Chapter 10

ASHLEY BAOK

One Year Ago

Sunday

Dear Diary,

I heard once that journaling can be fun. It can be a way to process feelings. So I decided to give it a go, give it a shot, see what I think of it. Not like anything bad can come of it, you know?

Don't tell anyone I said this, but I think Kristin is more excited about this whole Silverlight Forest Protection Unit thing than he's saying. I think I've finally gotten him to agree. I mean, we both want to do something to 'change the world' and all of that jazz. Helping to protect Silverlight Forest (I always thought Pocket Forest was more fun though. Maybe I'll just call it that). Fine, you've convinced me, Diary. Helping to protect Pocket Forest is a way we can change the world. Besides, living in the forest sounds like fun. Who wouldn't want to live in the trees and with animals? And, while you're at it, you can arrest offenders who decided they've got nothing better than to slaughter innocent animals. I mean, who could hurt a deer or shoot a squirrel? Or kill a majestic wolf. That fluff and that intense look in their eyes? You look at them, and you know somebody's home.

And the people are quite nice too. I think we'll get along. Ferris is kinda like the leader. He's also the closest with President Cynthia Corville. (Who would've ever thought I'd be one step away from the President of Waverwell?!?!?!?!?!? Aaaaah! Keep me sane, Diary. I can't believe it!!!!!!!!! No, there are never too many exclamation marks! !!!!!!!!!! There's a few extra... just in case. But I know Ferris, and he knows the President! Maybe I'll get to meet her? Probably not, but one can dream!) Charlie seems like the type of person who's always bouncing off the walls. I don't know if she could stay in one place and do nothing for more than a few moments, but she was very nice the first time I met her. Ren and Zip are both very quiet, but they're nice as well. Everyone's so smart, too! I almost feel out of place.

You know, Diary, Kristin and I never really went to school. Everything we've learned has been from books, either ones someone gave to us or that we stole. Don't tell the police, Diary. I like my books. Talking to people, too. We both became good at interacting with just about anyone.

But everyone else seems to be highly educated and extremely smart. I kinda feel out of place. It'll go ok, though. Right, Diary?

I hope I don't get kicked out of the Silverlight Forest Protection Unit. I don't want to be the first to leave. That would be a bit lame, right?

I hope it goes well, Diary. I want to make a difference. Protecting Pocket Forest is a way I can do that. I'm also far away from Cat's Cradle. The furthest I could do would be somewhere in Cloverleaf, but Pocket Forest is still pretty far.

This didn't feel like a complete waste of time. Perhaps I'll get into it and regularly write to you, Diary. We'll see.

I guess until next time, Diary.

Ashley Baok

P.S. Don't tell Kristin I'm writing here yet, Diary. I want to give it a try on my own first. If I get into it, I'll tell him. You tell him before I'm ready, I'll burn you. And I'll roast a marshmallow over you. And then I'll make a s'more. And then I'd eat it. S'mores are delicious.

P.P.S. Now I want a s'more.

P.P.P.S. Goodness gracious, why am I threatening a diary?

P.P.P.P.S I think if I'm going to continue with this I'll need a new pen. Perhaps I'll get one of those fluffy ones from the store? Like, those ones with that feathery puff ball on the end of it? Zip's going on a supply run in a few days. Maybe I'll ask him to pick one up for me and pay him back when he returns.

Wednesday

Dear Diary,

You got me. I'm continuing with this.

The camp is nearly set up. There's an awful lot of 'figuring out' with this. It's still kinda awkward but everyone's so agreeable and is always willing to do something if asked.

You know the 'honeymoon' stage of marriage? Where things feel so perfect and stuff? Yeah, that's kinda what this feels like. No one has argued or anything. It feels like people are walking on eggshells at times.

I did ask Zip to pick up a pen for me and he said he would. I told him to surprise me. We'll see what he gets.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Ferris really does know Cynthia Corville. I asked him about that. He said she's quite nice and is dedicated to what she believes in. She's hoping to visit them camp! Aaaaaaaaah! I can't believe it. I hope she does. I've never met anyone so important. It would be amazing to get to meet her. Cat's Cradle is full of people who would cheat you out of your money without hesitation and you've always got to check your wallet. Just do so carefully; someone might be watching and then proceed to pickpocket you and you'd never know until you reached for said wallet to pay for something. President Cynthia Corville seems nice, though. I know people can act —I've seen plenty who do— but I hope she's genuine and is actually how she seems.

We each have our own rooms. A little space for ourselves. Kristin and I slept together every night in Cat's Cradle and have spent nearly every moment with each other. It's weird being separated like that. Our rooms are right next to each other so we're still close... but it still feels odd, you know?

I must confess, Diary. I don't think Kristin is planning on doing much with his room. We each got a bed and a dresser. I think Ferris put a desk in his, as did Zip. I'm fairly certain Charlie has rearranged her room to have as much space as she possibly can. Kristin is practical, though. I think he's kinda become the doctor of the group. He knows the most about that. If I had to take a guess, I'd say he'll probably wind up with some doctor supplies and such stashed somewhere in case they're needed.

I'm going to find all the books I can. The next time I'm going on a supply run, I'm going to pick up as many books as I can and some shelves to store them on. The SFPU gets money from Waverwell government each year to cover supplies needed to keep it running, as well as food, clothes, and the upkeep of furniture and stuff. We each get paid as well. The SFPU money covers pretty much everything we'd need so I've been saving most of the money I get paid. And guess what a good chunk of it is going toward, Diary? Yup, you guessed it: books! As many as I can get my hands on. I can't wait.

Yeah, good money skills or whatever would probably save more of it, but come on. Books. It's education.

I hope this 'honeymoon' phase or whatever gets figured out. No one wants to offend anyone, but it's created some tension. People are very careful with what they say. Of course, I don't want anyone to get offended. But it's made it so people are extremely careful with what they say and no one has really said no. I hope that'll change soon, cuz I don't think anyone's going to be able to last like that.

I think I'll stay with this, Diary.

Ashley Baok

Saturday

Dear Diary,

Zip got me a new pen. He said they didn't have any "fluffy ones with feathers" but he did find one that can fold up. He also got one with an alien on top. If you squeeze it, the eyes pop out. Who knew something like that could be so funny?

The camp's built. Pretty much. We're still figuring out the whole routine. I've volunteered to do the supply runs pretty much every time so I can get out of dishes. Call me selfish or whatever, Diary, but I hate dishes. I'll happily do just about anything else. And since supply runs are far less frequent than dishes, I'll be doing many other little chores. Not laundry, though: it was a very quick, unanimous decision that everyone does their own laundry. No doing group loads where everyone's socks get mixed up. To quote Charlie: No way in hell anyone's touching my underwear. Haha.

Ren doesn't really talk much. I'm not sure why. I know they're always listening, though. I don't think anything goes undetected by them.

Kristin tried his hand at cooking. He made some chicken with some sort of honey sauce. For never having cooked much, the chicken was really quite good. I'm making dinner tonight, and I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to make.

I think I'll go hunting around on Muse for some ideas. Maybe someone on there made something cool that is fairly easy.

I created a Muse account earlier. AshleyTheMuseAccount is my username. I couldn't do just Ashley since someone had already chosen it. Whatever, though. I still like AshleyTheMuseAccount so I guess win-win? Not sure if that's really how you use that phrase... eh, whatever, it's fine.

Zip has gotten a prototype for a camera trap going and he's going to start testing it tomorrow. He said he's hoping it will be set off and alert only at people, not at animals. He said he could program it to alert at animals, too, but for the camera traps he's making right now he wants them to alert only to people. Almost all of Pocket Forest (Silverlight Forest, if you're fancy and are using the 'official name' and not the 'nickname') is protected and off-limits to everyone but official personnel. Construction crews got most of the camp built, and we're doing the final finishing touches, and members of Waverwell government are probably gonna come here at some point. But other than that, it's us. Anyone walking in Pocket Forest, apart from a little section off near Raconteur designated as open to the public, shouldn't be here. Zip's plan is to cover the forest with camera traps and set up an alert system to act as our eyes when we're not there.

Everyone is so smart. Ferris's skills with organization and ensuring the SFPU's getting funding are amazing. Charlie can rattle on for hours about any species, plant or animal, in Pocket Forest. Ren could probably train an ant to do backflips — they're a pro at training Somnus, Morpheus, and Pyxis. And Zip... I cannot believe what he's able to do with technology! I saw him built up a little robot in real time. Diary, I cannot tell you how awesome it was to watch him build that robot. I had no clue what he was doing. We were all sitting at the kitchen table and chatting. He'd brought a variety of wires and bits of metal and some wheels and some stuff I wouldn't be able to identify and was fiddling with them as we talked. I was a bit distracted, and then the next thing I know this tiny little robot is zooming across the table!

It almost feels like I don't belong, Diary. Kristin's great with anything doctor-related. I couldn't tell you how many times he'd patched me up in Cat's Cradle. But me... I don't feel like I really belong. I don't have a skill that I'm really good at like everyone else, you know? Perhaps I'm just being paranoid or something. Am I, Diary?

We'll see.

I really hope this works, this whole SFPU thing. I hope we're able to make it work and keep the forest safe from poachers and trappers and other offenders.

It'll work, right?

Until next time, Diary. I think I am sticking with this, at least for now

Ashley Baok