Part Five

Darkness had loomed for nearly an hour. Spot was not very tired, but hungry and carefully watching the sky. It was beginning to cloud over by sunset, creating an incredible sunset that had taken Spot�s breath away when he watched it. Now the sky was so cloudy that hardly a star was seen and the half-moon was blocked.

�Bambi, I think we should stop now.� He muttered.

�Just a few more feet.� She said. �I think I see something up ahead.�

They walked on another five minutes before Bambi finally stopped and allowed her pack to slide off her back. Spot removed his pack and set it on the ground, sighing. It felt good to sit down after hours of walking.

�Wait here.� Bambi instructed. �I�ll go get some firewood.�

It was apparent to Spot that Bambi could see very well in the dark. She seemed to slink around in the darkness in the same way that a cat could. Spot wouldn�t doubt it if Bambi had feline blood running in her veins. She had a soft exterior, but she had claws underneath, was very arrogant, and always seemed to land on her feet.

�Funny how looks cin be deceiving.� He thought. �If she�s gonna be a cat then, maybe I should live up t� my name. Spot�s a name for a dog, and dogs are supposed to chase cats away.� He grinned. �And that�s what I�m gonna do.�

Bambi returned with an armload of wood and some kindling. Then she went back into the darkness and returned with large stones. She disappeared again and returned with more stones. While she was fetching stones, Spot took the spade that she had given him before they set off and began digging a fire pit.

When she returned, they set the rocks around the pit and set the wood inside. Then Spot retrieved his matches and lit the dried grass and bark that Bambi brought for kindling. The fire caught and began to burn within two minutes. Relieved, Spot leaned back and relaxed.

�Time to get ready for bed.� Bambi informed. �Set up your blankets over there.�

Spot frowned. �Hey, wait a minute. Since when�re we sleepin� out like this? It could rain t�night!�

�Didn�t you buy a tent?�

�No!�

Bambi rolled her eyes. �You stupid ape. You�re supposed to bring something to keep rain from falling on you!�

�Well excuse me, but you never said nothin� about a tent!�

Growling, Bambi threw her tent down on the ground. �I don�t know how big it is. But if you�re so stubborn, we�ll probably have to share it.�

�I don�t care who I�m sharin� it with. I don�t wanna have pneumonia by morning.�

�Then get your butt over here and help me set it up!�

The two worked together in silence as they set up the tent. By the time it was up, they could tell that it would be a tight keep, but if they squeezed together, they would both be dry all night. Bambi unrolled her blankets first and lay down.

�I�ll sleep th� opposite way.� Spot stated, unrolling his blankets.

Bambi smiled, satisfied. �Glad you�re aware of proper behavior.�

�This ain�t proper behavior.� He yanked out a small pillow and fluffed it. �I jus� don�t want your face t� be th� first thing I see in th� morning.�

He could hear her low growling as he pulled the blanket over his head. It was chilling, and the heat the fire let off was barely enough to warm him. He was aware that body heat was the best way of keeping warm, but with Bambi at his side, he dismissed the thought altogether.

He closed his eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep. And once he was sound asleep, he began to snore. And subconsciously, a smile spread across his face.

* * *

Crustiness was spread along Spot�s eyelashes as he awakened slowly. Groggy and cold, he discovered the cause of his chill was due to the fact that he had pulled his blanket off over his feet. He tucked his feet back further toward his body in attempt to absorb heat, and wrapped his blanket tightly around himself as he sat upward.

He rubbed his eyes to free them of the film that laced his eyes. With his eyesight returning to normal, he looked around to see where he was. He was on a grassy knoll overlooking the beach with billowing waves crashing against the rocky shore. The sky was gray for the most part, but there were patches of blue every so often. The wet grass was proof enough that it had rained that night.

Then his sight came upon Bambi. She was wearing heavy clothing and hunched before the fire, toting water in a small, black kettle with white specks all over. To prevent her hair from falling into the fire, she had tied a faded navy blue bandana tied around her head.

�You were snoring last night.� She spoke up, not looking his way.

Spot rubbed the side of his face with the heel of his hand. �Good mornin� t� you too.�

�If that�s the way you want it.�

He grinned. �So�d I keep you up las� night?�

�You did, but it wasn�t your snoring that did the trick.�

�Why not?�

�I�m mostly deaf in my right ear. And I slept on my left side, so my good ear was blocked.�

�Then how�d I keep ya up?�

�You blanket came up off your feet.�

�So I noticed. But how�d that keep ya up?�

She snorted humorously. �Have you smelled your socks lately?�

�No.�

�I�m surprised. I�ll bet that�s the reason why no animals came near us last night because they thought something worse than a skunk was nearby. Either that, or they heard your snoring and were wondering what kind of creature made that sound.�

He frowned at her sarcasm. �Look, I jus� woke up, an� I ain�t no morning person.�

�And you think I am?�

�Well, you�re up, ain�t ya?�

�I wouldn�t be up if you�d only change your socks!�

Defenses rising, Spot stretched his feet out from the warmth of the blanket and pointed them in Bambi�s general direction. �Why don�tcha give �em a liddle rub down first?�

She turned her head slowly with an angered scowl decorating her pretty face. �Don�t pull that crud on me, McKinley.�

�I�m Spot Conlon t� you, Gamble.�

�Fine. You�re Spot Conlon, I�m Bambi Gamble. We both know who each other are now. Now if you want your feet massaged, I suggest you do it yourself.�

Spot kept his mouth shut and bit his tongue. If he said anything in the mood he was in, he would regret everything immediately afterward. He allowed the blanket to drop and yanked his pack toward him. He pulled it open and snatched his bag of corn dodgers, then shoved one into his mouth ravenously.

Chewing with his mouth open and crumbs falling out of his mouth in the process, he eyed Bambi suspiciously. She ignored him and poured hot water into a tin mug that matched the kettle, then added coffee grinds and stirred. She sipped her coffee and released a satisfied exhale. She cast a glance at Spot with a smug gleam in her eye.

He returned her gleam with an evil eye of his own. They continued to glare at each other until Bambi finished her coffee and pitched the rest of the hot water.

�Get packing.� She said. �We�ve still got a long trek ahead of us.�

�An� it�s a two day hike int� th� cave, huh?�

�Yes, it is.�

He rose slowly and began to fold his blanket. �Mind if I see th� notes �n� directions ya got?�

�What for?�

�I wanna make sure ya know what yer doin� �n� where you�re goin�.�

Eyes narrowed, Bambi reluctantly agreed. She handed him the faded yellow papers that withheld all the information, then continued packing her equipment. Spot packed his as well, then hefted his pack onto his back and followed Bambi�s lead.

The sky began to clear as they walked along, eliminating Spot�s assumption that rain would come again. He pulled the papers from his pocket and analyzed them completely. He grinned slightly to himself, and tucked the papers away again.

* * *

�I think we�re getting close.�

Spot�s head shot up. He had been dozing off while still walking, and Bambi�s sudden words awakened him abruptly. He yawned loudly.

�How d�ya know?�

�You have the directions, you tell me.�

�They�re in my pocket.�

�Fine. The notes taken say that the cave is fifty lengths from the twin rocks. Look there.�

He followed her outstretched finger to see two almost exactly alike rocks sticking straight up out from the ground. Not far from it was a trail leading downward.

�I take it we take that trail down.�

�Yes, we do.� Bambi analyzed the trail quickly. �Looks like it�s pretty steep. We�ll hafta be extra careful.�

Nodding, Spot followed her lead and watched the trail. Apparently, she was right. The trail was very smooth, and it was almost steep enough to slide down. However, sliding would not be a smart move. Jagged rocks laced the shoreline instead of a sandy beach.

�Sure this�s th� right place?� Spot wondered, wary of his steps.

�I�m sure.� Bambi kept her eyes on the trail. �Your stepfather�s notes say that the shore is rocky, and the cave has a large opening filled with water for at least a mile.�

Spot�s ears perked. �Did�didja say water?�

�Yes, water.�

�How deep?�

�Probably not too deep. But I don�t know for sure. What, do you think I�ve been here before?�

�I din�t say that.�

�Then keep your opinions to yourself and keep walking. We�re almost to the cave.�

Spot could feel his insides shiver as they drew nearer to the cave. If the water was too deep, their packs would be soaked, which included their food, water, clothing and matches. If one of the packs dropped into the water the least bit, it was highly likely that they would lose some supplies.

Once the trail ended, Spot seated himself on a nearby rock. Waves rolled into the orifice of the cave, and the echoing could be hear from outside. The water didn�t look too deep, but it looked rather cold. With this breeze blowing, they could catch pneumonia if they were wet for too long.

�How we supposed t� go through �ere?� Spot wondered.

�We�ll have to go in the way we are, but keep our packs above the water.�

�But then we�ll get wet.�

�We both have clothes. We can change once we reach the inside of the cave. I hope you brought an extra pair of long johns.�

Bambi allowed the pack to slip off her back and propped it up as she lowered herself into the water. The water was deep enough to reach her armpits. Spot, being barely taller than she was, could see that he and Bambi would have a difficult time carrying the packs with the water being that deep.

�Hand me my pack.� Bambi ordered, raising her arms.

�Whaddaya say?� Spot wondered, sarcasm filling his voice.

The frowned that flickered on her face was an unwelcome sight. �This is no time for games, Conlon. Gimme the bag.�

�But ya gotta say please first!�

�Spot, I swear-�

�Don�t swear, it ain�t nice.�

�Spot! Cut it out!� her eyes were huge with annoyance. �Just give me the stupid bag and get it over with!�

He didn�t like the look in her eyes, so he handed her the bag. Then he slipped his own off and lowered himself into the water. Shock shot throughout his body when he lost his grip and suddenly fell into the water. The iciness enclosed over his head, numbing his body for several seconds.

Part Six

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