The forest was alive with the kind of noise that only spring can bring. The sun streamed through the trees as the birds on their outstretched limbs sang a warm weather song. Brother and sister Gilbert and Sarah Walters walked beneath the wooden limbs on one of their usual hikes in the forest near their West Virginia home. The siblings had a long history of deep love for their family and nature. The Walters family had lived in West Virginia for the past nine generations and had laid deep routes in the state and its mountains. "Sarah, did you bring the granola we got from the gas station? My stomach is dying" Gilbert said. "Yeah give me a sec, it's in my bag." Sarah stopped next to a tall oak and set her green hiking pack down, flipped open the top and pulled out a quart size plastic bag. "There ya go" Sarah said tossing the bag to Gilbert. "Thanks sis. You have any idea for where you wanna set up for tonight?" "Well, Green Rock Mountain is about six miles away, so we could head that way. It'll take about two and a half hours to get there and by then the sun will start setting. We can get there and start setting up the tent, make a fire, the usual stuff ya know." The two continued their walk through the forest and on to Green Rock Mountain.
The siblings reached the top of the mountain at 6:45 in the evening and began looking for a clearing to set up camp in. They found one on the edge of the mountain, a perfect spot at which to watch the sunset that night and the sunrise in the morning. The ground was covered with tree roots, green looking rocks (hence the name Green Rock Mountain), and patches of grass. Large strong trees surrounded their circle. Sarah walked over to the edge of the clearing as Gilbert searched out the ground for a smooth spot to plant a tent, he found none. "There isn't really a good spot for a tent anywhere, but we do have some good trees to set up hammocks in." "Okay, I like hammocks more anyway. Plus the weather is supposed to be nice tonight. I'll set up the hammocks and you can make the fire" Sarah replied. "Works for me." Gilbert slung off his pack and found a spot to start the fire, "Hey, how does it feel to be an upcoming senior?" Gilbert asked his sister. The two had finished school the previous week, it was Gilbert's final year of high school and his sister's junior year. "It's kinda nice. I'm so close to the end but it's still a year away. That's another year to spend with friends, another year I get to learn." "Another year you get to spend trying to date Austin Stern" Gilbert replied with a grin. "Okay, okay. Listen, I liked him in the past, but I'm putting that behind me and I'm gonna focus on academics this year, I need to do well on the ACT, college isn't free." Sarah told Gilbert as red ran into her cheeks and a slight smile slipped onto her face. "Whatever, you say little sis" Gilbert chuckled, "I've got the fire ready, what do you want for dinner, mac and cheese with meat chunks or the lasagna?" "Oh, the lasagna sounds good!" Sarah exclaimed. "Cool, I'll take the mac" Gilbert said. "Hey speaking of college, are you still planning on going to the technical school?" Sarah asked. "Yeah, that's the plan. I'll keep working Brentson construction at least til the fall when I start, after that I will probably have to stay to keep myself in school." The siblings continued talking for a couple hours into the night and then they settled into their hammocks for what they expected to be a peaceful night's sleep.
