The Outsider

Bears?

We spent the rest of the day talking, playing games, and helping the girls solve their tasks.

It was getting quite late and we decided to go to sleep. She helped me get into my sleeping bag and set up the lights.

"They didn't bother you last night, did they?" she said when she got into her sleeping bag.

"Nope."

"And thanks for helping me fall asleep."

"Am planning to do the same today."

"You don't have to."

"I want to."

"Alright, then. Also, if your foot hurts during the night wake me-."

We heard some loud noises from the forest.

"What was that?" I asked.

"I don't know."

"Bears?"

"There are no bears here."

"Didn't Joe tell us to be careful?"

"He was probably messing with us."

"What if he wasn't?"

"I have taken professional bear fighting classes, so you have nothing to worry about."

"Haha, I'm suddenly not afraid anymore. No, but, for real, if anything happens, just run. Don't worry about leaving me here. I can't run anyways."

"Never."

She reached out to hold my hand.

I held onto hers and gently squeezed it.

"Good night, Lis."

"Night, Viv."