#if you participated in the luck draw last year and your fortune came true

[akkivee]

it’s almost time to greet the new year so let’s ring it in with a luck draw from kuugen temple!!!!!!!

clear your mind and concentrate on your goals for the upcoming year and click and drag/screenshot for your omikuji!!!!!!!

and may your new year be prosperous!!!!!!!!

[sweetcatmintea]

The Lake at Camp

Here’s a segment from A Hare’s Worth that I rather liked. It’s been edited slightly to work better as a stand alone. (It’s probably too long but eh) (Thanks @nerocael for the encouragement!)

Words: 2549

As high up as the camp was in the mountains, even the warm season couldn’t fight off the chill in the morning air. Honestly, Marcos could have done without the nip at his nose as he slipped out of the cabin, leaving Xavier chattering in his sleep. As annoying as his sleeplessness was, he couldn’t say he hated the familiar routine. The sun was beginning to show above the horizon, glittering whimsically against the dewy grass. Pine scent, punctuated sharply with lantana, whirled around with the last of the morning fog, becoming more prominent with each moment the vapours evaporated. Marcos hummed in contentment. The stillness of the morning, save the rustles of the proverbial early birds, all but transported him to another world. It was hard to fret with the strawberry milkshake sky greeting him. As per his routine, he trudged down to the pier, hands curled in the pockets of his hoodie. He’d get dressed properly a little later and have breakfast with Xavier. The lake was a mirror, reflecting the sunrise with added sparkle. Even though he hadn’t participated in any of the water activities, both swimming and canoeing were on offer thanks to the deep drop in the lake floor, Marcos still enjoyed sitting on the pier. He enjoyed the gentle lapping of the water against the wooden pillars of the pier, and watching the slivers of light as fish and the occasional turtle darted closed enough to the surface to be seen. He sat on the wood, dangling his paws over the edge. There were stories of the water engulfing the pier when the rains brought floods with them, but it had been unusually dry leaving a decent gap between his toes and the water. Warmth settled over him as the sun continued travelling above the tree line.

The light was just barely touching the tallest boughs when footsteps clumped onto the pier. Marcos’s ears swivelled automatically towards the noise before he turned to look over his shoulder. Tristen and Emmary strolled over to him. Marcos sighed internally but pulled himself into a standing position. Although they were older by two and one year respectively, Marcos was taller by a finger-width. A quick glance around confirmed that nearly everyone else was still tucked away in the cabins. It wasn’t surprising, the bonfire went well into the night. He’d expected the other campers to sleep in today. He kept the wary questioning off his face, opting for a polite neutral, waiting for them to make their intentions known.  Emmary tilted her head to the side, long tawny hair flicking with the movement, pouting.

“Don’t give us that look. Can’t we come hang out with you? Everyone’s asleep and we’re bored.” She let out a huff. Apparently he wasn’t as good at masking his expressions as he thought he was. Evidently waiting for some form of consent, Emmary leaned her back into one of the pier supports, running her hand along the thick rope that functioned as a barrier between them and the water. Uncertain of the situation, Marcos’ ears flicked back slightly.

“You can use the pier if you want, I was just heading back.” His voice lacked any kind of assertiveness as he attempted to walk past them. Tristen cut him off. If Marcos was making eye contact, he would have seen Tristen’s blue eyes sparling with some kind of mischief.

“Hold on, hold on! There’s nothing to do yet. Just hang a little while, yeah?”

Emmary chimed in, “The morning is to nice to waste hiding in your cabin!” Her sharp little teeth displayed in a smile. Marcos’ heart played a faster tempo. He had a strong urge to bounce his leg, but perhaps fortunately, the fact he was standing prevented that.

“Maybe later. I can hear Xavier so…” It was true, Xave was scratching around their cabin, undoubtably rushing to make himself presentable. Emmary twitched her own smaller, rounded ears towards the cabin.

“I don’t hear anything. Besides, he can wait a couple minutes.” She pouted again. “You’re being pretty mean, y’know.” She took a step closer. Marcos mirrored with a step back. He didn’t feel taller. “We came over to make amends and start over and all that, and you won’t even give us the time of day.”

Tristen mimicked her action, sending Marcos back another step. “Yeah. Rachel told us to be nice to you since you went and complained to her instead of talking to us yourself. So here we are trying to be friends and you won’t even try.”

Marcos’ paws were uncomfortably close to the edge of the pier. The attempted neutral face dropped in confusion. He hadn’t spoken to the C.I.T at any length. He’d seen her around and exchanged pleasantries of course, but he hadn’t told anyone about the continual taunts from the pair in front of him. He didn’t think Xavier would have said anything either. Why had she spoken to them? “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but if you want to be friends I… guess we can… start over?” He fidgeted with the draw strings of his hoodie, glancing back over to his cabin. There’s no place like home. Xave fluttered near the window doing who knows what. Marcos was hoping to catch his eye, maybe signal for support, but no luck.

Tristen and Emmary smiled at him in unison. “Excellent!” Emmary leaned even closer, thoroughly infringing on his personal space bubble. “We should do a camp activity then!”

“… like what?” Marcos could not keep the wariness out of the question. A hard shove to his chest and a cheery “swimming!” from Tristen. Marcos paused mid-air, toes glancing off the wooden plank before he crashed down. Cold immediately clawed his back. Water towered around him. His brain struggled to process what was happening. Laughter from above was drown out as liquid smashed into his ears. The lake was unending. His claws scrabbled below him, desperate for any surface at all. Arms flailing, he didn’t know which way was up. The surface broke, allowing a gasp before the lake swallowed him again.

Above, the jeering died down. The pair looked at each other. Anxiety creeping across their faces. “Just swim to the bank!” Tristen yelled at him, peering into the chaos with growing panic.

“Tris, I don’t think he can swim!” Emmary dropped to her knees. Hands outstretched to grasp at Marcos. She couldn’t even reach the water, let alone him. His panic was sending him further from them. “Grab my hand!” He was too far away.

His head vanished for a long moment. Sickness pooled in their stomachs. He breached, clawing up once more. “XAVE!” Water gushed into his mouth as he sank.

Drawn by the noise, Rachel pounded across the clearing. Before she even made it halfway, there was a flash of orange. Xavier dove off the pier. A paddling board slapped the water ahead of him. Shoving it toward Marcos with one hand, he flew through the water with ease.

Marcos kicked as hard as he could, his brain white noise and his chest bubbling. His nose was burning. Clawed hands hooked around his arms, drawing him up, up, up. The boys broke through the surface, Marcos spluttering and flailing. Xavier curled his arm around Marcos’ chest, reaching for the board with the other. Xavier winced as Marco’s foot rammed against his calve. He was vaguely aware of Rachel wading through the shallow edge towards them. “Marcos, you gotta-” They went under again. Only briefly. Xavier pushed the board into Marcos’ arms. Xavier coughed up water, then tried again. “Marcos, calm down. I’ve got you.” Although more buoyant now, Marcos kept his streaming eyes screwed shut.

“Xave, I- I can’t. Xave, I can’t swim. Xave” Marcos was shaking. His breaths coming out in quick gasps. But his struggling was slowing. Tiredness soaked into Xavier. He mustered the gentlest voice he could, despite his own racing heart.

“That’s fine. I’ll teach you. I’m gonna let you go for – “

“Don’t!”

“Just a second.  Okay. You won’t sink. Just hold the board.” He loosened his grip, watching carefully. When he was certain Marcos was clamped onto the foam, he circled around. Marcos repeated his name over and over. One hand remained on Marcos at all times, trailing along his arm until Xavier had positioned himself in front, closer to the bank. “Okay. We’re gonna head in now.”

“Xave, I don’t know how to…”

“It’s fine. Just kick your legs and hold on. I’ve got you. Kick, kick, kick, kick.” Holding onto Marcos’ wrists, Xavier guided them towards Rachel and away from the drop. Rachel ripped them out of the water. Fingers locked into the fabric of both of their shirts.  In a matter of seconds, the pair were lying on the grass. Xavier’s clothes were ridiculously heavy. Marcos’ curls were plastered over his face. He was coughing and trembling, but out of the water. Rachel rubbed his back as he coughed the pond out of his system. She bombarded them with questions. Mostly variations of ‘are you okay?’ and ‘do you hurt anywhere?’. Marcos shook his head, too busy breathing to respond. Xavier was fine. Tired, and his careful hairstyling ruined, but not harmed. He pulled himself into a sitting position, legs splayed out in front of him. The fur was sticking out in every direction, he looked like a drowned rat.

Emmary dashed up to them. She had her arms thrown out for a hug but was stopped by Rachel’s palm. “Hold on. Let him catch his breath. Marcos needs a minute.” Emmary nodded, sinking to her knees. Her dark eyes were filled with tears. Tristen wasn’t far behind her. Xavier’s innards twinged with worry as Marcos continued to pant, enduring a panic attack. He scooted closer to his hyperventilating friend, quashing his own urge to hug him. Instead, he huddled down next to him with a subdued smile.

“I gotcha buddy. You’re ok now. I mean, between you, me, and pretty much everyone, I think I’m a pretty good swim teacher.” He watched as Marcos calmed with his voice. “Honestly, my first time and we swam half the lake! Not to ring my own bell but ding ding ding! Maybe I should drop out of school to be a professional swim teacher person.”

Marcos managed a weak, but good natured “maybe.”

“Although, the water would probably mess with my hair… Plus, I’d have to get like a million towels to get it all out of my fur. That’s gotta be expensive. That’ll be plan B then. Look, I’m not gonna tell you what to do, but next time, could I rescue you before I get all dressed nice? You know how long it takes.”

Marcos chuckled, managing to move into a more comfortable position. He still felt scared, jittery, and so so tired, but the worst of it had subsided. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good good.” Xavier gave a faux authoritative nod. “You good?” A tentative affirmation. He wrapped his arms around Marcos. “You scared the stars outta me!” He laughed and flopped his head onto Marcos’ shoulder making a high pitched hhhhhh noise. It was only then that Marcos noticed Xavier was also shaking.

“Marcos, we’re so so sorry! We didn’t know. It was just supposed to be a prank! I’m so sorry!” Emmary captured him in a hug. Somehow that was the most surprising thing from the morning. Marcos blinked but hugged back, albeit a little awkwardly. Tristen kept his distance but voiced his apologies. Both of their voices were still shrill from the panic.

“I’m ok.” Marcos’ throat was starting to hurt. He hoped that Tristen and Emmary would ease up on him now. They seemed genuinely upset. Before anything else could be said, Rachel took control of the situation.

Her stern grey gaze captured the trouble making pair. “I’m going to take Marcos and Xavier to the nurse, then you and I will go and talk to a counsellor and tell them what happened.” She turned to the boys. “When you’re feeling up to it, we’ll get your side of the story. Capiche?” Although only seventeen, she certainly had the air of an adult. All of the kids nodded. “Good. Emmary, Tristen, go get something to eat then wait by my cabin.” They didn’t complain, slinking away with an apologetic wave from Emmary and a half-nod from Tristen. “Are you guys okay to stand up?” She offered a hand to Xavier first. Now on his feet, he realised there was a dull throb from where Marcos had kicked him. That was going to bruise. Marcos felt weak, leaning on Xavier a little, but otherwise ok. The three walked to the nurse.

~

After a careful examination, Marcos was instructed to spend the day resting in the medical cabin. He gladly complied. Xavier was given the choice to rest but opted out. There was no way he could spend the day doing nothing. He darted between activities, chatting with other kids, and checking on Marcos. Both Emmary and Tristen checked in on Marcos at least once. When he told Xavier, Xavier was immediately suspicious, but it really seemed as though they just wanted to confirm he was ok.

Although Xavier hadn’t spread the story per sei, news quickly rippled through the camp. He couldn’t deny the delight he gleamed from hearing excited whispers from other campers. ‘Did you hear what Xavier did?’ ‘He’s a hero!’ ‘I heard he carried Marcos back to the bank all by himself!’ He spent the rest of the day with a spring in his step and a curl in his tail.

Naturally the counsellors had offered to call their parents and let them go home early. Neither accepted. Marcos was pretty sure he was okay and Xavier didn’t want to leave the admiration so soon. Xave did ask for an extra dessert, ‘for the scare’. When they were told that no extra punishment was to come to Emmary or Tristen, both boys were surprised, but also a little relieved. Everyone agreed that the prank was intended to be mean-spirited but ultimately harmless. The fear was punishment enough. They were heavily warned off any repeat offences.  

Later that night, there was a special ceremony. All of the campers sat around a fire as Xavier stood next to Rachel, Jeremy, and the camp counsellors. Logs crackled as the embers exchanged the wood for light. Crickets joined in the night chorus, mingling with excited murmuring. Marcos looked on from the first row, giving Xavier a broad smile. Xave beamed at him, bouncing on his toes a little. He stood straighter as the head counsellor called for attention. When she received it, she began.

“Campers, tonight we’re here to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of a camper who has displayed tremendous courage. Xavier Tanner, for your act of bravery and quick thinking to help a friend,” she turned to him, “we present you with the wolf badge!” Pinning it onto his shirt, she continued “This badge symbolises valour and loyalty. Wear it with pride.” Applause erupted from the campers. They cheered, calling his name. Even Tristen and Emmary joined in. None cheered as loud as quiet Marcos, bursting with pride for his friend.

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