Next Summer

In spite of everything—the camp nearly shutting down, swarming cryptids chasing away businessmen, the discovery of a brand new flower—Camp Ohiocester's next Research and Recharge programme isn't too different from this year's.

There are a few exceptions, of course. The cabin assignments are a lot more sensible (although, somehow, the signs for each cabin keep getting rearranged—who knows who's doing that is?) Cyril lets his campers sleep in, sometimes a whole hour later. Kit and Tabitha put together even bigger and better competitions—costumes, talent, play-in-a-day. Deidre 'Mother' Jamesby even comes along to give a concert to the campers (none of whom know who she is, but still), and to pay a visit to Leif in the woods.

The admin building is a little more prepared, too. With the help of Blakeleigh and a 6-month 'Accounting for Complete Beginners' course, Ethan's got the hang of his job, finally. Without H. L. Jamesby breathing down their necks and with the help of TOSU's grant, the camp is a lot more financially sustainable. They might even be able to splash out to replace the old zipline, soon. Maybe most exciting was the executive decision, coming all the way from Herbert himself, to make the WiFi password available to every camper. No more climbing up trees for a crumb of signal.

Next year's contingent of campers arrives, fresh-faced and unsuspecting, on a crisp summer's day. They get a week of peace before the first pixie is spotted. They're braver, this year: more confident that the campers and staff won't stomp their homes under their feet. Each cabin's been installed with its own little Yessi board, and Justa's become a lot more chatty. The reinwolf seems more content: braver, but also more comfortable, somehow. Maybe it's something to do with that forklift-turned-vet surgery in the woods?

There'll be many more years of this programme to come. The forest is getting friendlier, richer, and wilder by the year.