Darkside Camping

>They'd been trying for almost a month now to get back.
>Nothing worked.
>They tried everything they could think of.
>Everything from simply waiting around with the lights off to Susie smashing the floor with a chair.
>And even sillier things.
>Kris had drawn a door on the wall in chalk at one point and knocked on it three times.
>But nothing happened.
>They had already gotten caught coming out of the closet a few times.
>Rumors were spreading.
>So they had to change tactics.
>They decided to try different hours of the night instead.
>After all, it was the Dark World. Maybe it would easier with more dark around.
>At least that was the logic.
>They were kind of grasping at straws at this point.
>Susie was almost ready to give up and dismiss the whole thing as an extended hallucination.
>One that gave her a friend, sure, but not one worth chasing forever.
>Kris wasn't ready to give up though.
>So for the last few nights they had been sneaking out in the dead hours of the morning to try whatever they can think of.
>This morning it was 4am.
>"So, what's it going to be this time?" Susie asked with a little sarcasm in her voice.
>She couldn't resist teasing the softie.
>Kris considered this for the length of half a block before answering.
>"Handstands. It feels like handstands today."
>She had gotten used to his somewhat cryptic responses.
>"Yeah, all right. Sure." She didn't sound nearly as optimistic.
>Kris's mouth twisted upwards into a gentle smirk.
>"Can't do them?"
>Susie's scales around her face took on a darker tinge.
>"Oh, I can do handstands. I can do them all night long!"
>Kris chuckled and gave her arm a gentle shove.
>She responded by pushing him into the bushes.
>Not entirely on purpose, but not entirely an accident either.
>The bush erupted into a chorus of surprised and panicked noises.
>Susie found it amusing initially. Until she heard bleats and a second voice mixed in.
>Oh hell. She'd pushed Kris on top of some homeless guy.
>She reached over and snagged the back of Kris' shirt, tugging him out.
>Branches snapped, some cloth ripped, but she got him free.
>He came up with twigs in his hair and coated in leaves.
>He was also clutching a very familiar green hat.
>And grinning like an idiot.
>"Ralsei?!" Susie all but shouted as she looked back down at the bush.
>White fur that had been black under the enchantment of his hat was suddenly as visible as snow in the middle of summer.
>Big, wide, scared eyes peered back out at her. Ones that suddenly showed recognition.
>"Susie? Kris!" His voice was practically squeaky in his excitement.
>Susie dropped the nerd. Reached out and tugged toothpaste boy from the bush.
>"What the *@#$ are you doing here?"
>Ralsei laid his ears back at the tier three curse and looked momentarily displeased, but even the foul language couldn't kill his happiness for long.
>"You guys never came back. And I got worried. So I came to see if you two were all right."
>He said. As if it was as easy for him as popping to the next town over.
>"Augh! Are you kidding?!" Susie set Ralsei down, snatched the hat from Kris, and proceeded to mash it onto the goat boy's head entirely too hard.
>"We've been doing everything under the sun to try and get down there to see you for a month now."
>"Susie. Ow. Susie!"
>"You... you... toothpaste boy!"
>Kris reached out and pulled her hand away from Ralsei's head. Rather firmly.
>She realized just how much frustration she had been putting into the movement.
>"Sorry." Her face flushed and she looked away as she said the word, but at least she managed it without prompting.
>"It's nice to see you again Ralsei." Kris said as he eased the green hat back up to its proper position.
>The black fur split into an even wider smile.
>"Yes. I'm glad you guys are all right."

>They would have started chatting right there on the sidewalk, but Susie realized how this looked.
>"We should get off the street."
>Ralsei and Kris both looked at her a little confused.
>"Nerds, it's still four in the morning. And if Undyne wanders past we're going to get busted."
>She jerked her thumb towards the goat. "She's going to ask a ton of questions about a monster she's never seen before too."
>The other two shared a look.
>Ralsei didn't seem to understand but at least Kris nodded.
>"Where to?" Kris asked.
>"Can't be my place." Susie shot back. "My dad and sister are already asking enough questions."
>"Mom..." He paused, then shrugged as if that could make up for all the words he couldn't come up with.
>Susie understood anyways.
>Toriel was so straight-laced that she made the preacher look liberal sometimes.
>"The school?" He suggested instead.
>"That might be good for a few hours. But what if we get stuck in Darkside again?"
>"Ummm..."
>Susie and Kris turned at the nervous noise from Ralsei.
>"The door closed behind me."
>Silence reigned for a few moments.
>"So, what, you're stuck here?" Susie tried not to shout.
>The goat still gave a soft, distressed bleat and tugged at the edges of his hat.
>"I don't know. I think so. Maybe. I tried to get back. I really did!"
>Susie sighed loudly. This wasn't ideal.
>"Well, now what?"
>"We need a tent." Kris added with the awkward suddenness that he tended to blurt out ideas with.
>She considered that for a moment.
>"Set it up in the woods behind your house?"
>"The trails. Nobody uses them. There's a place halfway between our houses."
>Susie tried not to think just why Kris knew that oddly specific fact.
>That way led certain ideas that made her nervous.
>Well, not nervous exactly. She didn't know what that feeling was.
>"Okay. But where do we get a tent?"
>"Asriel had a huge one. We used it a few times."
>Since she couldn't think of any better ideas, they went with the tent idea.
>At least the weather shouldn't be too bad for a while.
>Kris went back home to root around in the shed for the tent.
>Every shifting object sounded like it was a miniature avalanche in the early morning silence.
>But a light never came on in Toriel's window.
>Susie and Ralsei waited just inside the tree line, just in case.
>At least that way if Kris was caught they could figure out a plan B.
>"W-Will I have to say on my own?"
>Ralsei had been looking increasingly nervous about the plan.
>Every snapping twig or hooting owl made the goat grip his robes a little harder.
>He was even chewing on his scarf when he thought nobody was looking.
>Susie felt like telling him to toughen up. To not be such a marshmallow.
>But his wide eyes were looking up at her with moonlight dancing in them.
>Tier-two swear word, it should be illegal to be so cute.
>"All right, all right. Don't cry, crybaby. We have to go to school in a few hours, but we'll figure something out for tonight."
>Kris returns with the tent and a small camping bag.
>All three of them head off into the woods.
>Flashlights are found in the bag, but only one of the three works.
>Not that it matters much. It'll be dawn soon and the trip down the trail isn't very long.
>Somehow Ralsei manages to get tangled in branches that don't bother either Susie or Kris.
>Twice.
>Eventually they reach the stop Kris had in mind.
>It's just a flat spot between the trees.
>If anyone walks by they're going to see a tent set up there.
>But it's the best idea anyone has. At least this way someone would have to be walking the trails to even see him.
>Kris unrolls the tent and starts setting it up like a seasoned pro.
>It's not the easy kind either. There's poles and stakes and ropes and even tarps.
>Susie has to admit, she's kind of impressed.
>Soon enough the small roll of plastic and parts had unfolded into a tent the size of a small room.
>The faded tag hadn't been lying when it said eight people could sleep comfortably in it.
>A funky smell hung around the inside.
>Sort of like skunk, but not as pungent.
>They opened the window zippers and left the front flap open to air it out.
>"Sorry. The sleeping bags are inside the house."
>"It's okay. I won't need them until tonight."
>The little goat wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea of spending the day out in the woods alone.
>But Susie and Kris couldn't miss school for a whole host of reasons.
>By the time everything was finished, set-up, and settled, the sun had come up over the horizon.
>Kris had to run if he was going to make it back home before his mom came to wake him up.
>Susie had been using the excuse of morning jogging before class to explain to her dad why she had been getting up so early.
>She knew he didn't really buy it, but he didn't openly call her out on it.
>Susie spent what time there was before class by heading over to the grocery store and grabbing Ralsei something to eat.
>Couldn't let toothpaste boy go hungry after all.

>Class never felt so long.
>Alphys just seemed to be droning on and on about how math was important.
>As if the multiplications table was some kind of arcane truth about their reality.
>Nobody really noticed the distraction that plagued Kris and Susie.
>When the bell rang they were the first ones to the door.
>Out into the woods and down the trail to check on their friend.
>He was such a nervous worrier that they expected to find him curled up in a corner of the tent shivering.
>Or, worse, what if someone had come by and reported a bum living in the forest?
>Officer Undyne would have scared Ralsei senseless just saying hello.
>They rounded the last turn and caught sight of the tent.
>Walked around the other side of it.
>And found Ralsei calmly sitting on a stump by the tent.
>In a shaft of sunlight that pierced through the canopy.
>With a whole assortment of small animals, birds, and even a fox sitting on or around him.
>Like he was some kind of magical fairy princess.
>Were... were the animals even waiting their turn for attention?
>Ralsei smiled as a raccoon wandered out of the shadows, limping on one leg.
>"Well, aren't you a curious beast. Oh my! You're hurt. Let me fix that up for you."
>The raccoon actually sat down and waited as the goat-boy concentrated his healing magic on the wound.
>It stood up on its hind legs once the spell had done its work and accepted a few head pats before waddling back into the forest.
>"What the tier-three curse word?!" Susie shouts the words that are going through both her and Kris's mind.
>The animals and birds scatter in a flurry of motion.
>Ralsei looks more startled than the birds until his wide eyes lock onto the presence of his friends.
>"Kris! Susie! You're back!"
>The bundle of green robes and black fur all but bounced to his feet and began brushing off his clothes.
>"You didn't tell me the animals in your world were so friendly. I wouldn't have worried so if I had known."
>Susie and Kris could only share a look of disbelief.
>"Maybe stay away from the larger ones. They're not as friendly." Kris advised gently.
>Ralsei just nodded and kept on smiling.
>"So." Susie broke into the moment of silence with a clap of her hands. "What's the game plan?"
>"Need to get a sleeping bag for Ralsei first." Kris stated.
>"Aren't you two staying with me tonight?"
>Susie had forgotten to mention that to Kris all day.
>Thankfully the nerd just takes it in stride.
>"Might be able to. Depends if mom lets me or not."
>"I'll have to sneak out after dark, but I can make it back here." Susie added. "But I've got a few questions first."
>"Oh... okay?" Ralsei seemed nervous all of a sudden again. But that was pretty normal for him.
>"How were you able to open the door when nothing we've done on this side could do it?"
>"I didn't do anything special. I just asked the door politely to open."
>"Did we try that?" She asked Kris, who just shrugged. He didn't remember either.
>"Maybe it doesn't work from our side? Ralsei said he can't get back."
>"Oh, right."
>Another moment of silence.
>"Sorry I'm not more helpful." The sorrowful goat and his damnably cute eyes.
>"It's not like I'm exactly in any rush to send you home you idiot." Susie growled. "Just trying to figure out how when that time comes."
>"Let's enjoy one night before worrying about that." Kris suggested with a smile creeping onto his lips.
>"Yeah, okay."
>"Yes!"
>They all shared a laugh before Kris stood up.
>He pulled out his phone and flipped it open.
>"Hi mom." He hadn't needed to look at it to see who was calling. "Everything is fine. ... Just out with Susie. ... No, we're not causing trouble. Just hanging out. ... Actually, would it be all right if I had a sleepover with her tonight? ... No. ... No. ... We're just watching monster movies. Wanted to do a whole marathon. ... Yes. ... Mom, come on. It's not like that... Yes, I promise. ... Of course I'll be coming home to get my stuff. ... Okay. Thanks mom. I'll see you soon."
>The phone disappeared back into his pocket. He shot his friends a thumbs up.
>"Yay!" Ralsei grinned and hopped up in his excitement.
>"I'll go home and get my stuff. Then we can go get snacks."
>"All of us?" Susie asked with a wary look towards the black goat.
>"Sans can't know everyone yet. We'll take the trails to the store and back." A mischievous smile crept onto the prankster's face. "Don't tell me you're scared of getting in trouble Susie?"
>The dragon gave a ferocious growl and swatted at the nerd. He managed to slip out of the way of her claws and launched a pine cone in her direction.
>She caught it in her mouth and crunched down.
>Ralsei's terror quickly subsided as he realized they weren't really fighting. It was... what had Susie called it? Wrestling? Yeah, that was it.
>He caught both of them off guard when he joined in with two tiny acorns.
>Kris and Susie just stared over at the meek wizard.
>One who was holding two more acorns.
>"L-Lancer has been showing me how to roughhouse!" He shouted, as if he wouldn't have gotten the words out otherwise. But he was smiling as he hurled the tiny missiles.
>For a while, the sounds of laughter and mock battles echoed through the woods. Nobody but the small animals gathered in the trees and under the nearby bushes heard them.

=====

>Toriel peeked out from the kitchen as Kris walked through the front door.
>Honestly, he was surprised she wasn't waiting in the living room pretending to read.
>"Hi Kris. You're a bit early, but it should be about ready."
>The smell of cinnamon and butterscotch reached his nose just as she spoke.
>"Mom, you didn't have to do that."
>"Of course I did!" She asserted with a stern look and a wave of a soap covered spoon. "It's your first sleepover with your friend."
>Kris ignored the small edge to his mother's voice on the last word.
>She still didn't entirely approve of him hanging out with the town thug.
>But it had only been a month.
>And getting caught coming out of the supply closet together more than once hadn't helped things.
>At least the pie meant she was trying.
>"I'm sure Susie and... I will love it."
>Wow. Way to almost blow it five seconds out of the gate.
>Thankfully his mother didn't notice.
>"Go on. Get all your things ready. By the time you're done it should be ready to come out of the oven."
>Kris nodded and went upstairs to do what she suggested.
>He dug out a duffel bag Asriel had brought with him from college the last time he visited.
>They joked it was the only present the older brother could afford.
>He stuffed it with a change of clothes, a sleeping bag, two pillows, and an extra blanket.
>Asriel probably wouldn't mind someone using his pillow for a little bit.
>Of course, it might actually be him using it anyways.
>ANYWAYS!
>The other two sleeping bags he was going to carry.
>Juggling all this and a pie was going to be interesting.
>After a few moments of consideration, he tied the pull-cords of the bags containing the sleeping bags together and threw them over one shoulder.
>It turned out to be pretty nicely balanced with the duffel bag.
>So he trudged downstairs with his load.
>Balanced or not, it was a awkward.
>Toriel was humming to herself as she placed small tarts into a plastic carrier.
>"I thought these would bake faster and be easier to eat without making a mess." She answered the unspoken question in Kris's eyes.
>She had gotten so good at that over the years.
>"Thanks mom. I mean it."
>"You're welcome." There was that edge again. Like she wanted to say something but forced herself not to.
>She clasped the carrier closed and handed it over to him.
>"Just make sure you two eat something besides junk food."
>"We will mom."
>"You're turning into such a polite young man. Have fun."
>With another nod, Kris was out the door and onto the trails.
>By the time he reached the campsite again, he was sweating with red staining his cheeks.
>It had been a lot of extra bulk to carry.
>Ralsei was attempting to coax one of the squirrels into coming out of the trees so Susie could feed it a nut.
>The squirrels weren't having any of it.
>When they spotted him, they both rushed over to help take the burden off of him.
>Which was fine with Kris.
>He sat on the stump as Susie tossed the gear casually into the tent.
>The tarts, however, were set on the stump and broken into immediately.
>Susie popped two in her mouth and chewed while also blowing on the still warm goo inside.
>Ralsei nibbled at the crust of one until he realized how good it was.
>Kris ate his own in two distinct bites.
>Complements to be relayed to the chef were given.
>As tempting as it was to devour the rest of them immediately, Kris suggested that they try to scrounge up actual dinner first.
>Susie called him a wimp.
>Her stomach immediately growled loud enough to be audible.
>She flushed and conceded the point.