Treehouse Society (A Waterparks Fanfiction)

1: Treehouses

Awsten's POV

I trudged through the forest, toothbat in tow. Why? Even I didn't really know. I just wanted to go out and walk in the forest with toothbat, so I did. It was chilly, but I didn't mind.

The ground beneath my feet was soft, aside from some crunchy leaves. Trees stretched high above me and the sky was clear and blue. This looked like a woodland Otto could have come from.

Leaves rustled nearby and I stopped. "Otto?" I laughed as I called it out. I stopped laughing, though, when something darted in front of me. I stopped, and so did it. As soon as it stopped moving, I realized it was a person; a kid to be exact. She stared at me with wide, brown eyes and her arms tightened around whatever she was holding. She had dark brown hair tied back in two sloppy braids and was wearing a dirt stained dress, tights, coat, and boots.

We stared at each other for a good couple minutes before a whistle rang out through the air. The girl started slowly backing up.

"Wait, where- who are you?"

"What are you, a cop?"

I blanched. "What? No! I'm the lead singer of a band, my name is Awsten." I stuck my hand out. The girl examined my hand, then shifted what I now realized was a bucket with a lid to one arm and shook it.

"Adalaide. I need to go now." Adalaide continued backing up, looking over her shoulder.

"You live out here?" I followed her. Was there really a house out here? If she would let me, I could probably use a picture of it to further the theory of Otto originating from a magic woodland. Adalaide nodded. "Really, where?"

"Up there." Adalaide pointed up and turned around. "Why?" She started walking a bit faster and looked over her shoulder at me.

I followed her, growing more excited by the moment. "Can I see it? Please?" Adalaide sighed, but nodded. She motioned forward with her hand, then broke into a sprint. I ran after her, trying to ignore the sting of toothbat hitting my shoulder over and over as I ran.

We eventually reached a tree trunk and Adalaide stuck her fingers in her mouth. She let out a sharp whistle and a rope with a wooden platform sat at the bottom dropped to the ground.

"Is Beatrice up there?" Adalaide called up.

"No!"

"You should get her, I have a grown-up with me!" There was a long pause, then another whistle. Adalaide stepped onto the platform and I followed suit. The rope began to ascend and I looked around in awe. Rope bridges, zip lines, and more rope-style elevators interconnected several treehouses. When we reached the top of the "elevator," the platform fit into a small circle in a larger platform that extended outwards. a group of young kids stood around us, as well as a young woman who looked only slightly younger than me. The kids began to talk amongst themselves, while the young woman just stared. Eventually, Adalaide held up her hands and everyone stopped. "This is Awsten. He says he's the lead singer of a band, not a cop."

"Well, Awsten," The young woman stepped forward, eyes on toothbat. "I need to ask you to drop your, uhm,"

"Toothbat."

"Your toothbat." The young woman crossed her arms. I set toothbat against the wall of a treehouse and held my hands up in joking surrender. The young woman rolled her eyes, but I saw what I thought was a hint of a smile on her face. "Thank you. Now, let me guess, you want a tour?"

"Can we do introductions first? I'd feel a bit weird if you knew my name but I didn't know yours." I smiled.

The young woman rolled her eyes again. "I'm Beatrice. You've already met Adalaide," Beatrice turned around and started pointing at other kids as she spoke. "This is Luna, Ember, Davey, Willow, Forrest, Lyla, Melody, Lacey, Elijah, Loralei, Winter, Lilith, Liam, and Noah."

"That's..a lot of kids." I waved awkwardly. "Hi, everyone." A chorus of "hellos" came back at me. I was starting to feel a bit awkward. This was more kids than I was expecting. I love kids, don't get me wrong, but this was a lot. How did Beatrice deal with them all the time?

"So, tour, you coming?"

"Oh, uh, yeah." I shoved my hands in my pockets. I wished Otto and Geoff were with me.

"Alright. You guys get to your chores, head to your rooms when you're done. Lunch might be a bit late." The kids scattered and Beatrice motioned for me to follow her. "We'll have to cross some rope bridges, goes across some ziplines, is that okay?"

"Yeah, yeah!" Beatrice walked towards one of the rope bridges and I followed without being told. We started across the bridge and I quickly noticed that it wasn't quite as steady as I'd thought it would be. It swayed softly from side to side and I gripped the railings tightly.

"Are you alright?" Beatrice glanced at me over her shoulder, grinning at me. Her arms were crossed over her chest. Did she seriously not need to hold on?

"I'm great." I gave a weak smile back. We finally reached the end of the bridge and I saw a circle of picnic tables.

"Mess..hall." Beatrice waved a hand awkwardly and continued. We continued on, going through the kitchen, the "shower" and laundry areas, even a campfire pit, before coming back to what Beatrice called the "loading dock." The kids were still gone. "Well, there you go."

I stopped. "Huh?"

"That was the tour. You can go now."

"Oh. Yeah. Um, can I get your phone number?" Good job, Awsten.

Beatrice cocked her head at me. "I don't have a phone, Awsten."

I forced a laugh. "Oh! Right! No service out here!" Good job, Awsten.

Beatrice laughed a bit. Her laugh was so cute. "Yeah, none. But I like you, Awsten. You're welcome back here, any time."

"Really?" I light up. I'm going to tell Otto, and Geoff, and-

"Under one condition." Beatrice's expression turns serious. "No one, and I mean no one, can know about us. Got it?" I nodded. "Good. Go ahead and get on the dock." I stared at her for a moment before realizing she meant the platform on the rope. I stepped onto it and grabbed the rope. Beatrice lowered the rope, and I slowly waved at her as I went down.