As much as it breaks my heart I do not own the characters of Almighty Johnsons or Being Human, as much as I would like to!
One hour, eight bags, a trailer, one large tent and copious amounts of groceries later, everyone was inside the bar ready to go. Mitchell had grabbed several large blankets and a duck-down duvet before leaving the apartment and placed them in the boot of the car to make Anders more comfortable. They were now waiting on Ty and Mike to finish securing everything onto the trailer before getting Anders into the car. Ty had insisted sorting out the trailer first because it meant that all they had to do was get Anders in and hook the trailer up before leaving, rather than having Anders wait around by himself.
"Ok we're good to go." Ty announced as he walked into the bar. "Mikes going to back the truck up and we'll do the same as before to get him in."
The others nodded. Mitchell still wasn't thrilled about having Mike drive, but after a rather heated discussion they all agreed that Anders would actually be happier if Mitchell was close to him rather than at the other end of the car. Soon enough there was a toot at the loading door and Mitchell moved towards it.
"Come on Anders" Mitchell called over his shoulder.
Anders didn't budge from the table he'd been on for the last hour however as he was fast asleep. Ty rolled his eyes before going and shaking his brother awake.
"C'mon fuzzy."
Anders yawned loudly before pushing up from the table and climbing off. Rather than head for Mitchell who was waiting for him Anders headed for the other side of the bar.
"Anders! Where are you... Oh right." Mitchell and Ty grinned at each other as Anders ducked into the bathroom, and a minute later the golden lion joined them again, going to stand by Mitchell and lick his hand.
"Alright come on then." Mitchell said as he tugged the lion towards the door. He opened the door and saw the boot open and waiting for Anders. "Go on then!" Mitchell chuckled giving the cat a gentle shove.
Anders leapt inside the truck and turned to look at Mitchell, letting out a whine when the vampire didn't follow him in. Mitchell grinned as he shut the boot before moving round and climbing into the backseat. Anders let out a grumble when he realised he couldn't properly reach him.
"Sorry love but I get to travel in style." Mitchell said as he pulled his seatbelt over his shoulder before turning to the left to lean against the door, reaching across the back of the seat to give Anders a scratch.
In no time at all the trailer was hooked up and the remaining Johnson's piled in, Ty and Olaf in the back and Axl and Mike both in the front.
"Alrighty then, let's get this show on the road. Axl don't you touch that stereo!" Mike warned as they pulled away from the exit, all of them tooting and waving at Dawn, Stacey and Ingrid who had hung around to see them off.
"But Mike –"
"No buts! Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cake hole."
Collective groans could be heard floating out the car windows as they headed to their destination.
Four hours, a bathroom break and a routine yet dangerously-close-to-hell-breaking-loose-if-Anders-had-been-discovered police check later the car pulled up to a large camp ground. They pulled up under the cover of some trees and Mitchell climbed out and had a look around, deciding with a grin it was just what they needed.
It was a ten minute drive through bush tracks to get to where they were which meant that the likelihood of anyone joining them or surprising them was minimal. The clearing they arrived in appeared to curve around the trees in the middle creating a bend and giving campers some privacy from each other and the section they were in was big enough for them to spread out comfortably and play some cricket or rugby if the desire was there. There was an old fire pit in the centre, a wide stream along one edge with a sign explaining the types of fish that they'd find in there and long drop complete with flushing system hooked up and hidden away. The trees that they had parked under had a track that led into the deeper part of the forest and another sign with the description of the game they'd find in there. All in all, Mitchell decided, it was perfect.
He moved to help Ty unhook the trailer and wheel it to the side of the car, before heading to the boot where he could hear Anders whining and scratching at the glass.
"Bout time you woke up you lazy sod" Mitchell laughed as he pulled the boot open, leaping aside as Anders went clattering out. He froze, looking around at his new environment.
"Alright babe make sure you - " The moment Mitchell had placed his hand on Anders head, the lion reacted, bolting away from Mitchell leaving him stunned before shaking himself and chasing after him.
"Anders no! Come back here!" Mitchell yelled, terrified his lion was going to run into the bush and disappear. To his utter relief however Anders stopped at the campfire and gave it a sniff before darting off again to follow the new smells.
Mitchell heaved a sigh of relief, for the time being Anders seemed content just explore the area, so rather than stand there he moved back to help the others unpack and set up.
It took them just under an hour to get completely set up, the 8-man, 4 room tent that Anders and Mitchell owned from a company who had hired them and given them products to try was put to good use, Mitchell and Anders had the centre room, Ty and Olaf had the one on the left and Mike and Axl on the right and in the extra room behind Mitchell's they placed all the bags, groceries and anything else they needed out of the way in. They had set up all the camp chairs near the campfire, which was a safe five meters from the awning and were currently moving the last of the gear, the chilly bins with beer and cold food into the back room.
The five men had kept an eye on Anders throughout the setup, which he'd made easier for them by finding the soccer ball Mike had packed and brought it to them, wanting to play. They very quickly learnt Axl and Olaf were the people not to give the ball to as their ability to kick it was questionable at best, Mitchell, Ty and to everyone's shock Mike were the best people to give the kicking duties to. Mike was surprising not because of him being able to kick, but because Anders actually wanted to play with him, as when the ball accidentally rolled towards him Anders had been hesitant about going near him to get it, but he only waited about 3 seconds after Mike sent the ball sailing to run after it, bringing it back to him, or at least near him and nudging it with his nose as he was still wary about getting close. This went on throughout the setup, which had Anders panting heavily after the numerous runs across the clearing.
He brought the ball up to Mitchell who was helping with the last of the gear and flopped down in front of him, tongue lolling to the side as he watched them.
"Bit tired there Anders?" Ty asked with a grin, laughing at the huff Anders gave him in response.
Anders lifted his nose to the air and sniffed, suddenly on his feet and following his nose to the forest. Mike watched him with a frown before calling on Ullr to help him sense what had his brother curious.
"There's a pack of deer around, probably 300 meters in or so." Mike told Mitchell who was looking between the God and the lion. Anders looked at Mitchell and let out a whine, pacing in front of the trees as though he was torn between staying with them or following his nose.
The more we indulge the animal nature, the quicker he'll disappear. With Ingrid's warning ringing in his ears Mitchell sighed, this was exactly what Ingrid had warned against yet if Anders was hungry or really wanted to leave, he doubted any of them could actually stop him.
With a sigh Mitchell nodded "go on then, just come back yeah?"
"Don't worry too much Mitchell, Mike will know if he goes too far." Ty reminded him kindly, as they all watched Anders shoot off into the bush "in the meantime I'm gonna go fishing, care to join?"
Mitchell nodded, hoping against hope that they weren't shortening Anders timeframe with every step he took further into the forest.
"You see that stag Joe? Imagine how much a head like that could bring us!"
"I see it, we've just got to wait for them to stop moving and we'll take him down, we'll see if we can bag a couple others as well as we should get a pretty penny for the pelts. This sure is going to turn into a worthwhile trip."