“Sorry,” Carter said. “Just call it like I see it.”
Tess finally crawled off the boulder and dressed. While she was putting on her socks and shoes, Logan noticed a small tattoo on her ankle. It was a basketball going through a hoop with “#1” underneath it. Huh. Number one—the same thing the barista had put on her coffee cup. He’d have to ask her about it sometime. Either she was very confident, or it meant something.
Logan surprised everyone—including himself—when he actually caught a fish! They debated taking it back to camp for dinner, but in the end, decided it was more important to make sure Beary White didn’t show up again.
“You know how to gut it?” Tess asked.
“Yeah,” Logan said. “I take it there’s a you catch it, you clean it rule?”
“Indeed, but lucky for you, our furry friend doesn’t mind the guts. Just cut it enough to give off some scent, and let’s go.”
Logan used his pocketknife to make a few gashes in the sacrificial offering, then rinsed the knife and his hands in the water.
“Great catch, Logan,” Tess said. “Now, let’s get out of here and see if this plan works.”
By the time they returned to camp, dusk was only a few hours away. Before they split up, they dragged two huge logs overto the fire pit so those who hadn’t packed a seat could sit on something other than the ground.
Tess, Carter, and Ashton collected firewood for the night while Logan and Grayson fished in the lake. Logan solidified his reputation as a master fisherman when he reeled in two mid-sized trout.
He gutted one, and Tess used the second to teach the others the process, telling them that for the duration of the trip, they were responsible for whatever they caught.
They roasted the fish over the fire and savored their first bite of hot food in three days. Unfortunately, two small fish divided five ways only amounted to a few bites each. They supplemented with the half-bucket of berries they’d collected on the return hike, a few ash cakes each, and jerky from their emergency rations.
“Logan, you’re the king, man!” Grayson praised. “This beats another night of granola bars by far.”
“Is it sad that a few ounces of fish and a handful of berries seems like a feast?” Carter said.
“Won’t the smell potentially bring bears?” Ashton looked anxiously toward the treeline.
“Chances aren’t zero,” Tess admitted. “Look, I know we voted to set up our tents wherever, but I’d feel better if we were closer to each other. And further from the woods. In case something happens.”
Everyone agreed, and those who weren’t near Tess hastily moved their tents before night fell fully.
“It’s a full moon tonight,” Tess said. “Y’all don’t believe in werewolves, do ya?” She looked at Grayson.
“I get it. You guys think I’m crazy for believing in Bigfoot,” he said. “But there’s a ton of evidence that he exists. Never seen any such thing for werewolves though.”
“Well, there arerealwolves, so keep that in mind if you have to do your business in the dark.”
“I’ll pee my pants before I go into the woods at night,” Grayson said.
Before they went their separate ways, Tess ensured everyone had sealed up every bit of trash. They’d thrown the fish guts and dinner remains into the lake, hoping that would kill any odor. It was all they could do.
Logan thought for sure that after all the bear talk, he’d sleep with one eye open. But apparently exhaustion won out over worry, and he fell asleep almost instantly. Only to be awakened an hour later.
“Guys! Guys!” Grayson was going from tent to tent, tapping on the vinyl and whispering loudly. “He’s here. He came!”
Logan poked his head out and saw the others doing the same. Tess emerged armed and ready—gun in one hand, flashlight and bear spray in the other.
“Did the bear come back?” she asked.
“No. It’s Bigfoot,” Grayson said reverently. “Look.” He pointed toward the lake. And sure enough, there, in the full moon light was a tall, lumbering biped.
Logan squinted. “He’s not very hairy.”
“Yeah,” Ashton said. “And I thought he walked more hunched over.”
“Hey,” Tess said. “Where’s Carter?”
