Kickapoo Kicks!

[Kev Allison]

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MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

Laughing Kev smirked, “Now you know.” He teased as he grinned, well if Koda was his friend now at least he knew he wasnt going to get bitten in the middle of the night for moving. Getting settled for the night it was easy when there wasn’t much noise of anything other than a breeze and a few creaking trees. No cars, horns, people, voices or tv’s to distract from anything other than the relaxing sound of nature.

“Think us boys can keep tabs on ourselves, might even pick him up for play dates too.” Kev teased as he settled feeling himself drift off to sleep. He hadn’t any idea how long he had been asleep when he woke to a few strange noises outside of their tent. It took him a moment to work out what it might be, it sounded like a shuffle or a scrape but it wasnt a noise he was familiar with for a forest setting.

At least not any forest he had been in, he thought it might be a person, or a bear and if it was a bear why wasnt anyone else awake as he reached over to nudge Mattie lightly. “Wake up.” He whispered trying to keep quiet and not panic about a strange noise. He could feel his chest tighten as he wriggled his way out of the sleeping back in just his tshirt and shorts as he tried to work out what the noise could be without jumping straight into the worst ideas.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

Mattie was awake in an instant, her hand going to her pistol, although she left it where it was as her brain assessed danger.

"What?" she whispered, then she heard the shuffle-snuffle and relaxed. Not only did the park have no predators to be too concerned about, but Koda was still fast asleep, and if there was anything dreadful out there, the dog would be on high alert.

"Oh...a snufalumalaus!" Her father's name for anything unseen outside the tent came back to her easily and she chuckled. "Probably just a racoon...maybe a fox or coyote. Do you want to check?"

Of course, too much activity inside the tent would pretty much scare off anything out there.

She smiled, not that he'd see in the darkness. "Of course, if it is a snufalumalaus, they say it's good luck to catch one, if it doesn't eat you first. The Natives say that they hold up the Earth while riding on the back of a taranturtle."

Kev Allison

[Kev Allison]

[googlefont="Oswald"][googlefont="Allura"][googlefont="Abel"]

MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

Kev gave her a crazy look when he heard the question of what. It was the strange noise, one he wasn’t used to and one he hadn’t really associated with a stay in a forest at all. “Don’t you hear that?” Kev questioned in a whisper to Mattie, he wasnt a totally scared out guy but then again it had been a long time since he had camped outside and strange noises. Usually mean that something was about to or was going to go wrong.

“You have the gun and you want me to check?” Kev said grinning as he rolled his eyes, “if I get killed out there then make sure to at least bring me back with you and dont say I ran off.” He added as he listened to Mattie’s explanation as to what was out there. “Taranturtle... if that’s what I think it is then that is scarier than anything I’ve ever seen before.” He added trying not to laugh as he realised how ridiculous he had been.

He really did need to get out of the city more, hell if anyone from the military heard that he had freaked out over a noise outside. Yeah it wasn’t about to get further than the tent if he could help it. Mostly that he wasnt terrified or at least he was on the inside he just wasnt trying to freak out too much. He had someone with a gun right there that didnt seem too bothered and Koda who was sparked out still. Either he was the world worst guard dog or there really wasnt anything to worry about.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

“You have the gun and you want me to check?”

"Well, yeah, that way if it gets you I can put you out of your misery!" She gave him a cheeky grin. "You know, doing you a favor and all."

“if I get killed out there then make sure to at least bring me back with you and don't say I ran off.” He added as he listened to Mattie’s explanation as to what was out there. “Taranturtle... if that’s what I think it is then that is scarier than anything I’ve ever seen before."

"You want me to pack you out of here?" Rolling her eyes, she chuckled, then shook her head. "Man, are you demanding." Of course, the car was right there, but that took the fun out of it.

Then there was more noise outside, scraping and snuffling, and she held her finger to her lips, then shuffled around until she was on her stomach facing the tent flap. Slowly, she pulled the zipper up a few inches, then whispered, "Look." A few feet away, a mama racoon and her two babies were chewing on the end of the marshmallow roasting sticks.

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

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MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

Kev laughed as he nodded to her, Mattie had a good point he wouldnt be able to do that so at least she was thinking of him already. “Thanks for that, I know that you’d do the right thing. Just make it quick and dont miss.” He added smirking, “Huge favour I know but I’d make sure to leave you at least half of my apartment in the city.” He teased laughing.

“I’m a lawyer of course I’m demanding, you just said you’d shoot me anyway so run while I can right? Unless this was your plan and you’d just shove me out in the middle of the night and chase me through the forest?” He asked he laughing again. Honestly he was the type to freak out over a random noise but in Chicago the world could end and he’d turn right over and go get another hours sleep without a second thought.

Watching as he made sure to keep quiet as Kev glanced out of the opened tent flap as he stared at the racoon and the babies as he grinned. “Sounded a lot bigger.” He whispered back as he grinned watching them. By the noise they made he would have been sure they were ten feet tall though he wasnt going to be roasting anymore mallows on those sticks now. It was cute to see as he grinned watching them along side Mattie.

This trip was turning out to be one of the greatest he had ever taken and that wasnt just because of the person he was with: though yes that had a whole lot to do with it. Seeing what he could right then, it made it all worth it even being scared out of his mind three minutes ago to see what he saw now.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

“Sounded a lot bigger.”

"Well, I guess maybe it's because there are three of them?" Mattie suggested in a whisper, although even that was loud enough to make Mama Racoon glance their way warily for a few seconds before returning to foraging, and it reminded Mattie how much she had missed this sort of thing.

Not that there weren't critters around town. Surprisingly, there were raccoons, and possums and even the occasional coyote, in the big city, but there was just something special seeing them here.

"Of course," she continued in the whisper, "they could just be distracting us from the big bear behind us!" At that, she let out a sudden roar and 'pounced' on his shoulders, laughing!

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

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MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

“Oh yeah, three of them sounded like one gigantic bear.” Kev said nodding to Mattie as he smiled. It was good seeing what was out there in nature, even if it had terrified him three seconds ago. You didn’t get a sight like that in the middle of the city in Chicago, it was all but gone unless you counted a sewer rat of about the same size.

There wasn’t anywhere he would rather be than there with Mattie, watching a family of raccons forage for food. He was glad that they brought something with them to eat as going to look for it wasn’t exactly a great thing he knew how to do. Camping was military camping and it had been long enough ago that most of any training he had was long gone. Putting up a tent he could do, starting a fire yes but looking for food in the middle of no where. He might need a pointer or two as he watched the family do just that as he smiled. Much less scary than a bear.

Kev tried not to scream as he fought the urge to look over his shoulder until he felt Mattie pounce on his shoulders. Laughing as he tried to tickle her for being sneaky and almost frightening him half to death. It was good just to get back to what was actually out there and not stare at street lights for stars. It was a nice scary and terrifying change of pace to the world.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

Laughing, Mattie rolled to her back and squirmed a bit as she reached to grab his wrists. Fortunately, she wasn't ticklish around her ribs or stomach like most people, and he wasn't likely to discover that it was her ears that were her weak spot.

In the low light of early dawn his eyes sparkled with mirth, and she realized yet again that she had missed this sort of contact, just a friend to play with.

And before things got too awkward, Koda decided he wanted to join the fun, so he hopped up, yipping excitedly as he grabbed Kev's wrist gently with his teeth, not enough to hurt, and started tugging lightly.

"See?" Mattie laughed, "he's on my side!"

Kev Allison

[Kev Allison]

[googlefont="Oswald"][googlefont="Allura"][googlefont="Abel"]

MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

Kev felt Mattie grab his wrists as he saw that she wasn’t like most people, well he knew that already but not ticklish, that was an issue when he was trying that. Then again he couldn’t help but gaze at her, the way she seemed to be so perfect in the light of the dawn that it could take his breath away so easily.

Being stuck in an office all day he realised how much he missed actually being outside, actually hanging around adults that didn’t want to yell at him, cry on his shoulder or plead their case. It made a difference to be out there with Mattie as he laughed when Koda decided to join in too. “Noooo Koda noooo” Kev teased as he grinned patting Mattie’s head for a moment.

“Look boy much more fun.” He teased as he tried to get Koda to at least attempt to play. “He can’t be on your side, he was on mine like ten seconds ago.” He said grinning as he reached out and flicked at Mattie’s ear for a moment. “Go Koda.” He said chuckling as he grinned happily enjoying the company.

Well if the noise now didn’t scare off any bears, they were done for anyway and it wasn’t his fault. Then again he was distracting the one of them that had the gun but he didn’t mind about that part at all. Like he reasoned it wasn’t his fault if there was a bear and as far as he knew they didnt like noise.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

Doggie that he was, Koda took his cue and started sniffling at Mattie's head, his nose rutting through her hair as he tried to get to her face for licks! But, despite giggling hysterically, Mattie had her face buried in her crossed arms to stave off dog-lips.

"Not fair!" she gasped between giggles, "you boys are bad!"

Finally, she managed to push the dog off and roll to her back. "Just for that," she declared, "you two are making the pancakes this morning while I get to just sit and watch!"

At least there was mix, so even if Kev couldn't really cook, all he had to do was add water, and beyond that heat the skilled on the camp-stove, so...what could go wrong?"

"Just...um, don't burn the woods down!"

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

[googlefont="Oswald"][googlefont="Allura"][googlefont="Abel"]

MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

“Only as bad as you want us to be.” Kev teased as he laughed, trying to at least pull one arm away so Koda had half a chance to get to Mattie. It was good to be a little kid like again, he forgot what it was like for a while between work and not being out doors it was just good to get back to a normal. For whatever normal was for him he could enjoy it more and more.

“Ohh pancakes, can’t say that is overly awful punishment.” He added chuckling as he nodded. Pulling on his clothes as he went to fetch the pancake mix. “I’ll try not to cause a forest fire but no promises.” Kev joked though he really didn’t want to have to explain to park and forest service’s what he’d done. Honestly he prosecuted people for their stupidity when it came to that.

“So how many pancakes do you think you can eat?” Kev asked as he got the skillet and fire set up. It felt good to just be doing something as simple as cooking on a stove. So it might not be cooking as cooking was in his head but a mix packet, add water and cook without burning was as good as he could do. At least in the middle of the forest without a temperature controlled stove to hand. The creature comforts were looking good so far as food went as he hoped he wouldn’t turn pancakes into charcoal.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

"Is that a challenge?" Mattie chuckled as she dug out the mix and handed it to him, then set out the milk before sitting at the bench and snuggling into her coat to keep warm. "We can have a contest if you want to...except I'll warn you now, Koda cheats!"

She wasn't so sure she wanted to gorge on pancakes, but, what the heck, he'd put out the challenge, so she'd take him up on it!

"Just...you know, I don't believe you can mess up mix pancakes on accident," she added, implying that if he did burn them, it was on purpose! Of course, all he had to do was add the milk to the pancake mix container, shake it up, then pour it in the skillet...well, and turn them on time.

"Let me know if you need help."

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

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MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

Kev took the mix and laughed, “Only if you want it to be?” He teased grinning as he started to mix up the ingredients. Who didn’t love pancakes for breakfast? “So it’s only Koda that cheats huh?” Kev said as he started to put the pancakes out in the pan. If this was classed as cooking then it was something he could be half good at as he reached for a plate to make sure that he didn’t burn them.

“Wow so no pressure then for perfect pancakes, your demands are high today huh.” Kev joked as he smiled, holding the fish slice ready to turn them. Watch for the bubbles in the top he told himself as he daren’t take his eyes of the skillet.

Who knew that making pancakes was such a serious thing when you were trying not to burn something to impress Mattie. “No you’re fine, you just keep warm and be happy, food will be coming your way soon.” He said as he flipped one of the pancakes awkwardly. “See not too bad huh? Barely even a mess and still pancake shaped... sort of.” He said glancing at he as he practically sat over the skillet waiting to turn the next one.

Kev placed the finished pancake onto a plate and held it out for Mattie to take. “So breakfast is served, get it while it’s still hot and not burnt.” He added with a grin. Yeah first one had gone okay, just however many more now.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

Mattie frowned as she took the plate of pancakes, then she shrugged. "I guess they look enough like plain old boring pancakes," she muttered with a shrug. "I mean, they look good, and enough syrup and I'm sure they'll taste...syrupy."

After taking a bite, she looked Koda and shrugged again. "Good enough, but they'd be so much better if they were shaped like bunnies, huh? Or kitty cats!"

The dog's ears perked up at that and she laughed. "I know, but I'm not sure he can...he's a novice at this, after all."

Then she looked up as if suddenly realizing that Kev was listening, and she smiled broadly. "Koda approves!"

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

[googlefont="Oswald"][googlefont="Allura"][googlefont="Abel"]

MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

Kev watched Mattie frown at the pancakes as he wondered if he’d over cooked them for her. “Wow talk about a bad review, it’s been years since I even had a pancake.” Kev admitted as he laughed, sure the shape he could work on but then it didn’t matter if it wasn’t perfectly round it still counted. “You put all the syrup you like on them, they taste good trust me.” He said taking a bite as he grinned, “Can’t fault the mix at all.”

Mostly because he hadn’t had to make it from scratch, just add water and go after a shake but then again he really couldn’t fault the mix it was great. “Okay, next ones like bunnies and cats, just don’t tell me they dont look like a cat... it’s Chicago, I’ve seen a lot of strange cats.” He joked as he smirked watching Koda’s ears pick up and he laughed.

“Thanks at least I know I have one fan here. Koda is the greatest, I’d love to share another evening in the forest with him.” Kev said decidedly. “Especially if we can have pancakes too and I guess you’re invited too Mattie.” Kev said with a smirk as he went back to eating his pancake before trying to craft anything that remotely looked like a cat pancake.

It proved a lot tougher than it looked as he seemed to spatter mix all over the skillet as it seemed to swallow up any attempt he made to shape the mix.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI