𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘬 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨; 𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳

a will-o'-wisp and a nose bleed

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Camden sits on the edge of the seat in her car, her legs stretched out of the open door, feet flat against the dirt she's parked on, and arms crossed over her chest. It's getting daker, the sky becoming heavier. It'll open up on them soon enough, but for now, she sits, enjoying the open air, watching as Evan tosses a long, gnarled stick, just beyond the tree line, for Bear to rush after.

She found them a secluded little spot to tuck her car away without being noticed. Low traffic, and densely wooded, uphill and hidden. If it were yesterday, she would be thinking about all the hungry beasts with rabid mouths ripping off her car door and swallowing her in one gulp. But today, she is thinking about the faceless Death Eaters that shot such a sudden fear into Evan. So, Camden has ditched one fear for another, and found one solution that caused another problem.

But it's one night, and she can see the silhouette of the town they had just stopped in from their elevation. She's calling it a happy medium.

It's dark, night having settled on them, and she knows she'll be needing a full eight hours, having vowed to herself she'll never go sleep deprived again. But still, she's reluctant to climb into her car and get a head start on it. She's sick of being in there, cramped, squished up against Bear, muscle sore and kinked. Stretching her legs out like this is a luxury she's learned not to take for granted in the last few days.

Few days. Fuck, it's unbearable. She's been living out of her car and public restrooms, brushing her teeth in stained, strange sinks and braiding her hair our of her face so she can ignore how greasy and dirty it's getting, reapplying deodorant as her most vigilant form of hygiene. She's grateful to have a few spares in her boot for Evan, otherwise it would have become even more unbearable to be in his presence.

If for no other reason, Camden needs to get them to London tomorrow so she can finally, finally shower.

Bear lets out a short, joyful bark as he darts behind the line of trees that surround them, and Camden can't help but smile. It's nice to see him truly joyful, unabashedly happy. He deserves it, deserves all the happiness he is capable of feeling. She loves him, that dog of hers. Possibly more than she's ever loved anything or anyone else. That's her dog, one that she raised and trained all on her own. One that she bonded with so ferociously that not even her mother could come between them.

Evan seems to be indulging Bear eagerly, with an enthusiasm that she doubts he's faking. She's not sure when exactly Evan traded in his trepidation for affection, or how Evan could so easily go from having Bear's barred teeth inches from his neck to scratching between his ears every time he drops that stick at his feet.

He pulls his arm back and launches it forward once again; Bear's focus zeroed in once more as he spirits towards it, following its arch. Camden's almost impressed at his aim and his force. If she liked him more, she would've said something, told him he has a good arm and a penchant for fetch. But she doesn't like him, and the way he grabbed at her earlier hasn't earned him any additional affection.

She nearly shudders at the memory of it. Camden doesn't like the things that she noticed about him. The wiry firmness in his arms as his muscles flexed against her, the rough calloses on the palms of his hands dragging against the soft skin of her face, the heat of his words as they hit her ear and spread down the curve of her neck. She doesn't like how she felt hot, even after he let her go.

Her skin prickles, and Camden shakes her head. Evan hasn't really said much to her since then. She's at least grateful for that.

Bear comes bounding out from the trees, stick hanging from his mouth. It's too dark, and every time she watches Bear leap out of her sight, she gets just a little more unsettled every time. Maybe she's a bit too cautious, seeing as Bear could easily be considered predator to most things that lived in those trees, but she wouldn't ever take the chance of him being prey, not ever.