One with The Pack

The Hike

Mac had been the first to awake, to be honest he hadn't quite found it easy to fall asleep. The excitement had kept him up most of the night, imaging every possibility, all of the memories to be made and the inside jokes to be remembered. Kayla had been the second to wake up and had ran immediately to the bathroom, she never liked her morning breath and brushing her teeth had been an absolute first and wouldn't talk until it had been done.
"Afraid you'll kill us with your morning breath" toyed Mac with a slight chuckle toward the end.
"It's happened before, she left me for dead that one time we had a sleep over" said Alexa, she'd finally woken up after hearing Kayla slam the bathroom door.
"It's all fun and games until it actually happens one day, you guys can laugh now but don't complain if you get too close in it's proximity" shouted Kayla in a way that was barely understandable with her mouth full of toothpaste.
"Come on guys I want to explore the city a little before we head out to the hiking area" stated Kayla finally leaving the bathroom.
"Just hold on a bit I'm still debating if I should take my contacts or just leave on my glasses"
"Alexa just take both it's not that difficult" moaned Mac with a growing annoyance. While Kayla was quick to get ready, Alexa took years to even decide if she should curl her lashes.

After wondering about the city, the trio had finally called a taxi to take them near the hiking area.
"Oh no! The sun is already coming down on us, we've spent our entire day waiting for you to get ready only to get us lost on the city" cried Mac, he'd really been looking forward to spending all day hiking while his friends were raining on his parade with other ideas on how to spend the day.
"Well don't blame it all on me, Kayla wanted to explore the city."
And as the voice of reason Kayla tried to ease the tension by staying "Come on guys, were here safe and sound now let's stop with the complaining and let's go make a small round toward top to see the stars Mac keeps wanting to see"

The trees grew thicker toward the top and their bright sun had began to disappear, the Kayla sensed how frightened Alexa was growing so she reached for her bag and pulled out a small book.
"Kayla you have to be careful this time, remember when you tried that spell last week and near burned my eyebrows" Alexa was scared of the woods but was more weary of Kayla magic. Their home town had been growing to be more accepting of magic with every decade that passed by, a town usually had a hand full of witches to help cure light ailments while doctors handled all the more serious cases. Some would also carry tomes that could help a young witch recite and remember spells such as the "light bringer" spell Kayla had been practicing.
"All bright and all is right on this dreary night" recited Kayla. And as the words echoes in the silent forest, sparks began to appear on Kayla's palms and soon a flicker of fire started to grow slowly. It was too small to illuminate their setting but gave them more confidence as it gave them warmth and a clear view of what's up ahead.
"Thank god you still have your eyebrows" exclimated Kayla trying to cheer the anxious Alexa that had her hand around Kayla's arm tightening after the spell had been casted.

The trio followed the barely visible path all huddled together as if joining as one person. Mac had seen glimpses of stars from where one tree ended and another tree began, he'd been happy being here with his two best friends all bundled up, and even happier that one of them was a pretty talented witch. He did have a growing homesick residing on his chest, his mother and father appeared every time he looked up at the sky, he wish they'd been here with him but loved his new independence as well. Maybe next time we can all visit this forest and look at the stars like we used to when I was a little boy. Back in Seattle, it would be routine for Mac and his parents to lay in their back yard during the clear summer nights and just gaze. It was all before his mother had lost her baby one month before her due date in that car accident. Looking at the stars made him think of his little sister and how she would enjoy it as much as him, and even thinks that he sees them every time he could just so he wouldn't forget her.