So, I wasn't getting a lot of feedback and I thought, "You know what? screw it. Just go for it and see how everything goes." I can still implement changes later. So, here's more. I'll probably only publish once a week though.
I do appreciate what I got though. In case it wasn't clear, the first chapter was supposed to be an introductory chapter. Then I'd tell the whole tale. This is definitely going beyond 5 to 10 thousands words. I just hope I do the Series justice with what I have planned. Keep in mind, scenes and character classes and what not are subject to change.
"Bluey! Bingo! What's taking so long?"
Chillie had asked her daughters to pack an hour ago. They were to leave at four o'clock, sharp, and not delay so they could get a good spot in the camping grounds. It wasn't everyday they'd have an outing like this. Or get to see an eclipse.
"Bluey? Bingo?" Chillie sighed. "Where are they?"
Bandit walked through the front door, whistling a cheery tune. He had just finished putting some of their camping gear into the car and was now coming in to double check if he'd left anything.
"Bandit, have you seen Bluey or Bingo?" Chillie asked, "I sent them to finish packing then they disappeared."
"Well, maybe they're still in their room," Bandit replied, still looking around the living room and going over the checklist in his head. "Let's see, um… Gas stove, propane canisters, tent…"
"Very helpful…," Chillie deadpanned. She groaned and resorted to going upstairs to look for them. "Bingo! Bluey! We're going to be late then we won't get a good spot! Come on, all your friends will be there!" She checked their room and found it empty. "That's strange… Where are they?" She looked all over in case they were just playing a game with her. If they were, they were doing a much better job at it this time.
"Come on, girls, this no time for hide and seek." She looked out the window instinctively and only then noticed the two were outside already, their fully packed bags sitting in the grass and the two playing a game. She smiled in relief and placed her hands on her hips. "There they are."
Bluey and Bingo seemed to be playing some kind of make believe. Bingo was a knight and Bluey was a dragon. Bluey did her best to tower over Bingo, but Bingo held her pillow shield high and prepared to strike with her carboard tube sword. "Well well, what have we got goin' on here?" She watched from the window as Bluey roared and startled Bingo. Bingo staggered back and fell on her bottom. Chillie gasped and giggled. "Oh no… Come on, Bingo, you can do it." Bluey checked to see if Bingo was alright. Bingo got up and smiled, and both assumed their roles. "That's it, Bingo... Now let that nasty dragon have it!"
Bingo prepared her strike again. She reared back and then attacked and Bluey died a dramatic death.
"Yeah!" Chillie cheered, "Way to go, Bingo!"
Bingo held a triumphant pose and put one foot on Bluey and both girls laughed. Now that they were done, Chillie decided to go downstairs and remind them of the timetable.
By the time she reached the balcony, The girls were still laughing and praising each other's performance. "Okay, now I'll be the dragon!" Bingo laughed.
"Okay!" Bluey put on the toy helmet and gave Bingo the dragon mask.
"Ah, no girls. We're supposed to be packing the car and going camping. Everyone's going, don't you want to see the eclipse with them?"
"Oh yeah!" Bluey threw the toys down and quickly grabbed her bag. "Hurry Bingo! We can't be late!"
"Okay!" Bingo threw her mask down and grabbed her bag to follow.
"Ah!" Chillie crossed her arms. "Toys. Away."
"Oh, right!" Bluey dropped her bag and ran to put the carboard tube and pillow away. "Come on, Bingo!"
"I'm coming!" Bingo replied, doing the same as Bluey and grabbing the mask.
Chillie rolled her eyes and giggled as she shook her head. "I've got your bags! Meet me at the car!"
"Okay, mum!" Bluey waved as she and Bingo disappeared into the house again.
Chillie brought the bags to the car and put them in the trunk. Meanwhile, Bandit was sitting in the front seat and looking over a map.
"Well?" Chillie asked after opening the car door. Did we leave anything behind?"
"Mmm, nope," Bandit replied, "Double checked."
"Mm hmm," Chillie arched a brow. She knew he was forgetting something. He always forgot something. even if he made the list of things to bring. Even if he packed it, there was always something. "You sure?"
Bandit smiled, "Chillie, please. I've done this a hundred times. I'm a professional now."
Chillie was still not convinced. She didn't know what yet, but he most certainly forgot something. She only hoped it wasn't important. If nothing else, one of their friends would most likely do them a favor and lend them… whatever it is they forgot.
"We're ready!" Bingo called, her tail wagging vigorously.
"Alright, did any of you forget anything?" Chillie asked with a smirk.
"Nope," the girls replied in unison.
"Are you sure?" She leaned to put a finer point to her interrogation.
"Yup," The girls nodded."
"Hmm," Chillie wasn't as confident as they were, but she was more confident about their packing than her husband's. "Alright, hop on, squirts."
The girls ran to their seats and buckled in. "Alright, is everyone ready to see an eclipse?" Bandit asked with excitement.
"Yeah!" The care replied in unison.
"Great! Then let's go!" Bandit started the car and drove off.
"Daddy, what's an eclipse?" Bingo asked.
"It's when the moon covers the sun up and makes the world really dark for a couple of seconds," replied Bandit.
"Ooh," Bingo and Bluey looked at each other excitedly. "Why does it do that? Is the sun playing hide and seek?"
"Yup," Bandit replied, "The sun sees how much fun we're having when we play, so he tries to join in and hides behind the moon."
"Then why are we going to watch it hide?" Bluey asked, "You don't watch us hide when we play."
"Well, the sun isn't very good at the game," Bandit scratched his head. Chillie shook her head but let him play his game. "But he sure puts on quite a show trying. That's why we like to watch. Best pretend you can't find him, after he hides or you'll embarrass him."
"Oh," Bingo and Bluey look at each other and place a finger in front of their mouths as if to shush each other. The sun's secret was safe with them.
"Speaking of," Chillie turned her head. "Did you remember the glasses?"
"Yes, mum," Bandit grabbed four pairs of held them up. Good, at least he wasn't forgetting those.
"Why do we need sunglasses to watch the sun hide?" Bluey asked.
"Well, if you look at the sun it hurts your eyes, right?" Chillie laughed, "It's a lot brighter when the eclipse starts. So, we wear these special glasses so we can see."
"Oh, okay," Bluey nodded. She and Bingo began looking out their windows and watching the world go by. It was quiet for only a few seconds. "Let's play rainbow car, Bingo!"
"Okay!"
"But we have to separate rainbows. Any cars you see have the color of the rainbow; you can use. But then I can't use them, and the other way around."
"Okay," Bingo agreed. "Red car!"
"What?" Bluey looked over at her sister's side and surely enough, a red car raced by. "Already?" She turned around, knowing she had a disadvantage. But it didn't last long. "Blue car!"
"Green Car," Chillie smirked. "That's two for us Bingo."
Bingo snickered evilly. "Yay!"
"What? Dad!?" Bluey looked at the driver's side hopefully.
"Don't worry Bluey, I'm already on it!" Bandit assured then spotted two other cars. "Red and Purple! That's three for us, Bluey!"
"Yes!" Bluey pumped her fist and looked around. It was good to get ahead. But that didn't last long.
"Purple! Hah! We're tied!" Chillie laughed.
"Ooh, yellow car!" Bingo pointed.
"Another yellow, right behind it," Bluey pointed.
"I see an orange!" Bandit smiled. "We've got one more Bluey!"
"Come on, come on… Where's another green car?" Bluey looked around nervously.
"Mommy, I don't see any blue or orange cars anywhere," Bingo said with concern.
Chillie leaned up from her chair and looked around. "Keep looking, Bingo. We'll… Blue! Blue! That's a blue!"
"It doesn't count, it's parked," Bandit smirked.
"What? Since when was that a rule?" Chillie glared.
Bandit smirked. "It's always been a rule."
"We've never played it like that," Bluey looked over his seat.
"Yeah, you can't make up rules as we play," Bingo glared, just like her mother.
"Alright, alright," Bandit smiled. It only grew wider when he saw his plan work. "But while you argued, two blue cars passed by, and I see gre-en!"
"Oh!" Chillie facepalmed and shook her head. "Bandit… Really?"
"Hooray!" Bluey's arms shot up in victory while Bingo looked down at her feet.
"Aw…"
"What?" Bandit shrugged. "It isn't cheating if we were discussing the rules."
"No, but its playing dirty, which isn't fair or nice," Chillie scolded.
"What's playing dirty? Like in the mud?" Bluey asked.
"No, sweety," Chillie replied. "It's basically cheating but you don't break any rules. Usually. Sometimes it's just making something happen to mess with your playmate so its harder for them to win."
"But… it isn't cheating," Bandit punctuated with a finger.
"But you still shouldn't do it," Chillie remarked, "It makes the game unfair."
"But you said it's not breaking the rules," Bluey argued, "And you said as long as we don't break the rules we can play any way we want."
"Well…" Chillie sighed, "Playing dirty is the exception. It just makes things unfair, and you know how I feel about playing fair."
"Yes mum," Bluey sighed. She looked over and saw Bingo still looking at the ground then felt a pang of guilt. "Plying dirty isn't really that fun anyway. I'm sorry, Bingo."
"It's alright," Bingo assured. "It was a quick game anyway."
"That's a good girl, Bluey," Chillie smiled.
"Yeah, good on you," Bandit smiled. "But I'm just sayin'. Gettin' a little dirty isn't necessarily a bad thing. Sure, it doesn't feel good all the time, but at least you win."
"Bandit…," Chillie threw a warning glare at him.
"What? I was just sayin'."
Chillie shook her head and sighed. "Winning…isn't…everything. You don't have to win every game."
"Maybe we could play another game, Bingo," Bluey smiled, "This one we can play together instead against each other."
"Okay!" Bingo's tail wagged and she was happy again. "What about I spy."
"Sure, you start," Bluey sat patiently, and Bingo looked around.
"I spy um… uh… hmm. I spy something… Ooh. Something green!"
"Something green. Green," Bluey looked all around the car. "Is it a car?"
"No."
"What about the grass?"
"Nope. Hee hee." Bingo covered her mouth as she giggled.
Bluey hummed and scanned the outside once more. "What about the trees?"
"Nope," Bingo shook her head once more.
"Ugh," Bluey threw her head back. "You picked a hard one. Are you sure it wasn't any of those things."
"Nope," Bingo shook her head again. "It was none of those things."
"Alright, I give up. What is it?" Bluey groaned.
"It was a sweater," Bingo replied cheekily.
"Bingo!" Bluey put her slumped her body. "You're supposed to pick things we both can see!"
"But you can still see it if somebody is walking with a green sweater!" Bingo argued. Then put her hands in front of her and made steering motions. "Just like when someone's drivin' a car!"
"But that's playing dirty!" Bluey exclaimed then looked down at her feet.
"It is?" Bingo asked feeling a little bad already.
Bluey began to pout. "Yeah…"
"You see, you two? Playing dirty isn't fair or fun for everyone playing is it?" Chillie asked with a smile, happy her point was getting across.
"Yes… I'm sorry Bluey," Bingo apologized.
Bluey smiled and raised her head. "It's okay, Bingo. Let's promise to never to play dirty again."
"Okay," Bingo nodded.
"Yeah, but that win felt good for a little while didn' it, Bingo?" Bandit smirked.
"Bandit! For goodness sake!" Chillie and the girls giggled.
"Alright, alright," Bandit raised his hands and kept his eyes on the road. "But, on a serious note, love, you gotta play dirty sometimes. Just like when you play rugby. It evens out the playing field."
"But until that time, they'll play fair," Chillie pocked Bandit's ticklish spot and then started to tickle him more.
"No! Okay! Fine! Don't tickle the driver! Don't tickle the driver!"
"Get him, mum!" Bluey cheered. Both girls giggled as Bandit was helplessly defending himself from her attacks.
"Oi! Look who's playin' dirty now, ey?" Bandit asked nearly losing the wheel.
"Hmph," Chillie sat back in her seat, leaving bandit to drive the car in peace. "Alright, bug guy, you get off easy… this time."
"Great. I won't play dirty in the car ever again," Bandit chuckled in relief.
The car went quiet as the girls looked out their windows and once again started to get impatient. Bluey knew they hated it when she asked, but she couldn't hold it in for very long. After a few seconds of arguing with herself, she
"Dad, are we almost there?"
Bandit sucked in sharply. "Uh… sorry, squirt. We still have a few hours to go. It's a bit of a distance…"
"A few hours?" Bingo asked.
Bluey groaned and threw her head back again. "Why didn't you say so before?"
"I did, Bluey. Yesterday. You weren't listening again," Chillie sighed and rubbed her head. "It's alright. I brought the tablets. And we can play more games if you'd like."
"Or you could always take a nap," added Bandit.
"No way!" Bluey shook her head and crossed her arms. "We'll never fall asleep in the car."
"Yeah," Bingo agreed, "We'll stay awake for the whole trip. Bluey, do you want to play restaurant with the snacks?" Bingo asked as she took out the drink holder from the middle seat.
"Sure!" Bluey quickly shifted her body to play. "With this thing, it'll be impossible to fall asleep! You'll just have to listen to us play all day while you drive."
"Oh goody," Bandit rolled his eyes and kept driving. "Oh no… the highway's out. That's gonna make us at least an hour late!"
"Just turn, Bandit, we might as well start," Chillie rolled her eyes.
Bandit began to grumble and took the exit ramp to make a detour. To their relief, the girls did fall asleep. After the first hour and a half, the noise died down and they had slowly drifted off without knowing it. Bandit stopped to pick up gas once, and let them use the bathroom, then they fell fast asleep in their seats again.
Thanks to the detour however, they were running later than they planned. It was seven forty and they were still an hour out in a part they didn't know well. Chillie had to pick up a map and help him navigate, but eventually they arrived.
"Okay, it's a left here."
"Are you sure?" Bandit asked, "I think I remember this part, I'm pretty sure it's a right this time."
"No, left," Chillie replied looking down at the map, "No wait! Right right right!"
"I knew it!" Bandit jerked the car and both girls were given a rude awakening as he swerved right and into familiar territory. "See, there it is."
"Yeah yeah, don't rub it in," Chillie rolled her eyes.
"Hmm? Are we there now?" Bluey asked groggily.
"Yup, we're there," Bandit replied. "Just gotta find a place to park.
Bandit followed the swerving road until he saw some familiar faces. His headlights caught a glimpse of white and black running right. "Oh, it looks like we're in the right place." A glow stick lit up an open spot for them to park as a border collie started waving them for Bandit to see. He turned into the spot then put the car in park. "Alright, girls, we're here."
"Can we sleep in the car?" Bingo yawned and started to fall asleep again.
"We'll just get the tent set up. it won't take long. Are you sure you don't want to help?" Chillie asked.
"No…" Bluey replied and fell back asleep.
Bandit chuckled. And opened his door. The border collie was still waiting with his glowstick. "Hi, Bluey's dad."
"Hey, Mackenzie. Not going to sleep yet? Figured you'd be tired after the long drive," Bandit smiled.
"Nah," Mackenzie shook his head. "My dad said that while we camp, I can stay up as long as I'd like. So Me, Rusty, and Jack are all playing with flashlight and there glow sticks." Mackenzie showcased his green glowstick. "Can I help you unpack?"
"That'd be great!" Bandit replied, "Can you also help us set up the tent? I don't think Bluey and Bingo are going to help any time soon. They're pretty out of it."
"Sure," Mackenzie ran to the back and opened Bluey's door. "Bluey, come on. Get up. There's so much to do out here. Don't you want to play?"
"No, I wanna sleep," Bluey replied groggily and turned away.
Mackenzie shrugged. "Suite yourself. I saved you some glowsticks when you change your mind."
"Okay…" Bluey snuggled into her booster and fell back asleep.
Mackenzie helped Bandit and Chillie unpack some of the essentials. Including the tent, air mattresses, air pumps and sleeping bags. Rusty and Jack joined in later. With their help the Heelers were set up nicely and able to rest for the night.
"Thanks for the help, Mackenzie. You too Rusty and Jack."
"Sure!" Rusty smiled, "If you need anything else. Give us a call! We'll be patrolling the camp. Company ready?"
"Yes sir," Mackenzie and Jack saluted.
"Then forward. March!" the boys left with their glow sticks and flashlights then took off.
"Alright," Bandit stretched. "Better get the girls. Come on."
Chillie and Bandit went to their respective sides and unbuckled the girls from their boosters. Bingo snuggled up closer into Chillie and shivered. "It's cold, mama."
"I know, sweetie. We'll get you in the nice warm tent soon."
"Can't we sleep in the warm car?" Bluey asked in a whine.
"Nah, it'll get chilly in their soon enough. You wouldn't like that one bit. Both girls were tucked into their favorite sleeping bags on their air mattresses and zipped tight.
"Can't we just keep the car running?" Bluey yawned and shifted into a more comfortable position.
"No, mate," Bandit kissed her head, "We wouldn't have any gas to leave then. It'll get warm in the tent soon. I'm turning the heater on."
Bandit tuned on the mobile heater and slipped into his sleeping bag as he adjusted comfortably. "Night, girls."
"Night, Bandit," Chillie yawned.
The Heeler family drifted off to sleep, but Bluey was finding it a bit hard to actually fall back to sleep. She felt tired, yes, but knowing she was in new place with old friends was exciting. She heard shuffling outside and remembered the boys were still out playing with glowsticks and flashlights.
She could barely hear the boys talking to each other and when she looked to where the sound of their voices were, she could see the orange hue of light passed their blue tent. Their conversation was initially indecipherable but when everyone in the tent laid still and she held her breath she could pick up the faint reports of of Mackenzie and Jack letting Rusty know all was quiet and there was no danger.
She smiled to herself and laid her head down. Boys were so funny. Still, it was exciting to think about joining them in the morning. Bluey didn't like waking up early. But she felt she'd have no problem waking up early this time.