Matilda, Child of Fire

MMV: Taniwha in Albert Town

4 MMV: Taniwha in Albert Town

"Oh, I got a plan, well you don't understand/I was alone, all I had was just me and myself/And I did it/And nobody's been this/Now you want in"

–Stan Walker, New Takeover

7 am, Week 2, Albert Town Campground, 9382, New Zealand

The canoe's weight was causing Matilda's arms to ache, quiver, and nearly give out, as she staggered about, attempting to follow behind Wyatt's form uphill, his own canoe deftly hoisted under one arm. How the hell was he doing that? she wondered, feeling as though both of her arms were about to detach from the rest of her body, akin to a Mr. (or Mrs.) Potato Head figurine toy.

From what she knew of the crimson water-borne weather-resistant object, it was supposed to weight up to 75 pounds, was made of fiberglass and/or aluminum, and was manufactured in the local athletic goods factory two towns over. She considered it a boon to the local economy, but silently wondered whether they couldn't have added a lightweight charm to make it virtually weightless, so she didn't have to struggle nearly so much.

Her clipboard was in her waterproof drawstring knapsack, along with a keto-friendly, gluten-free granola bar, her BPA-free water bottle, chopped celery sticks with a tiny container of crunchy peanut butter, and a packet of trail mix. Matilda wondered when they were getting to the more fun aspects of camping—the s'mores, the sing-alongs, the blazing warmth of a fire—then realized all of those activities were largely evening ones in the company of others. As it stood, it was way too early in the day to be conscious, let alone fully-functional, and the only conversation companion she had was a beach-blond surfer lookalike, kind personality notwithstanding.

"Y'alright Val?" Wyatt laid his canoe on the sandy ground and looked behind his shoulder over at Matilda. Val, his nickname for her due to her last name, Valensi.

"Um—" Matilda began, then suddenly tripped and fell backward. Wyatt orbed behind her to break her fall, catching her canoe in his other hand, as she tumbled into his embrace. Her eyes met his, and for a seemingly infinitesimal moment, their breaths hitched as they felt an unexpected surge of tingling and...chemistry? Matilda yanked herself free of him and dusted off her shorts. "I'm fine, Wyatt," she stated brusquely, as she traversed the next half meter uphill, which then plateaued to a slow-moving, winding body of azure water.

"Whatever you say, Valensi," he replied, repressing the urge to roll his eyes at her stubbornness, as he followed her to the edge of the water, secretly admiring her unusual coppery curling tresses that adorned her head and flowed well past her shoulders.

7:30 am, Albert Town Campground, 9382, New Zealand

Mid-way through the canoeing expedition, Matilda stood up to admire the scenic view, and shake off a particularly fierce mosquito that had found a way to bite her knee three times in the past few minutes. She removed a flip-flop, making as though to swat at the insect, but the resulting rocking of the boat caused her to lose her footing, as her slipper flew through the air and sank beneath the frigid water. "Ugh, fuck me," she grumbled to herself, trying to turn her oar backwards so the handlebar could lift the flip-flop. After several attempts, she gave up.

7:32 am, Albert Town Campground, 9382, New Zealand

"Looking for this?" she turned around and saw Wyatt dangling her flip-flop in her direction, inadvertently whacking her in the chest, splashing her with water. "Oh, whoops, sorry," he said apologetically, as Matilda glared at him, ripped the slipper off the oar, and put it on her foot once more.

After several quiet minutes, Matilda spoke up. "Why are we scouting this place out, anyways? It seems pretty safe for campers—magical or not—"