Chapter 64 - Camping

Somewhere within the 24 hours between Hilda’s announcement of showing them how to make moonwater and the next full moon, the little demonstration turned into a full-blown camping trip. Hilda had shown up that afternoon right after Morrigan and Death pulled into the driveway, having finished reaping for the day. Thankfully, it was a relatively easy day without any difficult cases. Everyone on Morrigan’s list was elderly or sick, which was a scenario she had an easier time dealing with.

Hilda and Emma climbed out of the Jeep, which Morrigan could see through the window was stuffed with backpacks smooshed against the glass. Morrigan walked over, taking note of how Emma scratched behind her ear awkwardly.

“So… what is this all about?” Morrigan asked.

“Figured you guys should have the best experience possible for your first moon harvest!” Hilda explained. Moon harvest is apparently what they called the process of making moonwater. Basically, it wasn’t as much about the water as it was capturing the moon’s energy. The water was just a good vessel to store it in. “I got a great place up in the mountains. The higher altitude with less light and air pollution makes for a better harvest. Plus, it’ll help us get in tune with nature and all that good stuff.”

“Um… I’m not sure,” Morrigan said with a grin. “I mean, I have to work the next day.”

She flinched when she heard Noir’s voice come out of nowhere, then looked down to see him by her feet. “I’ll have the Fates give you reapings for later in the day tomorrow if it is necessary.”

“Well, aren’t you awfully accommodating all of a sudden,” Morrigan said.

His whiskers knitted. “Aren’t I always?”

And so, the three girls and the cat packed into Hilda’s Jeep, and an hour later, they were climbing the Oregon mountains.

“So, ever been camping before?” Hilda asked.

“Not really,” Morrigan answered. The closest she had ever gotten were naps in the graveyard.

“It'll be fun,” Emma assured her. “We brought snacks so we don't need to hunt or fish for food or anything. Just set up camp, hang out, and enjoy nature. Then, when midnight comes around, we can get our witching on!”

Hilda eventually pulled onto a dirt road that veered off the main road, then snaked up the mountain. They bumped along for a while until finding a pull-off with some tire tracks, indicating they were not exactly setting up camp on virgin lands.

“So, have you guys been here before?” Morrigan asked.

“Just me,” Hilda said. “There's this huge boulder up ahead we can sit on while channeling with our water. I come here quite often on full moons. It’s one of the best places around for this.”

She opened the back of the Jeep and started pulling out supplies. Coolers, a small grill, and two tents.

Wait…

Morrigan checked again and saw there were indeed only two tents. She looked at Emma, who had wandered away from the Jeep and was looking around. “Wow, it's really pretty here, Hilda!”

Morrigan scratched under her collar. Unless she was getting her own tent, that would mean she was sharing one with Emma.

It's just like a sleepover…

She had attended a few sleepover parties, so it was no big deal. She had even slept in the same room with Emma before. Except, number one, they were younger. Number two, there were other girls there. Number three, it was a bigger room, not an enclosed space with just the two of them. And number four, they hadn't yet… they hadn't…

What? Exactly?

It's not like they were a couple. The most they'd done is hold hands and go on some walks.

Morrigan sunk her hands into her hoodie pocket and bent into her shoulders more.

Then again, you don't hold hands with someone who's just a friend…

She glanced toward Emma just as Emma was turning around, and they made eye contact for just a second before Morrigan shot her eyes away again.

Crap, why am I anxious now? It's just Emma!

“So you've never been camping before?” Emma asked as she came over.

“Uh yeah. I took naps in the graveyard sometimes. That's probably the closest I got. I guess.” Suddenly she couldn't look at Emma. She hoped she didn't seem too awkward. “So, you've been camping?”

“With Hilda a few times,” Emma said.

Wait, that's right… they are cousins, so they are probably the ones sharing a tent. I'm probably just overthinking this. Should I ask who gets what tent? No… there's no way I can ask that naturally.

“You alright, Morrigan?” Emma asked.

“Uh, yeah, I'm fine.”

Emma continued to stare at her, and Morrigan felt the gaze seeping through her. Then Emma asked, “Tough day at work?”

“Yeah. It usually is,” Morrigan answered. Which was true, but not the only problem she was having right now.

“Hmmm, sucks you can't take the day off tomorrow.”

“Yeah… apparently I need to start worrying about the Reaper police, so no more days off for a while.”

“Reaper police?” Emma asked, turning her head.

“Never mind, it’s just a joke.”

Emma continued to look at her inquisitively, and slightly concerned. But, she ended up letting it go with a smile and walked over to see if Hilda needed anything.

Hilda, with hands on her hips, stared at the assortment of camping supplies that were now scattered behind her Jeep. There were two tents, three backpacks, a small grill and bag of charcoal, a cooler, a mesh bag that seemed to be full of plates, bowls, and silverware, and lastly, a few foldable chairs. “Alright, we should be able to get everything in one trip,” she announced, grabbing a backpack and putting it on, then grabbing the cooler with one hand and managing to get all three chairs under her other arm. “Everyone grab something. We got a short hike to get to my camping spot.”

Morrigan looked up at the sky, noting the lack of cloud coverage and the fact she was wearing a black hoodie. Luckily, most of the hike would be through the woods, but she was already feeling kind of overheated even without the hiking and carrying things part of this little adventure.

They followed Hilda through the trees, moving uphill along a vague path that must have been maintained more by wild animals using it than human intervention. Morrigan carried a tent which was folded into a bag and surprisingly light, and the mesh bag over her other arm. Emma put the bag of charcoal inside the grill and managed to carry the other tent and the grill all at once.

As the hike wore on, Morrigan quickly felt the heat of the day and asked, “So, how long before we get there?”

“Twenty minutes, maybe,” Hilda answered.

Morrigan looked around. She wondered if there was really a point. After all, if they were sleeping outside, did it really matter where exactly?

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She shrugged off the thought, adjusting the backpack on her shoulders. The cool forest air helped a bit, but she could still feel the warmth seeping through her hoodie. She trudged along, keeping her eyes on the path and trying not to think too much about the sleeping arrangements.

As they hiked, the forest grew denser, and the sounds of nature enveloped them. Birds chirped, leaves rustled, and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot echoed through the trees. The serene environment helped Morrigan relax a bit, and she found herself enjoying the hike more than she had expected.

Finally, they arrived at Hilda’s chosen campsite. It was a small clearing surrounded by tall pines, with a large, flat boulder in the center.

“This is it!” Hilda announced, setting down the cooler and dropping her backpack. “Home sweet home! For the night, anyway!”

Emma looked around, her eyes wide with excitement as she set down the grill and tent. “Wow, how did you find this place?”

“Mom took me here a bunch of times. It’s where she first taught me about moon harvesting.”

Emma ran over to the boulder and climbed on top of it, then let out an audible, “Woooooah…” She then turned to Morrigan. “Come up here! Take a look at this view!”

Hilda smirked and put a hand on her hip as she watched Morrigan set everything down, then go to join Emma on the boulder.

It rose to about neck height, so Morrigan had to find a foothold, but it was easy enough to get up once she did. Emma gave her a hand to help her stand, then as soon as Morrigan’s eyes caught the horizon, she couldn’t look away.

The view from the top was breathtaking. Below them, the dense forest stretched out in a vast sea of green waves, the treetops swaying gently in the evening breeze. The sun hung over a distant snow-capped mountain, and a river wound its way through the valley.

“Wow,” Morrigan said. “I’ve never seen a view like this before.”

Emma beamed. “I know, right? It’s like we’re on top of the world! I think that’s Mount Hood in the distance.”

“Must be. I don’t think there are any other mountains that big near here.”

Hilda joined them on the boulder, looking pleased. “Yup, that’s Mount Hood. That wouldn’t be a bad place for a moon harvest either. The higher the altitude, the better. Except it’s a longer drive and too many tourists.”

“I can’t believe you never took me here before, Hilda!” Emma said.

“Well, I brought you here now, didn’t I?” Hilda grinned. “But I’m glad you like it. Just wait until it gets dark. We’ll get a couple of hours after sunset with no moon, and the stars are amazing.” She then pointed over the horizon. “The moon will eventually rise right about there. Probably close to midnight.”

“How do you know that?” Emma asked.

“If you want to be a witch, study a little astrology.” She winked. “There’s a reason ancient people were so good at mapping and measuring the stars. They understood the energies that were available. Did you know the placement of the Egyptian pyramids was based on astrology?”

“I think I heard something about that before,” Morrigan answered. “Are you saying they were meant to harness magic?”

“Of course. I mean, nobody really knows for sure what was going on back then, but we do know witches and wizards were around, so it wouldn’t surprise me. There have always been mages among humans.” Hilda hopped down from the boulder. “But let’s get camp set up. I’ll continue my history lesson after dinner.”

***

Hilda had Emma and Morrigan gather firewood from the surrounding area. Morrigan felt the heat of the day finally building up on her where she couldn’t stand to keep the hoodie on any longer. She was relying on the seal to keep the demon flesh under control, but it hadn’t really been acting up today, so she unzipped it, then slipped it off her shoulders and tied it around her waist.

Emma turned to her and grinned, Morrigan once again letting her eyes sink to the side. “I was wondering if you were getting hot in that thing.”

“Yeah, a little,” she said as she pulled the sleeves into a tight knot. “I’ll just put it back on if I have any problems.”

Emma crouched down and started collecting sticks off the ground near a tree. “So, has the demon flesh acted up at all lately?”

“Kind of. Sometimes I feel it trying to push free…” Morrigan then felt that bubbling sensation on her back and gritted her teeth. Emma looked at her with concern. “Let's talk about something else. It acts up more when I acknowledge it.”

“Gotcha. So…” Emma let out a sigh. “So, does Noir always hang around you?”

Morrigan crouched as she noticed a spot with a good number of sticks. “More or less. Unless he’s got something else to do one day and I’m reaping with Death.” She looked around, wondering where he had gotten off to. He disappeared once they were inside the Jeep, but she knew he was still around.

“So, what’s up with that? Is he like… your babysitter or handler or something?”

“Kind of feels like that sometimes.” Morrigan then raised her voice. “Noir. Want to chime in?”

Noir appeared from behind a nearby tree, padding over gracefully. “I prefer to think of myself as a guide, not a babysitter,” he said with a dignified flick of his tail. “And last time you were left alone, you stole Death’s truck and disappeared for a week. So forgive me for being less lenient with supervising you.” He sat down and gave Morrigan a stern look.

“Yeah, well… I had my reasons.”

Emma chuckled. “Hey, Noir helps you out too though, right? Like, you made it possible for her to come camping with us tonight. I don’t really get it, but I guess you can control her schedule?”

“My kind can exist on multiple planes,” Noir explained. “Reapers cannot. They are tied here to the mortal realm. Thus, my kind are crucial in communication with those who exist elsewhere and oversee the balancing of order.”

“To put it simply,” Morrigan added. “Divine intervention has decreed he has the right to boss me around.”

Emma laughed. “Well, it’s not like you have to listen to him all the time.”

“Oh, believe me,” Noir’s tail flicked. “She doesn’t.”

Emma grinned, tossing another stick into her pile. “I can imagine. Still, it’s kind of cool having a talking cat around, even if he’s a bit bossy.”

Morrigan shrugged, a faint smile on her lips. “You can have him if you want.”

As they continued to gather sticks, their conversation moved onto more mundane topics, and Noir disappeared into the shadows once again. Morrigan and Emma continued gathering sticks, chatting about lighter topics as they worked, occasionally heading back to camp to dump them in a pile as Hilda worked on setting up the tents. After several armloads, Hilda finally said, “Alright, that’s enough. Someone help me with the bigger tent; it’s a bit of a pain.”

“I gotcha,” Emma said as she went over to lend a hand. Morrigan still hadn’t clarified who would get what tent, but she was feeling a little calmer about it now. She exhaled, feeling embarrassed with herself. Why had she been so nervous in the first place?

She stretched her arms as she wandered around to the other side of the boulder and leaned her back against it. Even from the lower vantage point, the view wasn’t too bad. She felt a cool breeze coming up the canyon and blowing on her face and hair. With dusk settling in, she figured she could put her hoodie back on shortly.

As she stood there enjoying the view, she noticed a bit of movement in the corner of her eye and looked down to see Noir.

“Morrigan, look over there,” he said with a sense of urgency in his tone.

“Over…” she started scanning the scenery, then saw what he was referring to. Four or five white figures were moving quickly through the trees. As she squinted her eyes, she saw they were spirits of several different animals.

“Spirits?” Morrigan whispered, her eyes widening as she watched the ethereal forms darting through the trees. “What are they doing here?”

Noir’s tail flicked. “They seem agitated. This is unusual behavior for animal spirits.”

Morrigan’s curiosity mingled with concern. “Should we do something?”

Noir tilted his head, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “Yes, but cautiously.”

Just then, Emma appeared from the other side of the boulder, having finished helping Hilda with the tent. Emma was smiling, but her expression quickly changed to one of confusion when she saw Morrigan’s intense focus on the trees.

“Morrigan, what’s going on?” Emma asked, glancing in the direction Morrigan was looking.

“There are animal spirits moving through the trees,” Morrigan explained, pointing toward them. Emma looked where she had pointed but then looked back at her, confused.

“Emma will not be able to see them, Morrigan,” Noir said.

“Oh yeah,” Morrigan said. “Well, Noir says they are agitated.”

“What do you think caused it?” Emma asked.

“It could be a number of things,” Noir said. “But it is none of your concern. Morrigan and I will go investigate. You should return to Hilda.”

“No fair!” Emma said. “You’re making it sound like it’s something dangerous, so I’m coming with.”

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it,” Morrigan said, summoning her scythe. “It’s my job, after all.”

Hilda popped up behind Emma and saw Morrigan’s scythe out. “Hmmm, what’s all this now?”

“Agitated spirits,” Emma said.

“I see. Guess we should investigate,” Hilda concluded.

Noir’s tail flicked. “No, you two stay here, and Morrigan and I will investigate. This is the business of reapers, not witches.”

Hilda crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at Noir. “We may be witches, but we’re not helpless. Besides, I’ve been coming here for years. Agitated spirits in our territory are our business.”

Emma nodded vigorously. “Exactly!”

Noir’s voice dropped to a growl. “Morrigan and I are more than capable of—”

“Yeah, I’m sure you are, but Morrigan’s just a kid. What kind of responsible adult would I be to just let her off doing something dangerous under my watch?”

“I’m sure my aid will be more than enough,” Noir insisted. “Now, enough of this nonsense, Morrigan, let’s—”

“This way, right?” Hilda asked, already moving ahead.

Morrigan couldn’t help but grin. “Uh, yeah, I’ll let you know if I see anything,” she said, jogging after her.

Emma stuck her tongue out at Noir. “Sorry, looks like you’re out numbered.” She then ran to catch up with the other two girls.

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