Escape Games

Chapter Thirteen

     Mac splashed water over his head one more time before following.  Jorik had put his jacket back on, but the rest of his clothes still sat folded next to Mac's. 
     "If only we had some towels," he said half-jokingly as Mac approached. 
     "I doubt whoever put us here would be so kind as to leave towels for us," Mac said as he put on his jacket as well.  "But we'll be fine air drying, it's not chilly here, just a breeze once in a while." Jorik leaned against a tree as Teddy wandered over and rubbed his face on his jacket.
"What are you doing, puppy?" The elven asked, pulling the pup onto his lap.
"He might have sleepers in his eyes," Mac suggested. "He's been napping a lot, after all."
"He's a baby," Jorik responded. "Of course he's sleepy." As if on cue, Teddy curled on his side and fell asleep.  Jorik gently stroked the puppy with the tips of his fingers, trying not to wake him.  Bear plopped down behind Mac, her tail thumping a couple times.  Mac reached around and tapped her paw.  The dog thumped her paw on the ground and rolled on her side.  She pawed at Mac and he pawed back.  Jorik smiled watching them. 
     "She loves this game," Mac told him, pawing at the dog again.  Bear began using her back legs to kick at him.  Mac rubbed her belly for a bit. The big dog rolled all the way on her back, her tail wagging as her leg twitched furiously.
"I didn't know dogs actually did that," Jorik watched curiously. "I thought it was just a cute cartoon thing."
"Where do you think the cartoons got it?" Mac asked. "It's some kind of reflex, I think." Bear's tongue lulled out of her mouth as Mac patted her side.
"Okay girl," Mac told her. "My arm's getting tired. More belly rubs later." The dog rolled back on her belly and stood up. She walked to the stream and took a drink. Teddy yawned and woke up, his orange eyes blinking a couple times as he looked up at Jorik.
"He's certainly taken to you quickly," Mac smiled as the puppy wandered over to Bear and took a tiny drink from the stream as well, standing under the big dog's belly.
"He seems very affectionate," Jorik said as the two dogs came back, Bear walking a bit funny with the puppy under her feet.
"She's trying not to step on him," Mac laughed as the dogs reached them. Jorik picked up Teddy and held him, pressing his cheek to the puppy's. The little canine licked his nose once, his tail wagging. Bear had walked to Mac, licking his face.
"They almost make you forget where we are, don't they?" Jorik asked as the puppy licked his chin.
"I'm just happy we're all relatively okay so far," Mac replied, rubbing Bear's neck. "But animals do tend to be good stress relievers."
"Speaking of stress relief," Jorik said, reaching for his shirt. "I'd feel more comfortable if we found a more enclosed space. I like the woods but not when there's potentially a giant who-knows-what roaming around." He'd shrugged out of the jacket just long enough to put his shirt back on. Mac followed his lead and dressed himself.  The dogs stood and watched until the humans were ready.  Jorik picked up Teddy and cuddled him. 
     "A living stuffed animal, that one," Mac said as the puppy licked the elven's chin enthusiastically.  Jorik let out a loud huff and pressed the puppy closer. 
     "Good puppy," he said.  Mac put a hand on Jorik's back. 
     "Are you okay to walk?" He asked.  The elven nodded. 
     "I'll be fine," he said.  "The water actually helped a lot with the healing." 
     "You're elemental, then?"  Mac asked.  Jorik nodded.  A long, thin icicle suddenly shot from his finger tip and impaled itself in a nearby tree.  It then melted and wove its way back to Jorik's hand in several watery ribbons. 
      "Impressive," Mac said as Jorik showed the spinning, watery ball to Teddy.  The curious pup pawed at it before trying to lick it. 
     "I'm artistic in more than one way," the elven replied.  He let the puppy lick the water ball for a moment before squishing it into droplets. 
     "Be prepared to use it," Mac told him.  "It may come in handy."  The elven nodded as he gently adjusted Teddy in his arms.  He huffed again and Mac rubbed his back a few times. 
     "You're fine," he said.  "We've got this."  Jorik huffed but nodded, pressing his cheek against Mac's. 
     "Come on," Mac's tone was gentle as he put an arm around Jorik.  "Let's get moving if we want to find somewhere to hole up."  Jorik stayed pressed against Mac as Bear walked on his other side.  Teddy had fallen asleep again, his head resting on Jorik's shoulder as the elven cradled him.  The group only walked for a few minutes before they came to a door. 
     Mac tried the door and found it opened easily.  On the other side was a split path, one side was the stone flooring, the other looked like large, white tiles, the kind you might find in some grocery stores or markets. 
     "Let's go right," Mac suggested.  "The different flooring has been good so far."  Jorik nodded. 
     "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," he agreed.  The group followed the white flooring for several minutes until it turned to the right.  Around the corner the corridor widened, and shelves containing cans, bottles and boxes began to appear along the walls.
"Some kind of warehouse or supermarket," Mac guessed. "Maybe we can find some extra food or water here." 
     "Or other supplies," Jorik suggested. 
     "Maybe," Mac agreed.  "A place like this, you never know."  They walked further, the space continuing to widen until eventually it became a full grocery store space, long rows of shelves in sections and isles. 
     "Some of these are unlabeled," Jorik said as they began examining the products. 
     "We should probably avoid those," Mac suggested.  "Just in case."  Jorik agreed, and began looking for only the ones with clear labels. 
     "Hey, look," Mac said after a minute.  He held up a fair-sized bag with a happy dog on it.  "Puppy treats!"  He opened the bag and offered one of the treats to Teddy, who had woken back up but was still in Jorik's arms.  The pup looked at it, sniffing it several times before taking it. 
     "He probably hasn't had treats before," Mac guessed, giving the puppy a little affectionate scratch behind one ear. 
     "He'll get used to them real quick with you around, I bet," Jorik said half-jokingly. 
     "Bear loves the treats I make myself best," he said, tossing one of the soft, chewy, chicken-shaped treats to the big dog, who caught it and chewed slowly.  "But she'll eat whatever treats are around, she's got a sweet tooth like her dad." 
     "As long as she shares with the puppy," Jorik said, still moving along the shelves, looking at the products. 
     "She will," Mac assured him, also checking the shelves.  "Hey, look," he said again a few minutes later.  This time he pointed at something down the far end of the isle he was in.  Jorik walked over, carrying a box of innocent-enough oatmeal mix.  Mac was pointing towards a door, a big, blue door with a "Staff Only" sign. 
     "It's either storage," Mac said.  "Or it's a break room of some kind." 
     "If it's a break room it could be a good place to hole up for a bit," Jorik tried finishing Mac's thought.  Mac nodded. 
     "Exactly," Mac nodded.  "There might be extra supplies in there either way, but a break room could be a good place to take a nap if there are couches.  And I think there might've been something you were itching for earlier."  He gave Jorik a little kiss on the cheek before walking towards the mysterious door.