“Right that’ll do nicely, thank you” Bob said as the blue hour of night descended. “Showers are over there, plenty of hot water; this place is largely ‘off grid’ these days, hang fire and I’ll get you a couple of towels - take any clothes you need from the shop”
“He is a nice man. A gentle giant huh?” Wren whispered, as they worked their way through the hiking gear. Archie found a dark blue jumper and waterproof jacket, grey hiking trousers and black boots with red laces which he placed gently within an oversized backpack.
Wren opted to also put her new clothing items into Archie’s backpack, black waterproof jacket and sheepskin jumper, dark green combat trousers and a similar pair of hiking boots to Archie.
“What are you doing?” She said, noticing Archie scribbling away in a small notebook he’d found near the counter.
“Writing down everything we’ve borrowed and it’s price, we’ll pay them back when we can”
The bell rang as Bob bustled through the door with two large towels bundled under his arms. He made his way behind the counter and after some shuffling around between boxes, popped up with a small hamper of toiletries. Archie and Wren really were getting set for a life out in the wilderness.
As they made their way across the campsite to the separate block of showers and toilets, Maureen appeared at the entrance to their nearest Yurt.
“Hi, sorry for not coming out earlier, but I’ve made you both a pot of tea and laid out some snacks, I bet you’re hungry…. You can use this Yurt… it has two beds, or even take separate yurts if you prefer” Maureen called out, her voice shaky with age and nerves. She stood, leant heavily on an emerald green, metal walking stick. Her hair was a mix of different shades of silver and grey, her skin hung loose on a frail frame, time taking its toll on her, much more than it had Bob.
After introducing themselves and some small talk, which continued until dark, Archie and Wren had insight into the lives of their generous hosts.
Maureen was seventy five and had spent her life as a nurse, retiring at fifty and spending the last twenty five years helping Bob in the garden, playing chess, sudoku and carefully managing their retirement nest egg; which included buying, building and sustaining the campsite. Bob on the other hand, was seventy and had spent his early years in the Navy, before pivoting to the life of a handyman, a jack of all trades and many talents. He had spent the last twenty years ‘retired’ with Maureen at the campsite - he was grateful for something to keep him busy, fit and agile.
“Your tea will get cold, go shower and enjoy your evening, Bob and I will catch you in the morning, maybe we all could have breakfast together”
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“That sounds wonderful” Wren cried out, wrapping Maureen in a hug that took her by surprise
“very… very well dear” Maureen replied awkwardly as Wren had her arms wrapped around her.
Chuckling, Bob turned on his heel and walked towards his house “good night”
***
The handle squealed as Archie turned it. Lifting his face upwards, closing his eyes and walking into the hot steaming shower, he let out a huge sigh. He stood, motionless, breathing deeply as the water washed over him. Silently he stood there, processing the day. Now he was here, he had no other plans beyond trying to understand what had happened to himself and Wren, how were these abilities made possible and what state of affairs was the world in… was his family safe?
Through the vent in the ceiling he could hear Wren next door, she was crying and whispering to herself to ‘hold it together’. Archie did not want to let her down, right now in this world of unknowns and variables, she was his only constant.
The escape from reality was welcomed and needed. Archie sat in the Yurt, sipping tea and trying his hardest not to eat all of the chocolate biscuits and cake Maureen had kindly left for them. Eventually, Wren emerged, her hair wrapped in a thick white towel; both of them wearing their new camping outfits.
After their tea was drunk, food eaten the events of the day hit them. It was only 9pm now but they were exhausted, both unable to stop yawning. They agreed it was best to wrap themselves deeply in their sleeping bags, turn out the fairy lights and get to sleep.
***
Around 10:00 pm a wolf howled, Archie and Wren were in such deep sleeps, neither of them stirred to the danger.
“I have to go Maureen”
“It’s too dangerous Bob, I can’t lose you” Maureen said, a cigarette hanging from her mouth as she peered over her thick brown-rimmed spectacles - the ends of which were connected around her neck by faux plastic pearls that glistened in the dim light of her office.
Maureen was hunched over in a chair reviewing the campsite security monitors, strategically hidden, they were safe and well out of reach from danger.
”I can’t let them die, without even trying to save them” Bob said bluntly , shortly after he walked over and warmly placed his hand on Maureen’s shoulder. “I don’t want blood on your hands, it doesn’t wash” he paused “no matter how hard you try”.
Glancing back at the monitor Maureen sat upright “then we go together, I won’t stay in this world without you”. The screen showed five wolves sniffing around the campsite, dangerously close to the yurt that had two large pieces of prey, blissfully sleeping and unaware of the danger.
Bob grabbed his hunting rifle and stormed through a narrow corridor, up some stairs and emerged into his garden. He moved at pace, not wanting Maureen to be involved in any way. She was too stubborn to let him convince her to stay in safety, he knew that. Hopefully with a single shot these beasts would disperse.
“I don’t bloody know how these things got here” he muttered under his breath “but they ain’t stayin’ ” .
As he rounded the corner, he realised these were no ordinary wolves. Their necks arched forwards, almost hunched. Their fur was a brilliant snow white, heavily contrasting with bright, solid red eyes. Most worryingly, they were at least twice the size of what he had expected and their mouths were drooling with hunger.
Bob lay down and waited for his shot, aiming steadily at the largest of the pack. Maureen had gently unlocked the back door of the house and whispered to him “escape plan”.