Chapter 16: Thanksgiving Bond

Kotori POV:

Thanksgiving, a moment where family comes together to celebrate. You can either invite your families and friends over and cook up some large delicious meals like frying or roasting a large turkey like they do in the west or we can just have some peace and quiet like going to the park or camping out in nature. Either way, it will work and it's enjoyable.

For Thanksgiving, me and my daughter decided to go on camping and I already invited the others to join us. I woke up early so I could pack all the things that we need like: tent, matches, flashlights, first aid kits, bear spray (we don't know what's in the woods so better be prepared, right?), and etc. Better be ready earlier than never.

A few hours had passed and I'm in the kitchen enjoying the scent of the eggs and bacons lingering on the air while enjoying the sound of the birds chirping by the window and the bacon sizzling on the pan.

"Mom, what's for breakfast?"

I hear a tiny tired voice from behind me and I saw my daughter wearing her adorable pajamas while scratching her left eye.

I replied. "It's your favorite, bacon and eggs. Come sit down it's almost finished."

My daughter groggily walk towards the dining table and climbed up the chair. She stretched out her arms and yawned loudly making me glanced at her.

"Sorry." She chuckled nervously.

Once the breakfast had finished cooking, I placed the bacons and eggs on two plates and served it on the table. The delicious scent made my daughter woke up and I can see her eyes glimmered.

"Enjoy!" I smiled at her warmly and sat on my chair.

"Itadakimasu!" She said before chowing down on her favorite breakfast.

"You know what day it is?" I spoke.

"What?" Amai replied with food still on her mouth.

"It's Thanksgiving day and we will gonna go camping!" I beamed.

Amai gulped down her food and celebrated.

"Really?! Yeyyyy!!!" Amai raised her spoon on the air like some warrior victorious in war.

"Where are we going camping mom?!" She excitingly asked.

I giggled at the sight of her excitement. I grabbed a tissue from the tissue box on the table and wipe away the rice and bacon crumbs on her mouth.

"It's a secret. Also, I'm sure you will love it when we get there." I replied to her making her "awww!" in response because I didn't tell her.

*Knock! Knock!*

Suddenly, I heard someone's knocking on the front door.

I look at my daughter and said. "Wait here."

I hurriedly run towards the living room and all the way to the front door and when I opened it.

"Good morning Kotori!"

"Are we going camping?!"

"Heya!"

The gang is already here and behind them is a van parked that can fit 10 people inside of it. And on top of the van are dozens of bags tied up together.

"Wow! You guys are early!" I exclaimed.

Shido steps in wearing a casual attire of t-shirt, short, and a cap.

He approached me and chuckled. "Sorry about this sis, they're just excited. Is Amai awake?"

Amai then peeked out behind me and all of the sudden, she charged towards her uncle Shido which my brother pick her up and raised her by the air before giving her a tight hug.

"Happy Thanksgiving my favorite niece!" Shido beamed and my daughter giggled.

"Ara, ara~ are you both ready to go camping?" Kurumi steps in, wearing a maong short and a black t-shirt.

"Oh yeah, we already pack all of our things." I pointed at the couch where all of our camping stuff is.

"Well, what're you waiting for? Both of you go change and we'll toss all your things in the van." Kaguya stated.

Hours Later~

We've been driving for hours and outside the window of the vehicle is the endless beauty of the scenery of a large lake as we drive up to the mountain. Inside the van, we are singing the song that Tohka, Shido, and the Yamai sisters sung when they went to a singing competition with Miku. Remembering it and hearing the song feels nostalgic.

While staring at the scenery, I almost got hurled at the seat in front of me when the van suddenly stop.

"Hey, what gives?!" I exclaimed.

"We're here!" Shido on the driver seat yelled out excitingly.

The sliding door of the van opened and we all step outside. Once outside, I felt the cool breeze brushed against my skin while it blow my red long hair.

"So relaxing." I took a deep breath and sighed, releasing all the tensions and stress from work.

I glanced around and I can see a forest just five kilometers away from us and I went to the edge of the mountain where there is a fence for protection and I can see the beauty of the large city, Tengu City.

"Woah, what a sight." I'm always getting struck by amazement of how big the city is in the middle of the large crater.

Suddenly, I felt a tug on my shirt. I glanced down and saw my daughter.

"Mom, let's go put up the tent!" My daughter smiled at me warmly.

"Sure sweetie, let's go!"

Both of us went to the van and took out all of our things. Shido and kurumi already setting up their own tents, Tohka and Origami started to argue when there tent collapsed, the Yamai sisters are having a competition with each other, and Miku already done setting up hers with Nia, Muruko, Natsumi, and Yoshino.

The most unique and cutest tent of them all is from Yoshino which resembles Yoshinon while the rest of us just brought normal tents that you see in every camping days.

Few hours passed and we already done setting up all of our tents around the bonfire we built. We all gathered around the fire while my brother plays the guitar and we all sang a few songs while the sunset drift off the horizon.

When the sun already is already gone and the moon already took its place, all of us munched on our delicious dinner that my brother cooked on the fire. The miso soup really is delicious for a cold night in nature and the kebab really makes your belly full. Once we all done, we cleaned up our mess to avoid any wild animals to come and roam around our campsite and after that we all say good night to each other before going inside our tents to have a peaceful sleep.

"Do you have fun today?" I asked my daughter who is half awake.

"Uh huh! Can we stay here for a few more days mom?" My daughter tiredly said.

I giggled and replied. "Let me think about it tomorrow."

"Okay~" Amai yawned.

I kissed her on the forehead before saying. "Good night sweetie, sweetdreams and I love you."

"Good night too mom, I love you too." She replied before her eyes slowly closed and her consciousness drifted off to the dream realm.

I slowly closed my eyes too and I let myself succumbed to the darkness. Suddenly...

"AAAAAHHHHH!!!"

I gasped and stood up straight away. I glanced on my left side and my heart just drop from chest when I saw my daughter is nowhere to be seen. I quickly get out of the tent and I saw the others also wide awake.

"Where's Amai?!" I cried out.

"We heard a scream coming from the forest! We need to hurry it must be her!" Origami pointed towards the forest that is kilometers away from us.

We all run towards where the scream had occured. I breath heavily as chills spreads all over my body fearing something bad happened to my daughter.

"Please be okay! Please be okay! Please be okay!" I keep telling myself over my head repeatedly.

When we reached the entrance of the forest, my eyes widened, my pupils dilated, and my whole body shook as I saw my daughter lying on the ground with gian wolves lying besides her. I quickly sprinted towards her and held her on my arms.

"Amai?! Wake up please!" I cried out as tears began to fall from my eyes.

"Amai please! You're the only one I got please wake up!" I hugged her tightly and my cries muffled as I buried my face on her chest.

"M-Mom?"

I heard a faint voice coming from her. As I look at her, I saw her eyes slowly opened.

"Why did you went outside all alone in the middle of the night?! Do you know how dangerous the mountain is?!" I scolded her.

"I'm sorry mom..." Amai said in a sad tone.

"Don't ever ever do that again, okay? I already lose your father, I cannot afford to lose you too." I hugged her really tight as my fears slowly vanished.

"Amai, are you hurt?" My brother approached us behind me.

"No uncle Shido, I'm alright." My daughter replied softly.

My brother sighed in relief and patted my daughter's head.

"Why are there dead wolves around the area?" Tohka wondered.

I also look at the wolves that are lying besides my daughter and when I look at them, there's no bite marks or blood or anything. I carry Amai to my brother and gave him my daughter before walking towards one of the dead wolves and examined it.

Upon analyzing it, that's when I realized...

*Gasp!*

"Sis what's wrong?!" Shido asked.

I glanced at him with a blank expression and I glanced at my daughter who fell asleep on Shido's shoulder.

"N-Nothing... Let's go back to our camp to get some rest." I said to him before picking up Amai's from his arms and started to return back to camp which the others also followed.

Amai POV:

Earlier:

It's been a fun Thanksgiving, and time sure does fly past. After we ate our dinner, we all went inside our tent and say good night to each other. My mother kissed me on my forehead and I slowly drifted off to sleep.

*Rustle! Rustle!*

My eyes shot wide opened as I heard noises coming from outside the tent. My heart started to pump very quick as I can feel something is invading our camp. I shook my mom to wake her up, but she is in a deep sleep so it's hopeless. I listened a bit more and there is nothing but silence.

"Must be my imagination." I told myself.

That's when a shadow of a man passed by our tents making me yelp and hide inside my sleeping bag. The figure stop at first, making me fear he or she sensed that I'm still awake -- however, I was relieved when the figure just continue walking pass us.

Once the figure is gone, I slowly get out of my sleeping bag and unzip the tent just a little for me to peek outside.

"Coast is clear and no mess outside."

I completely unzip the tent and walked outside. I immediately shivered when the cold breeze of the night blow against my skin. I glanced from where the figure is walking to and I saw him or her walking towards the forest. Without thinking any danger would come after me, I followed the figure blindly.

"The forest sure is far. I wonder what's inside of it?" I muttered underneath my breath.

After walking for twenty five minutes, I finally reached the entrance of the forest. I glanced around the area and the figure is not here.

"Did it went inside the forest?" I wondered. As I was about to enter the forest, two glowing eyes suddenly appeared in the darkness making me shook inside my pajamas.

I slowly step back not daring to take my eyes off at those things. As I turned around and was about to run, a large dark wolf blocked my way and the other one appeared from the forest.

"I-I'm surrounded." I trembled as tears fall from my eyes.

My breathing quickens as I was starting to hyperventilate. The two wolves took an attacking stance and when they were about to pounce on me, I let out an ear piercing scream and my body suddenly got surrounded by dark auras and it levitated me from the ground. My eyes glowed a dark purple energy as the auras lifted the wolves up in the air and they all whimpered when the aura started to suck out their souls from their mouth and nose.

When that is all over, the three of us fall to the soft grassy ground and I tried to move my arms and legs but failed to do so. I glanced left and right with my blurred vision and I barely saw the two lifeless wolves laying besides me.

As my vision starts to deteriorate, I looked up the sky and stared at the stars one more time to help me relax, before drifting out from my consciousness.

"M-Mom... Where are you?" I whispered.