"You'll get used to it", Luke says gesturing to the bed. "what, the bedding?" they ask, questioning looking at the bed. They look to the bed feeling it. He nods. The bed feels so sh*tty, they think, but don't say anything not wanting to make it a big deal. "Well, yeah, but also being here, it's not as bad as you think", he says hopeful. They nod, "definitely better than fighting off monsters", they say wincing at the memories. He nods in understanding. They put their bags down as he joins them on the bed. They sigh, wishing they were back at home and all of this was a dream. "Look, I know this lot to take in ", he says trying to comfort them. They scoff and say under your breathe, "that's an understatement", they say. He ignores the comment, it doesn't phase him and he continues. He must do this a lot, they think and suddenly seem to feel sympathy for him, but then let it go. "but we'll help you find where you belong, I promise", he says pretending like this all normal. How could he just promise this? How could he pretend that this all normal? They sigh, but choose to believe him because they don't have the energy to fight him. They nod, "Okay", they say thoughts everywhere else.
He takes them to where he takes all new recruits as if he's done this before. He probably has, their brain tells them. They look up to see stars. It's a beautiful day. They practice everything finding nothing they're good at. They practice the whole day with no luck.
They go back to the dorm defeated, feeling like nothing will ever make sense. Luke senses their pain, "most people don't find their godly heritage on the first day, some actually never get claimed", he points out which does not make them feel better. They sigh, "I just want it to make sense", they say sharply and annoyed. "And it will", he says, as if he knew, they thought. They turn away not wanting Luke to see them get emotional. "Whatever", they say not convinced. But, Luke turns grabbing their hand. And they turn to him once he does. Luke quickly takes his hand away not wanting to make it uncomfortable. They look at him at again confused. He tries to save it, "just, it'll get easier", he says. They nod not really getting what he's saying but choosing to believe him because it's easier.
In the dorms, Rain couldn't sleep. They kept tossing and turning. Luke couldn't either, not with what he's tasked to do, or with the nightmares, it's safe to say it wasn't going to happen. Rain sighs, almost giving up. Luke looks to see them on the floor in a sh*tty mattress. He goes to them quietly. Rain looks up hearing footsteps, they go up to attack only to see Luke. They scream, only for Luke to put his hand on their face. They stop for a second catching their breath realizing the situation. They see the sleeping campers, and Luke walks away holding their hand pulling them somewhere. In a moment, Rain and Luke are outside where they can talk without waking any of the campers. He keeps dragging Rain until they get to the campfire. Rain sit across from him cold but also warm.
They sit there in silence for way too long, but Rain breaks it, not wanting to take it anymore. They cough, "It's uh… nice night out here", they say. Luke just sitting there with his eyes in the flames engulfed in thoughts, too dark to share, not yet at least, not now, maybe not ever. He snaps out of it with that, nodding, "yeah", he responds softly deep in thoughts. They snap their focus from him to the fire. Then, he looks at them, and they look back at stare at each other for way too long before Luke stops it by coughing.
"We should head back", he says. They nod agreeing. "yeah, wouldn't want the rest of the campers worried about us", Rain says trying to break the ice. "Yeah", he agrees, but his thoughts show he wants to say more. Rain wants to stop him, but conflicted. He gets up going to leave when Rain stop him.
"Wait", Rain pleads, "just stay", they whisper. He looks at them with a sympathetic look with pity, this poor person, they have no idea what's coming, he thinks. He feels sorry for them. Sorry for what's to happen. So, he does the only thing that he can do. He takes their hand into his, which feels so warm and cozy, but also electric. But, he puts that thought away. After taking their hand, he says , "C'mon", as he walks them back to the cabin. Both of them go back to the cabin and he walks them towards their bed, him not letting them go once, and them pulling him to stay on longer.
As they get closer to the bed, Rain gets more nervous not wanting to go to sleep, Luke understands but knows they need sleep. Luke takes the covers, "You need sleep, Rain", he whispers as to not wake the rest of the campers. They look at him annoyed but know he's right, so they get into the bed. They sigh and rolls their eyes while saying, "fine".
As they get into bed, Luke is about to leave. When Rain replies, "wait, don't leave". He looks at them first, not expecting that. They get up, "I just I don't wanna get attacked here and I don't know anybody and, I just", they ramble on. "I just, It would just be nice to know that a familiar face is here and that I won't", they say. He gets that, but also is a little shocked not really expecting that considering no other camper really had asked for that. But, then again, he'd never spent a whole night outside at the campfire with another camper so… He takes all this in. He almost retreats back to his bed, but then he see their face and he just can't bring himself to. So, he does. He puts the sh*tty ass covers on and tries to get sleep with them not knowing what awaits them in the future.
