Wild Guardian: Issue 2 Chapter 22
By: jungleboy69

Chapter 62: Fishing and Campfire

“I caught another one!” David cried out. “No fair!!” Bruce called. “That one’s mine!” “How come I don’t have a fish?” Bean asked. “Come on, cousin!” Mikey replied. “Don’t give up so easily.”

We find our friends sitting on the lake’s side with their fishing poles out. They decided to have a fishing competition to see if one of them can catch the most fish. After a while, both David and Bruce were neck in neck, catching more fish than anyone.

Jenny and Jake were good fishermen themselves, followed by Dennis, Harold and Mikey. Sophie didn’t join as she rather sunbath on the lakebank. Bean caught the least fish out of everyone. “Never mind, Bean.” Jenny comforted. “You can have some of my fish.”

“Rrrrriiiiiiccccchhhhhiiiiikkkkkk!!!!!!” A high-pitched squeaking came from the lake. Everyone looked to see Otter-Max swimming through the water, leaping through the air, catching fish in his month. “Rrrrrriiiccccchhhhiiiikkkkkk!!!!” Otter-Max called out to his friends, his brown head poked out of the water.

“Awwww!!!” Sophie squealed. “Otter-Max looks so cute like that!!!” “Please, stop.” Jenny groaned. “Can we last one minute without you oogling at Max?” “Sorry,” Sophie replied. “Is that jealously in your tone?”

“I’m not jealous!” Jenny exclaimed, her cheeks red. “Come on, guys.” Jake added. “Would you keep it down?” “You’re scaring the fish away.” “Rrrrrriiiccccchhhhkkkkk!!!!” Otter-Max called out, before diving back into the water.

“Where’s Max doing?” Dennis asked. After a while, Otter-Max popped his head out of the water, with a slivery fish in his mouth. Otter-Max threw the fish high in the air and gobbled it up. “Shouldn’t he cook that first?” Bean asked, a little sickened by it.

“We don’t mind.” Jake replied. “It’s kind of like eating sushi.” “Yeah, I guess so.” Bean said. “Still, he should be careful.” “Rrrrrriiiiiccccchhhhhiiiiikkkkkkkk...” Otter-Max swam to the lakebed and shifted back into his human form.

“So, who’s the winner of the fishing competition?” Max asked. “Well, David and Bruce are neck in neck.” Harold explained. “They’re both evenly matched.” “Well, we’re going to be here all day if they’re going to keep on catching fish.” Sophie added.

“Fine!” Bruce exclaimed. “The one who catches the biggest fish wins!” “You’re on!” David replied. “Oh boy.” Jake added. “There’s no stopping them now.” “3, 2, 1, Go!!!” The two boys cast their fishing poles into the water.

“How long is it going to take?” Jenny asked. “Yeah, it’s getting late.” Dennis added. “Just as soon as I beat Bruce.” David replied. “In your dreams!” Bruce shot back. Max simply stared for a moment into the water. Slowly, a smile crept over his face.

Quietly, he headed over to some tall reeds where he could be perfectly hidden. Again, he shifted into his otter form and slid quietly into the water. “You ready to give up?” Bruce challenged. “No way!” David replied.

“Hey, where’s Max?” Dennis asked, looking around. “Don’t distract me!” David replied. “I have to concentrate!” “He probably off somewhere, prancing around as a bunny.” Harold added. “Don’t worry about him.”

Suddenly, David felt a hard tug on his fishing pole. “I got a bite!!” He exclaimed. “It’s a big one!!” “Come on, David!!” Mikey called out. “You got this!!!” “Oh no, this isn’t over!” Bruce shot back, feeling a tug on his own line.

The struggle continued. David strained and pulled, his line bobbing and weaving in different directions. All the while, everyone else was cheering for him while Bruce was tugging on his line as well.

It seemed like both boys were evenly matched. Suddenly, Bruce’s fish began to tire and he reeled it in fast. “I got it!!” He cried. “I got it!!!” With the last of his strength, he pulled his line and an enormous trout burst out of the water and landed on the rocks.

“Woah, man!!!” Dennis exclaimed in amazement. “You got a whopper!!” “It’s not over yet!!” Bruce called, reeling in his own line. “I still got my fish!!” “Here it comes!!!” He called, pulling out his catch, only to find it was just an old boot.

Everyone burst out laughing. “Looks like David wins!!!” Jake laughed. Poor Bruce’s face flushed with red and lowered his head. “Alright, fine!” He exclaimed. “You win!!” Everyone continued to laugh. Jenny stopped to notice an otter swimming to some reeds.

She smiled when she saw the otter climb onto the bank and turn back into Max. Max turned to Jenny, smiling back and placing a finger on his lips to hush her. Once again, Max shapeshifted into a raven and flew off into the sky.

“Come on, guys.” she called. “We should get back to the treehouse.” “What about Maxie?” Sophie asked, standing up. “Don’t worry about him.” Harold replied. “He knows the forest like the back his hand.”

As the friends prepared to head back to the treehouse with their catch, Jenny looked up in the sky and saw Raven-Max circling above them. She smiled to herself, picked up her catch and went to catch up the others.

(2 hours later...)

The friends were now gathered around the campfire, roasting sausages, fish and marshmallows. When the others came back, they were a little taken aback to find Max already waiting for them. Of course, they could guess that he could have turned into a bird and flew on ahead of them.

“We should camp out more often.” Dennis added, munching on a sausage. “Yeah!” David added. “It’ll give me a chance to beat Bruce again at fishing.” “Shut up!!” Bruce shot back, popping a marshmallow in his mouth. “You just got lucky!” “Calm down, you two!” Jake exclaimed. “It’s been a long day so let’s just relax.”

“Urm, guys?” Max asked. “Can you get these girls off me?” The latter found himself in between Jenny and Sophie, both girls clinging on to each of his arms. “Please, Maxie.” Sophie cooed, rubbing her head against his left arm. “Sleep with me tonight.”

“He’s not sleeping with you!” Jenny protested, clinging on Max’s right arm. “Aren’t you old enough to sleep by yourself?!” “Well, excuse me, judo-lady!” Sophie snapped back. “Unlike you, I have more feminine wiles than you have!”

“What you say??!!!!” Jenny screamed. “I’m just as ladylike as you!” “Oh really?” Sophie taunted. “The only time you were ladylike was with a punching dummy!!” “WHY I OUGHTA!!!” Jenny screamed. “Girls, please!” Max tried calming them down. “Let’s discuss this rationally!”

“Just give it a rest, Max.” Dennis replied. “When those girls duke it out, nothing can stop them.” “Well, at least, loosen your grip.” Max told them. “It’s hard to toast marshmallows like this.” “Hey guys.” Bean spoke up. “After a day like this, the best thing to have a sing-a-long!”

“Gee, cuz.” Mikey added. “I haven’t sung around a campfire since my brother...” He paused for a moment, bowing his head a little and leaving Max worried for a bit. “Still,” he added, brightly. “a sing-a-long sounds fun.”

“So, what should we sing tonight?” Dennis asked. “Oh Susanna?” Bruce offered. “Nah,” David replied. “How about Country Roads?” “Camp Town Races?” Harold asked. “Home on the Range?” added Bruce. “Maybe, Row Row Row your Boat?” Dennis offered.

“Row Row Row Your Boat?!” Mikey exclaimed. “That’s my favourite!” “Mine too!” Harold added. “And mine!” Sophie cheered. “Okay, Row Your Boat it is!” Dennis declared, taking out his guitar. “You ready everyone?”

“Yeah!” Everyone cheered. “Okay.” Dennis strummed his guitar and began to play.

[Play https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr8s-K_TPCU]

Dennis started first, and when he got the third verse, Sophie joined in. Later, David sang and soon, Bean joined in. Very soon, everyone was singing along, tapping their feet and clapping their hands as the campfire burned brightly.

(10 mins of singing later...)

The songs died down and the fire dimmed low until it became a small pile of smoldering embers. Jake stretched his arms. “Well, guys!!” He exclaimed. “That was the best camping day I ever had!” “Me too!” Bean added. “Still, it’s getting late, let’s get some rest.”

“I feel like I could sleep and sleep...” David spoke up, stretching and yawning. “Alright guys!” Jenny declared. “Let’s hit the sack!!” “We got a big day tomorrow!!” she added. “So, let’s get some shuteye!”

The friends immediately gathered their blankets. “Maxie!” Sophie called happily, fluttering her eyes. “You wanna sleep with me?!” “He’s not sleeping with you!!” Jenny yelled at him. “Oh yeah!!” Sophie yelled back. “Who asked you?!”

“Guys, calm down!” David called to them. “None of us are going to get any sleep with your arguments!” “Fine, we’ll asked Max!!” Sophie offered. “Alright, then!” Jenny replied. “Max, who do you want to...” She stopped as her eyes nearly popped out in shock.

“Ma-Ma-Ma-Maxie?!” Sophie stammered, her own eyes widened in shock as well and her cheeks blushing fiercely. Everyone else also stared in shock as Max completely stripped himself of all his clothes, leaving only his briefs and exposing his muscular body.

“Max...” Dennis stammered. “What are you doing?” “Getting ready for sleep.” Max casually replied. “Shouldn’t you wear something?!” Bean added, covering his eyes. “Why should I?” Max asked. “I sleep nude all the time.”

“WHAT?!” Everyone screamed. “Well, only outdoors.” Max continued. “That’s what I always did back in the jungle.” “And it doesn’t bother you?!” Bruce added, his cheeks a bit blushing as well. “No, it doesn’t.” Max replied.

“Don’t sweat it, guys.” Mikey assured everyone. “Max has done a lot of crazy stuff for these past few months, so I’m not surprised.” “Besides, let’s get some sleep.” He added. “We want get up fresh and early for tomorrow’s hike.”

“Urgh, fine...” Harold replied. “There’s been enough excitement for one day.” Soon the excitement died down and everyone laid in the hammocks. “Max, don’t you have a hammock?” David asked. “Don’t worry,” Max replied. “I don’t need one.”

With that, he leapt on one of the huge sturdy branches that grew over the lobby of the tree house. “I’m used to this.” He added, as he gathered some leaves and small branches to make himself a makeshift nest.

“Well, just be careful up there.” Jenny replied. Max smiled. “Sure, goodnight everyone.” As all the others drifted off to sleep, Max stared up at the horizon, looking at the starry night sky.

His mind raced off the day they had but he wondered about Rena and her friends. He hoped they were faring well after the incident. He shook his head gently, thinking that he was getting worried over nothing and slowly, he fell fast asleep under the light of a full moon.