A week has passed since the gang’s confrontation with the mischievous gang known as the “rat pack.” Echo’s been restored to his normal self, while Firework’s injuries have been mostly healed. As time passed, the two have been more involved with activities and have become fascinated, as well as their new friends. The other kids of the camp have given some recognition to their little “fight” with the rat pack. Things are starting to turn around a bit for the duo, but their adventures have only just begun.
Night looms over Divine Pines, forcing the campers to retire from their day’s activities and hit the hay. Echo and Firework prepare for bed with their cabinmates, getting into the covers and dousing their lights. Firework climbs to the top bunk while Echo remains on bottom. The children exchange goodnights to each other before shutting their eyes and making their journey to Dreamland.
As the younglings dive deeper into their slumber, the noises of the night press on; the hoot of the night owl, the choir of frogs calling to each other, and the crickets’ harmony. All of these are the normal sounds of the forest critters preparing for their parts as the night presses on. Then, there’s another sound: the rattle of the foliage close to the cabin of the camp.
Firework opens his eyes and looks around, pulling the covers up to his chin after sitting up. “W-what that?” The plopping thuds of some weight against wood can be heard, further frightening the dragon. “W-who you? S-stay back…” A dark ball-like figure appears in front of him on his bad. Firework shudders with the covers high to cover his face except for his eyes. The shadow bounces forward toward him into the moonlight, revealing his lavender cotton-ball companion looking at him with confusion. The dragon lowers his blankets and lets out a “phew” with relief. “It just Cotton…” He picks up the little fluffball. “Firework worried it be a horrible monster. But Cotton no monster.” Cotton squeaks with a response. The dragon scoops him in his paws and picks him up. “Firework thought it scary monster. What Firework scared of? Firework have nothing to worry-” He looks up as soon as a glow enters his peripheral vision, noticing a pair of glowing eyes piercing through the screen-covered window through a set of bushes. “ABOUT!” He holds Cotton close to him as the two gaze back at the set of eyes. “Eeep!” Firework leans back with fear, causing him to slide out of the bed and fall onto the floor. He quickly gets back up, Cotton taking his shoulder, and goes to push his robot friend. “Echo! Echo! Wake!”
Echo moves a little. His eyes open and light illuminates from them, turning grey as he sits up and face his friend. “What is it, Firework?”
“There something out there!” the dragon utters. “Eyes look at Firework… Scary…” Cotton squeaks to the robot, trying to tell his second master the same. He points to where he found the pair of peepers. “There…”
Echo turns to where Firework points to, only to see dark bushes and foliage. “Firework, there’s nothing there…”
Firework pivots to the spot, then back at Echo. “But… but… Firework saw… Cotton saw, too… Something out there.”
“There are a bunch of creatures at night, Firework. They’re not going to harm you as long as we’re inside this cabin. Just go back to sleep and forget about it, okay?”
“But…”
“Firework, go to bed.” Echo lies back and shuts his eyes again. Firework lets out a sigh before climbing back up to his bunk. Just as he reaches the top, he freezes and changes to shock again. The amber eyes glow at him a second time from another screened window, prompting the dragon the let out a gasp before sliding back down and nudging the robot again. Echo activates, and turns to the dragon, colored grey for unamused while still lying in the bed. “Now what is it?”
“Eyes back again,” Firework spurts. “Eyes following Firework.”
Echo’s colors soon change to red. “Firework, for the last time, there’s nothing out there. Go to sleep.” The robot turns and pulls the covers over him.
“Echo, please!” Firework stops and watches as the eyes travel across, then disappear. “What could be?” The dragon exits the cabin through the door. The squeak of the hinges wakes his friend.
Echo sits up and notices Firework’s tail disappear from view. “Firework?” He sighs. “Oh great…” He gets out of bed and heads for the door.
Firework, along with Cotton, travels around the camp in search of the pair of orbs he had witnessed. The dark night makes it somewhat difficult for the dragon to see, prompting him to use a torch from his backpack. “Where could thing be?” He travels into a section of trees in hopes to find out what it is that could be spying on him. The dragon aims his torch around, searching for the spectacles that had disturbed him. “H-hello?” he calls out. “Anyone out here?” Shining around, nothing seems to pop out or stand out to the dragon. Firework stops and lowers his light. “Maybe Echo right… Maybe all in Firework’s head.” He sighs. Cotton rubs against the dragon’s cheek to comfort him. “Heh, okay. Firework and Cotton will go back to cabin.” The fluffball’s ears twitch and he points to the side. “Huh? What Cotton hear?” Soon, Firework’s ears twitch too, picking up the same sound as his pet. Sounds of movement are heard within the foliage around the two, as well as moving metal and clicking. “W-what that?!” He shines his light around, trying to find the source of the sounds when he notices a large shadow looming around the trees. “That not good…” Cotton hides under the dragon’s hat as Firework keeps his torch aimed at the ruffling bushes with glowing eyes. “F-Firework dragon! Firework know how to use fire!” The shrubs continue to rattle with the illuminated orbs. Firework takes a deep breath in and exhales fire upon the greenery. The leaves burn out and reveal the figure in the robot, who is now charred from the dragon’s fire breath. Firework realizes who it is and relaxes. “Oh! It just Echo.” Cotton peeks from under his hat. The dragon gives out a slight chuckle. “Heh heh, Firework glad it just Echo.”
“Thanks a lot,” says the robot. “What are you doing out here?”
“Um… Firework went looking for eyes. But Firework see it just Echo. Heh, sorry for burning Echo.”
“Well, I hope you’re happy,” Echo tells him, red with anger. “You’ve barbecued your best friend and nearly got lost out here, and for what? A pair of ghostly eyes you claim have followed you?!”
Firework pauses and becomes shocked at another shadow right behind him. “Uh, Echo…”
“Firework, I’ve had enough of your ‘eyes’ fiasco. We’re returning to the cabin this instant! Let’s go!” He turns around and faces the other direction. The robot freezes and turns to white quickly upon seeing the dark figure before him with glowing eyes. “Oh… Now I see…” The shadow inches closer to him and becomes illuminated under the moonlight, revealing itself to be a bipedal creature with four arms and curved horns on its head, about the same height as the robot. Echo starts to back up with his hands up. “E-easy now… Easy…” The creature sniffs around the robot to examine what he is. Sensing no harm from the metal man, the creature then makes its way to the dragon.
“Eep!” Firework freezes up as the animal sniffs around him. “N-no… Stop… please…” The dragon keeps still, but cannot help but laugh as the little creature sniffs around and rubs its head on his fluff. “Ahahaha! That tickles!” The organism grabs Firework by the paw and holds it firmly in its grasp. It lets go and then turns to Echo, doing the same to him before disappearing into the trees. “Hm, that interesting.”
“Tell me about it,” Echo utters, still clueless as to what happened. “I’ve never seen that kind of animal before… Must be native to the region.” He faces Firework. “Well, now that you’ve found your ‘monster’, you happy now?”
“Firework much happy,” the dragon claims, smiling.
“Now, let’s get back to bed, shall we?” Echo leads the way with the dragon staying close to him, heading back to their quarters to officially retire for the night. The strange being continues to watch as the two leave the area, smiling as they walk back.
