Chapter 7: Around the Campfire

Fu gathered up some pieces of chopped down trees, and huddled it together in a bunch. Haley blew out some flames on top of the wood, to create a nice fire. After that, the whole gang collected giant pieces of log, to sit on. And collected leafs so they may make beds so that they may lay on it for the night. There wasn't much, so they had to deal on what they could come about.

Trixie lowered her hands, over the warm fire. Not only was she cold, but she was terrified; terrified of what could be out there in the forest, just waiting to eat her! How does she always get mixed into these situations?

Too concentrated on warming up the palms of her hands, Trixie did not notice she had a guest sitting right next to her. A creature that looked like a three foot praying mantis, staring at the girl. Starting to feel that eerie, being watched feeling, Trix slowly moved her head to right. The giant praying mantis sat next to her on the log, reaching his long neck so that he could move his head closer to hers!

Trixie jumped onto the air, screaming! "What is that?!" She hid behind Fu. The strange insect started to crawl closer to her.

"It's just a bug!" Fu pushed Trixie off. "All you have to do is flick it off." He gave a little flick of his paws, and the bug went zooming out of the area. "See."

She slowly headed back to her same spot, sticking out her hands over the fire once more. Just then, you could hear little pitter patter noises on the ground. Trixie looked over her shoulder once more, to see the praying mantis thing running up to her again. Now that she knew the creature couldn't hurt her, or least she figured, she whacked up her hand knocking the praying mantis out from the camp site.

"Uhh…I hate this place. This is just like camping!!" She complained.

"No, this is worse than camping. Which is why we have to stick together." Fu Dog pressed his rump onto a log, sitting.

Right after Fu sat down, Spud runs into the camp holding a bunch of fruit. "Spud! Didn't you here a word I said!!" He yelled

"Uhh…no. But look, I found some fruit!" Spud rose up his arms with the fruit, as if he was god or something.

Trixie stood up, and reached over for the orange fruit, and sat back down. "Thank goodness, I though I was going to starve-" She lowered down her head, just to get one bite. But Fu Dog raced over to her, and smacked the fruit out of her mouth.

"Don't eat these, they're poison!!" He said spoke as he just saved Trixie's life.

Spud, still standing, looked down at the fruit. The fruit looked like regular oranges, and didn't look poisonous. "Uhh…how can you tell?"

"Haven't you heard the sayings, purple, green is safe to eat? Red and orange you'll be sick for the week?" The two were speechless. Fu grumbled under his breathe, and trotted over to tree. He hammered his paw once, into the tree trunk. As he did, purple colored fruit fell from the branches onto the ground. "There, these are safe to eat." He picked up one with his mouth, and proceeded back to his spot.

Spud picked up the fruit, and handed one to Trixie. On the other side of the fire, little Haley was sitting alone. Spud went to her side, and handed her a fruit too. "Thanks." She whispered. Her eyes did not leave the ground.

After he handed Haley the fruit, Spud went and sat down at his own log. He took one bite of his food, and then dropped it on the ground. "Oh yeah, while I was out look what I found!" He pulled behind him the same giant praying mantis that was in the camp earlier. He shoved the bug, right in Trixie's face.

Trixie ran away, again. "Spud, get that gag-nasty thing away from me!" she yelled.

"Awww, but look at him! He's so cute!!" He started tickling the bug's tummy, as if it was a baby.

Ignoring Spud, Trixie decided to sit over by Haley. She seemed rather gloomy, since she battled that werewolf, and did not speak much. She knew there was something deeper happening, to cause Haley's gloom. "So what happened between you and Jake?" She raised an eyebrow. She remembered how Haley ignored the fact that her only brother way stolen away.

Haley twitched her eyes back at the ground and at Trixie. "What…there's nothing going on between me and him…really…" she tried denying it. Trixie crossed her arms, waiting for an answer. Haley gave up, trying to reject it. "It's just that…you know I really like my brother. But every time I want to spend time with him…he blows me off to do something else." She sighs.

"Haley, you have to remember that Jake is trying to ace two lives here. Sometimes he does things that you know he won't do…trust me. Just remember that he would never do anything to hurt you…on purpose."

"Doesn't seem that way to me. You know, at one point Jake was my biggest hero. But he never wants to be there for me, when I need him. He thinks I'm just some annoying little brat that gets on his nerves." Haley bent her head downward, again.

Trixie felt Haley's pain, but she knew it was true. Sometimes, Jake never gave Haley enough credit. Sure every brother and sister fight, but sometimes there were days when they had to…deal with their differences. "I know your brother can be, rough around the edges. But know that he will always love you, and be by your side."

Haley turned to the side; she wasn't so convinced, yet. She picked herself up from the log, and walked around their camp area. In the far east of the corner, Fu Dog was resting his body on a batch of leafs. He wasn't completely asleep, when Haley came to him.

"Hey kid what's up?" He lifted up his head, sitting on two paws now.

"Nothing." She answered, she still seemed depressed.

Fu shook his ears. "You nervous about tomorrow?" He guessed.

This wasn't brought to Haley's attention, until now. But yes, she was nervous, nervous combined with fear and anger. "I just don't know if I can do it Fu. I'm not that big, or strong as the other dragons. Without Sun…or grandpa, I don't think I can do it." She almost started to tear. But the will of her strength, kept the tears from falling.

"Don't worry about it kid, you'll do fine." Fu repeated himself.

"You're not just saying that, are you…?" Haley doubted Fu's advice.

The Shar-pei went to his paws, and started to pace around the bundle of leafs. "No, I'm not. You got a lot of strength build in that tiny body of yours. And your smart too, one thing that Jake lacks." He laughed.

Haley sat her rump down on the pile of leaves, squatting down on her knees. Fu came over, and put a paw around her shoulder. "With you, me, and those two over there, nothing can go wrong. Trust me, everything will be okay." Fu smiled at her.

For the first time since their departure, Haley gave a little grin, to his answer. She turned over, and gave Fu a hug. "Thanks Fu,"

Fu then got up, and walked over to the center of the camp. "We all should get some rest. Tomorrow we will think up a plan, before we attack." Fu then circled around the bundle of leafs, and went into his sleeping position. After Fu got comfortable, Haley laid right next to him, petting his fur. And not too long, Trixie and Spud joined them for one of the most uncomfortable nights of sleep. They all drifted to sleep, unknowing of what will happen, tomorrow.

Tomorrow is their last chance, to save every one from the Drametas. Can they do it:) Can Haley prove to herself that she doesn't need anyone's help!? Find out...eventually xD