After a mid-morning romp in the backyard leaves, Bernice's mother called her back inside to get cleaned up for her Scout Jamboree. Bernice whooped with excitement, the annual Halloween Jamboree being one of her favorite pastimes since she joined her scouting troop.
Gallows Spire was surrounded by prime woodland and nature parks, so the country troops were able to host the two night campout out at the campgrounds. Besides roughing it in their tents and having the chance to earn their outdoor activity merit badges, the scouts would have plenty of Halloween related activities as well, along with running a fall fair for friends and families the second night.
After cleaning up Bernice adjusted the beret of her dull orange and forest green scout uniform. Her sash had over a dozen badges by now for the skills Bernice had shown expertise in. Her uniform was somewhat snug, as she tended to grow out before growing up, but next year she would be old enough to get her Advanced Scout's uniform for free.
"Ready!" Bernice said as she made her way out to her parents van with her camping gear and supplies. She was stoked for the Jamboree and could smell the cheesecake and fudge brownies her mom had baked for the fair.
"Can't I just have one before we get there?" Bernice pleaded.
"These are for the Jamboree only," her mom chided, noting the state of Bernice's uniform.
"Alright," Bernice moaned.
Her excitement for the two nights kept Bernice chatty as her mom drove her out to the camp. The drive passed by in a blur, and soon Bernice could see the other scouts being dropped off by their families.
"Ok honey, I'll see you tomorrow," Bernice's mother kissed her after check in, leaving Bernice to her own devices.
"Hey Bernice!" called one of the other scouts.
"Hey Susie! Amelia! Zoey!"
Bernice was part of a co-ed scouting organization, although the girls and boys still tended to form cliques with their own gender, after all they would set up their tents in different areas. Three of Bernice's closest scout friends had already assembled themselves.
Susie was a short, spunky girl with green eyes, fizzy red hair and numerous freckles along her face and limbs. Amelia had dark brown hair, dusty skin and almond shaped eyes, having southeast Asian heritage, with a stocky build like Bernice but with less puppy fat. Zoey was black, tall and willowy, her her long black hair bleached at the tips.
"Wanna have our tents next to each other?" Amelia asked.
"Of course!" Bernice said. Zoey hadn't been able to make the previous pow-wow two weeks ago, so Bernice, Susie and Amelia filled her in on what she missed. A boy named Travers had disrupted a beehive on his orienteering test, luckily he wasn't allergic, but the rest of the gathering he was covered in swollen red lumps and ointment after being attended by the scout medic.
While chatting the four friends got their twin tents set up efficiently, each of them becoming proficient young scouts. After swapping stories each of them went into great length about what they were looking forward to the most of the Jamboree, and Halloween in general. Susie was the only one of the scout girls to also live in Gallows Spire like Bernice, with Amelia and Zoey living in different towns in the county. Although the four friends were quickly sorting out plans to have a camp out sleepover in either Susie or Bernice's family yards before the big night.
"Gather in the commons after your tent inspection!" one of the scout leaders said. Bernice and company passed inspection without a hitch, eagerly jogging off towards the center of camp for the first evening of activities.
As both sides of the camp came together, there were several activities available. All four girls had to pick what they wanted to do first.
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