The Camping Trip By: Alexis Godfrey

One day in late March perhaps March 28th; yes I think that was the day. A young girl and her family made a plan for a camping trip. It was a three hour drive through the long endless country roads, the sea of nothingness leading them straight ahead. They finally reached there destination at around six o’clock that afternoon.
There was no one around, not a whisper to be heard, there was a slight chill in the wind, and the clouds looked dark and eerie. They set up camp and built a fire, while the smaller children played in the trees, still not a sound was made from any other campers around the area. They ate and washed up in the stream nearby. They sat at the campfire until late that night, telling stories, roasting marshmallows, and cooking hot dogs in the dancing flames.
When they all went to their tents the wind had picked up and there was a slight rain falling from above hitting the top of the tents with a splash, the adults who had wore themselves out packing and loading since seven o’clock that morning instantly fell asleep, but the children laid awake becoming quite frightened as the wind blew through the trees making a sound much like a whisper. They laid wake afraid to move for many hours, the wind finally calmed and they fell asleep as well.
Then out of nowhere they heard the howling the ripping and shredding of cloth and the gnarls coming from outside, it woke everyone up in the camp. No one knew what exactly this sound could be, and it became quite clear that no one really wanted to know either. The growling sounded far away but in no time it seemed to get closer, closer to the campground closer to them.
They started to pack their belongings hoping to be able to leave before the noises drew closer to them. Time was short, everyone was in a hurry, when the bags were packed and everything was ready to go the noise came. It came from every direction like a tornado of sound had circled around the tent screaming its song in their faces. Everyone went still, the smaller children began to whimper, and the one thought that was going through everyone’s head was “Death”. It must have been around 5 o’clock that morning, and they knew that the sun would come up soon dragging whatever was out there away with it, but there was still time to wait. How long could they stay cooped up in such a small tent, and how long until whatever was outside would realize they were inside and try to join? These questions they didn’t have the answer to. They sat and waited and every now and again the noise would get closer, and closer, until it was against the tent.
It was getting lighter outside but not light enough to draw away the vicious monsters outside. They were famished, not eating or drinking for four or more hours wasn’t holding well with them, not to mention the constant worry and stress this ordeal was causing them. The children were crying and the parents were very irritable in their worry and planning. No one knew just what exactly to do. They figured there was no chance of making it to the car, or even making it out of the tent alive.
Then a low grumbling came from the door of the tent, everyone’s heads turned in a flash, and everyone noticed the door had not been securely closed. The grumbling got louder and louder, everyone hunched together to afraid to even breathe. Then all at once it seemed as though a fight had broken out among the creatures lurking outside. There was snarling like thunder, and whimpers. Suddenly it stopped all they could hear was the sounds of the paws hitting the hard ground, and then the tent was unzipped everyone’s heads flipped in horror of what would be entering.
It was a man, the forest ranger; he had scared away the vicious beasts. Everyone jumped up and threw their arms around this great gentleman whom had surely saved their lives. When they walked outside they saw the disaster the beasts had caused, their food had been eaten, and their garbage was everywhere. Even one of the smaller tents had been torn to pieces. The ranger helped the family clean up and sent them on their way down the mountain. The family made it home safely laughing the whole way there. Why were they laughing you ask? Well because the ranger had informed them it was merely a couple of wild dogs whom had chased a rabbit to their tent, that night had been one of the most unforgettable for everyone whom had gone along on the camping trip, and it would also be the most told story in their family.