Side Story 1.6: Camping Trip: Group Relaxation and Adventure
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The Village Childrens Woes
It had been a hectic few months in the village. Almost every day brought new tasks and responsibilities, though the children weren't complaining. They genuinely enjoyed these new experiences and never took them for granted. They followed their savior's lead diligently as he taught them skills essential for village survival.
During those first few days after their arrival, Gel had immediately put them to work around the settlement. When August finally regained consciousness, their workload only increased. Initially challenging, the tasks grew more enjoyable as they developed proficiency. Without even noticing, they were growing stronger under August's influence, especially through the morning routines he regularly did and they naturally followed each day.
What amazed them most was discovering abilities they never knew they possessed—tending gardens, hunting wild game, butchering animals, setting traps, foraging for edibles, and even constructing sturdy walls. Back in their original village, all they'd done was play from dawn until dusk, rarely bothering to heed their parents' instructions, dismissing such guidance as tedious.
Erik was the exception among the children. Even before, he had managed to balance work responsibilities by helping his family with playtime alongside his friends. Yet even his previous duties paled in comparison to their current undertakings.
Soon enough, they completed another major construction project that August deemed crucial for the village's development. They had silently agreed to follow whatever directives their savior provided. In their dedication, they'd forgotten they were still just children—that they shouldn't be bearing such adult responsibilities.
As weeks passed and they finished yet another significant construction, the accumulated stress began showing cracks in their resilience. Heated arguments erupted with increasing frequency. They found themselves constantly in each other's faces, tempers flaring over the smallest inconveniences.
They desperately needed recreational activities to release the building tension, but whenever they stepped outside, all they could think about was work, work, work. The sight of each other's faces had become almost unbearable.
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The Proposal of an Outdoor Recreation
August, ever the perceptive leader, had also been feeling the monotony of their daily routines. His own enthusiasm had waned, energy depleted by repetitive tasks. That's when he decided they all needed to escape the village confines for a few days of much-needed recreation.
The last time he had ventured beyond the village with similar intentions was when he and Gel had set out to explore the forest. That expedition had quickly devolved into a rescue mission for the trio, nearly costing August his life in the process.
One morning, as they gathered for breakfast, August cleared his throat. "Hey, I think we all need to get out of the village for a couple of days and do nothing but have fun." His voice was uncharacteristically light, almost hesitant. "I'm sure the plants would be fine by themselves for a while." He glanced around at their surprised faces. "But what do you guys think? The motto of this village is 'majority decision wins,' I won't force it, if you don't want it?"
The others exchanged stunned glances, silently acknowledging their shared astonishment. August—their workaholic, never-rest leader—was suggesting they abandon responsibilities for childish amusement. After a moment of shocked silence, their response was unanimous.
"YESSS!!" The resounding agreement echoed throughout the village. The trio and Gel wore smiles that stretched from ear to ear, expressions of joy that remained fixed even as they began preparing to leave the settlement behind.
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The Village Children
Preparations commenced immediately. August gathered cooking implements, various spices, and vegetables sufficient to last several days. He reasoned they could hunt for meat along their journey.
Gel packed her essentials and undertook the task of preparing bedrolls. They had cleverly repurposed excess Boarat hide for this purpose. The manufacturing process remained August's secret—he had simply presented the finished products one day. August had developed a tendency to produce items seemingly from nowhere, and they had ceased questioning his methods. His enigmatic grins and vague explanations only irritated them further.
The trio equipped themselves with gear August had provided—modified versions of his own clothing, fashioned from a Commander Boarats hide, leather, and bones. Erik's outfit closely resembled August's, minus the cape, featuring only a hood. Bren's attire was substantially reinforced, with additional bone plating protecting vital areas. He resembled a barbarian warrior, fearsome yet agile.
When questioned about the comfort of his armor-like clothing, Bren had demonstrated remarkable mobility. The bone pieces had been seamlessly incorporated with hide and leather, never clashing during movement.
The girls received specially designed spears similar to Bren's, paired with modest, lightweight attire. August had explained they would serve as agile attackers, providing cover and support for Bren's vanguard position.
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Betty's POV (I)
Betty's perspective:
We set out with mounting excitement, eager to discover unknown territories within the forest. Though I doubted we would venture beyond the woodland boundaries anytime soon, the simple act of traveling northward from the village filled us with anticipation. At least we wouldn't get lost when eventually returning home.
The trees had begun shedding their autumn foliage, allowing sunlight to penetrate the canopy and reach the forest floor. Golden beams illuminated our path, transforming our trek into a magical experience. Conversation flowed naturally, focusing on enjoyable topics while maintaining vigilance of our surroundings. August had emphasized that even recreational outings required alertness in these wilds.
Occasionally, August would interject with practical survival tips, pointing out edible plants or explaining tracking techniques. Despite these educational moments, the tense atmosphere that normally surrounded our daily duties had dissipated completely, replaced by laughter, playful banter, and genuine camaraderie.
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Betty's POV (II)
After several hours of steady hiking, we approached a massive mountain cliff. Approximately twenty meters above ground level, we spotted what appeared to be a cave entrance, dark against the rock face. August took point, advancing cautiously while Bren and Erik followed with bows drawn and spears at the ready.
Upon reaching the entrance, August raised his hand in the universal signal to halt. He pressed his ear against the cave wall, listening intently for any sounds from within. The moment stretched uncomfortably as we awaited his next command, muscles tense and breathing shallow.
When no sounds emerged from the darkness, August finally signaled us forward. We lit torches and carefully illuminated the recesses of the cave, moving slowly and methodically. Every shadow held potential danger; every unusual formation demanded investigation.
Only after thoroughly examining every corner and crevice did August finally signal the all-clear. Collectively, we exhaled in relief, shoulders dropping as tension dissipated. The momentary stress gave way to exhilaration—we had successfully explored our first cave!
We retrieved our gear from outside and brought everything inside. August's voice echoed slightly against the stone walls as he announced, "This is going to be our camping spot for the duration of the trip." His eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he surveyed our chosen shelter. "Before we rest, let's gather some firewood, forage the forest floor, and I'll hunt us a proper meal."
No one objected to this practical suggestion.
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Betty's POV (III)
After depositing our belongings on the cave floor, we headed out again with assigned tasks. When the sun reached its zenith, we reconvened at our designated meeting spot, arms laden with supplies. Little Bren excitedly reported discovering a small creek below our position—precious water that would make our stay infinitely more comfortable.
Back at the cave, we established a fire pit in the center and began preparing our afternoon meal. The aroma of roasting boar meat filled the space as we skewered portions over the flames. August seasoned the meat with herbs he'd collected, transforming simple fare into something truly delicious.
When our hunger had been satisfied, we lounged contentedly around the fire, savoring the rare opportunity to simply exist without immediate responsibilities. Despite housing five bodies, the cave maintained a pleasant temperature—cool enough to be refreshing without causing discomfort. I estimated it could comfortably accommodate at least a dozen people. The spaciousness added to our sense of discovery and achievement.
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Betty's POV (IV)
As evening approached, we descended to investigate Bren's creek. Following the water's flow revealed a natural basin deep enough for bathing. Without hesitation, we availed ourselves of this unexpected luxury.
The cold water shocked our systems initially, but soon became wonderfully refreshing. All five of us fit comfortably in the natural pool, letting the gentle current wash away accumulated grime, sweat, and tension. I watched as the perpetual furrow between August's brows smoothed out for perhaps the first time since I'd known him.
"This," Erik sighed contentedly, floating on his back with eyes closed, "is what life should be about."
No one disagreed.
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Betty's POV (V)
When darkness fell completely, we filled our water containers from the creek and returned to our temporary home. After preparing our sleeping areas with the bedrolls Gel had so carefully crafted, we gathered around the diminished fire. August surprised us by producing a small pouch of dried berries—a sweet treat to end our day.
Tales began to flow as naturally as the creek below. Scary stories of forest spirits and mountain beasts had us huddling closer to the fire. Gel revealed unexpected talent as a storyteller, her voice rising and falling dramatically as she described a legendary creature that supposedly roamed these very mountains.
August remained quiet during most of the exchanges, but his usual vigilance had softened into watchful contentment. When he volunteered for the first watch, no one was surprised. His protective nature remained constant, even during our respite from responsibilities.
One by one, lulled by the day's activities and the gentle crackling of the fire, we succumbed to sleep. My last conscious thought was appreciation for this unexpected break—this reminder that we were still children, deserving of joy and discovery alongside our duties.
Tomorrow would bring more adventures, more laughter, and more memories to sustain us when we eventually returned to our responsibilities. For now, the simple pleasure of rest was more than enough.