Camp Hansen

Chapter 8

"Okay, everyone ready?" Lauren held up the surprisingly sharp self-made spear. "Don't play around with these. We don't want any accidents..."

"Then how about you take them away from Camila and Ally?" Normani asked, glancing nervously at the two girls in question. "They're not... how do I put this nicely... adept at... well..."

"Hey, I resent that!" Camila called out and jabbed the spear at Normani who jumped back with fright. "Just because I'm a bit clumsy doesn't mean that I don't think about the dangers of –"

"Mila, stop waving it around!" Dinah ripped the weapon out of her hand and Camila blinked in surprise. "You Latin people and your wild hand gestures..."

Lauren raised her eyebrows. "Well, maybe it'd be better if you... try to catch the fish with your hands instead or... or something..."

"I wouldn't have stabbed her with it!" Camila protested loudly. "I had everything in control!"

"We'll see," Lauren said, not sounding entirely convinced. "Let's just put some space between us before we go into the water. And don't try to stab a fish near your feet. Water distorts the exact position of the things below its surface, so you can't aim at the fish itself –"

"What the heck are you talking about?" Normani asked, furrowing her brow. "At what do we aim then?"

"Let's just..." Lauren ran her fingers through her hair and sighed. "How about we go into the creek and practice first? You'll see what I mean."

"Like... with bare feet?" Normani asked with a scrunched up nose. "Can't we just try it from the brink?"

"Fine, I'll be the first one who goes in. It's just water," Lauren said exasperated and sat down right next to the creek. She quickly kicked off her shoes and pulled the socks off before testing the water temperature. Obviously not bothered by it, she carefully placed her feet on the ground and the girls noticed that the water only went up to her knees as Lauren stood up. "It's a bit cold, but the water is very clear so you can easily see where you're going. Try to not step on something sharp, okay? Don't hurt yourself."

"There are sharp things in there?" Camila asked concerned and peered into the water.

"I'm just saying you should be careful," Lauren waved her off and took a couple of steps further into the creek.

Dinah hesitantly handed Camila the spear back before following Lauren. "Gah, a bit cold?! It's freezing!"

"It's not that bad," Lauren shot back as the other girls exchanged unimpressed looks with one another. "I'm serious!"

"Yeah, let's all get sick in the middle of nowhere... what an amazing plan," Normani grumbled, but sat down regardless and got rid of her shoes. "Instead of locking us in a room together without our phones or something, it just had to be a camping trip in the woods, right? Dinah, if you're still expecting a birthday present from me this year, you're going to be seriously disappointed."

"Hey, you should be thanking me! I'll bring us back on track!"

"How can we be so sure that there aren't water snakes in here?" Ally asked fearfully, holding the spear ready to strike. "They could be poisonous..."

"Did you know that water spiders exist too? They can swim underwater," Camila commented, not seeing the horrified expression on the smaller girl's face. "Lauren? Is it everywhere this deep?"

"I don't like this anymore... I strongly dislike spiders, y'all..."

"Would you relax, Ally? Water spiders are not dangerous. Just like water snakes." Lauren sighed.