Author's Note: Usually, I have the second chapter give the story its identity. Those who have stuck with me over the past two years might have noticed this. But as I am a progressive writer, I like to change things up every so often. In the case of Beyond Twilight, the first chapter provided the identity, while the second provides a sense of familiarity for Camp Lazlo fans. Hell, I would go as far to say that this plays out like a Squirrel Scout-centered episode (as rare as they are). Just devoid of the craziness and what have you.
Future plot points are hinted in this chapter, and some developments are made. Don't be expecting another appearance from the mysterious Uriah Heep, however. He won't be making his return until Chapter 14. And even so, it won't even be at Acorn Flats. Rather, we get to find out where he and Gethsen Pheles do their string-pulling, along with Uriah's own secret intentions.
I have also given names and surnames to the Squirrel Scouts who were once without -- except for the final Scout (the elusive tapir). I haven't figured out what she will be called yet, but I'm positive it'll be Malaysian. If you'd like to contribute, just send me a private message, and I'll give you full credit in the Author's Note of Chapter 3.
And lastly, there are plenty of secrets for you to uncover. So read it over twice if you have to, as what you will find might startle you.
Enjoy.
Chapter 2: Like It Should Be
Nightfall soon came, and darkness took Leaky Lake, with the crescent luminary shining at its dimmest and only faintly revealing the moon-still water and the shapes of trees. A vast number of twinkling stars and glowing fireflies stood out in the cloak of black, hovering above and about the cabins of Acorn Flats. None were slumbering within, however. They were all seated at the entrance of the forest near a crackling flame, listening wearily to the stories their Scout Master told. For them, it was not to be a night of death -- though death would certainly occur in places closeby, yet quite unknown. For the ever-greedy would consume once more, and those truly responsible would repeat the process of muting the most terrible of happenings...
Of course, Scout Master Trewavas was mindful of the woods' dangers; but at the same time he disregarded them. Being a police officer once upon a time helped him to analyze the unseen's intent and execution, and he concluded that this animal (as it was sure to be) would not strike if he and his Scouts remained tightly knit. Judging from the lonesome death of Jane Doe and the lack of any subsequent slaughter in the past few days, his being correct was more than probable, although there was still a good chance that he was mistaken (and he prayed that this was not the case). But until he was wronged, Roine would do everything he could to overthrow the fear, as the woods were not to blame -- regardless of what nefarious things they sheltered.
So Roine went on, reading aloud a horror-themed short story (humorously titled 'Crazy Alice') to the girls before him, who yawned and gazed at him with insipidness. They felt that the proper atomsphere for this sort of tale was never generated; all due to his overdramatic telling and emphasis on the wrong words, yet Roine himself thought he was doing an excellent job. He gesticulated heavily when the story's only revelation revealed itself; the main character (a drunken sheriff named Willy) had learned that Alice (the title character and villian) was behind her husband's sudden disappearance. Indeed, it was very surprising. But before he could finish Alice's cliched monologue, a lavender pink gopher who normally kept to the background eructed sloppily, and the other girls came out from their torpor and responded with much laughter.
"Susie..." Roine groaned, shaking his head. "Girls, come on now..."
Even Patsy, who chose to remain isolated from the group, couldn't help cracking a smile. But it quickly faded after uncertainty and darkness smothered the moment of glee, and she recalled unblinking spotlights on a scarred, ageless and glaring face, reciting enigmatic words through a mouth without movement, and producing an inhuman resonance. She recalled the world he made to replace her own for moments without, and the damage he had done without lifting a single finger. And most especially, the terror that shook her body when she felt abandoned by all.
He -- the man called Doctor Uriah Heep.
No! She refused to believe that he was even a man. As far as she was concerned, that beast was an it.
Her face went sullen, and that glum feeling from past days returned to her. She knew she had to abrogate this memory, yet at the same time she didn't wish to. For there was something about that horrible moment which struck her as enlightening -- however cryptic it might've been. Why else would Uriah do such a thing unless it was trying to convey a message of some sort? Then another thought presented itself; what would she gain if she figured it out? Did she even want to know of the truth? What if the enduring of this misery turned out to be futile in the end?
She looked to the left and right, to her friends all gathered round; still laughing like children at Susie's perfect timing, and then brought her eyes to the ground. Who would she lose if she sought the message and disregarded bonding built upon three years? Who else would feel miserable if she isolated herself further from entertainment and happiness? And what of Lazlo? What would he think of this new, grey Patsy? At that moment, the mongoose clenched her skirt while forming a look of determination on her face.
"No goggled freak is going to make me feel like crap!" she thought, "Starting now, I'm going to completely forget about it, and get back to being Patsy Smiles!"
Much to the surprise of everyone, Patsy leapt from the tree stump she was sitting on and approached Roine.
"Um, Scout Master Treeman?"
Roine frowned and closed the book, setting it upon his lap. "Trewavas."
"Right, sorry. You aren't supposed to be reading bed time stories. These are horror stories we're talking about here. You're supposed to be scaring people." She didn't seem very petulant during her explaination, which contradicted the foregoing Patsy Smiles. And it came as an even greater surprise when she actually offered to take over for Roine.
Without question Roine handed over the book and retreated to where Patsy was once sitting (behind Susie and Nina), while the mongoose herself settled down on the base of a fallen tree (Roine's spot), laying directly in front of the crackling flame and onlooking Scouts. She flipped through the latter parts of 'Crazy Alice' and stories of similar unengaging natures until she found what she desired (at least she hoped she did. The title appeared to signify distress, but all things in the world can mislead). Her efforts were twofold; as her fellow Scouts were still detached, she needed something that would provide a chilling atomsphere, while showing Roine how it was done as well. He certainly seemed like the jumpy type, so spooking him wouldn't prove to be too difficult...
"This story is called 'The Tragedy Of The Wilderness', by Sir Ahu Eephir." A queer feeling came over her after rolling the author's name off her tongue. It struck her as outlandish, but at the same time, very familiar. She shrugged it off and cleared her throat, thusly beginning with the next tale, "SGEX03-AF. That is what he believed his name to be. That is what the shady men in white had called him in memories of old; back when his home was made of glass and steel, and not wood and stone and soil. He knew not of why they disappeared, or why his surroundings abruptly changed. All he
knew was that he was here to stay in this forlorn wilderness, as an indefinite amount of time had passed by, and no one from his past had come to bring him home...
"No, such thinking was ridiculous! They couldn't have just abandoned him. Not after feeding him so well, and tending to his health during troubling times. Times of unimaginable pain, when his front paws rended and lengthened, and his back paws became useless and floppy. When his upper jaw loosened, and when he started to grow thick, whip-like appendages from his hind quarters; which he could no longer see due to his neck becoming non-existant...
"Not after his 'Father' spoke so highly of him...
"His diminutive ears rose when he heard a soft rustle nearby, and he hastily retreated into a cluster of shrubs. He held his breath and squinted his three eyes, catching sight of a furre, plump and pale, with eyes wide open and a proboscis dangling from his face, waddling on as if he hadn't a worry. SGEX03 had seen this creature before -- albeit accompanied by two others who wore the same clothing and resided in the same area. He cared not for the reason of this curious noctivagation. In fact, he was quite pleased about it, for he would never descend from his mountain to prey after dawn or before dusk. Only during the fall of blackness did he hunt -- the rest of his time was commited to observing in secret, not wishing to ever be seen by anyone. It was but one of many psychological changes which would occur during his stay in the forest...
"SGEX03 crept out of the shrubs, keeping his tiny eyes glued to the anthropomorph, whose back was now turned to him. Although his build was massive and awkward, he could be muted and stealthy when he desired. He brought forth one of his appendages, which slithered on the forest floor like a malevolent serpent before wrapping itself around the elephant's leg, tripping him. Once fallen, his prey spun around in a violent manner, throwing leaves and dirt into the air as he did so. He made a slow approach, watching that once vigilant expression twist into obvious consternation. Then he leapt forth, and terrifying screams killed off the night's silence!"
Patsy emulated the scene with screams of her own. They were ugly, high-pitched screams that caused all of the girls to either gasp or shudder. However, their Scout Master merely slid a finger into his ear canal, appearing unfazed by the torturous sounds.
It was her intention to change that. "He managed to catch the elephant's flailing arms with his serrated teeth, and like saws they sliced through muscle and bone. The detached hands fell from his gaping mouth, along with warm goopy saliva that was darkened with blood. The screams then became short, high-pitched gasps as a state of shock sweep over the portly man..."
Patsy glanced up, taking note that a few of the furres appeared sickened. Luckily, she had a gut made of iron -- but she still couldn't help but sympathize. What she was reading was quite gratuitous for a story geered toward young adults. Even Trewavas was starting to look a bit pale. But nevertheless, this is what she wanted. By successfully frightening her fellow Scouts and Roine, she would truly become Patsy Smiles again. So she smirked and continued on, sensing that the climax would drive a nail through Roine's obvious defiance. "He tried desperately to flex his digits, not coming to the realization that his hands were no longer attached. He directed his wide-eyes downward, and instead of seeing those fat fingers in the blackness, he saw broken radius and ulna bones in the middle of shredded stumps, pointing up to the forest canopy. The revolting sight made him groan. He felt his stomach twist into a knot, and putrid vomit flooded his mouth as a result of both horror and melancholy...
"SGEX03 gurgled in delight, as he knew it was forfeiture the moment he and this creature had crossed paths. When the time came to end it all, he ripped the trunk off of the man's face and slung it aside with whatever else his teeth had caught. He heard a prolonged wisp after the gasping had ceased, and then all became still. It was almost a pity he killed it, as he did so enjoy the trashing of his prey while dismembering them. With a deep breath, SGEX03 gazed up to the canopy and released a long howl!"
Patsy produced a sound so menacing and geniune, that it caused every Squirrel to scream or whimper or grab hold of another. Yet it was not her doing -- to wit, her dreadful noise was merely accompanied by the wilderness' real life tragedy.
Regardless of what the truth was, it was enough to make Mister Trewavas fall backwards, and those who were terrified just before were now jocund. He picked himself and his fedora up from the ground, turning around to hide the red flushing over his face. It was just his luck; first he was referred to as a female (unbeknownst to the good Commander who had found him), then a garbage bin gave him trouble, out of all things. And now this; nearly jumping out of his skin to a campfire story. At this rate, he was sure the girls would never take him seriously.
"...That will do for tonight." he said after clearing his throat, and he motioned for them to follow. His decision was met with disappointment, to which he replied with, "It is growing late, my friends. You are bound to have nightmares should we have more grotesque stories told, and you need all the sleep you can get. Now, if anyone can give me a valid reason as to why we should prolong our time here, then please do so." And with that, not one of them answered. "No? Then let us return."
He straightened out his coat, took hold of his fedora and used his free hand to brush the dirt out of his hair (which was only prominent in the back, courtesy of his father's genes). Then he started off in the direction of Acorn Flats, with the girls all following in a sluggish manner.
Patsy tucked the book under her arm and sighed, feeling strangely again from that name she had uttered earlier. Ahu Eephir. Why did it seem as though she knew this name? It was not a fragment from long ago, before her dear parents were butchered by the orange-eyed half-breed, or the time succeeding that event, when she was being crafted into a tenacious lass by her new father. For some reason, she was positive it was from present times. During this week, in fact. But she could not create an image of who the name belonged to.
Patsy's train of thought was derailed when Amber came up beside her, exclaiming, "Nice job scaring Scout Master Treeman! That was like, really awesome!"
"Indeed it was! You're such a legend, Patsy!" added Nina, who came up on the opposite side. "But hey, if you don't mind me asking, what ever caused this recidivism? It was kinda sudden."
"Oh, I just... booted that weirdo out of my mind, if you get what I mean." Patsy simply said. "There's no use dwelling on someone who I'll probably never see again; especially if it hurts you guys as a result! So with him gone, I think I'll go back to thinking about my soulmate!" She batted her eyelashes, a big smile spreading across her face. "Lazloooo..."
Nina rolled her eyes as saliva ran down the mongoose's chin. "I guess things are finally back to normal. Well, maybe not 'normal', but just like it should be."
Up the red sun rose from hills afar, casting a blanket of warmth onto all who still slept. Its rays shone through the trees' dark green leaves, which shivered from the caress of a soft wind, and through the windows of each cabin, illuminating the figures laying quietly under their pink and white covers. The myriad birds with whom the Scouts shared the forest with soon awoke and fluttered from branch to branch, singing their songs as the lake's waves lapped the shoreline in a delicate, rhythmic manner. And Acorn Flats' own yacht, along with a few smaller boats rocked against the dock each time a wave rolled past. A very lovely symphony it was, and it was played for the slumbering denizens every morning -- unless the morning greeted them with rainclouds and thunder (when it became something far less beautiful).
Patsy opened her eyes as the noises outside became more audible. She stretched out her toned, hourglass-like body, hearing the occasional popping of a joint as she did so. Offering a yawn, the
mongoose glanced up to the window above her, knowing that Miss Mucus' voice would come blaring out of the intercom at any moment. It was the usual beginning of their days, with the preservation of hygiene, mundane workouts and a hearty breakfast; which the Scouts almost always rushed through in order to get to their scheduled activities.
When the sun's rays began to shine with more brilliance, Patsy's cabin mates stirred from their slumber, and she greeted them with a fond "Good morning" as they yawned and rubbed the tiredness from their eyes. Nina replied with the upmost effervesce, while Gretchen just grumbled. Nothing at all unusual. Then they suddenly went still and silent in the midst of the agreeable temperature, taking a moment to luxuriate in their youth and ponder of the day still yet to unfold.
"Now that I think about it, yesterday wasn't so bad." Nina finally said. "For the most part. The tennis game was great -- as was the Brussel Sprout-eating competition. But that 'Crazy Alice' story of Roine's was inane. Sure, the way he told it was humorous at first, but the effect began to wear thin as he went on. Without your intervention, Patsy, I'm positive I would've fallen asleep!"
The mongoose giggled upon remembering that grown man falling over backwards -- but only when a feeling of concern overcame her did she reply, "You know, it might just be me, but I don't think Miss Mucus is very pleased with Roine. When he first arrived, she was giving him compliments and advice and all that stuff. But after he lifted those stupid precautions, she stopped speaking with him. I mean, remember how pissed she looked when he let us into the forest? He purposely defied the rules she set in place."
"Rules that she enforced like a one-woman-Gestapo." Nina interjected. "Rules that ruined any chance of having fun..."
"Yeah." Patsy frowned. "I have a feeling things are gonna get pretty nasty during the next few days..."
Leaving aside what their Scout Master had defied, it was clear that boredom would haunt them no longer, as what he provided for them (intentionally and not so much) was a definite improvement over previous days. Yet there was the chance of the heat becoming wayward and beating them down again, ruining any activity Roine might have had planned. And even if the sun was merciful, there was still Mucus to worry about...
"Eh, who cares?" said Gretchen, who was using a claw to pluck out the remains of yestreen's dinner, wedged tightly between her sharp teeth. "As long as it isn't stupidity that's driving Mister Treeman, then I'm cool with him. Miss Mucus can stick her head in the oven for all I care."
Without warning (but expected all the same), the bronze speakers atop the watch tower rattled as Mucus barked the first order of the morning. Although the Squirrels heard it countless times during their stay, the thunder of the warthog's voice never failed to give them a jump. And jump they did; straight out of their beds and onto their heads or feet. Immediately, the lot of them fled from their cabins and to the washroom, where they cleaned their teeth and took turns taking icy cold showers. They spared but a few moments to tend to their appearance before rushing back, trading in their pajamas for their daytime attire (Robin egg blue unforms, cerulean berets and scarves, and red orange vests).
Breakfast (waffles and sausage doused with maple syrup) came and went as it usually did. Honey was making the more apathetic ones choke with an exaggerated Roine imitation, and Gretchen was flinging sausages at Margaret and Tootie; a jackal and a squirrel respectively, who had not kept their tomboyishness intact throughout the years. They ducked and covered their perfectly combed hair, wailing for the alligator to cease and desist, but she simply cackled in response and persuaded Patsy to enter the fray. The womanly furres could no longer keep their facades up, and retaliation came once Miss Doe's influences were bested. By the time Miss Mucus ordered them outside for their daily workout, the Food Terrace's interior was ladened with bits of flummery and sticky meat.
So they began with jumping jacks, struggling to stay in sync with the warthog's stentorian 'one-twos' while keeping their recent meal inside their bellies. It did occur to them that their morning routine was switched up, but they dared not stop and complain, for they were being watched very carefully by Mucus, who stood at the pinnacle of her tower with a speaker in one hand and binoculars in the other. They also noticed that Roine was watching them. Upon his doorstep he stood, resplendant in a sparkling pink nightgown, and gripping a coffee mug (of the same color, as you might have guessed) with an Egyptian Mau kitten on the side. Alas, he did not stay for long. Once he had left their sight, they all suddenly fell to the ground; panting and sweating from the thirty push-ups which brought their routine to an end.
Patsy was the first to rise again. After she brushed the dust off of her uniform, she exclaimed, "This sure defeats the purpose of those showers we took!"
"I know." Tootie said in reply. Besides being the only squirrel among the Squirrels (ironically), she was also the youngest and the shortest; even her dark violet hair stood higher than she. Tootie ran a finger along her cheek and then cringed. "Now my fur feels all gross again..."
"Oh, quit pretending to be such a girl!"
"Yeah, Tootie!" spat Gretchen, who had also assumed an upright position. "Do us all a favor and grow a pair! You too, D'Virgillo!"
Margaret gave her reptilian acquaintance a killing stare. She hated to be reminded of her surname, and Gretchen knew this for a fact.
"Excuse us for actually caring about our appearances." she said quite frankly.
Before their bickering could go any further, Mucus silenced them with her intimidating presence and a good bit of scolding. Roine soon came up alongside her -- this time clad in his sepia colored attire instead of Miss Doe's wretched old nightgown. He held in his left hand a roll call sheet, which was being tugged on by the lingering morning breeze. He gave the Head of Security a pat on the shoulder, and with a half-grin he said, "That'll do Mucus. That'll do." He waited until the girls were all upright and dusted off before continuing, "You all look like hobos. And I'm sure some of you are perplexed by the switch up I made, but rest assured, it will make perfect sense soon enough." Roine pulled a marker out of his pocket, using it to count the still exhausted furres while glancing down at the list and nodding -- occasionally murmuring to himself. "Ten on the list and ten before me. Right, that concludes roll call...
"Go and fetch your swimming apparatus, for your first activity is taking a dip in Leaky Lake." Roine handed the sheet to Mucus and she made off for the watch tower, while the Squirrels ran in the opposite direction, with Roine shouting, "Go on! Post-haste! Godspeed! Et cetera..."
Within the passing of five minutes, they had returned wearing their bathing suits and carrying brightly colored floatation devices, among other things. They either jumped from the dock, or wadded in, depending on who they were and what they carried with them. With the exception of Gretchen (who was having difficulties inflating her unnecessarily large beach ball), all were out and about in Leaky Lake; splashing at each other, submerging themselves, or floating peacefully with the water's rhythm. The blazing sun, peering down from the blue sea above was soon covered by a wall of white cloud, and everything became darker and cooler, for which they were thankful for. They just hoped now that it wouldn't rain.
"It's beach ball time!" proclaimed Gretchen after she had finished, and she jumped in with a splash
"No, Gretchen! No!" cried the others, but the reptile paid no attention. With a fruity cackle she began terrorizing everyone by slinging her ball at them, or tipping over their rafts. Patsy and Nina were, of course, enjoying the chaos their longtime friend was creating, but Samantha and Tootie were irked
beyond belief. Their Scout Master didn't care that their relaxation time was being disrupted -- again. In fact, his eyes weren't laid upon any of them! He was sitting in a rusted fold-out chair, purposely immersing himself in the Prickly Pines Times (outdated by at least four years). Mucus paid them no mind either. Like a hawk, she watched for any 'misplaced' Bean Scouts from Camp Kidney, always keeping her cannon (which she installed against Miss Doe's orders) loaded with its non-lethal ammunition. Though deep inside, she wished that she could use spherical steel missiles instead of watermelons. Now that would keep those Beans away from Acorn Flats...
"Scout Master! Gretchen stole my bikini!" Susie whined, keeping her plump chest covered.
"Miss Lake, please return the bikini to Miss Rothery." replied Roine in the dullest of tones. He did not budge, nor did he bother to even sneak a peek.
Gretchen did so without argument, and thereafter turned completely placid. She swam over to Patsy and Nina, who had bewildered expressions applied. Not from Gretchen's harmless thievery, but from the drabness that now circulated around their Scout Master. He was doing everything in his power to keep himself disconnected, and even though it was the exact opposite of Miss Doe's overbearing nature, Patsy was not at all thankful for it. Most irritated, she wadded over to where he was quietly seated and placed her hands upon her hips.
"Scout Master Thomas?"
His reply was predictable and blunt. "Trewavas."
"Well, okay. Why aren't you in the water with us, Trewavas?"
"Can't swim."
Patsy rolled those black orbs and went on, "Couldn't you wear a life-jacket? We have plenty of those in the shed..."
"None of them fit." He lowered the newspaper a bit, at last making eye contact with the stubborn furre. "Wearing one of those would be embarrassing, anyway, considering they're pink and ancient..."
"But you wore Miss Doe's nightgown!" she snapped. "And that was even more girly than our life-jackets!"
Roine closed the Times, looking somewhat offended by her riposte. "That will be enough, Miss Smiles." he said as calmly as possible. "Go make better use of your remaining fifteen minutes." And back to the newspaper he went.
Suddenly, Patsy took hold of his boots, and with one mighty pull Roine was in the lake -- albeit the shallowest part. He still writhed frenziedly, trying to break free of Patsy, who was guiding him into deeper waters with a wicked smile on her face. Roine yelped when he realized how far away from the dock he was, and in an act of impulse, wrapped his arms around the mongoose. Mucus (who just happened to peer down) shook her head at the pathetic scene, and soon she brought her attention back to the camp across the lake, which struck her as strangely inactive today. At least, from what she could see.
"P-please... Patsy..." Roine faltered. "D-d-don't..."
Patsy laughed in a high-pitched staccato. "You better hold on, or you'll drooooown."
Trewavas clenched his teeth and tighened his grip around her curvaceous build, feeling his clothing grow heavier as the water seeped into it. He felt abashed not only by this situation, but being
entwined with a female far younger than he. Patsy cared not -- although she would question having him so close if he weren't such a pleasure to torture. If anything, the growing redness of his face and his continual state of panic just widened her smile.
"This is kind of sad." she whispered in his ear. "Our great and manly Scout Master at the mercy of Patsy Cynthia Smiles."
"Come on, Patsy." said a somewhat vexed Nina. "Just let him go."
Gretchen retrieved her beach ball and bounced it softly. "Yeah, we want to pick on him too!"
With a sigh, the mongoose heeded her longnecked friend, and rather than allowing Gretchen to carry out more superfluous bullying (which Nina wanted nothing to do with), she drifted with the Lake's current until they were inches away from the shoreline. She released Roine from her clutches and watched as he treaded the moist sand. He stopped for but a moment to pull a bottle from one of his many pockets. He gave it a hard shake and then slipped it back down whichever pocket it came from. Before long, he had already set foot within his home, apparently leaving Mucus in charge (who was not even aware of Roine's retreat). All the while the girls viewed quietly, each with a grim expression pasted onto her face. The Prickly Pines Times, which had fallen in along with Roine, floated right on by the frozen ten. It was smeared and ruined; unseen and unbothered.
"Gee. What happened to the Roine of yesterday?" Almondine wondered aloud, gently scratching the area underneath her beak. "And what was in that bottle?"
"Medications, maybe?" Susie said with a shrug.
"The question is," Gretchen began, "what bit him in the ass this morning?"
"I don't think anything bit him in the ass, Gretchen." Patsy said, her tone sounding much less playful than it was before. "But something is definitely bugging him. He wasn't distancing himself to this extreme." Her eyes, at first staring at nothing in particular, were now pasted onto the greenish, rippling water below. "I think I might've gone too far by dragging him around like that. And I think he might contemplate quitting because of me... and..."
"You gotta be kidding!" Gretchen threw her arms into the air, and small droplets of water fell as an aftereffect. "After having him experience a little something called fun? Come on, Patsy. The Scout Master's a wuss, no doubt about that, but he's not a baby. He'll get over it in a few."
"Still, I'm going to be a considerate Squirrel Scout (like I've always been) and apologize."
Gretchen, nor the others spoke as Patsy glided through the Lake, now ever so delicate. The morning wind had ceased, and the clouds above were beginning to break apart, once again revealing the orb of light and majestic sky. Patsy gave her body a fierce shake, and the droplets that flew from her disappeared into the foamy shoreline on which she stood. She continued towards Roine's pink abode, the grass brushing away the wet sand adorning her padded feet. As she slowly crept up the wooden stairs, she listened for sounds -- any kind of sound, including those accompanying sadness, for Gretchen could have been incorrect about Roine. The thought of him weeping over something so frivolous left her confused; she was not sure whether to crack a grin, or feel dreadful. Nonetheless, the house struck her as muted and dead. She peered through the windows, hoping to catch sight of Roine lying on the sofa, looking contemplative or embarrassed as he normally did...
Her eyes saw nothing.
Patsy knocked at the door, eagerly awaiting a response, but one never occured. She knocked louder, and this time called for Roine. "I know you're in there, Scout Master Trewavas! Would you please answer the door? I want to directly apologize to you, and this isn't exactly what I call direct!"
The house remained as it was, and this irritated Patsy to a great extent. "Come on! I'm not playing a trick on you, if that's what you're thinking! Just open up!" She stood there for a few more seconds, realizing then that he was not going to comply. So she growled and gave the door a sharp kick. "Okay, fine! Stay in there and pout! You're just a big pansy who wallows in boringness! And you need to shave! Do you hear me, Scout Master? Shave!"
Patsy knew that she shouldn't have flouted like that, and as she descended the wooden steps, a horrible feeling fell over her. Instead of returning to Leaky Lake to wait out those surely empty final minutes, she guided herself back to her cabin and leapt onto her bed as she was.
Twilight prevailed in more ways than one, and Patsy, now dressed in her uniform, watched as Roine carried outside a world map attached to a metal stand. He placed it directly in front of the flag pole, and returned again to his dwelling. Roine's sudden engagement struck her as a welcome surprise, for he had not shown himself since his retreat, which occured a great while ago. As it was all reminscent of the times Miss Doe or Mister Trewavas were absent, she (and the rest) immediately and accordingly made the best of those endless hours.
Patsy still dwelled on the Scout Master's isolation and its possible causes. She was certain the root of it was not her fault. If anything, it was something of the past that left him so frail and depressing -- but her show of contempt indubitably helped extend his stay within. Her small ears twitched each time he slunk past, and fell flat each time he disappeared from sight. She truly wanted to rush out there and ask for his forgiveness, yet a simultaneous feeling urged her to keep away.
"I wonder what that cheap-looking representation is for?" Nina mused, to which Patsy answered with a limp shrug.
"I wonder how he can even carry it." Gretchen chuckled, following up with another snide remark, "That stand looks mighty heavy."
"Can it, Gretchen." Patsy hissed.
Not one of the three had known that Trewavas furtively made his way into the watch tower, but they came to realize this after hearing his soft voice emnate from the speakers. In a predictable move, he requested that the Scouts bring themselves to his lonesome little set up, post-haste. And so they did, but they kept their curiousity caged while exiting their given abodes. Thus, only sounds that filled the air was the muffled clapping of their steps, the wild and neverending chorus of Leaky Lake's amphibious inhabitants, and the low whistling of an evening wind. A few noticed Roine lumbering out of the tower's opening, and he tipped his hat to those who laid eyes upon him. He halted when they halted, straightened out the stand and rotated himself, placing his hands behind his back with a forced smile. Strangely enough, Mucus was nowhere to be seen. Just like the previous night, it was as though she wanted nothing to do with Roine's more questionable activities.
"It's good to see you all, again." he said, trying his very best to sound upbeat. "I'm hoping you made good use of the free time I've given you. Our final activity for the day will involve not your bodies, but rather, the power of your mind."
"We're not going to be..." Margaret gulped. "...Learning, are we?"
"That's precisely what we're going to be doing. Albeit, not in a way you would expect."
"This isn't a school, Scout Master." stated Margaret, and many of the Squirrels nodded in concurrence.
"Of course not." His shammed smile disappeared. "And with that in mind, you should desist this complaining. As I said before, it will all make perfect sense. So if you would please, Miss D'Virgillo," Roine watched her face twist into a furious expression the moment he mentioned her surname, "Recite your Maxim."
Margaret sighed lightly, and reckoned that it wasn't ignorance on Roine's part. She had never enlightened him of the turmoils involving her kin -- he was totally unaware of her hatred of the D'Virgillo surname. She applied a calmer appearance and began with the Maxim every Scout knew by heart, "As the shelter and slayer of Man, and as Squirrel Scouts, we shall dedicate ourselves to the blade of infliction, the deconstruction of all that we were born with, and tainted knowledge..."
"Tainted knowledge," Roine said very slowly, "though synonymous with bullshit, is apart of your daily rituals. But that motto, if I do recall, had its own place on the Squirrel Scout Etiquette, which we've done away with. Hence, I will give unto you plain, uncontaminated knowledge.
"Let's start with you, Miss Bear. Could you point to where the United States is located?"
Honey's mouth began to water, and her eyes wandered in opposite directions while she approached the stand. Without thinking (as she hadn't much to think with), she placed a stubby finger onto Antarctica, expressing a rather proud look.
Roine stroked his goatee. "The United States is not that cold, I'm afraid." He then turned to Susie, whose mind seemed to be somewhere else. "Miss Rothery, was Adolf Hitler apart of the Rothschild bloodline?"
"Adolf Hitler? Was he a president?"
"Wrong!" He exclaimed in a more abrasive tone, which caught them all off guard. "Miss Smiles, what is dark matter?"
Knowing a great many things about space and science fiction, Nina gasped and bounced and gave her hand a wild shake -- even though it was not her question. And she groaned in disheartenment when Patsy answered incorrectly with, "Matter that is... dark?"
"Wrong! Miss Neckerly, is A1 milk safe to drink?"
"Well, according to the Food and Drug Administra-"
"Wrong! Miss Reingold!" Tootie's small ears sprang the instant Roine called her out. "Who is Credo Mutwa?"
"A person!"
"He is more than just a person!" Roine snapped, and Tootie's massive tower of dark hair toppled onto her face. "Miss Lake, who rules the world?"
Intending for her answer to be humorous and without any care, Gretchen flashed Roine a nasty grin and said, "Satan."
"Yes, correct!"
The alligator's large tooth-filled mouth dropped, and her normally squinted eyes widened to their fullest as a mixture of both amazement and bewilderment filled her. The other Squirrels just gawked at her and then at one another, each sharing the same exact face, feeling and thoughts. How could the most inane answer be the truth? Was Roine simply leading them along, or was he being dead serious? And why Satan, out of all things of the world?
"Fret not;" Roine said, as if he had read their minds, "for I am not attempting to degrade you in any way. I am just alerting you of the knowledge that you lack, but can easily obtain during the time we spend together. But only if you are willing to accept that which is hard to accept. You must understand that if you continue living under this supressive 'normality', you'll end up like those Young Earth Creationists; who firmly believe a Tyrannosaurus Rex used its teeth to crack open coconuts. Or maybe you'll end up like those Scientologists; who advocate that fucking ridiculous Xenu story. Or poorer still; you'll become humble sheep -- serving your masters without question or thought..."
Nina rubbed her chin and then lifted an eyebrow. "Isn't that a bit hypocritical?"
"Elaborate, Miss Neckerly."
"You're telling us to accept that which is hard to accept, then you go and trash YECs and Scientologists. I mean, isn't the whole idea of a young Earth hard to accept? Or some space dude forever trapped in a mountain? I'm not saying I believe in that stuff, but the confliction is very noticeable..."
"It would seem that way, but both of these ideas and those who possess them are ladened by agenda. Furthermore, it is not abnormal to be disconnected from reality, or to be consumed by greed. I can assure you that all you will learn from me is the truth, and nothing more. I must warn you that a good deal of it will be hard to swallow, so bear with me...
"What will it be, then?"
"...I'll listen." Patsy said before anyone else. Without a doubt, she was the most eager to learn of Roine's secrets. Yet like the other girls, she still felt uneasy about stepping into the unknown. Would her life change for the better, or would it be annihilated by this newfound knowledge? Did she want to know why it had to be Satan? Did she want to know of all the things lying beyond the ivory gates? Or was that promised land without any existance? However many questions flooded her mind, she remained absolute in her decision to go forward, and before long, they had all nodded their heads or voiced their agreement, which Trewavas responded to with a genuine smile.
"Thank you, Scouts. Our first real session will occur Friday evening. You're dismissed." He lifted the stand from where it stood with a grunt, but unlike the Scouts he did not set out just yet. "Oh, Gretchen? I am most impressed with you. You should be proud of yourself!"
Although he could not see it due to her back being turned, her snout was now painted a bright shade of red.
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