Adventures in Curse Breaking: Dragon Treasure

Camping

The tent took less than five minutes to set up. Bill and Sarah managed to do it themselves with magic, as well as put the protective wards around the camp that Kettleburn had recommended. While they did, Barnaby and Charlie summoned firewood and built a campfire. Penny found sticks and made the preparations for toasting marshmallows. Merula supervised. 

Soon, they were all seated on rocks or chunks of wood, toasing marshmallows, and laughing. It was the happiest Sarah had been since sixth year began. It warmed her heart to see Merula's murderous scowl, Penny's lines of worry, and Charlie's sad eyes replaced with grins. 

Barnaby was even more delighted. He found everything so exciting. 

"Haven't you ever been camping before?" Penny asked him, when he set his third marshmallow on fire. 

"Not the way most people do it," said Barnaby. "I've slept outside lots of times. Gran used to kick me out of the house a lot. But, I've never done it with tents and marshmallows and stuff. It's way better."

There was an uncomfortable silence that always fell on the group whenever Barnaby would reveal something about his horrible childhood. It was quickly interrupted by Barnaby setting another marshmallow on fire, laughing as he tried to blow it out. 

Sarah went over to help him. "Hold it above the fire, B. Like this."

The group continued to talk and tease each other for a while, only pausing when they heard a dragon's roar in the distance. Charlie even started a marshmallow fight that Bill had to put a stop to before it turned very nasty. 

"Look, this one's perfect," said Barnaby, pulling up a golden-brown marshmallow from the fire. 

"Wow," said Merula, "can I have a look at it?" Barnaby handed her the stick. Merula pulled the marshmallow off the stick and plopped it in her mouth.

"Merula!" said Sarah. 

"Wow, it is puh-fet," she said with a full mouth. 

"You're welcome," said Barnaby. "Who wants another?"

Charlie raised a hand, and Barnaby skewered another marshmallow. 

"So, when are we gonna start telling scary stories?" he asked, holding Charlie's marshmallow over the fire, rotating it slowly.

"Isn't this place scary enough already?" asked Penny. She smiled, but her voice had a slight shake. 

"Not a bad idea," said Bill. "I can tell you a true scary story about one of my last missions. It has a mummy in it."

"I love that one," said Charlie. "Especially the part where the mummy backs you into a corner, but then you blast him into dust!" Bill gave Charlie an annoyed look. "Whoops, guess I just spoiled it."

"Can't we just sit here and enjoy the marshmallows?" asked Penny.

"You can't have a campfire and not have scary stories," said Barnaby. "That's the rules for camping." He held up his hand and started ticking off his fingers. "Tent, fire, marshmallows, friends, scary stories. That's what you need to go real camping."

"What's so great about scary stories?" asked Penny. 

"It's fun to be scared sometimes," said Sarah. "It's exciting."

"Is that why you're always chasing after curses and dragons?"

"It's Barnaby's first camping trip, so we need to do it right," said Charlie. "Now, who's got a good story?"

"Fine," said Penny. "Once upon a time, there were six friends who went on a lovely camping trip and nothing bad happened. The end."

"You think we're friends? That is scary," said Merula.