Due East, Beasts & Campfire Feasts

by Erin Johnson

  “Medicine?” I spit out. “Medicine?”

  The kid with the mullet moved to the pans next to the fire to get seconds of dinner. He held his hand to the side of his mouth and loudly whispered to his fellow guards, “They put cinnamon in it.”

  Misaki crinkled her nose. “Ew, that’s it.”

  My mouth dropped. “You guys don’t like cinnamon?”

  Jun shook his head. “It’s not that. My family, for instance, puts it in a lot of our medicinal teas. It’s good for aches and joint pain, or to aid digestion. It’s strange, to us, to eat it as a treat.”

  Misaki folded her arms and shook her head at the pot.

  “Oh.” Yann hung his head, but Rhonda practically shoved me out of the way as she climbed past everyone to the pot.

  She held up her empty plate to Yann. “Oh well, what a shame, more for us then.”

  It was true. My friends and I devoured the soft, sugary treats, while only the kid with the mullet even tried a bite. He made a face, then spat it out. Of my friends, only Hank didn’t have any. He sat apart from everyone and stared off into the trees, his back to the group.

  After we’d eaten, night fell heavy on the camp. The campfire cast flickering shadows among the trees, and I huddled close to my friends. Three of the guards used a log as a bench and pulled their split-toe boots off. Misaki cast a spell over the dishes to magically clean themselves, and Jun leaned against the trunk of a tree, his sketch pad propped against his thigh and his pencil skimming over the pages. I leaned over to Maple on my left. “Bet I know who he’s drawing.”

  I lifted my chin toward Jun, who glanced up now and then to look at Misaki, who stood over the pile of pots and plates and chopsticks beside the fire.

  “Aw.” Maple clicked her tongue. “So cute.”

  I stole a quick glance to my right. Hank had moved closer, but sat expressionless with his eyes glued to the fire.

  “He’s going to burn his corneas out,” Iggy said in a sing-song warning.

  I cleared my throat when Hank looked up and caught me staring. “I, uh—” I licked my lips, searching for something to say. “How’s your side feel?”

  Hank blinked, his normally bright blue eyes clouded and far away. He gave his head a small shake and glanced down at his ribs. His throat bobbed. “Better.”

  Okay, a response. Yes, it was one word, but it was something, right?

  I opened my mouth to ask if he wanted me to grab some water for him, but before I could, he pushed to his feet with a strained grunt and moved away to stand beside Misaki and the fire. My heart sank. I leaned left and plunked my head against Maple’s shoulder. She slid an arm around my shoulders and hugged me against her side. “Give him a little time.”

  Iggy, in his lantern at my feet, scoffed. “When we were in the Fire Kingdom and I found out Imogen was thinking of leaving with Horace, I told her what a dummy she was and immediately told her I’d go with.” He sniffed and glared at Hank, who stood with his shoulders slumped. “At least have the decency to talk to her and tell her what a dummy she is to her face.” He spun to face Maple and me and lifted his little flame arms. “Am I right?”

  “Iggy.” Maple lifted her brows.

  I shook my head. “No. He’s right. I wish Hank would just yell or tell me what a jerk I’ve been.” I let out a weary sigh that felt as though it took all of my little remaining energy with it. “It’s the silence that’s killing me. Like, what’s he thinking? How does he feel? Where—” I didn’t even want to finish the thought. “Where does all this leave us?”

  Maple hugged me tighter, but released me when Misaki stalked over. I sat up straight. All the other guards rose now, too, and dug around in their packs. What was going on?

  She stopped in front of us and looked down, hands on her hips and stern as ever. “Ready to hot spring?”

  My mouth fell open and I sat straighter. “There are hot springs?” Maple and I gaped at each other.

  A smile broke out on Misaki’s face. It made her look younger.

  10

  Hot Springs

  The hot springs were everything I’d hoped for and more. Steam curled up from the dark water and I let out my umpteenth happy sigh as I sank lower so that the hot water covered the tops of my shoulders. “This is heaven.”

  Maple let out a choked, “Mm-hmm,” and I peeled an eye open to look at her.

  “Are you crying?”

  She nodded and wiped away a tear. “It just feels so good.”

  Maple, Misaki, and I wore our hair piled high on our heads in buns, the little tendrils around our necks wet and curling.

  Annie had pulled hers back from her face with her typical headband and leaned against a rock. She lifted her toes above the surface and gave them a wiggle. “I could get used to this.”

  Bubbles rose to my left and then Rhonda popped her head up. She threw herself on her back and kicked about, opening her arms and legs spread eagle and giving us all quite a show, considering we were skinny dipping. I turned away and lifted a hand. Misaki just rolled her eyes. Thankfully, there were a series of small pools in the area, so the men had their own. Rhonda didn’t share my sentiments.

  “Are you sure we can’t just cannonball into the men’s pool?” she asked her in stuffed-up sounding voice. “Some of those guards looked pretty thick.”

  Annie nodded, her brows lifted and expression faraway. Maple and I exchanged wide-eyed looks.

  “Their heads certainly are,” Misaki grumbled, though she had her eyes closed and a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She leaned against one of the thick, rough-hewn pillars that supported a small structure with a peaked roof. Water lapped at the four submerged posts that held it up and moss covered the hole-filled roof.

  “So this used to be a famous spa?” Mist curled over the broken tiles on top.

  Misaki nodded, her eyes still closed. “Yeah. My grandma says before the monsters came, it used to be the best on the island.” She shrugged a defined, bare shoulder. “But now the only spa is on the beach, in a protected cove. It’s too dangerous here.”

  Maple and I frowned at each other.

  “Should—uh, should we be here then?” I looked around the heavy darkness that surrounded us.

  Misaki shrugged. “It’s as safe as anywhere we’ll be. Especially since we’re a small group—many more and we’d attract more attention from the creatures. We’re deep in monster territory.”

  I nodded. “Right.” The abandoned, skeletal structure suddenly gave me the creeps. So this was a haunted hot spring. Cool, cool, cool. I eyed the dark water that surrounded me, mist curling over the surface, and suddenly felt pretty sure that a spirit was about to surface any moment, its long black hair covering its face, to hiss at me like a cat and then make me watch a cursed VHS tape. Or something like that.

  Misaki opened her eyes and waded to the edge of the pool. She climbed onto the smooth rocks, dripping water all over them, and picked her lit wand up. A spark of light flashed, and suddenly she stood dry and clothed. “I’ve got to pee.”

  “You’re just leaving us here alone?” My heart rate picked up.

  “Yeah, shouldn’t you be guarding us?” Rhonda asked, still floating on her back. “Lazy.”

  Misaki shook her head. “You can take care of yourselves for two minutes, can’t you?” She moved up the path without waiting for an answer.

  “Hey, if you could just wait—she’s gone.” I turned to my friends. “Guys… I kind of have to pee, too.”

  Rhonda pursed her lips and blew a stream of water straight up in the air. “So go for it.”

  I bit my lip. “I’m kinda freaked out to go into the forest by myself though.”

  Maple glanced up the path Misaki had taken. “If you hurry, I bet you could catch her.”

  “You don’t want to go?” I flashed her an exaggerated grin. “You know how we girls are always going to the restroom together.”

  Annie laced her hands behind her head, her lips curled up in a blissful smile.
“I’m not sure you can call a monster-infested, chilly, dark forest a restroom. I’ll stay right here, thank you.”

  I shot Maple a pleading look.

  Her lips quirked to the side. “Sorry. I went before we got in.” She sank lower, dipping her chin in the dark water. “And this just feels so good.” She pressed her eyes shut tight and let out a happy sigh.

  I looked towards the path Misaki had taken. “Should I follow her? I’m afraid to be in the forest by myself, but it’s pretty weird to follow someone who’s probably crouched over a hole right now, right?” I chewed at a nail. “But, like, the longer I wait the weirder it gets.”

  Rhonda floated past me. “You’re harshing my chill, Imogen.”

  I bit my lip. “This is a pretty big pool, it’s probably fine if I just pee in here, right, guys?” I waded a few steps toward the far end, so I’d be a ways away from my friends. “You’re cool with it?”

  Annie pointed toward the forest without even opening her eyes. “Go!”

  I hung my head. “Fine.”

  I crawled out onto the slippery smooth rocks. I hugged my arms tight across my chest as steam rose from my body. The chilly air rapidly sucked away the lovely heat from the pool and sent goose bumps prickling up my arms and legs. I glared down at my friends. “Just so you know, I’m pretty sure this hot spring is haunted.” I hissed the last word. “Heh. Bet you all wished you’d gotten out with me now.” I hunched over, my shoulders around my ears, and shivered.

  Rhonda, still floating on her back, shimmied her shoulders. “You’re welcome, ghosts.”

  Hmph. Well, fine. I eyed my neat pile of dry, clean clothes and boots, and considered putting them on. But I figured I wouldn’t be going far, and I didn’t want to get them all wet, so I started up the path naked and cold. The soft moss felt slimy under my bare feet and I could barely see by the light of the campfire still burning in the distance between the tree trunks. I wished for Iggy and his light, but we’d sent him off with the boys.

  “Misaki?” I called her name in a whisper and looked left and right. Maybe she’d ducked a little off the path to do her business. I hugged myself tighter, the cool air now freezing against my wet skin, and grumbled to myself as I walked up the path. “You don’t need to bring towels, she said.” My teeth chattered. “I’ll dry you off with my magic, she said.” I’d have dried myself off if Misaki hadn’t taken our magic with her people’s special potion.

  I stopped dead when movement up ahead caught my eye. A shadow passed in front of the campfire and my stomach froze. I moved closer and relaxed when I realized it was Misaki. I opened my mouth to call her name, but hesitated when I saw what she was up to.

  She crouched in front of an open pack and dug through it, tossing the contents out onto the ground. From the way her eyes darted around, I got the feeling it wasn’t hers. Was she looking at Kai’s sword? I crept closer and peered around a tree trunk. She held up a folded piece of cream paper. Her eyes quickly scanned it, then she set it aside. I gasped. That was my letter—she was rummaging around in Hank’s pack. But why? She thrust her arm in and searched some more.

  Snap! Misaki froze and looked to my left, toward the sound of the cracking branch. Some leaves rustled on the far side of the clearing we’d made camp in, and Misaki leapt to her feet in an instant. She replaced the pack’s contents, including my note, then tugged the pack closed, and sprinted toward me. I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. Did I step out from behind the tree and pretend I hadn’t seen her? Or stay hidden and return to the pool, claiming to have just used the bathroom? My fear of being alone in the forest decided for me.

  I stepped out from behind the mossy trunk and tried to act casual. You know—just a nice, naked stroll in the forest at night. “Hey, there you are.”

  Misaki jogged up to me, breathless, and shot a quick glance behind her. “Did you follow me?”

  I nodded, my teeth chattering.

  “Why aren’t you wearing clothes?” She looked me up and down, then frowned. “I’m not interested.”

  I frowned. “H-hey, I-I’m not either.” Then why did it sting a little? “W-wait. B-because you’re not into g-girls, or you’re n-not into th-this?” I gestured at myself. “I m-mean y-you could do worse, I-I’m just s-saying.” My teeth clicked together.

  She walked past me and I followed. “What are you doing then?”

  “I need to pee and I d-didn’t want to go by myself.” I trotted along behind her, bouncing to try and get warm. “I don’t w-want to wander into a patch of p-poison ivy, or a monster spider nest, or s-something.”

  She let out a heavy sigh and stopped. She pointed to our left. “Go there. I’ll wait.”

  “T-thanks.” I gulped. “Do you have any toilet paper?”

  She shot me a look and I moved off the path through the soft carpet of leaves and moss. I crouched behind a tree trunk. “Can you hum or something?”

  She scoffed. “Are you a toddler?”

  She kept quiet and stage fright took over. I shifted and willed myself to go, my thighs burning from holding the deep squat. Crickets chirped and an owl hooted, but the soft sounds of the forest didn’t provide enough cover to make me feel comfortable.

  BLEEEAAHHHH. A loud, terrifying animal noise echoed through the forest and my heart jumped in my chest. I gulped. Well, that did the trick—scared it right out of me.

  “Hurry!” Misaki hissed from the path. “We have to go—now!”

  11

  Monster on the Move

  Misaki and I raced back to the hot springs pool and rounded up my girlfriends. Misaki spelled us dry and clothed in an instant, and with my heart thumping in my chest, we ran back to the campsite to find the men already breaking it down. Floating packs whizzed by my head, pots and pans stacked themselves, and sleeping bags magically rolled themselves up. We spotted our guys, and Maple rushed into Wiley’s arms. He hugged her tight against him.

  I longed to rush into Hank’s arms and have him embrace me. But he stood quiet, walking stick in hand, and kept his gaze down. It nearly knocked the air out of me. Francis climbed onto Rhonda’s back, hooking his single bat fingers over her shoulders, and Yann helped Annie into her pack.

  Wiley gently nudged me with his elbow. “What’s going on?”

  I gulped, my throat tight. It took some effort to tear my eyes from Hank and bring myself back to the present, even with all the frenzy.

  I shook myself. “I’m not sure. Did you hear that noise?”

  Sam stepped forward and handed me Iggy’s lantern. “The sssprings helped me ssshed sssome ssskin without anyone noticccing.” He handed me Iggy’s lantern and I mustered a grin.

  “That’s great, Sam.”

  He moved off, his arms limp at his sides, and looked for his pack among the pile.

  Wiley leaned close and spoke to Maple and me in a lowered voice. “Yeah, no one noticed, unless you count me finding his face skin floating on the surface.” He shuddered. “It was the stuff of nightmares.”

  “Nightmares.”

  I frowned and lifted Iggy’s lantern. He stared off into the distance, eyes glazed and mouth slack. “You okay, buddy? Did you have an all right time with the guys?”

  He blinked, eyes still unfocused. “I’ve seen too much.”

  I frowned at Wiley, who chuckled. “Turns out Iggy has a very prim sense of modesty.”

  I grinned. “Oh.” I smiled at my little flame. “You scarred for life now?”

  He blinked, still staring off. “I suppose I had to grow up someday.”

  Jun strode up to us. He shifted the full pack on his back, and the pots and pans inside clanked together. “Come on, guys, we’ve got to move. There’s a monster nearby.”

  Yann hefted up Hank’s pack and I glanced at Misaki. Should I tell Hank she’d been rummaging through his things? I bit my lip as she pointed and sent a few guards running off, then whirled and gave orders to Kai and Reo—his Rambo scarf on. The younger guard’s eyes darted from Misaki to Kai, his eyes wide and m
outh slack with fear. I gulped. There’d be time to figure out the pack thing later—for now we just had to get out of here and survive.

  I slung my heavy pack onto my aching back. The straps dug into the tops of my shoulders. Maple stood behind me and strapped my bedroll to it. “Guess we don’t get to rest here for the night.” She let out a heavy sigh and turned her back to me so I could attach her bedroll to her pack for her.

  Rhonda slid her arms under Francis’s thighs and bounced, hiking him higher on her back. His giant wings wrapped around her like a cloak. “You can rest when you’re dead.” She tipped her head from side to side. “Unless you’re one of those hot springs ghosts you mentioned.” Her dark eyes sparkled with mirth. “I think we showed them enough to keep them very excited for a while.”

  I grinned. Weirdo.

  RAAAHHHHH! A bleating scream cut through the night and icy fear washed over me. The hairs on my neck pricked.

  Jun grew grim. “The giga deer are drawn by smells.” Jun nodded. “They generally don’t bother us, but they’ve attacked a handful of times and this one seems to be getting closer. If it’s hungry and desperate, it may go for our food.”

  He held his wand over our group and a light flashed from the end of it. “That spell should help mask your scents with that of moss and leaves and dirt.”

  “So Imogen just smells like herself then?”

  I shot my grinning flame a flat look. “I see you’ve recovered.”

  Misaki stomped over. “We’re ready, let’s go.”

  Misaki, Jun, and a couple other guards led the way, my friends and I following single file. Reo, Sora, Kai, and another guard brought up the rear. I watched Annie’s back, the mottled shadows of the low-hanging tree branches flickering over her shoulders. No one spoke, and even the small sounds of the forest, the cricket chirps and frog ribbits, had gone silent. We kept on, ears pricked for another monster scream, but none came. Maybe we’d outdistanced it.