sleep away at Camp Wiŋtke

Chapter 15

Once dinner was done and their trays and plates put away, Belinda. Julie, and Rachelle left the dining hall together and continued to talk as they took a walk around the camp. Daniela, didn't join them, choosing to stay behind for movie night and hoping to see the super sexy counselor from last night, again. Terry quickly dipped out as well, being vague about "something" he had to do.

As they strolled through the cool evening air, Julie could hardly focus on anything other than Rachelle's effortless femininity. It was a captivating display and she continued to be amazed at how completely feminine Rachelle's movements, mannerisms, voice and walk was. She still couldn't find a hint of anything masculine about Rachelle at all.

Rachelle's blonde hair bobbed with every step, catching the fading light in a way that made it seem like it was dancing around her face. Her voice, soft and melodic, filled the air with stories of her transition and new feminine life back home-stories that painted vivid pictures of a world so different from the one they currently found themselves in. Julie listened intently, her eyes rarely leaving Rachelle's face, captivated by the way Rachelle's expressions danced with the light as she spoke.

Eventually, they stumbled upon a particularly grassy knoll overlooking the nearby lake. The moon was beginning to peek above the horizon and its fiery orange glow caused the water to shimmer like molten gold.

Rachelle stopped and commented, "If we were allowed to have cell-phones here, this would be perfect for an impromptu photo session-a social media-worthy moment in the making."

"Too bad we can't, but we could still capture our divine femininity!" Belinda exclaimed, striking an exaggerated pose with the finesse of someone practicing in front of a mirror for far too long.

"And if we were going to be fabulous, the social media post would, of course, need an epic caption. Something along the lines of 'Squad Goals: Feminine Energy Unleashed,'" Rachelle chimed in, egging on the dramatic flair. This sparked a round of laughter, and before they knew it, they were all posing with exaggerated expressions of seriousness-Rachelle pretending to inscribe secret knowledge as if she were a wise sage, while Belinda feigned surprise, wide-eyed and mouth agape.

Suddenly, a rustle in the nearby bushes jolted them out of their glamorous imitation. "What was that?!" Belinda exclaimed, feigning a hilarious mix of horror and intrigue. Rachelle, deciding to lean into the comedic moment, declared, "It could be the fierce and fierce-less creatures of the forest, here to steal our glow! Quick! Strike glamorous poses to dazzle them!" She held up an imaginary sword, mimicking a warrior determined to protect their essence from any lurking woodland envy.

Julie erupted into laughter, nearly losing her balance. "If only we had heels right now! Imagine if we could fight off mystical creatures in stilettos!"

"Oh, please! Stilettos are not made for battle-unless you count the battle of not falling!" Rachelle giggled, her laughter infectious.

Julie's humor was abruptly cut short by a sudden, high-pitched shriek. She whipped around to see Belinda jump back with a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with terror. Following her gaze, she spotted a small, furry creature scurrying out of the underbrush and into the open space before them-a raccoon, its beady eyes gleaming in the moonlit night. It paused for a moment, seemingly as surprised to see them as they were to see it, before it turned and bolted away.

The laughter died down, and Rachelle took the opportunity to playfully swipe at the air with her imaginary sword. "Fear not, fair maidens! I shall vanquish this loathsome beast with my unparalleled grace and beauty!" she exclaimed, her voice full of mock-seriousness.

Julie watched the raccoon retreat, feeling a peculiar mix of relief and disappointment. It was a moment that could have been so embarrassing, but Rachelle's playfulness had transformed it into something entertaining. Rachelle turned to her, her smile wide and eyes gleaming with amusement. "See, I told you we didn't need the stilettos. The power of our feminine charm is all we needed!"

Just as Rachelle finished her grandiose proclamation, a rustle from the bushes drew their attention again, and this time a whole gang of raccoons emerged, their little paws and curious noses poking out from the foliage. They strolled into the clearing like a furry flash mob, and from the way Belinda's eyes widened once more, they might as well have been the royal raccoon court upon a midnight parade. The leader, a particularly portly raccoon sporting a permanent scowl, raised a little paw and regarded the trio like they were intruders in his nighttime dominion.

Julie couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Behold! The Raccoon Royal Guard! Perhaps they've come to arrest you, Rachelle, for crimes against raccoon-kind with all that mock heroism!" The scene escalated as Rachelle responded with exaggerated glee, brandishing her imaginary sword and declaring, "To battle! For honor and snacks!" They all dissolved into fits of laughter, the raccoons apparently not amused by their antics as they scurried off in to the high grass at the base of the knoll, near the edge of the lake. Suddenly the night felt like a whimsical battleground, where laughter and furry chaos reigned supreme instead of fashion dilemmas.

Once the raccoons had disappeared, the tension in the air dissipated along with the last whispers of their laughter. Rachelle stepped closer to the edge of the knoll, the moon's now silver light illuminating her features. She looked out over the lake, her expression thoughtful. The calmness of the scene seemed to wash over her, and her pose softened into something more contemplative.

"You know, it's moments like this that make me realize how much I've missed out on because of societal pressures and expectations of masculinity."

Julie nodded, understanding Rachelle's sentiment all too well. She stepped closer to Rachelle, the cool grass brushing against her bare legs. "You know, Rachelle, you're so brave," she said softly. Rachelle looked over at her, a hint of surprise in her eyes. "What for?"

"For being so unapologetically you," Julie continued. "Back home, I was always trying to fit in-trying to be what everyone else thought I should be. But here, with you guys, I'm learning that there's a different way to be strong-a different kind of power."

Rachelle's gaze remained on the lake for a moment before she turned to Julie, her smile gentle. "You're pretty amazing yourself, you know," she said, placing a comforting hand on Julie's arm. "You're finding your own path, and that takes courage. Bothbof you." She put an arm around Belinda as well.