Chapter 37 – Stralia
Time skip to June 1989
[Main POV]
Sometimes, I wonder why I do things.
We could be relaxing in my private pool. We could be go-karting. We could be trampolining.
These were some of my ideas for my date with Artemis. But no. Instead, I went with going to hell on earth. Australia.
Camping in Australia seemed like a good idea. My plan was for us to go bushwalking in the outback. Hopefully, we'd run into some kangaroos or koalas. Afterwards, we'd have a small campfire dinner before finishing off the first day with some stargazing.
The next day we'd make our way to the coast and enjoy a few days of fishing, swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and other beach activities.
The whole point of this trip was for a 'No Powers Nature Retreat,' which meant not using our powers unless there was an emergency.
Unfortunately, my trip wasn't going well. During our hike, I saw a koala and got excited. This strengthened the power of the sun (during an already hot summer), leading to a small wildfire. While I was fixing that situation, a pack of dingoes approached Artemis and begged her for our hot dogs. Needless to say, we lost our dinner.
.
It was still day one, and Artemis and I were currently setting up our camp. I was in charge of the fire, and she was setting up the tent.
I looked at the flint and steel pieces I was supposed to use to light the fire. Checking to make sure no one was looking, I flicked my hand towards the pit I created, lighting up all the sticks I had collected.
"How's it going?" I heard from behind me.
Turning around I found myself face to face with Artemis, who was standing an inch away from me.
Jumping a few steps back, I looked over her shoulder and saw that the tent had already been set up. I also noticed her looking at my fire.
"You're done already?!" both of us asked simultaneously.
"Did you use your powers?" she asked me.
"Nope!" I said a little too quickly. "Totally did not. No ma'am. I made this fire with this flint and stone – I mean steel."
I took a closer look at the tent. Every nail was hammered perfectly. The structure was symmetrical, and even the cots were laid out.
"Did you use your powers to set up the tent?"
"What?" she asked as she looked away. "I did not. I did everything by hand."
"And it took you 20 seconds to do everything?" I asked.
"Um, yup."
"Even the rainfly?" I pressed.
"Yup."
"And you set up the interior in that time as well?"
"I did."
Artemis looked to the side not meeting my eyes. The tension in the air was palpable. You could cut it with a knife. And I didn't like it.
I grabbed my backpack and rifled through it. Finding my bag of marshmallows, I took one out.
"What are you doing?" Artemis asked. "What's that?" she asked when she saw what I had.
"You don't know what this is?" I asked as I held a marshmallow in front of her.
"Nope, never seen it before," she said as she reached for the marshmallow.
I pulled my hand out of reach as I wrapped my hand around the marshmallow. Using my powers, I heated the marshmallow to a golden brown before offering it to her.
She carefully inspected it before inserting it into her mouth.
As she tasted the marshmallow, her eyes watered, and I started hearing opera music.
"This fluffy, pillowy treat is simply irresistible. The moment my teeth sink into its delicate exterior, a burst of pure sweetness floods my senses. It's as if a cloud of pure bliss has descended upon my taste buds. The marshmallow yields effortlessly, surrendering to the gentle pressure, releasing its creamy essence."
Artemis closed her eyes, as a tear fell down her face.
"The texture is like a dream, so airy and light, melting in my mouth. It's as if I'm tasting a piece of heaven—soft, ethereal, and divine. With each nibble, the sugary tendrils dance on my tongue, weaving a symphony of delight.
It's not just the sweetness; there's a subtle hint of vanilla, a delicate whisper that adds depth to the experience. The flavors meld harmoniously, creating a sensation that is pure comfort and joy. Time seems to stand still as I surrender myself to this simple pleasure.
In this moment, nothing else matters. It's just me, this tiny confectionery masterpiece, and a moment of pure indulgence. The taste lingers, like a fond memory I want to savor forever."
"Wow," I stated. "I'm still your boyfriend, right?"
My answer was a kiss that tasted like marshmallow.
"You used your powers, right?" I asked.
Artemis blushed gold before silently nodding her head. Then she gasped.
"You used your powers just now as well! And I bet you did as well with –"
I silenced her with another marshmallow.
.
Lying on a blanket, we continued feeding each other marshmallows while looking at the stars.
Pointing to the northwestern sky, Artemis went full on nerd.
"That one's Ursa Major. In our mythology, it represents the nymph Callisto who was transformed into a bear by Hera."
Shifting to the right, she talked about the constellations there.
"The one over there is Lyra. It's supposed to be Orpheus's lyre, placed there after his death. And the one next to it is Aquarius. He was a Trojan prince taken to Olympus to serve as the cupbearer of the gods. And behind us is…"
I continued to nod. All I saw were shining stars in the night sky. Beautiful, yes, but I didn't quite see all the lines that supposedly connected the dots.
"Apollo? Apollo? Are you listening to me?"
Crap. I wasn't listening.
"Yes Artemis?" I responded.
"You weren't listening, weren't you?" she asked, pouting.
"I'm sorry," I apologized while turning towards her. "It's just that all the stars are outshined by the moon next to me."
"Apollo…" she muttered while blushing. I leaned in to give her a kiss.
"You weren't listening, weren't you?" she asked again.
Damn it.
.
.
.
AN: A 'No Powers Nature Retreat,' is supposed to be their version of a 'No Electronics Nature Retreat.' I went on one with some friends a few weeks ago, and it sucked for the first day. The rest of the week was pretty fun.
I hope y'all are loving this weather. Just wait until it's winter.
But if you can't stand the heat, I heard it'll get more tolerable if you give my story Power Stones.