218 Lake View

Since I went to bed later than the others, I was the last one to wake in the camp. When I opened my eyes, no one was in the tent. From outside the tent came the sound of sizzling as something is being cooked. In addition, there was the sound of footsteps as well as eating utensils being set. Slowly from drowsiness, I freed myself from my sleeping bag and sat up. I rubbed my eyes and yawned before turning my head in the direction of the tent's exit. It was unzipped, allowing some of the sunlight outside to spray in from the outside world.

I crawled over to my backpack containing a clothing that I had packed for this trip and changed into the navy blue long-sleeve T-shirt and black pants. After putting on socks, I finished wearing my shoes and mobilized over to the exit of the tent and left the enclosure with a toothbrush and toothpaste in my hands and a towel draped over my shoulder. The sun outside was rather bright, hurting my eyes somewhat and forcing me to squint and block out the sunlight with a raised arm.

"Look who's awake?" Erith grinned and said with her hands on her waist when she saw me leave the tent.

"Good morning," Luna smiled and greeted me. With her white hair tied in a knot ponytail, she sat on the grass while wearing a light turquoise dress held up by straps on her shoulders.

"Morning," I yawned as I started walking over to the restroom to brush my teeth.

I glanced over from the corner of my eye and was surprised to see that the smile on her countenance had disappeared. In its place was a rather...mysterious expression. A half-frown almost. However, it was definitely an expression that seemed rather conflicted. Maybe it has something to do with our conversation last night?

"Morning," I yawned as I started walking over to the restroom to brush my teeth

***

The day went on as originally planned out by the others. After eating breakfast, we went on with the plan to hike up the mountain to the summit if permitted by the weather. As of earlier today, the weather was alright and suitable for this hike. Therefore, we all went on this hike. It was a rather peaceful and boring hike, but it was rather refreshing to be able to see the canopy of the forest from where we were and not be surrounded by the titanic skyscrapers in Palisia. However, in the distance, we could see the outline of the Palisia skyline, so I guess we're not truly free from them just yet.

Because hiking had led to sweating, the girls all opted to take a shower and change into fresh clothing, which I do not blame them for. When we finished with the hike, it was rather late. It was too late to eat lunch, and it was too early to eat dinner just yet. Therefore, we just had a quick meal of sandwiches to satisfy our hunger and pushed the time of dinner into later in the day. After eating, we were given free time to roam and do as we pleased until dinner time.

Mura, Muria, and Irina went off down the mountain to where the more tourist attraction sites were. To do what, I do not know since I wasn't in the vicinity when they announced where they were headed. As for the rest of us that remained at our campsite, Noah suggested that we explore off trail of the mountain. Based on his energy level, it was impossible to see his former depressed self that suffered from knowing that he had lost his powers.

"Let's do that," Loyd nodded. "As long as we don't stray too far from the trial, it should be a pretty good experience."

"I don't wanna go," Erith shook her head. "It's gonna be so tiring. I'm already tired from hiking earlier today."

"Quit being such a wuss," Noah mocked her. "Even Alvelyn would go."

"Me?" Alvelyn appeared quite surprised. "When did I—"

"Come on," Noah said, grabbing both Alvelyn and Erith by their wrists. "Let's go!"

"Wait!" Erith shouted and struggled. "Is Luna coming?"

"I don't see her around," Zaksus commented as he looked around the campsite.

"She probably went to the restroom," Noah said as he dragged the two girls along. "Alevian, take her and catch up with us when she's back."

Then, the group disappeared as they went down the trial and made a left to go off-road in the forest. I stood there motionlessly as I squinted and gazed at where they had just disappeared from.

Does that count as kidnapping? Just taking someone into the forest when they said they don't wanna go... I guess that's none of my business.

I turned around and walked towards my tent. I grabbed my backpack and reached into it for something that I had brought for this occasion. I exited the tent with the hammock net in my hands and looked around to pick out a pair of suitable trees.

"Like the hell I would follow them," I grinned as I finished tying and setting up the hammock. With a leap, I got on the hammock and relaxed my body, allowing my weight to be supported by the hammock. This was something that I had always wanted to try out before, but I was never the type of guy and will never be the type of guy who would go into the mountains on my own or just set up a hammock in the park.

I closed my eyes and enjoyed the cool temperature provided by the umbrage of the trees. From the gaps between the leaves, warm rays of the sunlight sprayed onto my body, but luckily for me, they avoided my face such that I was able to warmed by just the right amount. The hammock was already comfortable enough with the temperature being just right, but when it is combined with the fact that there was a perfect ambiance audio in the gentle breezes making the leaves on the tree branches to rustle and the chirping of the song birds, this just completed the equation for a perfect afternoon nap.

I closed my eyes and allowed the wind to take me. I allowed myself to become part with nature as I relaxed both my body and my mind. I felt as if I had been here, laying still in this hammock ever since the beginning of time. It was rather tranquilizing, a mental spa that I needed to escape from the stressful and fast-paced city life. Rarely would I truly have a moment to relax in such a beautiful and relaxing location, so because of this rarely acquired comfort, I quickly fell into a state of slumber.

***

When I opened my eyes once again, the sun was on its way down. The sky was dyed a color of orange as the dying sun cast its last rays of brilliance, as if showing off to the world that despite it's waning state, it still has plenty of power left in its reserves. Alright, who am I kidding? The sun is just setting, and no way is it dying. It's just saying goodbye to us as the world rotates.

With my need for sleep fulfilled, I hopped down from the hammock and began taking it down. This was a rather pleasant experience so I am keeping the hammock, just in case sometime in the future I will have another opportunity to use it again. The others seemed to not have returned as of yet. Mura, Muria, and Irina I am not worried about. Noah, Loyd, Zaksus, Erith, and Alvelyn I am somewhat worried about. However, since I can still sense a normal feeling from Alvelyn's part in my mind, I suppose I have nothing to worry about. That then leaves the question of Luna. Where is she?

After placing the hammock into my backpack, I began looking around for her, checking the campsite for any notes or anything like that. I looked everywhere. From the foldable table to the girls' tents. I didn't dig through their stuff or anything. All I did was just unzipped the entrance and peering in to see if she had left a note in an obvious spot. However, there was nothing. I checked my phone, hoping to see if I am able to call her. However, I was greeted by the fact that I am not receiving service here. This is rather odd as I was receiving service earlier in the day, but I suppose since I am in the mountains, I really cannot expect consistent service.

"Is Luna with you?" I asked Alvelyn using my mind, hoping that out connection is strong enough so that I am able to communicate with her from this distance.

"No," Alvelyn soon responded. "Is she missing?"

"I'll go look for her," I told Alvelyn. "Don't act weird or anything around them."

"I know," Alvelyn responded.

After cutting our channel of communication, I began looking around outside the campsite as well.

Now, where would she be? I asked myself that question as I walked at a brisk pace while following the trail and looking side to side. Based on my understanding of Luna, and based on that expression I saw earlier this morning, she must not be far. Rather, she is close, but in a secluded spot. Somewhere that is quiet and peaceful, somewhere she wouldn't be disturbed. Then that eliminates anywhere that a trail would lead to.

"Damn it," I muttered to myself as I forced myself to walk off-trail and into the forest. The direction that I was walking in was towards the lake as that is the only quiet and peaceful spot that I know of around here with the other one being the summit of the mountain. However, I doubt Luna would hike up the mountain again.

I continued my search through the forest, looking around while closing in the distance to the lake. After about five minutes, I finally reached the lake. I had taken the route that I believe Luna would take, and as expected, I found her at the end of it. Sitting on the grass with her long, white hair down and while hugging onto her thighs with the setting sun in the distance shining its rays onto the lake's surface who sparkled and reflected that orange light, she looked over at me. Her gaze was rather soft and weak in nature as she took in the sight of the intruder of her palace of solitude. A gentle gust of wind blew by, moving the willow leaves behind her, causing them to dance in the breeze.