Servants of the Living Forest Read Online Free Page A

only that he hadn't had anything since yesterday. Cameron was happy to see that she had warmed to the Labrador and envisioned a future replete with puppies.
    By mid-morning, they were ready for the centerpiece of their trip, a hike through the woods. They dressed in long pants and sturdy shoes and covered themselves with repellant. Before setting out, Jocelyn made doubly sure their packs contained everything they needed, especially her nature guide, compass, and first aid kit.
    Then, she put a teal bandana on Cameron to make her look sportier.
    "Now you're ready," Jocelyn said.
    "Aw, thanks," Cameron said, adjusting it.
    They set out, heading north into the endless forest, amid bristly spruce and firs, tall cedars and towering redwoods, through the diffuse shade and rows of obstructed light. As they progressed, the peak neared, looming over them like a monolith. Behind them, the cabin was blotted by an emerald-green wall specked with brown-black.
    Cameron, with Sancho trotting at her side, followed a step behind Jocelyn, who held the compass in her raised palm.
    "I knew this would be awesome," Jocelyn said. "Blue sky. Green trees. All this shade and fresh air. Back in the city, they're all melting. Like so much wax! And it's so quiet, too. Here, it's just us and nature."
    "It's very nice."
    Cameron looked away, still reserved and content to remain quiet even when surrounded by such splendor and alone with the girl she adored.
    Jocelyn turned and set her hands on her hips. Cameron halted, smiled weakly. "You're not enjoying this, are you?"
    "I am, really. It's pretty," Cameron said. "I just don't have much to say, you know."
    "You don't seem happy, though. Like, I can see your expression and hear your voice. And I can't always be imagining it."
    Cameron shrugged, shrinking with her shame and becoming annoyed. "What do you want? This is where I want to be. It's beautiful out here, and I love being with you. If I wanted to be somewhere else, I would say so. I wish I could do a better job of expressing myself. I'm just not good at it, that's all."
    Jocelyn sighed, let her hands slide to her sides. "I'm going to pee," she said, dropping her pack to the ground. "You really need to relax, babe. I love you. Just, be happy."
    Cameron winced, the words stinging as Jocelyn walked away and disappeared behind the trees. Alone, she stepped over to a fallen tree, sat, and clasped her hands, doubtful that this would be the last time she would feel so hurt, and uncertain if she could endure it.
    Sancho followed after her, standing at her feet.
    "Just relax, huh? How am I supposed to do that when everyone keeps telling me to relax? I mean, right?"
    Sancho harrumphed and scampered off then, to the crook of a nearby tree. It whimpered as it sniffed and pawed at something.
    "What have you got there?"
    Cameron skipped after the Labrador, grateful for the distraction, and crouched at its side. Sancho had found a patch of mushrooms, like the kind found at any grocery store, white spotted with gray and yellow, and thick and bulbous.
    She picked one and smirked. "Sure, I'll relax. I'll show you I can get into it and be more spontaneous." She bit into it and chewed, chuckling. "Ha! Take that, Jocelyn! Nom, nom!"
    "Cameron!"
    She swallowed hard, nearly choking as she stood and turned. Jocelyn raced up to her, alarm written across her face.
    "What are you doing? Don't eat that!"
    Cameron gulped. "What? Why?"
    "You don't know if that's safe to eat or not!"
    "Is it?" Cameron asked.
    "Yes. But you didn't know that!"
    Cameron tossed the stem to the side and shrugged. "Sorry," she said. "I was just trying to relax."
    For a long moment, they stood in silence, calming as they looked into each other's eyes and forgot their animosities.
    "So. I guess that was our first fight?" Jocelyn said.
    "I don't think so," Cameron said. "We're just two different people and not used to sharing our lives with someone else yet. That's all."
    "It's kind of scary, isn't