Tubishvat Camping

Medium (920px wide max)

Wide - use max window width - scroll to see page ⇅

Fit all of image in window

set default image size: small | medium | wide

Download (new tab)

by TheForsakenScribe

Gallery

Adam The Forsaken

« prev 48 in pool

Last in pool

Short Stories & Fanfiction

« prev 27 in pool

Last in pool

Hello, all. I'm sorry I am late with this post. Tu Bishvat, or the New Year of the Trees in Judaism, was held at Sunset from February 12, 2025, until February 13, 2025. Luckily, if you are like me, you'd probably not have heard of this holiday unless you went to Jewish Worship or saw this commission by Cooper Dooper on Telegram.

That said, several years back Pink reached out to me about Judaism, and I did the best I could to tell them what I knew, but the old saying, "Ask two Jews, get three opinions," definitely applies. That said, I reached out to them mere days before the Jewish Holiday to see an opportunity for a crossover. They agreed to have our canon's Jewish characters gather for a meal over a campfire surrounded by nature and trees.

Few of you likely know that turkey sausage and egg noodles, a German-inspired dish, were my favorite growing up. Anyone who has read my books will likely see it pop up in one of them unless I forgot to include it from my role-playing days.

Nevertheless, it is customary for people observing Seder for Tu Bishvat to have some fruit from four different categories and traditionally eat a vegetarian dinner that night. Adam doesn't care about vegetables much, so we relaxed that custom for this scenario. Adam wanted to introduce these two people from the Midwest to his mama's recipe even though he modified it to have both items cooked in the same pot. Usually, they'd be separate so he could drain the noodles and use non-dairy margarine like he's buttering up boxes of Mac n cheese before adding the cheese.

While on the plates, it's still possible to melt the margarine over the fire. I've stalled long enough with details I doubt most care about. The story is below:

Tu Bishvat Camping

It was a day like any other or so they thought. The sun is shining and the grass is green. Two once bitter enemies for opposing elements, Adam and Isaac, came together with their shared traditions and went to nature to observe the miracle of the New Year of the Trees. So, they went to the mountains behind Covina in the City of Glendora. There they walked a few hiking trails until they came upon an old campsite that seemed abandoned as it was off-season for them. This campsite was on the Azusa Wilderness Park side. They found an old firepit and some wood, and Adam made a fire in it. The two made themselves comfortable on a log, and Adam prepared some water and food for them to eat.

Well, as it turned out they weren't the only ones who saw the opportunity it presented. On the way to Anaheim to visit a few theme parks, and after a long road trip through the Nevada border from their home in the Midwest of the US, enter Samantha and Spencer.

Samantha, naturally, was a little tired on the way, as was Spencer. Their mom, Miriam, and dad, Francis, were the ones who wanted to make a pit stop as they'd just endured the notorious 15 Traffic up to then, and between Nevada and California is among the worst. Still, they didn't much care to stay another night in a casino and heard how notorious the I-405 South was, especially to Anaheim, so they detoured off to the 10 as it got near lunch time and grabbed some ready to eat snacks including dried fruits and candy. It was there they got an atlas of the area.

Miriam said, "Well, if we stay at another hotel, we won't have much money to buy souvenirs at the theme park."

Francis said, "It is getting to be Tu Bishvat, and from what the atlas guide says, we're near some pretty nice mountain grounds. Luckily, we brought our gear, so we have shelter if we'd be stranded somewhere."

Samantha groaned a bit, "I suppose it beats being on the highway another hour"

Spencer said, "I guess, I mean, with the lines at these places, we're better off going at the park opening unless we plan to stay at the resort for multiple days."

Miriam said, "I wouldn't count on it with gas as high as $4-5 a gallon and hotel prices in this place. I mean up to $200 a night at non-amusement park-based hotel chains, so there's no way the resort ones will be any better with their captive audience pricing."

Francis nodded, "Besides, it might be nice to get in touch with nature during this time."

No one objected, so we went up the Azusa/Glendora Mountains to the Azusa Wilderness Park. As the trek took them up, they found the same campsite where Adam and Isaac were sitting and were cooking something delicious.

Isaac looked at it in awe, "Smells delicious, Adam, yet vaguely familiar."

Adam smiled, "I don't know where your family lived before. They found their way to Israel, and you found your way here to fulfill your destiny, but Mah says the recipe is German-inspired, so it would not surprise me if they'd settled there at one time or another. Mine were smart to get out after World War 1."

Isaac nodded, "I don't know much about how we got to Israel, as I was only about 4 when I left. What I read from the book in my pack is that I'd been diagnosed with Ty Sachs disease and wasn't supposed to live another year after that. Thanks again to Neko for fixing that.

Adam's ears twitched as the two of them noticed the car pull up.

"We have company Isaac, do you surmise they come in peace?"

Isaac laughed, "It is probably fine, Adam. Not all who come through Covina and the surrounding cities aim to kill you."

Miriam said, "Oh, how cute, there's a cat and a human over there. Maybe they know where we can still camp around these parts."

Francis said, "I agree. They seem to know this place better than we do. Maybe you want to ask them, Sam? Spencer, you might want to go with her."

As you two wandered from the car to the campsite Adam and Isaac built, Adam remained still, focusing on what he was cooking. The sun's position said it'd be an hour or two before it set.

Isaac's positive and cheery disposition, likely due to his youth, was fully displayed as the two got closer.

"Hi there! I'm Isaac and that's Adam. What brings you here?"

Samantha said, "Our parents asked us to ask if you knew any places we can camp up here that aren't in use."

Isaac said, "Oh! Is that all? Well, we just got here an hour or two ago and it seemed vacant, but if you don't mind the company, you're welcome to stay with us. What do you think Adam?"

Adam thought momentarily before speaking, "I suppose it could not hurt to have others here. Besides, I'm doubtful we could eat all the food I brought ourselves. I didn't expect more than to spend the day here and go home, so apart from any cabins you find up here I'm unsure what you'd do for sleeping accommodations."

Spencer said, "We were on a road trip from the Midwest to see some places. Among them, those theme parks people rave about that are so popular."

Adam looked slightly disgusted, "I can't say I understand the appeal of most of them given I could go any day I wished, but I've never really liked those death traps they call Rollercoaster rides but I'm fine with most anything else except Ferris Wheels. It's less about the heights aspect, and I've no control over the experience. I am strapped in and teased by a long fall below. Or the looping in the case of the Rollercoaster. That said, I understand some people don't share my sense of it."

Sensing that all was well, the parents approached with bags of items, some of which included tents adjacent to the fire pit.

Samantha said, "Well, all that aside, our parents prepared for everything on our long road trip. No hotel? Tents! Caught in a storm? Car bedding. I'm not especially worried about how we'll get through the night, but whether we'd be a bother to you.

Adam said, "Nah, I'm more concerned I'll grow too attached to people I'll never see again if anything. This world likes to watch me suffer."

Isaac narrowed his eyes, "Adam, stop it with that depressing stuff. What kind of impression is that on people you just met?"

Spencer laughed, "Trust me if you had any lens into how Samantha is when not on vacation, I'm sure Adam has nothing to worry about."

Isaac said, "Well, I didn't want to assume. It seems an odd time of year for someone to come down this way, so is it someone's birthday?"

Francis said, "Well, it is Tu Bishvat or New Year of the Trees, so we figured we'd find a place to camp both as a cost savings and a festive impromptu celebration. We were rather weary from traffic through Nevada."

Adam said, "I know the feeling. I've been on my share of road trips, too, but this is surprisingly the first I heard of such a holiday."

Isaac said, "To be fair, if you didn't go to Shule, Synagogue, or Temple, you might not know it exists as it's not as big an affair as Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur. Still, it's a lovely holiday all the same. We're to eat of 4 specific fruit and vegetable food groups while having 4 cups of grape juice, similar to how we do it at Passover or if you're old enough, wine. There's a whole set of blessings for it.

Adam said, "Yeah you know all that mystic stuff, but my working theory is your land and Egypt had a visit by Alien cat people at one time and one time while having an awkward introduction as something you call a G-d they coughed up a hairball while projecting their voice from afar with tech you wouldn't have for another thousand years at least of your ability. That would at least explain the Phlegm sound in it. In the case of Egypt, the Cat goddess Bast seems the likely emissary they sent."

Samantha is in a laughing fit with all Adam was saying, though likely explained by the travel fatigue.

Miriam said, "Wow, that's quite a theory there, but I'm glad you hit it off well with Sam. Then again, she does have some pretty weird friends. Need I tell you about when we caught her boyfriend singing that Naughty Twister song?"

Samantha said, "Mom!!!"

Miriam said, "Anyways, I imagine you kids want your alone time for now."

Isaac said, "I don't mind either way, but I suppose you two have things you want to prepare."

Francis said, "Something like that."

The two wandered off leaving us to our devices.

Spencer said, "So uh that aside what's cooking?"

Adam said, "Turkey Sausage and Egg Noodles. My mom used to make them all the time. While she traditionally made them in two separate pots so she could treat one like Mac' n cheese with the margarine and pluck the other on top, I make do with what I can. Truth be told, I'm not much for fruits and vegetables, so apart from eating a small portion of that, I did not prepare for a vegetarian dinner.

Spencer said, "I'm not particular about that, but I'm looking forward to it. The smell is delicious."

Adam said, "Well, that's good because it's ready, and since we're camping, how about we tell ghost stories once the sun goes down?"

Samantha said, "Sounds amusing."

We ate together, and Adam offered some to the parents.

As we ate, the conversation got a little more personal.

Miriam said, "So I understand you are a cat and your friend there is a human?"

Adam said, "Yeah, specifically I am a black and white Maine Coon cat as the humans call us. I have two tails though, which I hear is a tribal thing my line has going back many generations."

Francis said, "Aww that sounds so cute though, and by Maine Coon do you mean to say you're a cat that looks like a Raccoon?"

Adam nodded, "Yes, that's what it means. Sadly, for as much as my tribe would be upset at my prejudice against humans, they understand since there were some groups of humans who thought we were demons back in the day and would kill us. Evidently, not enough to make my lot extinct, but we're quite rare."

Samantha pats Adam softly, "Well as a Raccoon myself, I'm proud of the stripes you wear."
After the meal, the parents excused themselves and returned to the lodging they'd set up.

As the sun went down, Adam sat with Isaac near the fire, looking at Samantha almost like the sister he wished he'd had for being so cool. He was simultaneously glad not to be because he didn't get along with his own siblings, and it'd be awkward as heck with some of the other sentiments he'd felt in the moment.

Meanwhile, Isaac looked at Spencer like a big brother with much to teach him about the world.

Once the sun had set completely, it was ghost story time. Adam stoked the flames around the campfire as he prepared to tell his story. "It was a day like any other, or so I thought.
"I was shoved off of a school bus and landed with a thud onto my lawn.
"'Someday you will all pay.' I declared, though no one seemed to take me seriously.
"To them I was just a 4th grader in an alternative education school for the mentally disturbed.
"It was a 1st Grade to 12th Grade level school with a different side of campus for each type, but we all rode the same buses.
"It was also December, and my family was preparing for Chanukah while most of Covina prepared for Christmas.
"After having lost my closest childhood friend due to the stigma of going to such a place, and no matter what I tried to do to get along with people, it was not working, I decided it was time to run away and never come back.
"I may have been brash, but I wasn't dumb, so I hit up my local library's book nook section where they sold their unwanted inventory.
"There, I came across a book that emanated an unholy aura that no one else seemed to see.
"It was in Hebrew, and I couldn't read it.
"I never went to Hebrew School. My mom didn't want to bear sole "responsibility for taking me there, and my dad was often away working; thus, I lack Hebrew literacy.
"I took it to a librarian and after translating it she declared it meant to say, 'Book of The Necromancer, do not open.'
"She then assured me it's probably harmless, some crazy person dropped it off.
"I asked her how much she wanted, and she told me I could have it for free.
"So, I took it outside and opened it, seeing dybbuks come out of it as they entered my mind and body.
"From there I wasn't aware that they were using my bitter memories to make me kill everyone who ever made my childhood heck.
"First came my sisters, who, if memory serves, I'd ripped the fat one, Cara's heart out after knocking the wind out of her as she clutched her gut.
"Although not before setting up a zombie distraction for Tara.
"I then came downstairs and mixed the heart in a blender with Kool-Aid and Gatorade.
"After dismissing the zombies, Tara screamed at me as if I knew what brought them there, asking what they were doing in our back yard.
"I denied knowledge of it and offered her the drink.
"Then when she spat it out and asked what was in it, I said, 'let's just say I haven't the heart to tell you!' "She quickly put two and two together and said, 'No, you didn't!' I said, 'You could check the toilet, maybe she had a seizure.'
Cara had epilepsy. Tara did as I suggested and I cut the phone lines knowing we didn't have cell phones, and she'd try to call 911 when she saw the corpse of Cara that I'd dragged to the bathtub.
"When it didn't work, I was waiting downstairs to finish the job the zombies behind me.
"She tried to take me out with her bare hands knowing she couldn't run from this; I side stepped her and the zombies took care of her.
"Police who'd come later had no trace to follow passed the area my zombies buried them, but they went too deep to be found.
"Pretty soon the undead dragged the schools to heck, not long after, and anywhere else I'd been admitted for psychiatric stuff.
"I left a confession recording behind to lure the police into a trap and before long they'd given up trying to find the bodies.
"My final damning line was, 'You may be wondering how I knew what became of the schools and people you couldn't find.
"Let's just say it's an autobiography' and laughed loudly.

"But of course we all know this couldn't possibly be true. No such magic exists." As Adam said that, his eyes flickered between a possessed red and a regular brown for the slightest second.

Isaac said, "That's some story, Adam, but seriously that was too much for a horror story."

Samantha said, "I don't know, I think sometimes the best horror stories come from one's own life, albeit embellished."

Samantha continued, "I'm sorry though if any of that were true, it would be hell to not just be bullied bit due to not being old enough to have developed the strength to stand a chance in a fight not to mention have multiple people come at you at once yeah not even the strongest I know would have handled it better at that age."

Adam sighed, staring blankly at the night sky away from the flames.

"Whatever parts you think could be genuine or not, I don't have much experience keeping friends for long, whether I'm too competitive at games to just not want to play them because I hate that side of myself and so do others, or they just move away or I move on.
"Yeah... you two are the first people to come by in a while and spend time with me like this. Isaac lives in a tree house in a park in my city, so he's got nothing better to do than be here now. And I am not sure I'd call him a friend."

Spencer raises a brow, "Oh? Why not? He's there for you, isn't he?"

Adam said, "Well, I don't think his overly cheerful demeanor and naivety is compatible with my life experience and cynicism. I try not to form attachments to people likely to get screwed over for being too trusting as it burns me up inside to have those, I call friends scammed out of what's theirs."

Samantha said, "I can understand it sucks having negative emotions and trying to manage them. It sounds like you haven't fully developed impulse control and thus fear your anger and hate."

Adam said, "Yeah and I don't want to hurt anyone, but I also don't want to be left with unresolved anger that I suppress until I blow up over nothing."

Samantha said, "While I cannot promise we'll stick around here, we will come back someday. Until then, please promise me one thing."

Adam asked, "What's that?"

Samantha said, "You will do everything possible to live your best life and open up to those around you sometimes. If you don't, you'll just develop an unhealthy cycle and self-fulfilling prophecy because of it."

Adam nodded and shook his hand paw with her on it in agreement.

And so, it came to be that the rest of the night consisted of Adam making more food for the group and making wishes on stars. As they sat stargazing, Conversation resumed again.

Adam said, "How that the sun had to set on probably the best day I've had in years. It isn't every day I get to meet new and interesting people. I would not want to impose on you two as I have a home more or less down the mountain from here." Adam said reflectively.

Samantha thought briefly, "Well, since you and Isaac have been so welcoming and even fed us, perhaps we can let you crash with us tonight. What do you think Spencer?"

Spencer shrugged, "Seems only fair, besides Isaac's been looking at me like I'm his long-lost brother this whole time."

Samantha and Spencer laughed as he'd said that.

The four of them crawled into the tent and curled up together. Adam nuzzled into Samantha's chest like an affectionate cat and purred while they all lay there in the clothes they'd come in as there wasn't a good changing area except the dirty camp bathrooms. Isaac laid his head next to Spencer, an orange kitten sprawled across Isaac's tummy. Adam, Spencer, Samantha, and Isaac lay their heads parallel each other's head so no one would wake up with a foot in the other's mouth though there was still the risk someone might get a tail in their maw through the night depending on how much and what direction they'd roll in sleep.

Isaac whispered, "Don't worry about Alfador. No matter where I go, he will catch up with me eventually. He's a good cat."

Nothing further was said; it was just an acknowledging sound at the last thing Isaac said.

Everyone slept the whole night, and the next morning, Spencer, Samantha, Miriam, and Francis woke up early. Adam woke up feeling Samantha stir to get up herself, and Isaac woke up when Spencer woke up. The smell of turkey bacon and eggs filled the surrounding area.

Francis said, “Hey kids, I thought you could use some breakfast, so I went down to the nearest shop and bought us some turkey bacon, hashbrowns, and eggs.”

Adam smiled and said, “I wish you’d told me that besides making boiled food, I could have contributed to your operation as well.”

Francis said, “Well I suppose it’s not too late if you want to try my technique and put your spin on it.”

Adam observed how Francis liked the turkey bacon and eggs and Adam tried his paw. He took some pans with his hand paws and his two tails had plates and utensils ready. For comedic effect, Adam turned on a cassette player that played the Sabre Dance as Adam juggled the food items skillfully from pan to pan like this was a circus act and leaned back to put the plates on a foldout camper table Francis set up earlier while Isaac and the rest sat eagerly waiting for the food. Francis carefully plated what he’d made for us onto the plates, and Adam skillfully dropped what he’d made onto different plates so that each could taste the difference with the same ingredients.

We sat together to eat.

Adam tried the items Francis prepared, “Holy heck, I’ve never known anyone who could make turkey bacon palatable to me. Nicely done!”

Adam then tried his recreation. “Hmm, a passable recreation on my part, but my focus on fun may have made the bacon and eggs a little dryer and crispier than I liked on the edges, but otherwise, it was a decent enough recreation.”

Isaac tried both. “I second what Adam said. Both are good, but clearly, we know who wins.”

Samantha laughed, “We aren’t on Best Chef or whatever, but I at least found Adam’s take on having fun with the cooking entertaining even if the texture took a hit for it.”

Spencer said, “I don’t know. I think it is kind of apples to oranges here. Some like their turkey bacon crispier, and some like it wetter with grease. I, for one, found Adam’s a refreshing change from what I am used to eating.”

Miriam said, “I think I’m with Spencer on this one. It is hard to say which is better given that the difference, if any, is so subtle and highly subject to preference.”

Francis said, “How about to keep the peace, we call it a draw, and if three of you vote for me, I’ll vote for Adam to tie it up. I did like his showmanship as much as the differences in texture and technique in trying to make it to my specs.”

Adam said, “To be fair, I just wanted to help and entertain, I don’t especially care who makes it better.”

Francis said, “Well, to be fair, you were super nice making us lunch and dinner, so I wanted to do something for you before we left.”

Adam nodded understandingly, “Well, maybe next time I visit you all, we can trade cooking recipes.”

Miriam said, “That could be fun and maybe we can invite some local friends as well.”

Adam said, “Then it shall be so, feel free to contact me when the time is right.”

Adam exchanged every possible way the world had to contact each other’s info with Francis, Miriam, Samantha, and Spencer.

As breakfast ended, Adam and Isaac saw them off with a friendly wave as they went to the amusement park. Adam and Isaac returned to Covina as well to go home.
While it was likely a long time before they met again, this was a happy ending to the story.

Art by Telegram User: CooperDooper

Featuring Samantha and Spencer who are Jewish Characters of:

Pink

Adam The Forsaken and Isaac Cohen are Jewish Characters that Belong to:

TheForsakenScribe

Keywords

male 1,211,404, female 1,101,477, cat 216,907, human 109,762, raccoon 37,302, the 16,941, pink 14,254, story 14,229, eggs 4,462, trees 4,428, possum 3,569, holidays 2,288, camping 1,794, lore 705, crossovers 223, forsaken 217, jewish 154, scribe 35, tubishvat 1, turkey sausage and eggnoodles 1, turkey bacon 1

Details

Type: Picture/Pinup

Published: 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Rating: General

MD5 Hash for Page 1... Show Find Identical Posts [?]