I dropped my camping bag on the floor and propped myself against the tree. The green trees and plants sit in nature peacefully. The beautiful sky shaded by the leaves. A cool sensation wraps itself around me.
I heard a thud and looked up to see Rhea with her hands on her hips. "That was such a long journey from our home to this forest, not that our home isn't part of one. This forest in this hill doesn't have any spirits in it. It's very holy and guarded by the guardian at the entrance," she said. Her eyes wandered around the area, her eyes are shimmering and shined through excitement. I couldn't help but smile.
"This won't be a vacation, alright," she snapped. I was brought to realization by her. I guess it's training. "What are we going to do first?" I asked.
Without answering the question I pushed towards her, she pulled out the tents. "Build your own tent, we'll set ours up below this huge tree," she instructed, pointing at the tree I was leaning against. I nodded and took my tent. I pulled it out of the bag and a bunch of sticks with wires fell out. I looked at Rhea, clueless, "Um... Rhea, what is this?"
She raised her eyebrows at me, "you don't know how to build a tent?"
"Well, I've camped in school but I didn't build the tents... so..no," I nervously responded. She dropped her head in shock and took the sticks from me. "You connect these sticks together, the elasticity of the string or rope, whatever you call it will keep it intact and then you push it over the holes on the tent and pull it from one end to the other."
She continued explaining as I did as she instructed. The sun was slowly drowning into the horizon. I started moving my things into the tent right after I was done with it.
"Alright, since that is done, wanna go watch some sunset?" she asked. My head popped out of the tent as if alerted, "are you serious?"
She walked over and gave my head a small pat and nodded. I went back into the tent and took my bottle of water with me and walked out of it, zipping it when I was out. I saw her also packing some drinks and food. She saw me out and started her jog, going up the hill. I, too, started to run after her. I guess this is good training somehow.
"HEY! STUPID BOY! I BET YOU CAN'T REACH THE PEAK TO WATCH THE SUNSET!!" She yelled, proud that she's far in front of me. Oh, this is a challenge. I started to sprint up. Running as fast as my legs can go. She giggled and ran forward as well. I kept chasing after her and jumped on her as we fell and roll on a flat surface at the peak.
I got up and pulled her up. Both of us burst out in laughter and we sat there catching our breaths. I looked over to the sun setting as the ambiance turns orange. "How pretty," she commented.
I turned to look at her and smiled, "I know right?"
She took a glance at me and punched my shoulder lightly, "what are you looking at? We have to look for firewood in a bit."
I chuckled and nodded. I took the water bottle I brought with me and drank. If you're wondering why Rhea is not using powers to just get stuff, it's that she's not able to use powers on things that don't belong to either spirit or human in the first place, like nature, unless it's their home.
We watched as the sun drops and drowns as the moon pokes out on the other side. Rhea got up and dust her pants. "Well, time to see how strong you are, let's carry some firewood."
I stood up and went ahead of her, "yeah, let's see." I saw some firewood on the way when we came up. I walked down the hill and picking up firewood and also a log that's fallen on the floor. I carried it over my shoulder and firewood on my arm. I ran down the hill to our camp spot.
"I'll cook us something. I thought we'd eat something up there but we didn't have a fire," she said, taking out some things. I took out a fire starter and a matchbox. I put some rocked into a circle and put the firewood in them. I lit the fire starter and threw it on the firewood.
"Why'd you throw it?" Rhea questioned, looking at me weirdly. "Am I not supposed to?" I asked. Her palm landed on her forehead for a facepalm. "Stupid boy, nevermind, it doesn't really matter."
I shrugged my shoulders and turned to the log. I didn't have an axe with me so I just set it up in between the campfire and our tents. It wasn't that long of a task. I took a seat on the log and watched Rhea set the little pot up. She set three thick sticks and tied them. She then hangs the pot on one of the sticks and let them hang over the fire. She put some water and two packs of instant noodles. She then threw in two sausages and an egg. How did she manage to get the eggs up here without smashing them in the process?
My view and attention gradually shifted from the food to her. She looks so attractive when being this attentive to something. The beads of sweat that drop, her hair tied up in a messy bun as she squats down in front of the fire, managing the food and making sure it's cooking well. A smile brought itself to my lips.
"Hey stupid boy!" she called out. My smile fell as I shook my head, pulling myself back to the current time. "Yes? You need help?" I asked.
"No but I just wanna say the food is done," She took the pot and placed it on the spot beside me and she sat on the other side. She handed me a fork which I gladly took. "Are we sharing the same pot?" I asked. She looked up and nodded, "Is there a problem?"
"Nope! None at all!" I exclaimed, probably too loudly that caused her to giggle a little.