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fandomweekly2026-01-15 08:52 pm
badly_knitted) wrote in fandomweekly2026-01-15 08:52 pm
Entry tags:
[#287] Lucky Discovery (The Fantastic Journey)
Theme Prompt: #287 – Hot Water
Title: Lucky Discovery
Fandom: The Fantastic Journey
Rating/Warnings: PG
Bonus: No.
Word Count: 1000
Summary: While scouting around after making camp, Varian finds an even better camping spot.
Normally, while the travellers made camp for the night, Varian and one of the others, usually Fred, would scout around a bit, checking the area for possible dangers, signs of habitation or civilisation, perhaps finding a hilltop from which they could get a look at what lay ahead. Today, though, Varian found himself alone. Fred was trying to repair one of Scott’s sneakers, Liana and Willaway were getting a fire ready, and so, here he was, off by himself, which was perhaps not the best idea.
He hadn’t intended to wander far, but just as he’d been about to turn back, he’d spotted what looked like smoke rising from beyond bushes some distance away, and had decided to check it out. It could be someone else’s camp, and it seemed wise to make sure. If it WAS people, and if they were friendly, perhaps they could all travel together; there was safety in numbers, after all. On the other hand, if they weren’t friendly, it would be best to find out in advance, and to keep out of their way.
Of course, it could just be an abandoned campfire, carelessly left burning, in which case it was a fire hazard that would need to be extinguished. People could be careless, and the last thing Varian and his friends needed was to wake in the middle of the night and find themselves facing a raging wildfire. Travelling across the island was hazardous enough as it was.
Varian took every precaution, keeping as low as ne could, but this one was of those times when being six foot three was a disadvantage. Using every scrap of cover available, just as he’d learned from the Arawak natives he’d lived with for a while, he crept towards the rising smoke, until he reached a jumble of boulders. It was very strange; he could clearly see some sort of fumes rising into the air, but there was no smell of smoke, and his senses weren’t detecting any alpha waves, so… That might simply mean whoever was there wasn’t human, alien brainwaves were markedly different, but still, if there were people, he should be picking up something.
Cautiously, he peered over the top of the boulders, then straightened up, laughing at his own foolishness. It wasn’t smoke, it was water vapour, steam drifting up from the surface of a series of pools, hot springs tucked away in a sheltered hollow. Even from twenty feet away, he could feel a delicious warmth radiating from the water, counteracting the slight chill in the evening air. Irresistibly drawn by it, Varian worked his way around the boulders and approached the water.
Droplets of moisture coalesced in his hair and on his skin from the steam as he crouched beside the nearest pool and held one hand above its surface for a moment, testing the temperature. Reassured, he dipped his fingers into the water, finding it pleasantly hot. It felt good, but it would feel even better to sink into it and soak away all the aches from long days of walking.
Reluctantly, he withdrew his hand, knowing he should probably return to the campsite and tell the others what he’d found, but… perhaps he should test it out on himself first, just to be absolutely sure it was safe for his friends. Besides, as their leader, surely he should be allowed to indulge himself just this one time instead of always putting his own needs last.
He sighed and straightened up; tempting as the thought of bathing in hot water was, it would be selfish, and anyway, his friends would worry if he didn’t get back to them soon. Decision made, he took off at a run. Obviously they would have to move their camp so they could take full advantage of his discovery.
The others jumped to their feet as Varian came charging into camp as if the hounds of Hell were right on his heels. Fred grabbed for him, bringing him to a halt.
“What is it? What happened?”
“Don’t light that.” Varian waved his hand at the unlit campfire. “Gather your gear. We have to move camp.”
“What?” Jonathan stood, hands on hips, glaring. “We only just got everything set up!”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
“We in danger?” Fred was getting worried.
Varian shook his head, still trying to catch his breath. “I found somewhere better.”
“Better?” Jonathan sounded as exasperated as he looked. “You want us to move camp just because you found a better spot?”
Nodding, Varian grinned at his friends. “Hot springs! Hot water!”
“Hot water?” Liana wondered if she’d misheard.
“Yes! Come on!” Varian snatched up his bag and bedroll.
Jonathan shrugged. “This better be worth it.”
“It will be.”
“How far?” Fred started to bundle up all the wood that had been collected for their fire. No point having to collect more.
“Maybe a mile.” Varian paced restlessly, waiting impatiently for his friends to gather their things.
Forty minutes later, five weary travellers were relaxing, sunk up to their necks in deliciously hot water as a fire crackled cheerfully nearby at the center of their new camp.
“Isn’t this better than where we were?” Varian tipped his head back to stare up at the darkening sky.
“I vote we stay right here for a few days,” said Fred. “Who’s with me?”
Four hands were raised amid a chorus of approval for the idea.
“The vote is unanimous!” Varian sank beneath the water and resurfaced, slicking water out of his curly hair. “Although we probably shouldn’t stay in the water all night, tempting though that sounds.”
“We can wash out our clothes and dry them on the rocks.” Liana had picked a smaller pool behind some rocks for her own personal bathing spot.
“Mm,” Varian agreed, eyes closed and a blissful smile on his lips.
“Don’t go falling asleep,” Jonathan warned him. “It wouldn’t do to accidentally drown yourself.”
“Nobody’s drowning, Jonathan.”
For once, the island seemed to be on their side.
The End
He hadn’t intended to wander far, but just as he’d been about to turn back, he’d spotted what looked like smoke rising from beyond bushes some distance away, and had decided to check it out. It could be someone else’s camp, and it seemed wise to make sure. If it WAS people, and if they were friendly, perhaps they could all travel together; there was safety in numbers, after all. On the other hand, if they weren’t friendly, it would be best to find out in advance, and to keep out of their way.
Of course, it could just be an abandoned campfire, carelessly left burning, in which case it was a fire hazard that would need to be extinguished. People could be careless, and the last thing Varian and his friends needed was to wake in the middle of the night and find themselves facing a raging wildfire. Travelling across the island was hazardous enough as it was.
Varian took every precaution, keeping as low as ne could, but this one was of those times when being six foot three was a disadvantage. Using every scrap of cover available, just as he’d learned from the Arawak natives he’d lived with for a while, he crept towards the rising smoke, until he reached a jumble of boulders. It was very strange; he could clearly see some sort of fumes rising into the air, but there was no smell of smoke, and his senses weren’t detecting any alpha waves, so… That might simply mean whoever was there wasn’t human, alien brainwaves were markedly different, but still, if there were people, he should be picking up something.
Cautiously, he peered over the top of the boulders, then straightened up, laughing at his own foolishness. It wasn’t smoke, it was water vapour, steam drifting up from the surface of a series of pools, hot springs tucked away in a sheltered hollow. Even from twenty feet away, he could feel a delicious warmth radiating from the water, counteracting the slight chill in the evening air. Irresistibly drawn by it, Varian worked his way around the boulders and approached the water.
Droplets of moisture coalesced in his hair and on his skin from the steam as he crouched beside the nearest pool and held one hand above its surface for a moment, testing the temperature. Reassured, he dipped his fingers into the water, finding it pleasantly hot. It felt good, but it would feel even better to sink into it and soak away all the aches from long days of walking.
Reluctantly, he withdrew his hand, knowing he should probably return to the campsite and tell the others what he’d found, but… perhaps he should test it out on himself first, just to be absolutely sure it was safe for his friends. Besides, as their leader, surely he should be allowed to indulge himself just this one time instead of always putting his own needs last.
He sighed and straightened up; tempting as the thought of bathing in hot water was, it would be selfish, and anyway, his friends would worry if he didn’t get back to them soon. Decision made, he took off at a run. Obviously they would have to move their camp so they could take full advantage of his discovery.
The others jumped to their feet as Varian came charging into camp as if the hounds of Hell were right on his heels. Fred grabbed for him, bringing him to a halt.
“What is it? What happened?”
“Don’t light that.” Varian waved his hand at the unlit campfire. “Gather your gear. We have to move camp.”
“What?” Jonathan stood, hands on hips, glaring. “We only just got everything set up!”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
“We in danger?” Fred was getting worried.
Varian shook his head, still trying to catch his breath. “I found somewhere better.”
“Better?” Jonathan sounded as exasperated as he looked. “You want us to move camp just because you found a better spot?”
Nodding, Varian grinned at his friends. “Hot springs! Hot water!”
“Hot water?” Liana wondered if she’d misheard.
“Yes! Come on!” Varian snatched up his bag and bedroll.
Jonathan shrugged. “This better be worth it.”
“It will be.”
“How far?” Fred started to bundle up all the wood that had been collected for their fire. No point having to collect more.
“Maybe a mile.” Varian paced restlessly, waiting impatiently for his friends to gather their things.
Forty minutes later, five weary travellers were relaxing, sunk up to their necks in deliciously hot water as a fire crackled cheerfully nearby at the center of their new camp.
“Isn’t this better than where we were?” Varian tipped his head back to stare up at the darkening sky.
“I vote we stay right here for a few days,” said Fred. “Who’s with me?”
Four hands were raised amid a chorus of approval for the idea.
“The vote is unanimous!” Varian sank beneath the water and resurfaced, slicking water out of his curly hair. “Although we probably shouldn’t stay in the water all night, tempting though that sounds.”
“We can wash out our clothes and dry them on the rocks.” Liana had picked a smaller pool behind some rocks for her own personal bathing spot.
“Mm,” Varian agreed, eyes closed and a blissful smile on his lips.
“Don’t go falling asleep,” Jonathan warned him. “It wouldn’t do to accidentally drown yourself.”
“Nobody’s drowning, Jonathan.”
For once, the island seemed to be on their side.
The End