47 Chapter 47 No Trees to Cu (1/2)
”I still can't believe the drake let us leave with those scales, without paying anything in return!” exclaimed Tom, a bounce in his step as he walked.
They all glanced at each other. No one wanted to tell him that Carla had left all of her shells behind. The drake would find them when it went back into its cave that evening. Gia just wanted to get as far along as she could, and was happy her dad seemed to be in such a good mood.
The storms the night before had once again littered the beach before them with dead sea creatures and boulders that had fallen from the cliff beside them. Twice they had already had to climb over sections where the entire cliff had fallen down. Thankfully, though, they hadn't had any issues with creatures from the water trying to attack them.
Up ahead, they could see the cleft in the mountains that they were heading for, but it was still a way away.
”Do you think we'll find a good place to camp tonight?” asked Mikey, his arms full of dead things he wanted to try and eat.
”As soon as I see a good spot, we'll stop and build a fire,” promised Vonn, looking ahead. The rocks that jutted out into the waves seemed to have several holes and entrances where it looked like the water had worn caves into it.
Making their way over another collapsed section, ahead of them the beach disappeared into a large hole in the cliffside. Light lit up the inside, so they proceeded carefully in order to check it out.
”This is awesome!” cried Mikey, looking around in excitement.
The entire inside of the massive rock had been worn away to leave behind a huge chamber within the rock. Soft sand covered the floor, all the way from the waves that gently washed against the beach to the very back of the cave. A large chunk had fallen from the ceiling, forming a natural rock dais they could camp on and still allowed light inside.
”This does indeed look like a perfect place to camp,” said Vonn, amazement obvious in his voice.
”How are we going to continue, though? There's no exit on the other side,” said Gia, pointing across the cave.
There was another hole, but it was far out in the water, and wouldn't work to let them continue following the beach.
”Maybe we can go back and climb over this area, using that rock slide just outside,” said Carla as she helped Tom climb onto the rock.
”I'll check it out with Gia, once we get a fire going, and Mikey can cook his fish,” said Vonn, gathering wood from the beach.
Gia helped him, until there was a huge pile on the side of the rock, far more than they would need to keep the fire going all night. The wood inside the cave was good and dry, perfect for starting the waterlogged wood burning.
”Gia, do you have any of that wood for my to carve?” asked Tom, stretching his finger in anticipation.
”Of course!” she said, digging through her bag and pulling out several pieces she had found while they walked. ”Here you are. There's four. See which ones you want to carve.”
While he studied them, she turned to see Carla helping Mikey carve and clean the fish for their supper. Mikey was watching carefully as she showed him how to scrape the scales away and then cut out the sharp fins. Satisfied that they were all happy and safe, Gia rushed over to join Vonn who was waiting for her by the cave entrance.
”You know, this place would make an interesting home,” he teased as they started climbing the rocks. It was so much easier without having to wait for Tom or Mikey to find their way.
Glancing at him to see his goofy grin, Gia smiled back and said, ”But you promised me a wooden house, and it would take you a long time to gather that much wood here.”
”I don't know, there's plenty of rock. I could make you a stone house.”