down a dirt road where she could clearly see the old yellow Volkswagen parked which helped indicate they had made it to the right place. She pulled up beside her brother quickly pulling off her helmet letting her long shiver locks fall around her very neatly. She took a deep breath of air before she even said a word, inhaling both the fresh air and the calm energy of the place. They have traveled a lot going from city to city for work or just moving around.Feather enjoyed the business of being in civilization bring.able to meet new people and learn their stories but whenever she had a way to reconnect to mother earth she took it.
She places her helmet down on the seat of her bike and smiles at Catcher and Tash. She rolled her eyes at Cloud comment about it being a little colder by the river in the city. Even though they ran a little warmer she and Cloud weed more used desert like temperature so the Washington weather was very interesting to experience. They wouldn't freeze in colder weather by all means. Just taking in new places was always a fun experience. " Clo you make sounds like some mystic or something. I would only read the stars when we were out of cellphone range." She laughed. Where they were at the Quileute river there was still a cell phone signal so if they had gotten lost they could have just called and got directions or just used their GPS to find the proper turn off. "I'm really nothing special with using a stars map, I just have a better sense of direction."
Feather had decided to wear a flowing balck cotton shirt with a cropped flower covered tank top. She had bought her favorite jacket that was a denim cut jacket with repurposed sleeves from an old worn out balck cotton hood. She had been trying to buy or refurbished older clothing items that were vegan friendly and made of ethically sourced materials..she she shrugged when Cloud mentioned her tent, it would be a grand place for them all to sit comfortably under just it case it rained,they could even all sleep comfortably under it if they all choose. " The weather is unpredictable. I didn't want anyone to be wet and miserable all weekend." She looked over at Cloud; she had brought it more for his benefit than herself. She loved her tent he loved whenever she had.a chance to use it after setting it up she always meditated under it asking the universe to bless it with passive energy. She wanted this trip away to be good for everyone.
She undid the bundle of items strapped to her bike, she had her own little cooler of food and some bags filled with the little items she wanted to bring along with her. Unzipped a bag and pulled out a roll of aluminum foil. She had already thought of a way to cook what she would be eating, she just wrapped it up in foil and shove it right into the coals of the fire letting them do all the work and pull them out whenever she thought would be long enough. She brought more than enough for herself, the others not wanting to rely on the others because her diet was quite different. "I came prepared." She tried to think of any situation they could get themselves in and tried to be ready.
Not concerning herself too much regarding food items, she looked around their camping area seeing the river a short distance away. She walked over to where the water just met the bank and took off her slip on shoes and held up the bottom of her skirt. She let the water flow about her feet and let the bits of mud ingolf her toes, she closed her eyes and thanked the goddess for creating such a beautiful wonder.
Post by Catcher Reeves on Sept 5, 2021 4:25:00 GMT -5
In an instant he could see her leaving her whole life behind, heart unsatisfied; she could live in the woods for a simple life. He wasn’t sure if she thought that was a way to find what was missing and he would have told her not to completely isolate but if that was the home she envisioned for herself, he didn’t want her to feel judged. The last person to have anything to say about making a home that was an escape, an undiscoverable paradise, he felt a worry about her pushing everyone away just like he often did. Wherever she ended up, he hoped she would find happiness or peace; she was one of the revolving stars in his world, and watching his friends come into their own fulfilled him even if he was waiting to abandon them again when everything was put back together, unable to find his own way. He just wanted to be a helpful shadow, fix the mistakes he made the first time; they were a grand stop on his road map to the end of his life, trouble was like wildfire he spread and it was only a matter of time.
”You don’t have to get the fish… We’ll just let him get his fish.” Emphasising, that was the only reason he suggested it; he wasn’t trying to have her do more than she needed, entertain them like a guide. This was a no pressure, no stress zone and he just shrugged off her seriousness. ”You know why he calls you that right?” Catcher was amused now, not having known that one of her nicknames bothered her since she had so many and he paused, actually wanting her to think about it. Taking a moment to see her reaction from between a curtain of hair that had swung over his eyes to cover most of his face, his expression was hidden behind those stringy, wavy bangs lengthening past his nose. ”I guess fairy didn’t have the same ring to it…” Pixie was because she was blonde, more than a head shorter than Cloud and when she gave a disapproving look, it reminded them of Tinkerbell. If she ever needed a mirror, he would hold it up to her as she threw a tantrum so she could see what similarities her friends found; irrespective of the cartoonish depiction, she was still beautiful to him, glowing and classic.
”Go ahead, prank him with all you’ve got. You’ll start a war though.” He didn’t think it would escalate but Cloud was prone to practical jokes on his friends regardless of whether she incited a battle of pranks; if he woke up before her, she was probably going to get doused in a bucket of water. There was no mercy and sometimes he was sick of it, waiting for every move until he reciprocated the favour, smothering Cloud with a wet liquor soaked towel the morning after a hangover to make the mountain lion scream and wretch. They made their own rules, and broke them too; she would adapt with this trip but he truly didn’t want her to find him stupid, immature because sometimes he thought on a shallow scale, people didn’t choose bright as the first description. Just another fine print under his misunderstood label. ”He’ll learn all he needs… and you might get a new name.”
Bittersweet in his own memory of a time long gone, he had merely smiled to himself, turned away from her so she wouldn’t see. Uninspired, he was far from a beacon of light for her picking her talent back up from where it had been buried but he was glad she gave him a sense of accomplishment. It mattered to him how he affected people, willing words and actions to move mountains in his best wishes, never knowing who would be listening.”Why 'only me', is what I want to know…” Under his breath, he muttered as she winked, quietly questioning, afraid she heard it and shied away from ever telling him the root of her affections. Also praying she genuinely liked him, having a motive for flirting that wasn't only to reel him in for proof of her desirability; he wasn't even qualified to be a piece of meat at this rate. It seemed all fun and games for her but he kept telling himself her previous apology about being confusing was assurance he wasn’t inflating his ego with a fantasy; that her amorous advances were always real.
Letting Cloud speak his mind, he caught the bag of jerky and nibbled on a piece, biting it between his teeth as he resealed the bag. Dropping that on the ground in their seating area, he tugged the dried snack as he chewed a portion off, holding it as he went to Feather. Replacing the half of jerky back in his mouth so he had free hands to take her aluminium roll, food containers, he began throwing it at Cloud one item at a time so they were organized together by the fire, in case someone wanted to eat. About the star map, he was intrigued but didn’t want to put Feather on the spot without necessity, finding Polaris every clear night he stargazed was in his nature. She was laughing, the first time he had ever really witnessed her with bold expression, taking in the change in atmosphere.
He watched her approach the glimmering river, dipping her feet into the flowing water before his focus shifted, searching around to decide where the tent could stand. After a few minutes, he followed her to the bank, poised on some boulders, a hand on the bark of a tree supporting himself as he told her. ”I’m glad you brought the tent. We get better days.” The clouds were rolling, wind was blowing but it was still gloomy weather, suffocating sunlight sparse between; they had a forecast that could flip anytime with rain but for this night, he trusted clear skies. ”And thanks… he’s more adjusted than I thought he’d be.” His comment probably traveled within ear shot of the others but Feather’s cooperation had obviously rubbed off on Cloud, and he needed to let her know her participation was every bit the meaning of success in their camp. Hand clenching into a relaxed fist, he bumped the tree in a fluid motion to hoist himself away from where he was, leaving her to enjoy her space, stepping back up to the flat land to be with Cloud.
”You weren’t just gonna hold the meat with nothing were ya?” Frowning, he was grimly pulling out the utensils from the mystery pack of Cloud’s belongings, his flat tone riddled with disbelief, handing him the metal pot as he knelt beside him. Of course they weren’t going to use it unless he wanted stew or a pot of roast which didn’t sound half bad and he was messing with him, triggering so Cloud would try to prove he was not an amateur by becoming studious. ”You’re building the fire tomorrow cause I had to do it today.” Throwing a twig into the flame, he peered at Natasha, half a smirk forming in a naughty hint. ”She’ll show you how.”
Post by Natasha Black on Sept 5, 2021 10:24:22 GMT -5
The twins' arrival had allowed her focus to move off Catcher, and onto what they had brought for camping after all they were the only reason they were in the woods alone. It wouldn't be something she suggests to do alone with Catcher, there was no excuse she could make in the woods if she needed to get out. she felt like her heart was trying to take over control of her thoughts. She liked him; there were just little things he did that reeled her in and like a fish on a line she tried to pull back in fear that she couldn't be anything more than a broken girl he was trying to fix. She pushed the thoughts from her head and focused on Feather and Cloud. With them coming in motorcycles she felt like an odd one out this time bringing her car instead of the oversized black bike she had ridden last time. Her car could just carry more luggage. She could see that Cloud found his own way around limits.
She made a face at Cloud as he began to take off layers of clothing, he wasn't as puffy as the marshmallow she had pictured but the amount of layers were almost comical. "I'm glad you brought extra outfits for our fashion show later." She smiled back over at Feather in a greeting of her arrival. Every Time she saw Feather she saw her almost as an ethereal creature. She was almost like some woodland elf, tall, graceful and gentle. She and Feather had some similarities which came with being shapeshifters but unlike her friend she had an angry side. It made Natasha wonder how Feather could even phase. For the wolves it was anger and irritation that made them able to let their wolves out, she had to ask if it was the same way for them.
Cloud who seemed more interested in showing off his shopping skills by pulling out a few items and asking how they were supposed to cook the meat. It didn't take much work to cook anything on an open fire, it just matter how far cooked you really wanted something. As he talked about the she watched as Feather unloaded a few items of her bike that would be helpful for cooking. "Meat is all for boys, I'm going vegan for the weekend." She patted Cloud on the back knowing like the other guys the less food they had to share the better. Her reason for packing only fruit and vegetables was she wanted to find another way to connect to Feather. Tash wanted her to see she did care about her thoughts and life choices. She was just glad there were no takeout burgers; it was probably the only thing she wouldn't turn down right now
Feather seemed interested in checking out the location and began walking towards the river. Tash just stayed by the fire poking at it a few times with a stick making sure the log that was one fire wasn't burnt all the way though yet. They have to get more wood to put on the fire. She would have to go collect some if they were planning to stay up most of the night. She had always been told when you think your pile of wood is big enough it probably wasn't and to get twice as much. With the four of them collecting branches would be too hard. As Catcher looked for a place to put up Feather interesting tent she wanted to answer Cloud's question. There were a lot of things they could do that could be fun but it depends on what Cloud considers fun. "Fun could be anything out here, I usually just enjoy whatever the location has to offer. The river is usually a good place for fishing and canoeing but I didn't have any rods to bring, but we can always try trapping a fish." She was willing to show him a few things if he wanted to learn.
Catcher coming back to join them came at the best time. Him mentioning her teaching Cloud to set a fire was a great set up for her. She couldn't hide her smirk so she bit her lip and turned away from Cloud as quickly as she could possibly do, giving her a second to compose herself. " You should have seen Catcher earlier. He made the rocks spark quicker than I did and he hadn't started a fire that way before. After we get up I'll find two good one to try with." She looked back at Catcher with a little wink to thank him for playing along. They could both get a good laugh out of the prank.
Tash left their little fire pit and began picking small sticks of the ground around camp making her way to the edge of the river where Feather was. Just exiting the water near the bank. "Thanks for suggesting camping. I'm already enjoying myself out here, there's just something so great about getting in the woods and connecting. Let's get back to the guys. We will get them to set your tent up. If it's as big as Cloud says I'm not going to be much help." She could picture herself jumping up and down trying to help pull the fabric around the post and eventually giving up letting the others take over. "I can start dinner while you all do that. I'm no gourmet chef but it will be edible." She was just going to chop up a bunch of vegetables and let them all roast in a pouch made out of a few layers of tinfoil. She had done it before and besides taking it time to cook it always tasted pretty good.
Last Edit: Sept 5, 2021 10:25:19 GMT -5 by Natasha Black
Post by Cloud Crestfall on Sept 6, 2021 0:57:40 GMT -5
He shrugged at Feather and unscrewed his pink thermos to drink what was hot tea with brandy. It flowed into his system like a sleeping aid, flushing his lips a rosy hue with the heat as he tasted the last sip on his tongue. ”I didn’t know if we were out of range.” Countering her, he mumbled and pulled out the phone in his pocket to see the signal bar was flickering and the message he had sent to Catcher was undelivered, still swirling in send mode. ”She’s just being humble and shit… that time we were out in the canyons, I thought we would end up eating cactus flower and running out of gas.” Roughly stating, he described something that made no sense but it was how he saw things; when lost, food was imperative to him and he had great fear of dying from starvation or being stranded in an endless horizon with only legs to carry him.
”It could have been a real fashion show if she let me wear everything I thought I’d need.” He retorted, finding what Natasha said to be actually very funny; he was down for a fashion show any time but in the woods that would be ground breaking and he gave Catcher a look like he would be made to participate. Dragging him into things was his forte, he had a way of persuasion or just throwing drama his way.
”Yea we gotta put up the tent, I am not getting rained on for two and a half days.” Placing the lid cap back on the bottle, he left it on the ground and stared at the tent already set up with his mouth open in confusion, a finger pointing to it laxly. ”Or I’m crashing with whoever is gonna pass out in that.” His words were all very uncertain and slurred, breaking with revelation as he spoke so immediately after discovering things, not thinking much through. He did not care about who was sleeping in that tent, they would be safe from him pranking them if he was beside them and he either had insomnia or would be knocked out; there was no in between. In sleep, he was a starfish on his front or on his back more often than a fetus, taking up space with his long limbs but not minding if anyone else had a leg or arm on him either; mostly because he was stoned or wasted when sleepovers occurred. He liked to think he was pretty normal when not under the influence. It worked out for him that Catcher was a light sleeper even with alcohol, keeping to his personal zone very well no matter what corner they passed out in; while he dissected this defiant lifestyle, he grew aware the bag next to the tent was Natasha’s.
Some faint exchange between his sister and Catcher at the river bank passed his ears and he pondered the purpose of making Feather feel special, thinking about how he should do the same thing, acknowledge and give her props more often. It couldn’t always be a heart to heart connection; it just wasn’t enough for all his crap she put up with.”Feather do you have a pillow?” Changing the subject, he stood up and asked because she said she was prepared; even though it was out of context, he put it out there that he wanted a soft place for his head. He reached back down to take the pot from Catcher and started holding it out over the flame then withdrawing it, and doing it again like he was almost poking or swiping through it. The skillet became some sort of distraction as he waved it around Catcher so he would snatch it back out of his hand, stop his goofing.
”More food for me then…” Shocked, he didn’t really know what to say about Natasha trying to be vegan for the whole weekend; he had no idea his sister was close enough to her that they would have talked about diets. That would make Feather very happy, changing a bit of the world one person at a time, for the better and he was pleased she was making a mark. That little bit of delight suddenly made him wonder how a wolf would be if it didn’t consume enough meat; a female like her would be even more brutal to deal with. He could see her being a complete pain as an angry woman, she was already difficult with that nymph act towards the dark haired boy who didn’t stand a chance, but as a beast that was going to be a level up and he eyed her as she passed him, feeling the pat on his back.
”We can try that! We don’t need rods.” If he was desperate for fish he would spear it with a little knife tied to a stick but he really just wanted to try what mud men can do, grab them with their bare hands. Sticking his hand into a dark unknown hole in a swamp to let a catfish eat his fist so he could pull it was out of the question but the clear river here with its smaller mouthed species, he wanted to catch. A rainbow trout would be nice, he deviated from his thoughts; touch the shiny, colourful scales and he kept grinning until he was told he had to make the fire the next day. The drop from his expression was instant as he looked between his friends, believing they were making him do it because there was no better opportunity.
”Yea? Just two rocks, I can do that…” He was nodding to himself, eyes glancing from Catcher to Natasha, trying to stay very confident it would be a breeze and if it wasn’t, he was now too curious about his abilities not to try. Slowly he smiled at them, getting ahead of himself and imagining what they would do if he was successful; he wanted to blow their minds, suddenly looking forward to the morning. If Catcher could do it, he should be able to; the city boy must have been tramping around so long he learned this hobo skill, Cloud was bullshitting his way through this very daunting challenge he would wake up to.
He smacked Catcher with the back of his hand on his chest excitedly and stomped over to Feather’s bike to pull out nearly the whole bag’s size of a tent. While Natasha went to the water, his back was facing the stream throwing the beginning end of the waxed canvas cloth material so he could spread it all out to full capacity. Raising his voice, he answered their chef du jour, passively instructing her to utilize all her skills; baffled she would want to make food for them when it was tedious to do so alone.If she was concerned about not being a gourmet chef, she needed to be reminded that he was terrible with the picture of grilled cheese on an ironing board.”Well, I’ll eat whatever you cook. There’s butter and seasoning stuff you can use… I just grabbed it all. You can put it all in that pot, I don't care.”
Post by Feather Crestfall on Sept 6, 2021 9:55:28 GMT -5
Feather smiled as Cloud pulled out his phone, she knew they were out of cell range where they were she just did want to be boasted as some sort mystical compass what could guide a camel to water just by pointing him in the right direction. " Hey now cactus flowers are not too bad its the prickly pears leaves that have that have a texture I can't get over." The green leaves if harvsst safely and peeled reveled a clear but slimy center which could be eaten but even Feather who are some strange food choices couldn't stomach them.
The fashion show comment amused Feather. So many days she wait for Cloud to finally wake up and stroll out of his room just to see what type of outfit he had been wearing. She wasn't so adventurous with her clothing making sure everything she wore was either vegan or made of repurpsed materials to help make less waste in the world.
As she stood in the river taking a moment to enjoy the beauty, Catcher came up beside her. She could tell it was bin before he even said a word,they both had similar energies as to why she liked him so much. Most of Cloud's Friends were way too different for her to make a connection with so she gravitated toward Catcher when he was around. "No problem, it's easier to connect with each other if we can all be close and in positive moods. Everything is going to be just fine, rain or not. " She turned her head to look over at the dark haired rebel as he spoke. "We keep each other balanced, neither of us would be as adjusted without the other. It's probably why we are still so close when others are moving on from family to find their own way in life."
Cloud kept her grounded to the world as she did him,making sure they were keeping on a proper path in life they both had talents and goals then wanted to fulfill they both kept each other moving towards the future. Catcher left her soon after. Feather's was trying to picture this place in late autumn some of the trees would change colors letting their leaves fall off and die as the cold set in. She was enjoying the summer but fall was her favorite season. She loved looking at pictures of maple tree forest with their leaves changing making a mosaic of color against the usual green landscape. There was a magic about it she hoped after this camping experience Cloud would want to find a place to camp for a few days when the trees were at their finest to paint. " Pillows are there. I vacuum sealed them so they fit in my bag." She know the pillows would be some of the bulkier items to pack so she put them in bags.and sicked all the air out to make it all so more convenient to carry.
She stepped out of the water and Natasha was picking up a few broken branches on the ground. Feather appreciated this as she was one who thought everything nature offered should be used up instead of wasted. "You're welcome. We have never camped like this before for fun, though Cloud brings the fun wherever he is." They had spent nights under the open sky before but they had takeout and set a fire just for comfort not out.of necessity. She enjoyed the outdoors and when she couldn't connect with nature she meditated to keep herself centered. She walked back towards the fire with Tash intoe. She was right she wouldn't be much help setting up the tent unlike the others she was vertically challenged.Cloud almost stood a foot taller than the wolf girl, and she seemed to know where she could help out the most. "Sure I bet you cooking would be just grand."
She walked over to a spot that looked flat enough to put the tent and started clearing little pebbles and debris out of the area making sure the ground would be as clear as possible. When that was done she walked over and grabbed a few poles. Setting them down in precise places knowing which way she wanted the tent to face which was towards the fire opposite of the small tent already up and in place. With the three of them the tent would still take a bit of time but it would be easier to accomplish then it was just with her and Cloud.
Post by Catcher Reeves on Sept 7, 2021 5:13:43 GMT -5
Catcher was about to snicker at the fashion show when Cloud shot him a look that made him grateful to Feather for restricting his love for style; he was not going to parade around in Cloud’s clothes unless he truly lost a bet of some kind. He wasn't going to egg this on with any reaction either and just pretended it was never mentioned, playing the wallflower until the conversation was over, shifting unnoticed. It was prime time to smile at Feather and hush his voice, moving to tell her what he thought she ought to know after her explanation now that she was out of the river. ”He wouldn’t be him without you…” Meaning it wholeheartedly; he could see Cloud being lost and flying off the handle, living too fast and dying too young if she hadn’t been everything he needed. Placing an arm around her as they stood side by side watching Cloud and Natasha, he squeezed her close for a moment and warned her with joy. ”If you found someone or started a family, he will have the biggest panic attack… probably multiple… every step of the way.” Looking into her eyes, he almost instilled this as a guarantee, predicting the moment a relationship developed for her it would be broadcast to their whole group within minutes.
”You’re the only one who can sleep anywhere yet you’re worried…” Incredulous, he turned his head to look at the tent and Natasha’s bag as Cloud pointed, letting go of Feather gently, making up his mind that he would hog it with anybody but Cloud; to spite him enough it would push an unabridged backpacking experience. If he wanted a tent, he had to set it up; it was going to be that simple and Catcher looked to the sky as Feather had brought pillows; ever so thoughtful, she was responsible and that often indirectly babied her brother. He wanted to hit Cloud with it, sleep on it as he watched the entire miming pan waving dance in front of his face under no guise of humour until he grabbed his wrist and unhanded it by force, throwing it to the ground; never should he have armed him with it in the first place.
Natasha attempting to go vegan with Feather impressed him. It was something he had learned a lot about that could benefit the planet but though he tried, he found it very troublesome to maintain, easily running out of ideas, occasionally craving the fatty juice of meat. That was on top of his elastic eating habits, completely directed by mood and feelings; he went through phases of eating extremely healthily and excessively harmfully so nothing could ever last. Although, he had to admit that with Candela’s arrival, he was gradually finding a balance and adjusting to a less drastic lifestyle. ”Even if I tempt you with some, you won’t eat?” He tilted his head and faced her provocatively, arching an eyebrow, the previously developing smirk fully maturing. Knowing himself, he wasn’t really going to make her break that temporary oath, even if he might pretend to try and feed her.
Listening to Natasha’s pranking instructions and their little white lie, he hung his head to prevent himself from giggling. ”You definitely can.” The more supportive he sounded, the more Cloud would think he was being sarcastic and contest it with determination; the anxiety of running out of cigarettes in the woods was probably overriding both their chain smoking urges, a twist of what the habit was meant for. ”I've never started a fire that way before either so…” Reinforcing that anyone could do it, he looked up in time to see her wink and his amusement wavered, more interested and pleased with the reaction he was trying to earn. He scrunched up his shoulders, a bashful shrug that didn’t roll off, puppy eyed. For a second he hoped Cloud didn’t ask about using the same rocks he had used to ‘start’ this fire and to his relief, he overlooked the detail that it didn’t exist.
Her answer of what consisted of fun made him curious but he didn’t know how to ask, and opted to see if this weekend would show him what she thought was fun instead. By opinion the forest or anywhere in nature was more of a peaceful, meditative place to be alone, unless it was about an adventure, map and all; it was just to take in some majesty that wasn’t manmade, reconnect with a part of their soul and spirit without speech. There may be activities and sports to explore but none of it got his blood pumping, all he would do is kayak or canoe and even then it would be quiet, minimally disturbing the tranquility, a boat just so he could be in the middle of a vast escape, untouchable. Maybe her differences to him was beguiling, roping in him as if she was clearly special in an exclusive way, a rare collectible he was drawn by.
”It’ll be better than anything Cloud can make.” He wasn’t kidding but his stretched grin diminished his seriousness; he had seen how unskilled Cloud was at making scrambled eggs and frying bacon that he wasn’t sure he wanted to eat them anymore for breakfast.When it came to cooking, his friend’s brain was probably bleached out, asking him what to do about the sizzling pork belly and eggs, Cloud had just stirred it around and was satisfied, wondering if there were accidental cracked flakes of shell in the kitchen nightmare dish. ”But... she said it best.” It was grand, he had never eaten anything Natasha made; somewhat excited regardless of what it turned out to be, his crush on her was influencing this with strength he couldn't ignore. ”The foil, it’s smart.” It was like having an oven and his mind wandered to something he had eaten as a child, suddenly realising how fun it would be to roast meat smothered under dirt. Creating the conventional effect of her foil method but infusing clay had a very particular taste and aroma. Both women were clever about this, it didn’t cross his mind at all giving him resolution that he and Cloud would never camp together without them.
Shaking out the fabric of the tent on the other end that Cloud wasn’t holding, he started feeling for the slit where poles fit, sliding his hand along the edge of the stitched cloth. The space was cleared thoroughly, a clean sweep by Feather and he carried the corner he held to one of the poles she set down, pushing the material over and tying it so it was firmly in place. He stood up and went under the billowing tent, shapes of his hands against it as he made his way to the opposite side under the windy spread. When Cloud shook out all the crinkles, he stretched the opposing corner so it was taught, waiting and leaving the last edge for Cloud’s advantageous height to complete the first few stages. It was coming together but had a few more areas to deal with, very unusually shaped, an overhang at the entrance with tassels made for more suspensions; it must have been a wonderful journey on which Feather obtained it.
Last Edit: Sept 7, 2021 5:14:22 GMT -5 by Catcher Reeves