Page 13 of Goddess of Storms

Nile and Phoenix head out of the circle of trees in search of firewood and kindling. Harper and I check for signs of wildlife, we don’t want a visit from a bear in the middle of the night.

It doesn’t take us long as there is no sign of animals anywhere close. When we return, the other two have the fire set up and are working on their tents. So, Harper and I get set to work on ours.

“Harper, would you like some help?” Phoenix asks.

“Nope, I got it. Looks like you might need help. Nile, you’re done, why don’t you help him?”

I laugh to myself.Nice try, Phoenix. He doesn’t know she is stubborn and independent. Harper’s tent is almost complete when I stroll over with my hammer.

“Allow me?” I ask as I spin my hammer in my hand.

“Have at it, you haven’t had a date in a while, so I bet you to have some pent-up aggression to get out.”

“Oh, you’re one to talk. When was the last time you were on one? I’ve been here for almost a year and have yet to hear you talk about one,” I remark.

“Unlike you, I don’t flaunt my business around the office. If you’re not going to pound in my stakes, I will,” she says as she tries to pull the hammer from my grasp. The touch of her hand on mine brings all my emotions and feelings for her back.

“You want me to pound what?” I ask with a smirk.

“Shut up and get it done, or I’ll go ask Nile or Phoenix for help. Asshole.” She smiles.

“I’m wounded,” I say as I beat the first stake into the ground.

Phoenix walks up as I finish with the last stake, “I thought you didn’t need help?”

As I stand and wipe dirt and sand from my pants as Harper replies, “His hammer does a better job, but he doesn’t like people touching it.”

“What’s so special about it?”

“No idea.”

Harper

I’m still questioning the appearances of Nile and Phoenix. I mean what are the odds that they would come camping the same time Stone and I would be out in the field? That just doesn’t set well with me. I was excited to see Nile, it had been almost a year since I broke up with him and he moved away. But I just can’t shake the feeling there is more going on than what they are telling me.

Once Stone was done securing my tent with the stakes, I went in to pull out my mat and pillow, grateful for the extra MREs I packed. I grab the food and leave the pack, heading back to find the three each sitting on a log of which there are four. I take the last log and once I’m seated I throw each of the guys one of the MREs.

“Harper is a wonderful cook,” Stone teases.

“Well, if not for me and my MREs, you’d starve.”

“You’re not wrong, I never was much of a hunter. Besides, I don’t know how to clean and cook a bear.” Stone winks.

“Ha, you would say the same if it was a squirrel.” I laugh.

“Probably true. I think we got lucky with the fires, we have only come across two.” Stone glances at his watch. “Almost time to check in with the boss. Your radio charged?”

“Does a bear shit in the woods?”

“Shut up, wiseass, and hand it here. I’ll check in,” Stone says, grabbing the radio from my hand.

“You just want to see if any of the other rangers are asking about you,” I tease.

“All of them?” Nile pipes in.

“Yes, all the others are women, except for our boss. They all want a piece of him, but he just strings them along. Well, all but Reid, she's kinda scary, even too much for him.”

“Are you guys going to turn in soon? It’s not long before it will rain.”

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