Mutual of Salem's Wild Forest (Read 2,515 times)

[André DiMera]

Chapter 3

By the next morning, the storm had passed, and everyone was ready to continue their camping trip. After eating breakfast, they started off. They hiked for a long time, and sometimes sang songs to one another. Along the way, Morgan started noticing the berries on some of the bushes and smaller trees. They looked ripe and good enough, so she started to pick them off. By lunchtime, she had a large number of them. She looked at them curiously. She had never seen berries like these before.
MORGAN: Brady, you're an expert on nature, right?
BRADY: Well, I wouldn't say I'm an expert. Most of my knowledge I've gotten from either my father or some handbooks. But, I know a bit about nature. Why?
MORGAN: I've been seein' these little berries a lot during our hike today. I was wonderin' if you could tell me what they are.
Brady picks up one of the berries and eats it. He makes a face, but swallows the berry, anyway.
BRADY: Yup, just as I thought. Those are chokecherries.
MORGAN: Are they okay to eat?
BRADY: Once you get passed the bitter taste, as long as you're not allergic to them, you should be fine.
So, Morgan started eating them.
PHILIP: They must not be too bad if you're eating them.
MORGAN: Well...they're okay. They're a bit bitter, but they're all right. How come they're called chokecherries, Brady?
BRADY: I'm not entirely sure. I think it has something to do with their bitter taste.
Morgan continued eating the berries until they were gone. After everyone else had finished their lunch, they continued walking. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and the birds were singing. Everyone was having a wonderful time. However, after a little while, Morgan began to feel strange. Her stomach started to hurt really bad. She stopped and leaned up against a tree for a moment. Chelsea noticed this.
CHELSEA: Guys, I think we should stop for a moment.
Everyone else stopped walking. Chelsea and Abby walked over to Morgan, who was still leaning up against the tree and had one hand over her stomach.
CHELSEA: Hey. Are you all right?
MORGAN: I don't think so.
ABBY: What's wrong?
MORGAN: I think I just found out why they call 'em chokecherries.
Morgan got down on all fours.
MORGAN: I don't feel so good...
And she started to hurl. Quickly, Chelsea held Morgan's hair back, while Abby rubbed her (Morgan's) back. After a minute or two, she stopped.
CHELSEA: Feel any better?
MORGAN: Not really.
Then, it happened again. A few minutes later, Morgan stopped and she sat up. Chelsea and Abby helped her stand up. Brady walked over.
BRADY: There's a river just about a minute's walk from here.
CHELSEA: Okay. We'll be back in a little bit.
The two girls helped Morgan walk to the river and helped clean her face. When they were done, they all decided that it would be a good idea just to sit down for a few minutes. Abby noticed a tear in Morgan's eye. She put her arm around her.
ABBY: It's okay.
MORGAN: I'm sorry.
CHELSEA: For what?
MORGAN: Spoilin' the trip.
ABBY: Morgan, you didn't spoil anything. You couldn't help it that you got sick. None of us knew what would happen if we ate those berries.
CHELSEA: Yeah. So, now that you've been able to rest for a few minutes, how do you feel?
MORGAN: A little bit better. Thanks for holdin' my hair back and for making me feel better, guys.
ABBY: No prob.
CHELSEA: Do you feel up to continuing the hike?
MORGAN: Yeah. Thanks again for all that you guys did.
The three got up, met up with everyone else, and continued on the hike. Only now, Morgan knew better than to pick and eat strange berries off of trees and/or bushes.

[sportsgirl]

You would have thought that Brady would have warned them ahead of time... At least they all seem to be bonding very nicely...

[Kpatch]

Poor Morgan. You know what? Even after all this time, I could actually hear her southern-belle accent while she was thanking her friends for their help. Thanks for the chapter Andre!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 4

For the rest of that day, and most of the next, nothing eventful happened. All that was really happening was more hiking, and more of the kids talking to each other. Soon, they had all decided that they were glad they had gone on this trip. All except for Melanie. She wasn't too thrilled with being out in the wild. She wasn't very much of a nature girl, and she soon started to notice that almost everybody else had a significant other. Belle and Shawn-D, Mimi and Rex, Stephanie and Philip, Chelsea and Max, and that was just to name a few. For some reason, the thought of seeing all these happy couples made her uncomfortable. She felt like she was a third wheel to all of these couples. She didn't even really want to be there. The following evening, after everyone had settled down in their tents, there was a noise. The noise made Belle jump.
BELLE: What was that?
SHAWN-D: It's probably just an owl or something. Don't worry about it. Go back to sleep.
The noise came again.
BELLE: Okay, that is definitely not an owl! It sounds like a raccoon or something.
Shawn-D got up.
BELLE: Where are you going?
SHAWN-D: To check out what that noise is.
BELLE: Be careful.
SHAWN-D: Hey, I'm always careful.
So, Shawn-D went outside to check on what the noise was.
BELLE: Oh, I hope it's not a bear!
CASSIE: Don't worry, Belle. Even if it is, I'm sure Shawn can get it to go away.
BELLE: I hope so.
Of course, it wasn't a bear. It was a skunk. The skunk was rummaging through their things, trying to find something to eat.
SHAWN-D: Hey! Skunk! Get away from our stuff!
The skunk ignored Shawn-D and continued its quest for food.
SHAWN-D: I said get away from our stuff!
Still the skunk ignored him. Shawn-D was getting tired of this.
SHAWN-D: I said move!
He took off one of his shoes and threw it at the skunk. That got the skunk's attention. It turned to face Shawn-D and growled at him. Then, it turned its back to him, lifted its tail, and squirted him. Shawn-D got skunked! Then, the skunk ran away. They could smell the odor in the tent.
CASSIE: What is that nasty smell?
BELLE: I don't know, but I'm gonna go see if Shawn's all right.
Belle got up and walked out of the tent.
BELLE: Hey. You okay?
SHAWN-D: Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little smelly. I guess throwing my shoe at a skunk wasn't such a great idea.
Belle laughed.
BELLE: Yeah, not really.
SHAWN-D: Well, I'm gonna go down to the river that's just a short distance from here and try to wash the smell off.
BELLE: Okay, I'll be waiting for you.
Shawn-D went down to the river. By the time he came back, he had gotten most of the smell off, but not all. Let's just say he had to use a lot of deodorant for the next few days. In one of the other tents, Brady was listening to his portable radio. He kept it on mostly so he could hear the news, but occasionally, he would listen to music on it. At this particular moment, he was listening to an old rock music station.
DICK BIONDI (voice only): This is Dick Biondi and you're listening to 94.7, the True Oldies Channel. I have a letter here from a listener named Tony. He writes, “Dear Dick, I am a big fan of the show and listen to it every night. However, I was greatly saddened to hear the news of Michael Jackson's death this afternoon...”
MELANIE: Michael Jackson's dead?
BRADY: That's what Dick Biondi just said, Mel.
DICK BIONDI (VO): “...I was wondering if you could play one of his lesser-known songs from the 'Thriller' period. It is named 'Someone in the Dark'. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you in future”. Well, Tony, we will play that song. This is “Someone in the Dark” by Michael Jackson. You can find this, and many other of his songs right here on the True Oldies Channel.


(NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: As you read this chapter, I would like to remind you that this was written in 2009, right around the same time that Michael Jackson died)

[fluffysmom]

I like the chapter Andre. I would make Shawn stay out of my tent until he gets rid of the odor!

[ghoulgirl]

Great story so far. Can;t wait for more. Thanks Andre!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 5

The next day, the group set out again. They were all having a good time, except for Melanie, who was still feeling slightly uncomfortable, and jealous, being around all of these couples. It wasn't bad when she was out taking a walk with all of them. But, it really started to bug her when it was time to go to sleep, and she would see everybody holding and/or cuddling their significant other. She wished some guy would hold her and cuddle with her like that. She also wasn't having a great time hiking, either. She had never really been an outdoors person. That night, as everybody was going into their tents, Melanie stayed outside and sat by a lake that was very close by. Brady came down by the lake to check on her.
BRADY: Hey. Are you coming back to the tent?
MELANIE: In a little bit.
Brady sat down next to Melanie. For the first time since the beginning of the trip, he got a proper look at her face. He noticed that she looked kind of sad.
BRADY: Are you all right?
MELANIE: I'll be fine.
BRADY: What's wrong?
MELANIE: It's just...I don't know. I want someone to like me.
BRADY: What are you talking about, Mel? People do like you.
MELANIE: That's not what I mean. I mean, I want a guy to like me as more than just a friend. The only guy who ever liked me like that went crazy and went to jail because he tried to kill Trent. Other than that, there aren't any guys who like me the way that I like them.
BRADY: I see. So, you think that there aren't any guys out there that like you, huh? Well, I can tell you that that's not true.
MELANIE: How can you say that?
BRADY: Because, I believe that there is someone out there for everyone. But, I think that your problem is the guys you try to hook up with. Every single guy you've tried to hit on, with the exception of Nick, have either been in a relationship or even already married. So, I think that you should try looking for someone who's single before you try to form a romantic relationship with them.
MELANIE: That makes sense. So, Brady, you're a guy, right?
BRADY: I was the last time I checked, yes.
MELANIE: Have you seen anyone lately?
BRADY: Just my dentist. But, he's married and I'm not like that.
Melanie and Brady laughed.
MELANIE: So...I was wondering...would you like to go out with me sometime?
BRADY: Sure. I'd love to.
MELANIE: Cool.
BRADY: Cool.
MELANIE: So...um...yeah. Hey, do you mind if I go for a bit of a swim?
BRADY: Go ahead. Would it be all right if I joined you?
MELANIE: Sure.
So, Brady and Melanie jumped into the lake and started swimming. After a while, they started swimming closer together. And soon, they were holding each other and swimming in a small circle. The moon was shining above them. Brady looked into Melanie's eyes, and Melanie looked right back into Brady's eyes. Then, they kissed, and they felt a spark...

[gapeach]

Great story so far - can't wait to see what develops between Brady and Melanie.

[Kpatch]

Oh Andre, I remember how emotional your chapter was when the Gloved One died.

I am also interested to see how Brady and Melanie play out.

Thanks so much for the chapters!

[ghoulgirl]

Ooohhh this is getting better by the second!! Can't wait for more!e

[André DiMera]

Previews

BRADY: We're here.

PHILIP: It's a giant bear!

STEPHANIE: Aw, it's kinda cute!
*A porcupine spikes up its fur*

[ghoulgirl]

Hopefully miss Stephanie will get pricked. Lol

Looking forward to next week

[André DiMera]

Chapter 6

The following morning, they set off again. Melanie started to like the trip a little more. Well, the camping part, anyway. She still wasn't very big on the hiking part. She had a hard time keeping up with the rest of the group and kept tripping over things. After a little while, after Melanie tripped again, Brady went back, helped Melanie up, and started walking with her.
MELANIE: Thanks.
BRADY: No prob. So, you're not really into this hiking, are you?
MELANIE: Not exactly. I mean, I like the camping part. It's just...
BRADY: I know. I get it. You're not an outdoors person.
MELANIE: Yeah. But, I am starting to have fun. At least, once we set up camp for the evening.
BRADY: Good.
All of a sudden, Mimi stopped moving. There was a rustling noise.
MIMI: What was that?
REX: I didn't hear anything.
The noise came again.
MIMI: There it is again!
The noise came again and Mimi saw something slithering in front of her.
MIMI: It's a snake!
Mimi screamed and jumped into Rex's arms. Brady and Melanie walked up to the front of the group. They looked at the snake.
MELANIE: Aw. He's kinda cute.
MIMI: No! It's not! It's disgusting!
BRADY: Come on, guys. Let's keep walking. Mimi, just try to ignore the snake. You ignore it, and it will ignore you.
So, everyone started walking again.
MIMI: I hate snakes! They completely freak me out! They're slimy, they don't have legs. Ugh!
REX: Don't worry. The snake's gone. It won't hurt you.
(listen to this for the remainder of the chapter:
A few hours later, the group approached a large lake. Brady and the group stopped walking when they got right up to it.
BRADY: Well, everybody, we're here.
WILL: What do you mean “here'?
BRADY: I mean “here”. This is the final destination of our camping trip. This is what I wanted you all to see.
PHILIP: The lake?
BRADY: Yes, Philip. The lake.
MIA: It's beautiful!
Everybody got out their fishing poles, which were in their backpacks, and they all started to fish. Mimi wasn't too fond of the worms, as they reminded her a little too much of snakes, so Rex put them on her fishing hook while she closed her eyes. Everybody had a wonderful time fishing, talking, and laughing with each other. They all had a lovely dinner of fish and chips. And, when it was time for the sun to go down, they all watched.
BELLE: What a pretty sunset!
ABBY: It's absolutely gorgeous!
STEPHANIE: And so romantic!
BRADY: These are the kinds of things that not many people get to see. People are always so busy. We're all so busy worrying about our lives that we never take the time to enjoy the simple things in life. How beautiful life really is. Nature, the great outdoors, the trees, the lakes, and especially the sunsets. That's why I brought you all out here. To share this majestic beauty with you. To take some time out with all of you, just to enjoy the small things. The world around us. Because it is so beautiful. And I am so glad that I have been able to share this with all of you.
Everybody agreed. They stayed up into the wee hours of the night. They talked and had a good time. And, when the day finally ended, and it was time to go to bed, they were all sorry to see the day go.

[sportsgirl]

I'm with Mimi... I hate snakes and I screamed like crazy a few years back when a baby snake was at the door to my bedroom.

Nature is truly beautiful but I sense some danger ahead!!

[fluffysmom]

Great chapter Andre! Would it be wrong to hope the bear attacks a few of the campers?! LOL