A few months after launch and the camp remains untouched, perpetually stuck in glimmery twilight, just before dark. Murmurs and grumbles rise to the sky, as visiting campers voice their gathered concerns in front of the dimly lit street set amenity.
Apollo saw his chance to put his plan into motion. He stepped unto the curb to adress the crowd, the other 7 Campers.
"Ahem!" The campers looked up at him confused, "I know we are ALL tired of waiting around here for our player to come back. But times have changed. Our needs must be met!"
"Ay!" The crowd agreed, "Get the manager!" Some roared, throwing their fist in the air.
"Rock the van!" Yelled Tad
"Ay!" They enthusiastically nodded their heads.
Apollo cleared his throat again."AHEM!" He knew if he started a riot, his needs would not be met, and the end goal would only be a torn up bloody camp manager. "Alright everyone, hold on. Let's all take a breather. We still have KK on the guitar and a nice Tree swing. Let's rela-"
"I've been on that tree swing 117 times already!" Lily shouted from the back.
The other 6 campers nodded their heads in agreement.
Apollo leaned in close and lowered his voice, "I know! 173 times and counting for me. I have a plan, let me deal with this."
The campers looked at each other uneasily with hushed whispers, Lily scowled, leaning in towards Tad. He had a vacant dreamy look in his eyes, they momentarily flickered to Apollo. Tad gave a slight nod of approval, listening to the yearning in his gut, and trusting his fellow alpha. Apollo nodded back.
The crowd parted as Apollo stepped down and proceded towards the camp manager's van. He turned towards the crowd which was expectantly watching him. "Ch! Ch!" He shoed them with his wings, motioning for them to act natural. His plan was just beginning.
Apollo rapped his wing knuckles on the van campers door, the metallic ring sounding hollow. After a minute of heavy silence, the campers went back to whistling, snoring, strumming, and swinging.
The van door slid open with a thwak, and there stood Shiela, their once doting camp manager, eager to meet every request and need. Eager to make friends and to please. Apollo smirked.
"Ugh...Apollo..? What?" She was bedraggled and slow, her once pristine powder pink hair, poofed and disheveled. Yawning and leaning, she rubbed her eyes. "Is our player back yet?"
Apollo cleared his throat again, "No, kiddo, sorry, not yet." He knew Shiela was lost without the player, who once guided and caressed her. The animals too, missed the player. They missed their touch and their thirst to please their every whim.
He gave a sigh, "Look Shiela, we need to deal with the campers...they're antsy, they have needs,something has to be done."
"But...you know I can't go anywhere without the player! We're stuck here Apollo...and there's nothing I can do..." She leaned her head against the van in defeat, tears prickling at her eyes. She gave a sniffle.
Apollo always had a soft spot for pink haired villagers. He shifted his weight and leaned in, "What if I told you there was something you could do..?" He gave his smirk with a hungry twinkle in his eyes.
"But..bu-" Shiela insisted loudly.
"Ch, ch, now doll," He could feel the campers uneasiness behind him, they didn't know of his plan. He had to reassure them. Apollo gave Shiela a little push into the van. "Let's talk about this inside." He said firmly.
She gave a sniffle of agreement and let Apollo heard her inside.
The van door closed with a thwak.
End Chapter 1