Notes: I know this is a little short but I wanted a touchy-feely chapter before Chapter 3. Things are about to get worse.
Chapter Summary: Night has fallen. While Launchpad takes care of the kids, Donald and Scrooge have a little heart to heart.
By nightfall, Launchpad and the kids had made it three/fourths of the way down the mountain. Launchpad tried his best to cheer them up with stories and jokes, but they were too worried about Donald and Scrooge. Once it was too dark to continue, Launchpad decided that they should stop and set up camp for the night.
"But Launchpad!" Dewey cried out. "We're almost at the bottom! It won't take much longer and then we can go find Uncle Donald and Uncle Scrooge!" The other three nodded in agreement.
Launchpad sighed, "I know you kids are worried but Donny and Mr. McDee are fine. They've been in worse situations before. We'll camp here for the night and once it's morning, we'll finish going down and meet up with your Uncles then. I'm sure they already stopped for the night anyway."
The kids grudgingly accepted that Launchpad had a point and promptly plopped down onto the ground. Everyone pulled out food from their backpacks and had dinner. Launchpad could still feel the tension in the air though.
Maybe they'll cheer up if I tell stories about DW?
"Hey kids, have you heard about that superhero is Calisoto?"
Meanwhile, Donald and Scrooge had already set up camp and were watching the stars. They had already reached the bottom of the mountains. Donald's eyes roved the sky above as he checked off navigational stars in his head. He had learned many things in the Navy and celestial navigation was one of them. The skill was still useful so Donald always used it, even if they had a map. When Donald was done position fixing, he realized how quiet their makeshift camp was. Scrooge seemed a little awkward, eyes staring above but feathers tapping the ground as if trying to come up with a conversation topic. Donald sighed. They weren't that close after the whole Spear of Selene incident, but maybe he could let some of the grudge go.
"You know," Donald paused. Scrooge turned to face Donald. "Ever since I was a little kid, I always loved looking at the stars. No matter how angry or upset I got, I could always calm down by stargazing."
Scrooge's face morphed into surprise. Donald wasn't one to talk about himself that often. He faced the sky again in hope that Donald would continue.
"In the Navy, I would always be on deck at night. Didn't matter whether I had night watch or not. I would gaze at the stars and recite the constellations in my head while listening to the lull of the waves. Before I took the boys in, I sometimes took Daisy out to the park and we would stargaze. It's some of the memories I cherish most with her."
Scrooge remembered how stressed Donald was after he became the boys' guardian. He didn't believe he was capable of supporting both the nephews and Daisy. Feeling she deserved someone whose income wasn't so unreliable, he had broken up with her. She understood Donald's reasoning and they remained good friends. It was hard for Donald at first to admit that to himself but as far as Scrooge was aware, they still got together on occasion. He wondered how the lass was doing.
"You know, you're always willing to do everything you can for those boys. I know I'm not good at expressing some of my more personal feelings, but I want you to know that I'm proud of you, nephew."
Donald's head swiveled towards Scrooge so quickly, Scrooge almost laughed.
"I'll have ye know though, that if you ever bring this up I will deny it heavily." Donald chuckled and turned back to the sky.
"Crazy old bird." With that Scrooge and Donald passed the evening by pointing out constellations until the fell asleep.