Reality Bites - Wattys 2018 Shortlist

Chapter 3 - In the Trees

Yes. Yes, apparently it could get worse.

"Yeah well, I'm here now, Guardian Hathaway," I grumbled, biting back the more cutting remark I'd been about to make. Since Mason died, Mom had been making an effort. We were still a long way from a picture-perfect family, but we were better than we'd been before. Besides, if we were going to spend the next day or two together, there was no point antagonizing her. I knew first hand how difficult she could make things for me if she had her back up. Mom seemed to have recognized I was trying, the steel glint in her eye softening slightly.

Looking back and forth between us, most of the Novices and a good deal of the Guardians looked confused. We certainly didn't look alike. Petite with flaming red hair and the hint of a Scottish accent, Janine Hathaway didn't look much like a Guardian. The formidable number of molnija on the back of her neck, however, told a different story.

With a shrug, the Guardian who'd addressed us before cleared his throat.

"Once it's fully light we'll be heading out into the hills. You will be in groups of six – three Novices and three Guardians who will be acting as your Moroi. As you can see, there is a storm coming in, so your priorities are shelter and food. Your Guardians will not help you with your tasks, however, should a genuine emergency occur, they will direct you."

With that, he split us into groups. Mom and I, Eddie and a Guardian called Mike I recognized from the lower campus at St. Vladimir's, plus another Novice Blake and a Guardian I didn't recognize. Handing Eddie, Blake and I a map each, he opened the tent flap and gestured us outside.

I was pleased Eddie and I were working together. As well as being good company, he was actually a good student and would be a fine Guardian once he graduated. Blake, I was not so thrilled about. Known for being a smart ass, and a bit lazy, I wasn't convinced he'd be an asset to the team.

Quickly surveying the terrain map, we could see we'd been allocated a large area to the east of the campsite. Working out the front and rear guards, we started a slow but steady trek towards our region. Eddie was leading, studying the map and using a compass to guide us. It took quite a few hours to get to our territory, and once inside, he was keeping an eye out for a suitable place to stop for the evening. I was in the middle, directing the 'Moroi' and collecting thin, supple branches I'd use later to make traps to try and catch food. At the rear, Blake was collecting dry wood and tinder as we'd need to make a fire.

True to their role as Moroi, the Guardians were moving at an irritatingly slow pace. While Moroi are typically tall and lean, they don't do anywhere near as much physical training as Novices and Guardians – so on a trek like this, you would expect them to be slower and probably needing to stop way before Guardians would. Thinking about the distance we'd already traveled, I slowed to ask my mother and the other two 'Moroi' how they were going.

"Tired – we'll need to stop, soon," Mike said. Mom said nothing, but I did catch an approving look in her eyes, and she jotted something down in a notebook she had in her jacket. Think I just scored a point, I thought happily.

Signaling to Eddie with a low whistle, we quickly conferred about needing to find a place to stop sooner rather than later. It was just starting to drizzle, so that was making it more imperative, too. Looking up the hillside, we could see a copse of pine trees another five minute walk away. If we camped in the tree line, we would have some protection from the wind and rain, and it would also make setting up easier as we could tie our canvas sheeting to the trees rather than digging in tent pegs. Showing the trees to the 'Moroi' and Blake, I explained that we'd be stopping for the night there.

Arriving at the trees, we discovered our plan had a lot of merit. Setting up camp amongst the first few lines of trees on the downwind side meant we could use the grove as a very effective windbreak. While it didn't make us any warmer, it was certainly a lot more comfortable. The canopy of the trees also worked quite well protecting us from the worst of the rain and keeping our camp obscured. We'd easily see anyone approaching from the three unwooded sides, whereas they'd have to be quite close before they'd notice us.