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When Keyleth had proposed a camping trip as a group, Vex had been excited. She had always liked spending time in the woods since her and Vax’s childhood in the small town they had grown up in with their mother. She had felt almost giddy to share a piece of her that few people got to see with the people who were closest to her. She planned to bring Trinket and helped Keyleth plan where exactly they were going to go and gather supplies that they would need. What Vex had failed to consider in her excitement was the lack of experience of camping in this group. Vex, Vax, and Keyleth had packed light, all seasoned with spending a few nights in the wilderness. Scanlan, on the other hand, had packed like he was intending to spend weeks in comfort in the woods rather than two nights.
“Scanlan,” Vex had said when she saw just how much stuff he had brought. “Do you really think you’ll need all of this?”
“Got to be prepared for any scenario,” Scanlan winked and then winced at the heaviness of his pack on his back. “How far did you say the campsite was from here?” They had parked near a trail leading further into the park and were planning on hiking for a few hours before settling down and setting up camp.
“Only a few miles,” Vex smiled. “But it’ll be a few hours before we stop.” Vex turned from him and resolutely told herself she would not help him when he began to regret the amount he packed.
The hike was pleasant. It wasn’t difficult and Vex spent most of the time engaged with Percy in conversation about the local flora and fauna. Vex wouldn’t have admitted her true intentions as their hands brushed occasionally and Vex could feel sparks light up her arm. When they finally stopped to set up camp, Scanlan had recruited Grog’s help to carry his bag which did not make Vex at all pleased, no matter how much it felt like a victory. She made quick work of setting up her tent and viewed the rest of her friends. Scanlan had set up an almost luxurious campsite for himself with things Vex had no idea existed as they were clearly marketed toward people who wanted to camp and forget they were in the woods.
“All the amenities of home in the wilderness,” Scanlan boasted when she peered into his tent.
Vex rolled her eyes. “The point of camping is to be closer to nature and leave some of this behind.” Scanlan sputtered as if appalled by the idea and Vex decided that arguing with him would only put her in a bad mood and she was determined this would be a good time.
She and Keyleth set out to gather wood for a fire and Vax began to prep a small fire pit. Within the hour, they had a small fire roaring in the middle of the camp that Vex was feeding to encourage it to be an appropriate size to cook their dinner on. They all gathered around the fire with their meals and Vex eyed the closeness of Vax and Keyleth who bent their heads together and were laughing at some inside joke. She was disrupted from her staring by Percy gently elbowing her in the side.
“They’re cute, don’t scare them off,” he chastised with a smile. “They’re like teenagers and they might be spooked by your glaring.”
“I was not-” Vex hissed back.
“Yes, you were,” Percy said and turned towards Pike, engaging her in conversation. Vex sat in silence, considering Percy and then looking around at her friends. For so long it had been just her and Vax against the world. She supposed she was still protective of her brother as if he was the only thing she had in the world still, but he wasn’t. She knew if, when, Vax went off to find his own path, he wouldn’t be abandoning her. She didn’t like the idea of Vax being far from her, but she knew that was the abandonment she felt from her father and the loss of her mother that created that insecurity. She had Percy and Pike and Grog and Scanlan and Keyleth now. Despite her many flaws, she knew they wouldn’t leave her. So few people got to see her for who she truly was. So few people understood her love of nature and the woods and now all of these people gathered around this fire knew. The cool, crisp autumn air seemed warmer now as Vex considered her friends, her family, in the firelight.