I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a while. Curse you school and bad grades.

justleavemealone: I'm a great writer?

TheSuperGirlOfDreams: yes that is what that line is based on.

Disclaimer: I don't own Camp Lazlo. If I did, then there would be more Camp Lazlo merchandize and a movie. I would also have a humgous plushy of Slinkman.

I only own any of the characters you are not familiar with.

Chapter 6. Scenic Route

The next morning Slinkman awoke with an excited feeling in his gut. He was so excited he didn't even eat breakfast. All he thought about was being able to see and spend time with Anna on the hike. He was so caught up in his own little world that he completely forgot that he had chores to do. Scoutmaster Lumpus finally brought him out of his daze by ordering Slinkman to make sure that all scouts were ready to leave.

River, Morning Glory, and Apple Blossom watched from underneath Jelly Cabin, as Slinkman walked around in a daze. Glory and Blossom were murmuring about how they thought it was cute to see somebody other than all of the male pups from their pack, with a love struck expression on their face. River let out an annoyed groan after listening to them for only five minutes, and got to her feet and left to go and lie on the dock.

River sighed as she put her head over the edge and stared at the bass and bluegill swimming freely in the water. She let out another sigh, but this time she sounded upset. Why do Blossom and Glory always have boy problems? Why can't I get some attention? It's just because I'm different, isn't it?

River stared at her reflection in the water. She growled at it and angrily splashed the water with her paw, hoping to make her face disappear. But she realized that it wasn't her face that needed a change, but her black stockings on all four legs. This is what made her different. She was the only wolf member that had two different colors of fur. Oh how she wished she could make it go away.

River stared up into the bright blue sky. Her grandfather, or her dad's dad, was up there now. She missed him so much, and especially now, when she needed his advice. Whenever she was feeling upset about something, no matter what he said, he always made her feel better. But now, he wasn't there to guide her along the path of life. She always knew that someday he would leave her, and she would get on with life. But sometimes she needed someone like her grandfather to talk to.

"River?" Being taken from her thoughts, River whipped around to find her dad and an unfamiliar wolf pup standing next to him. The wolf pup looked about her age and had sweet, gentle orange eyes. But the fur on this wolf is what really caught her attention. The wolf had a black coat but had a grey underbelly. It had a grey splotch on its left eye and black stockings on its legs and grey tipped ears.

"River, this is Shadow. He will be joining our pack. His parents are already there and resting", Nova introduced them. River smiled shyly and nodded her greetings. Shadow nodded back.

River looked over Shadow's shoulder and saw Slinkman walking over to them. She motioned with her head for her dad to turn around. Nova looked over his shoulder and greeted Slinkman with a big smile as he trotted over to him. They talked for a few seconds before Nova returned to them. He told them they would be leaving for the hike soon, once the Squirrel Scouts got to the camp. River nodded, while Shadow looked confused. As Nova began walking away, Shadow asked, "Um, excuse me, sire; but may I go along?"

Nova turned and faced him, looking from Shadow to River. River gave him pleading eyes of "Yes, let him come!" He looked back to Shadow and said, "Of course. But you must stay with River until you are familiar of your surroundings." And with that being said and done, he turned and left them on the dock.

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The Squirrel Scouts all grumbled as they gathered to leave for Camp Kidney. All except for Ms. Doe, who was always looking on the bright side, and Anna, who couldn't wait to see you-know-who.

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Slinkman went up to his room and dug underneath his bed for his walking stick. Soon he found it and brought it out gently, as if it were going to break if he held it wrong. Although it wasn't that delicate, it was old. It belonged to his grandfather. It was a special twisted walking stick that he had discovered in the Smoky Mountains of Kentucky. It was very rare to find one.

Before he left he spotted his wolf call whistle on his nightstand. He didn't think he'd need it, but, as he always seems to follow the Bean Scout Handbook, he grabbed it and tucked it in his pocket. The handbook says to always be prepared.

Slinkman gently carried the twisted stick outside to find that the Squirrel Scouts were already there. Scoutmaster Lumpus was making an announcement, so Slinkman crept up behind the group as quietly as he could, and slid into the crowd without being noticed. No sooner had he gotten in, than everyone started leaving the area.

Slinkman felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to find Anna smiling at him. He smiled back and asked what the announcement was about. She just said, "Oh, same ol' same ol'. Rules, what not to do, use the buddy system. That sort of stuff." Then Anna noticed Slinkman's walking stick. "What's that?"

Slinkman held his walking stick out to her and said, "Oh, this was my grandfather's. He found it in the Smoky Mountains. It called a twisted walking stick. It is very rare to find one. He gave it to me before he died."

Wanting to change the subject, Anna asked Slinkman if he would walk with her on the hike. Slinkman immediately agreed, although he tried not to sound too excited. Anna smiled and walked over to the group, who was just about to leave.

River and Shadow pulled right up next to Slinkman and Anna. Anna looked down at them and asked, "Who's this?"

Shadow went right ahead and introduced himself, "I'm Shadow. I'm a new member to River's pack." Anna and Slinkman both introduced themselves and Shadow told them it was nice to meet them. All the while, River kept her face away from Anna and Slinkman.

She didn't want to get on the subject of why she was with him and if she liked him or not. She had already been introduced to the Squirrel Scouts, along with her other siblings and Shadow, and they had asked her so many questions about being with him. The truth was she really did like him. She just didn't want to tell him in case he didn't like her.

River continued to look away, and discovered that her parents were still reuniting with the Squirrel Scouts. Why can't I have friends like that?

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Slinkman and Anna were both the caboose of the group, making sure nobody was left behind. They talked about life and what they did in their younger days. Slinkman avoided the topic of Super Slug. He still had yet to tell her.

All the while, Slinkman felt as if he was being watched by something. Every now and then he would get shivers down his spine, or whatever was in place of his vertebrae, and he would stop and scan the forest for any signs of someone else being there. Anna would always ask what was wrong and he would say it was nothing.

After a half an hour of walking the group came to a fork in the path. The path to the right led to a scenic area. The left path continued the path the led back to the camps. Obviously, they were supposed to go left.

Slinkman followed the group but Anna stayed where she was. "What's wrong, Anna", Slinkman asked? Anna motioned to the right path and said, "I want to go up there for a minute." Slinkman turned to see where the group was. They were a ways a head of them. He turned back to her and said, "Anna, we shouldn't. We need to stay with the group. We could get lost."

She sighed and laughed, "Oh come on. We know what path they're on and I only want to go up there for a minute. Put a little fun into your job." Slinkman held a straight face and stood in his spot, not wanting to look like he was giving in. Anna shrugged and started up the right path.

That feeling of being watched came over him and he scanned the forest again for anything. Again, he could see nothing. But the feeling was telling him something was out there. That settled it. He sprinted up the right path after Anna and caught up with her in less than ten seconds.

Anna wasn't surprised to see him. But when she looked at him, she noticed his face was a little pale. "What's wrong, Slinkman? You look a little pale." Slinkman gave a nervous laugh and said, "I was just startled by something."

Slinkman felt his 'spine' quiver again and he got the feeling of being watched. Anna must have felt it too, because she stopped and scanned the woods. Slinkman asked her what was wrong. Anna, without taking her eyes off of the forest, answered his question with a question of her own, "Do you have the feeling you're being watched?"

"I've been feeling that this whole hike." Anna walked back to Slinkman, clinging to his arm once she got there. "Let's keep going", Anna said. Slinkman, against her will, continued to travel up the path, with Anna clinging to his arm.

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At the top Anna saw the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. The path ended as a cliff ledge and past that Anna saw the rest of the forest that stretched out for miles. Then, past that, she saw Pimpleback Mountain, and Great Mount Whitehead. Anna looked straight down the cliff and saw a river at the base. Anna stood in silent awe as she scanned the sights.

Slinkman, on the other hand, was nervous. The feeling had grown much stronger. The something that was watching them was near. Not only that, but there was a weird musky smell that was getting stronger every minute.

Slinkman's grip on his walking stick tightened. He was going to fight this thing as soon as he saw it. And if it came for Anna, it would have to get through him first before it even got near her.

Anna grabbed Slinkman's hand and pulled him over to the ledge. "Slinkman, come and see this beautiful sight", she insisted. Slinkman obeyed. As Anna continued to marvel, Slinkman tried to tell her that they should leave.

Anna asked, "Why?" Slinkman quickly started searching the forest. The musky smell was so strong that Slinkman knew it was there. He knew it was coming closer to them with every step. Anna gave a look of disgust, "Eww. What is that horrible smell?"

"I remember learning about this kind of smell in my handbook. And if I'm correct, the thing that has been pursuing us is a-."

But before Slinkman could finish his sentence, a great big, ugly, brown, vicious creature leaped off of a nearby oak tree, and right in front of the two slugs' only escape route.

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Can you guess what the creature... stalker... thing is? And yes, twisted walking sticks are real. The are made by nature itself.

I will be updating twice this weekend, so look for me again today or possibly tomorrow.