Wolf's Moon --- ONC 2022 (LONGLIST)

Chapter 6

The afternoon had been filled with laughter and random chatter between Callista and Noah. The duo spent their afternoon sunbathing in the heated sunlight, swimming in the coolness of the crystal clear lake and watching the local wildlife scurry about in the green foliage surrounding them. Over the course of the afternoon, the morning had finally been long forgotten. Relaxation had taken over the two women, allowing them to finally begin enjoying their much needed vacation. 

Callista and Noah returned back to the cabin when the sun finally began slipping down below the horizon line. With the summer air cooling and them still wet from their random bouts of swimming, the duo made quick work of returning to the cabin. Even with their joking and playful conversation they had on the way back to the cabin, Callista and Noah managed to return just as darkness took over the forest for the night. They quickly changed into something comfortable for the evening and worked together to make dinner. It allowed them to unwind from their playful afternoon out at the lake. 

Despite the crazy morning, the remainder of the day had turned out pretty well. 

"I didn't expect to spend ALL afternoon out at the lake." 

Noah chuckled, walking around and finding a seat beside Callista. 

Looking over at Noah, her head propped up onto one of her fists, Callista smiled lazily at her friend. She nodded in agreement, remembering how the same thing would happen with her uncle and her when she was younger. She was beginning to think there was something magical about the lake. . . or they just had too much fun and lost track of time. Either way, it was a place one could go when stressed and worn out from their daily life to relax and forget about everything for a short period of time. 

"It happens, but I don't regret doing so." 

"Oh, neither do I. It was so much fun, we definitely should do it again while here." 

"We do have a few more days, however, tomorrow morning we are going rock climbing." 

Unable to hold back a laugh when Noah inwardly groaned, Callista shifted in her seat and sat up a bit straighter. Her lazy smile remained upon her lips as she slowly breathed out a sigh. 

"Come on, one climb and then we can stick to easier, more relaxed activities. We didn't get all the climbing equipment for nothing." 

Callista turned her lazy smile into a pleading pout. She didn't stop there, she made sure to quiver her bottom lip and shoot the puppy dog eyes at Noah. She didn't mean to go so hard with her pouting, but as tired as she was from their time at the lake she couldn't control her actions very well. 

With continued efforts begging, Callista could have swore she heard Noah snore in an attempt to hold back a laugh. 

"Please?" 

A bubble of laughter fought its way out of Noah, forcing a soft blush to tint Callista's tanned skin with a bit of pink. Her face softened as Noah waved a hand back and forth in front of her face to try and stop her pouting. Her laughter was becoming more difficult to contain with each second she had to deal with the pouting being directed at her. 

"Alright, just stop pouting. I don't know how much more of it I can actually take." 

"You're amazing, thank you." 

Callista said with as much enthusiasm as she could muster up, exhaustion quickly creeping up on her. She hadn't realized how tired she was, how tired her body really was until now. She should have far more energy in her being as young as she was. Barely in her twenties, she shouldn't have felt so drained after a day at the lake. Maybe she was working too hard and needed the break like Noah had suggested. She was going to have to really thank her after this vacation one way or another, her suggestion had really opened up her eyes to how she was truly feeling.