Welp, guess I've still got things to do here.
I guess I should probably get this chapter done and posted with the others since there is a lot I'm writing at this time.
Aaron had woken up early to see everyone else up... wait was he up early?
"How long have I been asleep?" He asked, questioning the situation
"It's been five minutes since we woke up." Max said simply
"Oh... wait why the hell are you guys up so early?" Aaron asked, now curious about what's going
That's when a fire arrow hit the fire pit, he just looked at it now more confused than before.
"This doesn't remotely answer anything." Aaron said, just looking at the fire
"Camp Campbell Campers." He then heard David say
Everyone looked over to see David wearing clothing that made him look a Native America with Quartermaster and Gwen just wearing paint while wearing their normal clothes, Aaron sighed.
"David, one why the hell are you dressed up as a Native American and two, why the hell is everyone up so early?" He asked, a bit tired from waking up early
"Hau." David simply said, with a stoic look on his face
"David, answer the fucking questions already." Aaron said, not in the mood
"I'm not David, I am an Indian Chief." David said with a stoic look still
"Like Max?" Neil asked simply
"No, Max is an Indian. David's a Native American, my God get it right." Aaron said, already done with David's shit
"Bu-"
"David, no just no. Listen, you're already making me fed up with this in the first five seconds this has been occurring. Now, let's get somethings right. You're a Native American Chief, not an Indian one. You're using an outdated term that would make actual full-blooded Native Americans offended at along with actual Indians like Max." Aaron said, a bit offended
"Wait, Native American?" Max asked confused
"You don't know the history do you?" Aaron asked, not all that surprised
"Not really." Max said with a shrug
"A long time ago, British people came here and formed America, shortly after arriving. They found people lived and here and well... let's just say. They weren't treated well." Aaron said, with some apprehension in his voice
"To what extent?" Max asked curiously
"...Enslavement and massive widespread of deadly illnesses." Aaron said a bit saddened
"OH!" Neil said shocked
"Yeah, let's not even talk about what happened to some of the women. Makes me angry to this day." Aaron said with a solemn headshake
David meanwhile was just watching this interaction, somewhat proud of them talking about history while somewhat disappointed they didn't care about this.
Aaron then looked back at David, still annoyed about the situation at hand.
"Not the point here, point is that we're not doing this today... or ever for that matter." He said, not in the mood still
"Listen, we represent the Order of the Sparrow." David said with somewhat of an authoritative tone
"Wait, isn't there no mythology of the Sparrow in Native American legends? I mean, I think that's what my grandfather told me." Aaron asked in thought
"I don't know, but not what we're talking about. We're a secret society th-"
"Wait than if you know it, then how is it secret since you're telling us? In fact, I've never heard of it before anywhere especially by my grandmother who actually knew a lot about the society from her mother and her mother's mother actually if I go back far enough." Aaron said simply
"We only gather to honor the most worthy of campers." David said with a serious tone still
"You mean Native Americans? Since I'm sure as shit the only partially Native American person here." Aaron said with a serious look
"And what are you doing here anyway?" Nikki asked confused
"Yet another good question." Aaron said high fiving her
David sighed and walked over, he was really trying to get this to work.
"The Order has been around since I was a camper, and it's really cool." David said, somewhat in a begging tone
"Using inaccurate terms for Native American people using an animal with no mythological ties to them along with the fact that you're trying to honor us. A group of campers having only one partially Native American person, that being me, and all with what idea exactly in mind if you don't mind me asking?" Aaron said, not really wanting to do this
"I-I mean." David starting to step back a little
Aaron then started to walk forward, now slightly pissed.
"I mean, what's there to say David? What is there to say." Aaron said, frown on his face
"Th-there's a prize?" David said with a nervous smile
Aaron then stopped and looked at him blankly.
"...Fine, I'll play along." He said, walking back to the others
"So what's the prize?" Max asked, somewhat curious what David has planned
"That'll be revealed at the setting of the sun." David said with a serious tone again
Aaron sighed and rolled his eyes, he knew there would be nothing in all of this except some bullshit metaphorical prize that everyone in the camp would most likely get pissed about since these are kids he's dealing with here.
He doesn't care about the prize but rather more cares about getting a break from the bullshit for the past couple weeks, they LITERALLY risked losing their camp to a cult since Cameron is so greedy.
If this doesn't do anything well for them than something better probably will.
Later
Aaron had noticed the sign that Quartermaster put up, he sighed as he just walked away as everyone was talking, Max noticed him walking away.
"Why aren't you doing this?" Max asked, confused
Aaron stopped and turned around with a very annoyed look.
"I honestly don't give a fuck about any of this, I already know the outcome of this whole thing, Native American culture my ass." Aaron said, walking away afterward
He just kept walking away, sighing internally, Max then walked near him.
"You gonna join?" Aaron asked, already knowing the answer
"Yeah, I'm not gonna get involved in this shit fest." Max said with a shrug
"Agreed bruh, agreed." Aaron said in a sort of bored tone
Nearly an hour later
Aaron stood with the other campers, eye twitching as he looked at an unlit bonfire as the sky was turning grey.
The forecast did call for rain later today... so of course, it would be a bad day to even do this.
"A bonfire?" He asked, a bit angry
"Yeah, a bonfire." David said happily
"A fucking, bonfire." Aaron said, now frustrated
"Yeah, that's what it is." David said, now a bit apprehensive
"You mean to tell me, that the prize for everyone being good and being a Samaritan... is a bonfire." Aaron said exasperatedly
"Umm, yeah." David said, now a bit nervous
"You mean to fucking tell me, that the reward for doing stuff, isn't a microscope, it isn't hover-boots, and it certainly isn't a Broadway deal. It's a fucking bonfire, the most useless reward in nearly all of the existence near something else I can't even name on hand right now." Aaron said, now actually angry
"I mean... you do get an ancient staff to pass on to the next generation of sparrows. Isn't that good?" David said, his voice getting high pitched
Aaron looked at him silently, his fury growing more and more by the second.
Was this seriously something he's trying to salvage?
"David, I am going to be absolutely and brutally honest. That is a terrible reward." Aaron said, his voice having no tone
David looks at Aaron nervous, everyone looked at him and just saw the utter disappointment in his eyes.
He really was angry about all of this.
"I mean... I've had to deal with so much shit over the years and even I've gotta admit. This actually takes the cake a little." Aaron said, disappointment dripping in his tone
"For what, I might ask?" David said with a smile, hoping for something a little good
"It nearly takes the cake for how fucking useless it is, I know that I'm partially Native American and all but here's something you need to know. Native Americans reward people with different things, hell a vision quest is actually pretty cool because literally find a spiritual guardian for yourself and gain a name. That's fucking cool David, this, this isn't." Aaron said, not wanting to really be here still
It then started to rain a little, the other campers along with Gwen and the Quartermaster except Max started to walk away.
"This was a waste of everyone's time and energy... hope your proud David." Aaron said, his tone scathing
He then stepped to the side, letting Max dig into him as David got more and more frustrated.
Max was about to walk away when Aaron then got in another world.
"Another thing i might add, you're not dealing with your generation David. You're dealing with a different generation, so give up already." He said blankly
Aaron walked away while pulling his hood up with Max walking with him.
"You're right." The two heard
Aaron and Max looked back at David, he stood up and didn't look at them.
"Times have changed, and whether I like it not. Things are never gonna be the same." He said in a sort of depressed tone
He sighed before continuing.
"The campers don't care, Gwen doesn't care, heck Mr. Campbell has better thing to do than be here." David said, still depressed
David turned around to look at Aaron and Max, fists clenched into a tight ball as he had a serious look on his face.
"And that's why I'll never stop trying." He said, mustering some sort of strength
The three looked at each other in the rain.
"Because someone fucking has to." David said, steeling himself and using his strength to say it
Thunder crashed down, Aaron sighed.
"And where's that gonna get you?" He asked in a serious tone
"What?" David asked confused
Max and David looked at Aaron, his eyes deathly serious.
"I've tried and tried to get through life, what's that gotten me so far David?" He asked
Aaron then pulled out the locket and opened it showing the picture of him and his brother.
"We tried to get away from my father, I tried to pick up the pieces, I tried to trust people. I've gotten some recovery, but where has that gotten me?" He asked
Aaron put the locket away, he looked at David even more serious then he was before.
"A homicidal maniac chasing after me, the possibility of me having to move to Canada while I spend time at some camp, and finally. Me, having to sit here and wait for him to get here or leave here with my parents all while my fucking time that's supposed to be spent relaxing... completely and utterly wasted by some fool who can't let go." Aaron said
Aaron then took off his hood and rolled up his sleeves, showing scars that were nearly faded which shocked the two.
Those scars are from when his father attacked him all that time ago.
"That's what I fucking got for trying, so tell me, why should I keep trying?" Aaron asked
David and Aaron looked at each other in the rain.
"...To give up is pointless, listen, Aaron. You've dealt with bad times, we've all have, it's what you do that matters. You've kept going right?" He asked him
Aaron rubbed his bare arm nervously, he sighed.
"I guess." He uttered
"Than that means you kept trying, your father may be trying to kill you but if he gets here... we'll make sure you'll be fine." David said
It continued to rain, Aaron sighed.
"...I'll hold ya to it." He said softly
Aaron then started to walk away, putting his sleeves down, Max looked at him as he walked away as did David.
Aaron was about to go into the tent when-
"Hey."
Aaron looked over to see Max and David standing in the rain, he just looked at them as it rained around them.
Later
Aaron had a cup of hot chocolate as did David and Max, the three sitting in silence. Aaron just was looking down, feeling incredibly awkward about... well, everything if he's going to tell the truth.
David put a hand on his shoulder which caused Aaron to look at him.
"You wanna talk about it?" He asked with a smile
Aaron smiled, he then talked about how he felt about the situation and on how he's always wanted to get the one thing he lost back, his brother.
After a bit of talking, the three agreed that what was talked about, would never be talked about again.
But they gained a deeper understanding of who Aaron was.
A broken person that's still trying to pick up the pieces.
And he's still picking up those pieces, even now.
And he'll never... ever stop trying.
Yeah, wrote a different spin on the episode, figured that would be a lot more enjoyable and character development filled.
I'll see you guys in the Fandom.