❝𝐖𝐞'𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐞❞

Nunc scio quid sit amor (1)

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ㅤAs you lie awake alone with your thoughts in the darkest moment of the night, you can get to know yourself better. At least that is what some would say, even though I won't try to deny it either. For Mackenzie, things are a little different.

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ㅤHe can't seem to be able to rest well enough, as multiple thoughts run through his mind endlessly, not being able to focus on one only. Only two thoughts are more important than the others, and those two would be: the first one is that he, one day, would like to just vanish into thin air, like smoke, or evaporate like hot water, despite believing that he moved on from his fears. He never learnt to understand where this wish comes from, yet it is a strong one that feels overwhelming for the Border Collie. Even so, this wish is contradicting the other thought he has, which leads his mind to be filled with useless worries. That being said, his second thought is not about himself entirely. It is about the people around him, people that he would like to be around for the longest time in his life, just like he was until now. Between those people, as you could had already guessed, counts Bluey.

ㅤShe remained unchanged, the same funny and outgoing girl he knew since - well, since forever. She is one of the people he would never like to think as being hurt, not his best friend. He thinks of her as a spark of hope for him, like he is seen, like he is not alone. As foolish as it might seem, it never felt better to have anyone else by his side.

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ㅤWhen the alarm was finally heard by the boy, he realizes what he should truly worry about more than these other things, that being the first camp he had ever attendend with his classmates. What made it worse was the pressure everyone will go through due to the challanges and responsabilities, but he knows that they are all together. They have each other, his friends are by his side.

ㅤHe brushes every other thought off, jumping out of bed and patting it shortly, as if he just made it before he gets ready, his feet slightly wobbly from the lack of sleep. Taking a deep breath, he steps outside where Rusty and Jack are waiting for him, which makes the boy feel slightly surprised.

ㅤ–Were you waiting for me? asked the Collie, approaching them while scratching the back of his head with an almost ashamed, hesitant smile on his face.

ㅤ–By all means, soldier. the reddish boy spoke jokingly, and before Mackenzie could say anything, he continued, this time louder. Attention..March!

ㅤThe three of them start walking in a march-like way for a little while towards the exit, stopping involuntarely afterwards. Their conversation went on as they passed by Bluey's room, not noticing that the girl just ran outside, trying to catch up with the boys.

ㅤ–Hey, wait for me! Kenzie, Rusty! she shouted for the boys as she ran towards them. Hearing her voice, the Collie stopped and turned his head, laughing slightly before speaking in a jokingly mocking tone.

ㅤ–You became pretty slow, Blu. the boy commented with a small laugh, which made the Blue Heeler roll her eyes and pinch his arm. He then smiled, looking at her over his shoulder as he continued. Are you ready for today? I heard the night will end with a camp fire.

ㅤ–For real life? the girl's tail wagged as she asked her friend, her eyes sparkling with excitement at the thought of it.

ㅤ–For real life.

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ㅤThroughout the day, the teens were all engaged in numerous activities that were meant to teach them how much the team work matters. Through the activities also count capture the flag, obstacle course and hiking.

ㅤThe hiking was in a nearby forest with a path that leads to the peak of a heel, where they were told to spot and capture pictures of various bird species, then glue them into an album along with some written informations about them. They were paired in teams: Chloe and Coco, Rusty and Jack, Winton and Indy, and finally, Bluey and Mackenzie.

ㅤ–Kenzie, look! the girl shouted as she ran towards Mackenzie, waving a picture in her hand. She stops close by his side, showing him the picture as she pants loudly, one of her paws resting on her knee. What bird is this?

ㅤ–Hm..this looks like a dove to me. Let me check, alright? he says after a moment of thinking and analyzing the picture, pulling then out a book with birds that can be found in this forest given by the guides of the camp before they started the hike. A dove, indeed!

ㅤ–What should we write about them? I know they symbolize peace! the Heeler said as her tail wagged left and right, sitting on her knees on the ground and looking up at the boy.

ㅤ–And love.

ㅤ–And love. she repeated, gluing the picture on the first page of the album. After moments of silence in which she made sure the picture is glued well and the informations were written, she looks up only to see that Mackenzie was nowhere to be seen, which made her panic, looking around her and calling his name.

ㅤJust then, the Collie walked out from behind a few trees with an awkward smile, waving a picture of a honeyeater in his hand. The girl smiles widely, snatching the picture from his hand with a quiet "woah" then staring at it for a few moments. After gluing the second picture they have into the album, the two continue their walk, trying not to stay behind the group for too long or else they might get lost.

ㅤJust when the silence was the loudest, Bluey's voice pierces it with a whisper, her upper body leaned slightly towards his and her index finger pointing up, at the tree in front of them.

ㅤ–Kenzie, look.

ㅤ–Why, look at that. Mackenzie said breathlessly for a moment, looking then at the girl and smiling slightly as he asked, also in a whisper. Do you know what those are?

ㅤ–No? the girl said quietly as she grabbed the camera in order to take a picture of the two beautifully colored birds that were seated on the branch. They look like parrots, she continues.

ㅤ–Lovebirds.

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ㅤA/N: all the birds mentioned hold a meaning of their own. Doves and Lovebirds mean love, while the honeyeater (I wanted to choose the humming bird at first, but I am pretty sure those do not live in Australia – yes, i checked – therefore, i chose that bird which means guidance, good luck, resilience and personal growth. Honeyeaters teach us to enjoy little things in life and navigate through challanges, and, at the same time, to appreciate the interconnection of all beings.

ㅤAlso, I feel like this chapter is becoming a little too long and i still have a lot to write in it, so i decited to split it in two parts. Enjoy.

ㅤWords count : 1214.