[IC] Hidden In The Forest (Closed)

Monday Afternoon

Campgrounds, Pic River Outlet, Indian Reserve
Pukaskwa National Park; twenty miles from Marathon, Ontario.

[Dusty]

The cheerful August sun sat low in the sky, beaming down upon the lonely white sedan that bumped along the dirt roads running parallel to Pic River. The northern shore of Lake Superior was in full bloom. The lush green pines intermingled with the standing elms and proud oaks shrouding the mountains in a blanket of forest green. Wild flowers populated the fields and valleys, while tiny pebbles washed back and forth on the lake’s gentle shoreline. The car seemed so out of place in this world of natural beauty, bouncing and jolting across the uneven path. Eventually it scrunched to a halt, its old breaks squeaking ever so slightly before the engine spluttered and died, casting the woodlands once more into peaceful silence. The vehicle’s doors popped open a moment later and two figures stepped clear. The first was a young boy by the name of Samuel. He was a sandy haired youth of fifteen years and he possessed an excited air, and beamed brighter than the sun above as he rushed about to the rear of the car, popping the trunk. He was followed by a large chocolate lab named Jake, who which barked happily, rushing off to sniff the trees. The third was clearly the boy's mother, a middle-aged women of similar hair and complexion, but unlike her son’s khaki shorts, sandals, and good cheer, her own dress and high heels and anxious expression betrayed her clear discomfort in their current environment.

Joining her Samuel around the back of the car she tried to help by grabbing ahold of a yellow plastic bin, with a tape label sealed to the top, with the words: ’Tent/Fishing/Cooking’ inscribed upon it. She gave a valiant effort but soon surrendered, moving out of the way so Sam could lift the crate clear, setting it down with a thump on the grass beside two others.

“There’s not a lot of people here.” She said at long last, as Sam finished taking the last of his camping gear from the trunk. He grinned back at her, his arms full of disassembled fishing lines.

“I know right, isn’t it great?” He bundled the poles down next to the crates, making a show of staring up and down the abandoned beach. “People are scared of bears for some reason, so it’ll pretty much just be us and the park rangers out here all week. I saw a few tents on the way up, but it looks like the direct shoreline is completely clear.”

“I suppose, it’s just, your friends aren’t here.” She worried. It was true, Samuel’s five friends had yet to arrive, and by her watch they were starting to be a little late. Their scenic surroundings contrasted poorly with her worried attitude. Where Sam saw a picture perfect camping spot, she saw danger and lonesome hills for miles around. “Maybe I should stay, just for a little while, so we can be sure they know the right spot. I wouldn’t want you out here on your own for six days…”

“They know where to go, besides, I've got Jake.” Sam reassured her, glancing up the road as if he expected a line of cars to just appear around the bend at any moment. “We went over it like a hundred times. They're just late, it’s a long drive after all, we can’t exactly account for that. Which reminds me, you don’t want to be late for your flight.” The implication was enough to convince her to start leaving, but she fretted for a few moments more anyways. Grasping at straws and excuses to remain a couple moments more. At last she grasped Sam by the shoulders and planted a kiss on his cheek, ruffling his sandy hair. Sam dodged away from her, embarrassedly wiping away her kiss and smoothing out his hair. He was used to these sorts of affectionate displays from her, but she somehow always managed to catch him off guard. At least his friends weren’t around to witness it like usual.

“Stay safe, and if you have any problems at all find a park employee and call Mr. and Mrs. Wynn, they’ll be closest. And don’t you dare touch one of that boy's cigarettes, or anything else you would be embarrassed to tell me about. Don’t give me that look, I’ve seen Duncan with a packet in his pocket before, I'm not blind. I’ll be back here Monday to pick you up. So be ready. And-”

“Alright, I’ll remember. Bye now mom, see you next week.” Sam waved her farewell, cutting off her instructions which were liable to go on for several minutes. He ushered her into the car, closing the door for her and everything in a series of not so subtle hints, requesting her absence. “I’ll be fine, I promise. What could go wrong?”

His final words to her struck at her heart as she brought the car’s engine roaring into life. She drove away, watching him wave and disappear in her rearview mirror. She could think of so many things that could go wrong, oh so many things.

[DELETED4874grc3]

The window was cool against Atlas' cheek as he watched the scenery pass by, Nirvana blaring in his ears, blocking out the words of his brother in the driver's seat. His hair was a mess, frizzy and sticking up in random places, the long curls were sloppily bleached at the ends, making him look the part of the douchey teenager. The sunlight streaming through the window reflected off his earrings and brought attention to the freckles covering his face and arms. He hated them, they made him look more feminine and that's the last thing he wanted, he already let his curls grow longer than most boys' hair and pierced just about every part of his ears but the freckles were what struck him as feminine and if he thought he looked like a girl, then so did everyone else, thus everyone must think he 'looked' gay. Beside him sat Hailey, one of his three younger sisters, who insisted on driving up to the campsite with Atlas for no reason, she wouldn't be staying, just driving there and back in their brother's dusty old car. The old machine was full of hot air which felt constricting and hard to breath, he longed to open a window and let the lake air enter the car but his brother had made it seemed that if he did the thing would break down. Sick of feeling like he was continuously breathing the same air, he let out a stream of loud, fake coughs to bring his brother's attention to him rather than his chat with Hailey. With the click of a button, Nirvana ceased playing and he was brought back to the real world, allowing him to hear the rumble of the car and voices of his siblings.
He met his brother's gaze in the rearview mirror, the older with an amused look in his eyes. "What's up, At? You being ungrateful again?" His gaze flickered back to the road after his words, turning onto a dustier, more tree-surrounded road without using a turn signal. Everything his brother had done made Atlas roll his eyes with an annoyed scoff, he realized how typical he was being but he honestly didn't care if he wasn't in front of his friends, his family gets to see his aggression and teen angsty-ness while his friends see him smile and laugh, the two emotions he actually showed.
"I'd be grateful if you gave me something to be grateful about." He shot a glare at the back of his brothers head, shoving his walkman into the front pocket of his bag before returning to leaning against the window, reading every sign that they would pass. "I was going to tell you that we should stop for fresh air, but the campsite is just up there so it would just waste our time." He could hear his brother's chuckle at his mumbled words and he wanted to get angry, but up ahead he could see what he could assume was one of his friends so he kept his mouth shut.
Before the car had completely halted, Hailey had unbuckled and leapt out of the car, he purple sandals sending up clouds of dirt from the road, coating her legs. "Oh, this is so cool, Atlas! It's so empty here, I wish I could be staying with you!" The energetic ten-year-old ran around the car, treating the clearing around the fire pit like a school track, running around it with her arms out, flapping them wildly as if like a bird. Everything around seemed so calm and still, beside the young girl, even the birds in the trees seemed too used to humans to be frightened by her.
Atlas threw his bags out of the car, first his backpack, then a large duffel bag, followed by a guitar and whatever supplies his stepdad had packed for him. The young boy seemed to care little for most of his belongings, kicking them out of the road and into the dirt, but he was careful to keep his guitar safe in his arms. After his items were in a pile, he turned to the one friend who was also at the site with a half-smile. "What's up, Sammy? Hope you haven't been waiting too long."
He ignored his brother calling Hailey back to the car and only gave a small wave when the both of them shouted a farewell before driving off. He was happy his brother didn't make a fuss before leaving, none of his family was close enough emotionally for some tearful goodbye and his parents had already gone over the rules for the trip before he left. He didn't spare a second glance at the car as it drove off, instead, focusing on what he'd do with his friends over the next week.

[Raptra]

The amber orbs of the well-off city girl were fixed on the rapidly-passing greenery outside the heavily-tinted window of her sleek, black and silver vehicle. Although admittedly intriguing and beautiful, the natural environment filled her with apprehension. What she was about to embark on was the biggest step she had ever taken out of her comfort zone. The surrounding forest seemed unsanitary, even dangerous. In spite of her desire to enjoy the lovely sights, she could not help but worry about the challenges which awaited her after she left the safety of her car. Her parents had wondered what had gotten into their girl when they had first learned the details of the trip she had requested to go on. Peer influence was a powerful thing, after all.

Speaking of peers, Vera turned to the brunette in the back seat next to her - the one other female who would be joining her on the trip. The girls had arranged to go together, with the former offering to provide the transport to the planned location. The golden blonde then let out a sigh before speaking for the first time in a while during the ride.

"Gianna darling, you're one of my best friends, and I absolutely adore the boys too, yet I still wonder what possessed me to agree to something like this."

Vera did not know what to expect after opting to go to a public high school a year ago. She felt the need to try something new, which led to her getting roped into the unlikely circle of friends she had grown to appreciate greatly. They were the ones who had helped her learn a little independence throughout the school year. Camping, however, seemed like a whole other level.

The lavish car eventually slowed to a stop, greatly contrasting the old vehicle that was just leaving the area. The young man in the driver's seat stepped out together with the girls to aid them in unloading their baggage. Vera waved to their two other friends who had arrived before them.

"You are aware of which number to call should you require anything, right Miss?" The man asked after all their belongings were out.

"Why yes, yes I am. Thank you very much, Vince," Vera responded with a pleasant smile.

He nodded and got back into the car. The blonde looked over the scenery as the vehicle was driven out of sight, and then glanced at the other girl.

"And so it begins..."

[Vertigo]

D U N C A N S T E W A R T

Pukaskwa National Park, campgrounds
Monday afternoon
Interacting with: pretty much everyone

Duncan could have just pulled up to the camping grounds like everyone else. He could have--- but why would he, when he could make a show out of it instead? He had a reputation to upkeep and a new car to show off. It'd be almost criminal not to have a little fun.

One could hear Duncan approach long before they caught the azure sheen of his car's hood. He was blaring music loudly like he'd done most of the trip, startling cautious birds into sudden flight all around him. And as he approached, he didn't slow down - he accelerated the slightest bit, and then jerked the steering wheel much too strongly to the side. The back wheels drifted sharply, imprinting the ground with deep dark tracks.

The turn wasn't quite as sharp nor the drift as long as he'd hoped, but hey. It wasn't bad for a novice, he'd say.

The music stopped just as the car did, plunging the forest back into eerie silence. Duncan flicked his sunglasses up to his forehead and stepped out of the car with a quick stretch. He was told that he wasn't yet done growing, but sometimes he honestly wished he had; cramped spaces were the worst. He couldn't imagine being much taller than still sitting comfortably in most cars.

But, whatever. For the next week, there'd be absolutely no sitting in cars. Just friends and nature and shit. With a grin at prospect, Duncan slammed the car door closed, stepped away from the vehicle and took a look around. He'd grab his gear in a bit, wasn't like it was going anywhere.

"Hey, almost the whole gang!" he shouted as he approached the four others, noting that only Rob seemed to be missing still. "Cool. Guess we're almost ready to go."

He turned the group's token nerd with a friendly grin. "Sammy, can't believe you're actually here, man. Was sure your mom'd find a way to keep ya home. Or, you know, refuse to leave without you." He glanced around as if weary, hunching his back for a half-whisper. "She--- isn't actually hidin' around somewhere, is she? Kinda worried for my neck here. I know she ain't exactly a fan of mine."

He rubbed at the side of his neck, chuckled, and then turned to the rest of the group. As he spoke, he gave Atlas a mischievous grin, purposefully including him when he gave out the offer: "You girls need any help with your stuff? Still got my shit in the car, so my arms are all free for charity work!"

[CaptainSully]

The sound of Rob's engine echoed throughout the forest, the two wheeled motorcycle's gutteral cry audible from well over a mile away. His headphones drowned out the sound thanks to the total lack of caring about his hearing. The deep vocals, heavy riffs and insane drumming overpowered the engines roar after being cranked up to maximum volume. Continuing down the stretch of highway the music stopped and was replaced by the ringing of an incoming phone call. With his phone secured to the fuel tank in front of him he tapped at it to hear his mothers voice. She began mother fussing about him wildly as most mothers did. He didn't say much as she asked the usual barrage of questions teenagers had from their mothers. Have you got this? Have you got that? It was frustrating, even more so seeing as she was the one who insisted on packing his bag for him. "I'm still on the highway, but i'm just about to turn off." His voice was frustrated, always seeming to find himself wound up by what he saw as constant interrogation. Inside he knew it was because his mother cared he just found it difficult to deal with sometimes, particularly after the death of his father.

A few minutes after the end of the phone call Rob turned off the highway and headed along the long winding road towards the campsite. The asphalt soon made way for dirt but his bike showed no risk of losing control as its wide, deep tread tyres gripped everything they could. It was a further while before the campsite eventually came into view, the first thing Rob caught sight of was Duncan's car. He always showed off in it, the fact he was still alive was down to sheer luck rather than any particular talent for driving. Rob couldn't say much mind, he had already had his fair share of close calls on his bike thanks to acting like a dick.

As he rolled up in front of the gathered group the engines roar faded into nothingness as he removed his key. With the stand down he stepped off the bike, somewhat uncomfortably. His rucksack was filled to the brim with clothes and other supplies, pulling down on his shoulders relentlessly. To make the weight that much worse he'd strapped his rifle bag to it but fortunately he managed to keep his balance. He took off his helmet and left it resting on the handlebar of the bike. He pulled his scarf down from over his mouth and raised his sun glasses up onto his head. "Hey guys what's up?"

[MissCapnCrunch]

A lot of the reason behind going on this camping trip fell onto Gianna's parents. She had been encouraged everyday since word had came of it. Her older and only brother had died in a car accident earlier in the year, and it had effected the girl more than she'd let on. He was the one who had bought her the first camera after all. She had brought the same camera with her on the trip, it sat delicately in the girl's petite lap. Gianna's slender fingers traced over the details of the old Polaroid camera as the car ride seemed to keep going and going. Gia debated taking photos from the car, but decided against it, wanting the best photos she could muster rather than some blurry snapshots she would receive trying to get from the interior of the nicest car she had ever rode in.

Vera's voice broke the silence and Gianna turned her head to listen and engage in the conversation, "Boredom?" she questioned out loud with a little giggle following behind. Vera was very well off and Gianna wondered if camping was something rich people did, ever? They probably bought out entire islands in their spare time, she pondered imaginatively. Gianna thought very highly of Vera, considering her one of her best friends despite Vera only having moved into the school district a year ago.

"I'm really happy we're here together too Vera." Gianna commented, taking her camera and posing in a quick selfie with her friend. The bright flash lit the backseat as the photo emerged. Shaking it, she waited it for develop before showing Vera with a lopsided smile. It wasn't a masterpiece but admittedly it was a cute photo of the two girls. Reaching down into the backpack between her legs, she shoved the photo into the front pocket, zipping it up before noticing the car was coming to a stop.

They had finally arrived. Climbing out of the car, Gianna also gave a friendly wave to her other friends. She hadn't brought much with, her backpack and then another duffel bag. "Thanks for the ride, Vince sir." Gianna said a bit awkwardly not knowing how to truly address the man. He nodded his head with a smile to Gianna as well as he sped away.

Gianna had her backpack on her back, duffel bag in hand and camera strapped around her neck, firmly against her chest. The two approached the group, forming a loose circle as to talk and exchange greetings. Dropping her bag on the floor Gianna gave everyone a gentle hug, before taking some photos of friends and the nature around them. She laughed at the jokes and quips back and forth between the boys, knowing that she was in good hands for the rest of the trip.

[Dusty]

Being alone never really bothered Sam. He appreciated the feeling of freedom he gained in these moments, the treat to be himself without watchful eyes prying into his back and business. He loved his mom, dearly, but her overbearing anxiety choked the life out of everything he did. He was glad she’d left without too much struggle and appreciated her all the more for it. Gazing out over the still waters of Lake Superior he let out a content sigh, a cheerful smile playing at the corners of his lips. Today would be a good day, and the start of a greater week; he just knew it.

For a long while Sam relaxed, enjoying the view and his surroundings for their simplicity, allowing time and worries to fade away like the water washing away the sand. Still, he was always the industrious one, and despite the enjoyment he garnered from doing nothing he turned his mind towards accomplishing a goal. Namely, setting up camp. Wandering about the immediate area Sam found a number of large stones which he carried to the center of a flat shady spot, overlooking the water. Haphazardly tossing them to the grass he left them to rest, knowing they could be easily rearranged into a proper fire pit later. He was half way through collecting enough rocks when Jake’s eager bark alerted him to the car trundling down the dirt path. Recognizing the car Sam dropped the stone he was carrying, his eyes lighting up happily. He waved, jogging the short distance over to where his best friend and his brother, and younger sister were stepping from the car. Sam really liked Atlas and was thrilled he’d been allowed to come. They’d been friends for a lot longer than the rest of their little posse, being of a closer age and personality than the others. The younger teen occasionally weirded Sam out, however his sarcastic wit and musical talent made up for the bouts of sporadic turbulence that rocked their friendship. Sam’s own knack for homework and testing was probably what kept Atlas afloat in academic pursuits over the six years they’d known each other.

“Nah, not too long At. You probably saw my mom leaving when you drove up.” Sam reassured Atlas, giving him a fist bump in greeting, and waving to the excitable Hailey. “I’m just glad you made - that I made it too.” He leaned in close, lowering his voice ever so slightly. “I was worried my mom wouldn’t leave at all there for a minute.”

Seeing Cameron and Hailey off Sam was about to explain his plans for setting up the campsite when a fancy car pulled up, its wide tires crunching the gravel underneath with its graceful display of engineering. “Vera’s here.” He laughed, giving yet another wave. “I’m kinda surprised she came at all y’know. She didn’t exactly sound thrilled at first, but she came around. Oh, and she brought Gia. Hey Gia, hey Vera!”

His cheerful voice was soon drowned out by the roar of another car engine as his fourth friend rolled in, pulling a maneuver with his vehicle that Sam was pretty sure would’ve gotten him grounded for life. Especially considering he only had a learners permit and if he drove, it was with his parents, in their car. Sam supposed that was just the kind of guy Duncan was. The tall, energetic teen seemed a born rebel, willing to defy the general rules of higher society that Sam had been so elegantly groomed for. He even smoked; and it was a wonder that Sam was allowed to hang out with him, and even more so that Duncan would be willing to spend time with the likes of him.

“Hi Dunk,” he chuckled, turning a bit scarlet at his friends comments about his mother. Sam couldn’t help it, he’d been horribly embarrassed by his overprotective mother so many times he wouldn’t be surprised if there wasn’t some truth to The Dunk’s conspiracies. He was glad they were just harmless quips and not actual teasing. He endured enough of that at school. Jake the chocolate lab ran up at this point, making sure to sniff everyone’s shoes as the final member to their group finally arrived, astride his motorcycle. The steel horse rumbled like a feral beast being unleashed as it glided to a stop beside Duncan’s ride.

Sam thought he might turn green with envy. He never failed to get that green-eyed sense of I gotta have it every time he watched Robert riding his motorcycle, as any young adventurous boy would feel. Of all the things his mom would never let him even touch, a motorcycle was right at the top of that list right behind drugs and her morning coffee. Feeling a little rebellious suddenly Sam made a mental note to see if Robert would let him take it for a quick spin later, just around the campsite.

“How’s it going Rob.” He said greeting his final friend.

“Looks like everyone made it alive.” He joked once Vincent and the luxury car vanished into the forest leaving them perfectly alone. “I was just telling Atlas, I started collecting stone for a fire pit. If you guys help out we can get the two tents up, and finish the pit and we can go-“ He was cut off by the sound of two gunshots being fired in quick succession. The concussive blasts were a good distance away, to the trained ear they sounded at least three or even four miles off. But the forests were strange, and sound could be carried far and wide even through the thickest patches of trees. The strangest part was how fast they’d been set off, one after the other almost so it sounded like one, but was distinctly two. Not like a hunter’s careful trigger pulls at all. “Uh, anyway.” Sammy continued shaking off the strange feeling in his heart, as if his blood had suddenly frozen and became sluggish. He didn’t understand it, he heard bullets and gun shots quite often, so why would his body react in such a way? Deciding he was being silly Samuel refrained from mentioning his feelings to his friends, instead regaining his train of thought. “Once we- Um – Once we set up both tents and build the fire pit we can go down to the docks and start fishing, just as the trout start jumping for their evening meal, if um, if you guys want to?”

[Raptra]

Hearing Gianna's words and seeing the faces of the two boys who were already there, Vera felt slightly better about the situation. To be able to indulge the closest people she had at school was inexplicably satisfying. At least they were happy, right? In addition, it was an opportunity for her to try something new. Being content was one thing, she had everything a teen could ever ask for. Some might actually envy her, but with friends like that, she could have even more. Was that not why she chose to go to her current school although her family could afford the fees of the best private institutions in the country? This trip could even be something for her to show off to the rich kids she had grown up with. She would get copies of the photographs taken from Gianna after the whole thing.

The four did not have to wait too long before the two older members of the group arrived in their own vehicles. Vera was in no hurry to get one of her own, and was probably the least intrigued by them out of the group. Her parents would buy her a car without hesitation, even two if she simply asked. As for a motorcycle, however, she was not too sure if they would deem it appropriate for the stature of their family. Then again, neither was camping, was it?

Vera let out a chuckle at the way Duncan phrased his offer. "Charity? Believe me darling, I'd pay, but that'd be an insult to you now, wouldn't it? Really though, I do appreciate the offer, but I think I have this. Perhaps you might want to get settled yourself?"

Jokes aside, it did take Vera awhile to ditch the 'everyone wants my money' attitude when she first entered high school. She had to learn that not everybody did favors for people just so they could get something in return. A lot of them would do things for others simply because they cared. Thankfully, the people who were the friends she had made were patient enough with her when she initially did not get it.

She then flinched a little when Samuel's dog came up to sniff her, obviously uncomfortable, though she tried not to show it. "Oh, uh... so this little guy's here too, I see..."

Samuel was clearly enthusiastic about the trip, beginning identify whatever needed to be done as well as what else was available for them to do for fun in the area. His camping expertise was definitely there, though, he did not sound too confident as he proposed the activities to the group. Did those gunshots in the distance which interrupted him scare him that much? Samuel could be just adorable at times.

Vera gave him a smile in hopes of easing his mind. "Fishing sounds like a nice, relaxing way to start this off, love. I don't know how much of a help I'll be with the setup, but I'll do my best."

@Dusty @MissCapnCrunch @CaptainSully @Vertigo @Sockofpancakes

[MissCapnCrunch]

Gianna shook her hand in front of her in response to Duncan's offer. "No, no Dunk it's fine! Thanks." she chuckled. She could handle her two bags just fine, but she appreciated the offer. Gianna snapped a quick photo of the group (including Jake) as they talked among themselves. She didn't want to spend her entire snapping photos, but she surely wanted to get a few to remember the trip by. Involving herself in each conversation she giggled here and there, making it known that she was listening but not really adding in anything to the conversation. She looked over to Vera several times for reassurance to questions asked. If Vera said yes, it was usual that Gianna would be close behind with the same responses.

Gun shots erupted through the forest as Gianna's petite body tensed up. Her gaze shooting towards where it sounded like the blasts came from. It stopped Samuel in the midst of speaking, so the campsite was eerily quiet for a second. Gia placed her hand on the top of Jake's head, giving it a gentle and reassuring pat. Her own family dog was very anxious and any loud noise caused the dog to run and hide under her bed, so the dog's steadiness was impressive. Gianna's thoughts traveled back to the gun shots, she knew that people liked to hunt and in some places they even liked to shoot guns for fun- it was surely one of the two.

Samuel gave his suggestions and Gia of coursed looked to Vera as she answered, before speaking up herself- "Fishing does sound fun, maybe even swimming too? But it'll be a good idea to get our tents and the fire set up before nightfall." she gave a gentle and encouraging smile to the boy. Samuel had always been a nice boy Gia thought to herself in the moment. The two had been in the same grade and known one another for quite awhile, their parents interacting on more than one occasion during extra-curricular activities. Adjusting her backpack on her back slightly, she waited until further direction from him as to where they should get started on the tents.

[Vertigo]

D U N C A N S T E W A R T

Pukaskwa National Park, campgrounds
Monday afternoon
Interacting with: pretty much everyone

Oh man. Poor Sammy was practically turning red.

Duncan grinned openly at the reaction, all the more convinced that he hadn't been far off with his speculation. Yeah, yeah, flustering people was bad and all, but he couldn't really help himself sometimes. Poor kid was just too much fun to mess with.

It didn't take long for Rob to pull up and complete the gang. Dude had a pretty nice ride, Duncan had to admit - but in his very humble opinion, it didn't hold a candle to his own. He acknowledged the other with a quick nod and a greeting, then turned to match Vera's chuckle with one of his own.

"Hey, depends on what you'd pay me with. Wouldn't be insulted by a kiss, y'know." unnecessarily proud over his corny line, Duncan gave her a wink for good measure. All in good fun. He let out another chuckle, then raised his hands in the air as if in surrender. "But alright, I hear you ladies. You handle your stuff, I'll be right back."

He gave a quick wave and jogged the short distance to his car, pulling out two backbags - one stuffed to the utmost prim. One had his camping equipment, one everything you needed for a party. It wasn't difficult to guess which was which.

Duncan returned with the bags in tow just in time for a moment collective shock. Two rapid gunshots rung out from somewhere deeper within the woods, thrusting the entire group into silence. Gianna and Sammy seemed particularly tense, but Duncan just cocked a brow. Was there a shooting range nearby or something? Or was that some hunter messing up his shot? Whatever, it was far, not that unusual, and Dunk was comfortable just shrugging it ff.

Coincidentally, Sammy's suggestion earned another shrug - though this one much smaller and much more awkward. Sammy was a nice kid, even if his ideas weren't the most exciting.

"Fishing?" The Dunk shifted his weight from one leg to another as if weighing his options. He really wasn't into fishing. Far as he was concerned, it was something old men did when they had to kill time before time killed them. Maybe at sixty, he'd give it a go. At sixteen? Hell no.

"Sorry, pass." he announced with a raised hand, trying to sound as neutral about it as he could. He didn't wanna rain on anyone's parade. Gianna's suggestion, on the other hand, he could definitely get behind. He gave a nod in her general direction, excited grin forming. "Now swimming? I'm down."

And if some others weren't, well - he could always accidentally 'trip' and push 'em in. For their own good, you know. Someone had to be making sure people were having fun around here.

Already excited, the tall youth was just about to take off towards water-- when he quickly realized they were supposed to do something else first.

"Oh-- the tents first though, right?" he turned back around, gaze scanning over the assorted bags and bins and baskets until his eyes caught a promising label. Not one to wait for instructions, he dropped to his knees, unwrapped the tent and got right into setting it up.

Or, rather, turning it around in his hands, sticking his head inside and trying to figure out which part belonged where before he accidentally suffocated himself with the damn thing. He lasted for about a minute. "... Yeah. Sammy, I might need some, uh, moral support here."

[CaptainSully]

He had made his way around the group, shaking hands, bumping fists and sharing warm hugs. He took in the various ideas banded around, fishing was always calming and swimming was always good for a laugh or two. However the weight that hung on his shoulders was a reminder of what he really wanted to do. It was his first time hunting since the passing of his father and he intended on last kill in memory of his father before leaving the pass time behind.

There were two loud gunshots that silenced the entire group. I guess i'm not the only hunter here then. The thought was a short one as Duncan spoke. Robert boistrously followed "Swimming...fishing...i'm up for anything!" The metalhead dropped his gear to the floor and moved over to Duncan at the suggestion of tents. He put his hand on his shoulder and leant over him into the trunk of his car. "Thanks for bringing this for me, absolutely no hope if I had this on the bike."

Rob walked from the back of Duncan's car carrying a bag that came close to dwarfing him. It was the tent he and his father used to share on weekend hunting trips, large enough in size that even The Dunk would be able to stand up in it without touching the top. Back and his gear he put the bag down and began to remove the parts of the tent. Speaking out loud to anyone that would be listening, "This baby has seen some use but it's damn reliable. Me and my..." He paused for the briefest of moments as his throat dried up. He cleared his throat with a stern cough before carrying on. "Me and my dad sat through some severe storms in this and it stayed standing...no leaks."

[Dusty]

The group set to work as their introductions came to a close. Samuel found himself the resident expert on all things to do with tent building, with Robert not being all too shabby either. The older boy even showed off a large tent he’d ported with Duncan’s car, that could house all of them comfortably if need be. While Sam assisted untangling Duncan’s slight disaster, (the overeager trooper had been trying to build it inside out) Robert, Atlas and the girls joined forces to construct the large super-tent. There was a healthy amount of laughter and a lot of fooling around, but they managed to finish the project in good time, even finding an extra minute to finish Sam’s half complete fire pit in-between the three tents. When the final stake hammering, and tie down knotting had been successfully achieved Sam stepped back to admire their handiwork.

The tents had been arranged in an imperfect circular fashion around the fire pit, with the largest facing towards the lake, and the smaller two angled opposite of it. There was more than enough space for all of them in just one, but Sam saw no harm in the extra privacy if someone wanted it. Duncan could take up an entire tent on his own if he stretched out after all. Meanwhile, unnoticed by Samuel the chocolate lab Jake sat still for once, staring attentively off into the forest, where the trees grew thickest by the lake. The dog whined softly, perking his ears forward, as if something unheard was calling his name far away. His large pink tongue lagged out of his jowls and his doleful eyes scanned the horizon like a sentry on post.

“Let’s throw our bags in the tents for right now.” Sam was saying, he dug around inside the crate full of food, showing the many canvas bags and ropes to the others. “You’ve seen these before right Rob? Bear bags, to throw into the trees in case any sniff out our food and come along for a taste. You and the Dunk can probably get them up where they need to be. I made sure to color code them so we always knew what we were getting.” Sam picked up a green bag and rope, twirling it like a cowboy would a lasso. Cans clunked inside, and it sounded like something squelched. “Canned food and pudding packets, hmm. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to put those two together… Oh well, c’mon this tree looks high enough, we’ll line them up there along that branch.” Stepping clear so that the two teenagers to could do this final task, (mostly to ensure he wasn’t struck by a wayward bear bag) Sam winked slyly at the girls. Pulling his button-down shirt off over his head and tossing it into one of the tents, Sam snatched up the fishing poles, scampering barefoot down the grassy slope towards the lake, yelling animatedly over his shoulders at the others.

“Haha, last one to the water is a dried up booger. WHOOP, WOOT!”

[Raptra]

Vera shook her head with a grin at Duncan's playful comeback about a kiss to what she had said, and turned to Gianna. "Should have known that wouldn't be beneath him."

It was actually rather ironic that Duncan would joke about something like that. Being the typical sociable, party-going sports star he was at school, he would probably have a chance with any girl who was into that sort of thing, and there were many. On top of that, he was... well, fun to be around. The rich kids like Vera were the boring ones, were they not? Her friends practically had to teach her how to have fun when she first started high school. She had not a single regret up till this point, but was that about to change with the current camping trip? Perhaps. It was too early to say.

After chuckling again at the fix Duncan had gotten himself into, Vera listened in when Robert spoke about the large tent. It had been a devastating loss for him, and she understood that, though, all she could do was glance awkwardly at their companions, not knowing how to respond when the older boy had some difficulty getting his words out. She then simply nodded in silence, before the mood picked up again and the group got to work setting up the camp site.

The well-to-do blonde was still getting over her fascination with the concept of 'bear bags', which Samuel had introduced to them, when she was taken by surprise at the said boy winking at her and Gianna. That was rather unlike the intellectual, though, he was pretty much in his element currently. She did not think about that for very long, however, for what he was yelling out to the group then caught her attention.

"Booger? Ugh, gross..." Vera muttered, before following the group down to the water.

@Dusty @CaptainSully @Vertigo @MissCapnCrunch