I snapped myself out of whatever daze I was in and looked at my painting. Inspecting it for any damage or blemishes from the near crash with the beta. Everything looked okay but I would inspect it further once I got back to my room. I turned and continued my way back to my room. There I set the painting down and set up my easel again by the window then placed my painting on it so the sun could help it finish drying. In the late afternoon sunlight I was able to better inspect my painting and it appeared to have survived with no mishaps. I then took my brushes over to the kitchenette, cleaned them and laid them out to dry. Then it was my turn. I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Sure enough, I had three small streaks of purple paint on my cheek. I must have looked like a fool to the beta. I got a washcloth and cleaned up my face.

Abby and I volunteered to make dinner for our Aunt and Uncle tonight so after reading my book for a couple of hours I went and knocked on Abby’s door before pushing it open. She was blow drying her hair. I waited for her to finish then we both headed to our uncle’s. Once there we were greeted with a wonderful spread of ingredients to work with. While cooking Abby and I talked, “I ran into Beta Cain coming back from painting.” She looked at me in surprise, “Oh my gosh! Is he okay?” I pursed my lips, I knew she was teasing but I played into it anyway, “Is he okay? Of course he’s okay, the man is a good foot or more taller than me and is made of muscle.” I went back to stirring the pasta, “I’m okay by the way, thank you for your concern.” She giggled, “I’m glad to hear it.” I shook my head, “I was so embarrassed though. He pointed out to me that I had paint on my face.” She gasped, “And sure enough I had streaks of purple paint on my cheek!” She started laughing, “Way to look cool in front of the important people, Lily.” I rolled my eyes before laughing, “Yeah, thanks.”   

We served dinner and talked about our plans for the next day since Uncle Anthony and Aunt Lynelle were taking the next two days off to spend with us. The plan was to go on another horseback riding/hiking adventure. And since they would be with us we would be able to go much farther and then the plan grew into a camping trip by the lake at the head of the river. Abby and I were so excited that we were still talking about it when we got back to our rooms for the night. We needed to go to bed though. It was getting late and we had to be up early to get ready and help pack up for the venture.

The next morning, after a shower I braided my hair into pigtails and dressed in black leggings, a teal tank top, and my green tennis shoes. I packed a smaller backpack of essentials for one night of camping and made sure my phone was fully charged along with its power bank. For once I stepped out of my room before Abby but she was not far behind as she came out before I could even knock on her door. Then we headed to our Aunt and Uncle’s to help them pack what we would need.

We ate breakfast as we worked to pack things. Lynelle was packing up the food we would need for lunch, dinner, breakfast and lunch tomorrow. Abby and I helped Uncle Anthony pull out and inspect two tents, 4 sleeping bags, 4 pillows, and 4 inflatable kayaks. Uncle Anthony left us to finish inspecting the collapsible oars, making sure they extended and locked into place well, while he pulled out and inspected the little gas stove to make sure it was ready and safe to use for that night. With everything packed up, all the food was distributed between four backpacks so we could each carry some of it and all of the other gear piled into a foldable wagon we were ready and headed to the stables.

At the stables we were greeted by Deacon who exclaimed his excitement for dinner the next night and helped us get the horses ready, helping secure saddlebags to their saddles so the horses could carry the extra items we were bringing. And lastly we loaded a couple of bags of oats, apples, and sugar cubes for the horses. We said goodbye to Deacon and headed out. 

With the four of us the journey to the lower of the two falls took an hour and a half instead of an hour. Once we got there they gave the horses a break at the water and had a snack break ourselves. Another thirty minutes and we were back on the horses and went the long way up to the first waterfall, taking a path the horses could navigate, then continued along the river for another two hours, giving the horses breaks as needed.

Finally arriving at the lake we scouted a good camping spot and unloaded the horses and set up camp. Once camp was done we had lunch and started inflating the kayaks. Lunch eaten and the kayaks inflated we were ready to explore the lake. We saw some deer, ducks, otters, and even a beaver as we went around the lake. On our way back to camp I decided I wanted to remain on the lake a while longer so everyone else went on ahead and I simply stopped paddling, shifted myself in my kayak, closed my eyes, and sat back in my kayak soaking up what little sunlight was left before sunset. I made my way back to camp when the mosquitoes started to come out. Dinner was already being made so I helped Lynelle where I could with what was left to do, while Uncle Anthony built a campfire.

After dinner we casually visited, admiring the stars as they came out. Then Lynelle disappeared for a couple of minutes and returned with a bag of marshmallows, chocolate bars, a box of graham crackers, and skewers, “It’s not a proper camping trip without s’mores” We laughed as she handed everything we needed to each of us and sat back down in her folding chair. Abby’s first marshmallow fell victim to her attention being on talking about her husband. By the time she realized she was burning it, the marshmallow was completely ablaze and for some reason in her panic she didn’t think to blow on it to put it out and instead swiped her stick through the air with a squeal and the molten marshmallow flew off her stick and smacked into a nearby rock with a sticky thud. We laughed and Lynelle gave her a new marshmallow after confirming the first one was no longer on fire.

The next morning we got up and had breakfast and just relaxed for the first portion of the morning. Then after one last kayak trip around the lake we set to cleaning up camp. After loading up the horses we set to return back to the main portion of the pack territory. We stopped at the waterfalls for lunch. Then we did the last hour and a half stretch back to the stables. Deacon greeted us and we told him about the trip as we unloaded and cleaned the horses giving them treats before we left to help clean all the camping gear and put it away. Then it was our turn to go get clean. We did have a dinner to get to afterall.

In my room, while I was taking a shower I was made acutely aware of the fact that I’d been sunburnt. That’s what I get for being so pale and laying in the sun without sunblock! I hadn’t noticed the sunburn at first because I was too busy enjoying my time in nature with my family and was too dirty to tell before I got in the shower. After my painful shower I looked in the mirror to survey the damage. My forehead, nose, and cheeks were rosy, along with the part of my chest, shoulders, and arms that were exposed by my tank top. It’d be one thing if I could actually tan but that was Abby’s blessing not mine. I just burn, peel, and return to borderline paper white.

I applied light makeup and put on a cream color, knee length, off the shoulder, shirred, ruffle hem dress with little yellow flowers on it. I brushed my hair while it was still wet and then after giving some care to tame my curls, let it dry. Once it was dry I pulled it up into a half up half down hair do. The portion that was up was pulled into a messy bun while I let red curls fall how they pleased about my shoulders and down to the full length of my hair down to just above by butt. Then I put on a simple necklace with a translucent thread that held a pearl to the center crook of my collarbones and slipped on a pair of cream colored flats and was ready to go to dinner. 

Of course Abby was at my door before I was done getting ready. She was wearing black dress slacks, silver pointed toe flats, and a white, ruffled, button up blouse with pearl buttons. Her brown hair pulled up into a tight neat bun. We met up with Aunt Lynelle and Uncle Anthony at the car park in front of the main villa. Lynelle was wearing a form fitting cobalt blue knee length dress with matching heels, her usual straight blonde hair was curled and Uncle Anthony was wearing black, pressed, slacks, a white button up shirt and a cobalt blue tie to match Aunt Lynelle.

We loaded up in their car and headed to the little lycan/werewolf run town about forty five minutes from the Royal Lycan Villa. In this little town there were retail and grocery stores, a movie theater, and a few restaurants. Jesse’s restaurant being the newest one. An Italian restaurant. The town is run by both lycans and werewolves because it is halfway between the the closest border to the Royal Moon Fire villa and Silver River werewolf pack. A place where both can share and work together as they please, peacefully.