Shadowed Scales

Chapter 10: The Storm Forms a River of Sweat

_CHAPTER TEN_

The Storm Forms a River of Sweat

The camp was something Sameer did not expect.

Not only were there animals from the land but the sea as well! Besides that, there were girls probably from other schools. He was surprised to find some familiar faces from Gryphon Cross joining this camp too.

I just hope I have time to relax and finish all of this homework, Sameer thought to himself. He wondered if the teachers found it funny to pour a lot of homework during the break rather than give them must needed rest and have fun?

"Ah, you must be the Egyptian cobra!" a female flamingo counsellor beamed, holding a clipboard in one hand while a pen in the other. "You will be staying in the Maelstrom cabin with the other boys."

He was given a pair of shirts made for snakes, the scout uniform which is beige in colour with a magenta tie. If cobras could change colour, Sameer's face would definitely be red due to how he was given magenta instead of other colours that might remind him of horror.

"All right everyone!" another counsellor called out through a megaphone. Feeling a bit out of place, Sameer joint a few other snakes who were also at camp as everyone gathered around to listen to the counsellor standing on a podium.

"Welcome to Camp Loch Ness where we are here to make summer memories during your holidays. As you can see, we have divided all of you to your assigned cabins. Now, for the rules: boys and girls cannot be in the same cabin, no video games because we have activities for you lot and definitely no smoking or else we will confiscate it!"

Sameer scanned the area, realising there were animals that might as well be from secondary level too. He could tell just by how they carried themselves despite their size. It could be a senior shrew and a primary elephant from the looks of it.

Once the announcement was over, all of the campers were dismissed to their respective cabins. They will be called out again for dinner. For now, they will have to get acquainted with their cabin mates.

The minute Sameer gently pushed the door to his cabin, his body froze.

"You have got to be kidding me..."

...

"Well, well, it's a small world after all!" Tek the raven laughed, leaning back into his bed. Sameer bit the inside of his cheeks. The last thing he'd ever wanted was to see the smug raven sharing the same cabin as him.

"What are you doing here? I thought summer camps aren't your thing?"

The raven stretched his wings, tilting his head back. "I need to get away from my brothers. They're stricter than hawks I'm telling you! What's with your face?"

Sameer shook his head, giving Tek a sideway glance as he was entranced by the room. It had a high ceiling with rafters meant for animals of the avian species or bats to perched on. Each bed had wooden frames, two pillows, a duvet comforter that had quilts that matched the name of the cabin.

Needless to say, the cabin had a terracotta-sort of themed that Sameer guessed was to make the place feel homey.

"So are we the first ones here?" he asked Tek, who was opening a bag of sour cream-flavoured potato chips. He only shrugged, champing down a few bits that could fit into his wings.

"Oh...you two are going to be my cabin mates?"

Sameer felt his heart drop to his stomach at a familiar voice. Tek paused his crunching to listen again. On cue, both the cobra and raven looked up to see a white fluffy fur balled up at the corner. The figure lifted his head from his hiding place to face downward at the two bewildered beasts.

"Arthur?! You got sent to camp too? How do you even know about this even if you're blind?!"

Before the Honduran white bat could answer, the door to their cabin swung open. Sameer wondered if Fate really wanted to play tricks with him today. Arthur let out a small squeak at the sudden sound while Tek almost dropped his snack.

There, a brown Spanish fighting bull, a Tasmanian devil and a hammerhead shark.

...

"...so, is this what summer camp is like," the Tasmanian devil who was called Beppi chattered on the minute he opened his mouth. It was hard to believed that his cabin mates were also from Gryphon Cross.

Beppi was two years younger than him while the fighting bull and hammerhead shark he assumed to be older than him. The both of them never introduced themselves since they both headed straight to their respective beds.

It was considerate of the camp to provide water beds for aquatic animals. Since Sameer knew that the beasts of the sea preferred less clothing because it will caused drag in their swimming. The hammerhead shark only had a pair of headphones across his gills that contained water while he wore the beige camp uniform.

Bad enough that he has the weirdest-looking head!

They were having dinner at the mess hall where the tables were divided into two categories: boys and girls.

The food that was laid on the said table consists of potato curry puffs, white rice, beancurd, tomato chutney, fried eggs and spicy green vegetables. So of course, the happy campers were spoilt for choices.

"Awesome, they have everything! I never had this much food back home," Beppi went on, piling his plate with everything his paws could reach. Arthur simply waited until there weren't any one at his reach to spoon food on his plate.

"Eh, the chutney wasn't that spicy," Sameer commented, swallowing his food without chewing. Tek arched an eye ridge at the Egyptian cobra. The bull had more vegetables than rice on his plate, eating as if they were his last meal.

Only the hammerhead shark was prodding his food. Sameer wondered if the marine beast was not used to this sort of food. Then again, he could see some of the marine campers gobbling their food happily whether in the tanks that was built for them or those sitting amongst the land campers.

"Hey Sammy, what do you think we'll be doing after this? Are we going to play any night games? How about some board games? Maybe-"

"I don't know!" Sameer snapped, his hood was flared up again. Some of the campers at their row were staring at the Egyptian cobra in a variety of expressions.

"Okay, no need to yell!" Beppi laughed after composing himself. Smoothing his fur, he added: "Can I call you Sammy since it's easier?"

"No. It's Sameer, not Sammy! Sah-mere."

Beppi simply patted on his back before chattering away to other campers within and opposite their row. Some were chatting back while others made barriers with their arms so that they could enjoy their food without interruptions.

The only animal who hasn't said a word was the hammerhead shark.

Sameer decided to focus his attention on Arthur, who was sipping his glass of water while his two fingers on the right wing was pinching the grains of rice on his face.

I hope I get sleepy soon. It's better than having to talk to these crazies as my cabin mates!