A Wander in the Woods

“ Ahh, what wonderful scenery..!” It had been quite a while since Surge had been able to take a break from his work– the CCCat had tirelessly been working on collecting herbs and the like, so it was a nice change of pace to be outside for the sake of just.. enjoying it. If it hadn’t been for a sales advertisement catching his eye, he likely wouldn’t even have considered it, but the CCCat had decided to go camping! Unfortunately even now, his mind would remain on all the exciting new flora he’d get to find and experiment with.

Surge was quite the traveller, someone to enjoy the long rides on trains that were agonizing for others.. And on top of that, enjoys riding freight trains over other kinds. “I’m pretty sure I have everything..” The CCCat mutters to himself, checking over his luggage. He didn’t intend on taking much, just the essentials.. But you know how that usually goes. One backpack turns into two, turns into three.. And suddenly, there was way too much to carry. Decisions, decisions… Perhaps he was just overthinking it? He unfortunately had a tendency to do so.

It only took an additional hour to pack the REAL essentials, Surge finally ready with a backpack and sleeping bag strapped to his body! His crowns twitch. Ohh, this would be so exciting..! His first step of this new adventure would be the train– since they didn’t exactly sell tickets to ride freight trains.. Surge simply had to fetch a ride! …Quite literally. The CCCat knew a couple good locations to do so, waiting and waiting until finally.. There it was! Surge takes a confident leap, just barely missing a closed off section of the train, rolling through the cart and landing in what felt like a warm stack of hay. Almost reminded him of a movie, except he was actually doing it! For now.. He could relax, knowing this train would have its last stop near an incredibly lovely creek, surrounded by an almost unreal pretty forest. Surge exhales, humming to himself as he drifts off to take a well-needed nap.

Hours and hours pass, countless pretty sights passing by the CCCat; things he most certainly would end up regretting taking a nap through. At the very least, he didn’t pass his desired stop; the train’s loud choo’ing waking the skirean up within mere moments!He hushes off the train, backpack ready; as was his tent! A nice, long hike awaited the CCCat, something he was luckily very excited for. The path was steep, his claws aiding him in climbing the almost comically vertical slope. It gave him a lot of time to think. When was the last time he actually set up a tent?  Would he manage to get this one set up before night fell? Or before it started to rain? Thinking about it exhausted the skirean, who after about three minutes of climbing takes a break.

The good thing about breaks is, though, that you can still explore while taking them! Oh, how most certainly convenient! Surge’s eye sits in his mouth, playing Where’s Waldo with the environment. Oh, what were those flowers? And these ones, he felt like he had seen them in a rare herb journal before–  he couldn’t help his excitement, couldn’t help his tail wagging.. And soon enough, the apothecary was zooming down the path leading to the camping site, collecting all sorts of plants and herbs on the way! His backpack was growing fuller by the minute, more and more herbs being stuffed inside as the CCCat talks to himself; finally arriving at the campsite with an absurdly full backpack. 

“God, it’s even prettier up close..!” The pictures he had seen certainly didn’t do this place justice, then again pictures almost never did, did they? Surge drops his bag, and begins to settle down; starting with his tent! Just as predicted, the CCCat struggled quite a bit to get it set up, despite reading the manual and instructions numerous times in all kinds of provided languages. Thankfully, he did end up in something that could be considered a tent! By this point, he was tired– only managing to settle to cook himself a proper meal, scarfing it down and taking care of the trash. He was beat. He could just settle inside the tent now, looking up through the uncovered net in the ceiling to admire the stars… except that it was only about 5 PM in the evening. There were no stars, and certainly no pretty night sky to be seen! Still though, Surge would remain relaxed inside of his tent. This was supposed to be his long-awaited vacation, after all! He’d just wait for the stars to pop up eventually! The CCCat’s mouth closes with an exhale, drifting off yet again.