Devil's Elbow

Act I: Chapter 2

The walk, as it turned out, was by no means a joke. The trail had its ups and downs -literally- before it became a steady walk down with Shani at the forefront. Each friend had a shoulder and each filled with either a bag, tent or both.

“Where is Vincent?” Shani asked, looking back and noticed they were short one Asian. As they looked back they noticed Vincent had fallen behind. “Yo Vince!” He called out.

“I am right here!” They heard him as he panted, holding his tent and bag.

“Jeez man, we knew you didn't hike but you got the girls an entire mile ahead of you.” Kodi smirked.

“Two words, man. f**k, and you.” Vincent said, panting.

“I have asthma and am inhaling THC, what is your excuse?” Seth joked.

“I’m out of shape man…” Vincent sighed, finally catching up. “Alright guys, can we please take a break?”

“Sure Vinnie pie.” Shani smiled. “Okay guys let’s sit and get some water in our system.” Shani smiled before hearing wolves howl.

“Guess we ain’t alone.” Cole said, getting his bottle out laughing. Shani smirked and looked on, up the forest mountain. “You still love wolves?” Gavri asked, looking up as well as smiling.

“’Course. They are so fluffy. " He said with a faked anime smile. " Besides, o one treats a family fiercer than them,” He added.

“Always a family man. Why don’t you just ask her out, then you can start your own and gimme some nieces or nephews?” Gavri said, shoving him as Mica sat alone drinking water.

“Soon as you and Cole become friends again,” Shani added, which made her roll her eyes.

“Relentless bastard,” She sighed.

“Relentless bitch.” He smiled back. What Shani didn’t know was she avoided Cole because she didn’t trust herself around him. Cole was a different sort when it came to her ghosts of boyfriends past. It wasn’t like he was bad, he was just never good at making the right choices in life. No one could fault Gavri. Shani remembered the moment as though it was yesterday…

Four years earlier…

Shani walked into the bar where Cole had been working and glared at him. “Cole you fuckin’ asshole!” He said, storming over.

Cole looked at him and frowned. “Shani, I know you are pissed man, but-”

He didn't finish, as Shani gave him a hard punch to the jaw. Shani had never been one for violence, unless it was family or friends. In Cole’s case? He had the misfortune of knowing that it was both. “How could you do that to Gavri, man?! Thought you were better than that man-”

Before Shani could think, an uppercut knocked all sense out of him. After that, a brawl ensued between the best friends as the bar became their colosseum. After numerous punches and tackles later, the two finally laid on the floor panting.

“Asshole…”

“Dickhead.”

Eventually, the two chuckled in pain, their frustrations laid out along the entire bar. “What now?”

“Now I watch you get fired.” Shani smirked as the bar's owner began to walk forward fuming.

Present…

“At least try to give the man a chance to be a friend. For your big bro?” He asked, smiling. Gavri sighed in irritation but nodded.

“Still an asshole.”

“Still stubborn.” He smiled at her.

He looked and walked up to Mica. “You don't even look tired, Ms. Rini.”

“Neither do you, Mr. Perry.” She smirked and he flashed the same grin.

“I jog,” He said with a shrug.

“I hike, it's much more fun.” She smiled.

“Noted,” He grinned back at her with a smirk. "Probably helps with all that photography."

She raised a brow and quirked a smirk of her own. "You stalking me, Mr. Perry?"

"There is this nice little website and app called i********:, may know it as IG or The Gram? It shows all the photos and videos you put there. Maybe don't post a photo you took of the Oregon Trail?" Shani said with a cheeky smile, a tactic that seemed to work as she gave a wider smile to him in return.

"Aright well played, sir."

Shani chuckled and looked at Seth. “Wanna do some recon while everyone catches their breath Seth?”

“Are you kidding? Let's.” The taller man smirked and stood.

“Mind if I join?” Mica asked, making both boys stare, giving her the same question on their faces.

Why not?

Both men shrugged. “Be our guest,” Shani smirked.

“Gavri, watch the dim bulbs.” He said and she just gave a smirk as the three ventured into the forest.

The guys fell back as Mica walked ahead. “Shani, you know you don't fool anyone, right?”

“What?” Shani asked, looking at the slender man.

“You like her. We all know you have had a thing for Mica since stone age years. Except maybe Vincent, at least.” He smirked.

“Ouch… its that obvious, huh?” Shaniasked, looking at her.

“To all but you, hell even she may know. Look man, we are all different from who we were. Just ask her out.” He smirked.

Shani sighed. “Maybe later, when we actually find a place to camp.”

Seth just smirked and looked at Mica who looked like she was about to inhale a flower. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

Mica paused, hearing the warning, and looked back at him. “Why?”

“It’s the Ranunculus, commonly known as the Coyote’s Eyes. Inhale it or be cut by it, you’ll be suffering skin ulcers for days.” He explained, warning her, which made her flinch away from the flower.

“Jesus. Thanks for the warning.”

“Seth always had a respect for plants. We joked he could be a botanist but…” Shani smirked.

“But I was more into physical work. Plants just happen to be the ultimate survivors and predators. They know how to adapt.” Seth smirked.

“We should all be so lucky.” Shani smiled as they walked and sighed, seeing an open area surrounded by trees to camp.

“This place looks good, let's get the others here.” Shani said before looking up.

“Shani?” Seth said.

“Don't you guys hear that sound?” Shani asked and the two listened.

“Sounds a lot like... running water.” Seth said.

“Then let’s see how close it is.” Mica smiled, unpacking and ran over. Shani followed and, sure enough, the two came up to a pool of water. “It’s... a water spring.” She said, astonished.

“Not just a spring,” Shani said, walking over, placing his hand in the steamy water. “A hot spring.”

“In the north of Washington? Is that even possible?”

“We still have a dormant volcano. Rainier may be south but it all has to vent somewhere.” He smiled.

“This may be more relaxing than we thought.” Mica smiled, crooking her hip to the side.

“Ain’t that the truth,” Shani grinned, clapping his hands together. This trip just took a big jump into fun than he may have originally thought. “Time to find the others and set up camp.”

She smiled, not arguing at the notion, as the two walked their way back to the rest of their friends, ready to tell them what they had found.