The Infected [1]

14. Campfires and a wolf

A sudden jolt brought me awake from my sleep. The sound of doors opening and slamming shut caught my attention. I groaned and peeled open my eyes. I was still inside the car so we haven't arrived yet. Although, we weren't moving. "What's going on?",I asked, my voice raspy.

"We ran out of gas and Jeff nearly hit a tree.",Jay explained.

That explains the interruption of my sleep.

"Where's Jeff now?",I asked again.

"Refueling the car with Andrew.",he answered.

I glanced around the car and saw that Mark was snoring lightly next to Jay. How in the world could he sleep through something like that?

Jeff and Andrew soon entered the car. "Well that sucked.",Jeff commented idly as if he didn't just almost crashed the car and risked our freaking lives. Maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration since a car crash probably wouldn't be enough to kill us. But still, I don't feel like car-crashing after the last time.

The car drove off once again. I looked outside the window and much to my delight, the sun was starting to retire for the day. I always loved watching sunsets and their gradient colors. It gives me a sense of calmness. No artist could possibly capture the beauty of a sunset.

The sunset also meant that we need to camp for the night as well. Neither of us have hunted yet and we're probably going to have to hunt for Mark and Andrew.

"Hey Jeff, turn at that dirt path. That path should lead into a clearing.",Mark informed.

Jeff nodded and made a turn. Soon after, we entered a pretty large clearing surrounded by gigantic spruce trees. A desolate fire pit stood in the middle. This must have been a camping spot before.

"Okay, we don't have much time before it's dark. Let's get moving.",Andrew said.

I opened the door and went to the back of the car. I popped open the trunk and took my backpack and the light blue freezer. I jogged over to the fire pit and placed the freezer next to it.

Andrew came with the tent and a couple fold up chairs. Jeff brought our food supplies while Mark had the huge bag containing the 'weapons' we all had chosen. Inside the bag were two large kitchen knives, a crowbar, an axe, a sledgehammer, a shovel, and a pan. Yes a freaking pan, that was Mark's weapon of choice. I have no idea what he was thinking when he chose that. And last but not least, Jay brought over our sleeping bags and pillows. All of us also carried a backpack each to carry our own stuff.

I took the folded chairs from Andrew and began to unfold them one by one. "Let me help you with that.",Mark offered.

"Thanks.",I replied.

I handed him a chair or two and watched in amusement as he struggled to unfold them. "Do you even know how to unfold them?",I chuckled.

"Nope. Thought that I might make myself useful and I can't even unfold chairs.",he sighed sadly.

"You could help Andrew set up the tents.",I suggested. His eyes lit up and he immediately went over to Andrew to help him.

20 minutes later.......

I stalked through the trees,searching where the deer could have been. I had scented it not too long ago when I was looking for branches to put into the fire pit. I had hunted with Jay and Jeff before but I offered to hunt for Mark and Andrew.

Suddenly, I heard yips and barks coming from a bush behind me. I tested the air and it doesn't smell familiar. I walked towards the bush warily and reached in. I could feel soft fur and a wet nose sniffing out my hands. I wasted no time and grabbed whatever animal it was.

I could not believe my eyes. It was a grey colored wolf pup. It's big eyes stared back up at me and it began licking my hand. It's mother must be out there somewhere looking for it but it's scent is the only one in this forest. I think it's say that I can keep it.

"I'm going to name you....Storm. What do you think?",I asked her. (Yes it's a She)

She stared at me for a moment before tipping happily. I hugged her close to me and went back to the clearing.

Wait, how am I going to explain this to the others?