https://youtu.be/RGwSak0n-Fw

After setting up the tents at the campsite, Diego declared that the next day they would leave a bit later in the day to give everyone some rest. He then called everyone who was interested to the firepit to hear some Caribbean legends. Andreas watched Elena hurry over to her tent. He frowned and went over, wanting to ask if she would be joining everyone else.

"No," Elena said. "I'm tired."

"C'mon, Elena," Andreas coerced her standing outside her tent. "I think you'll really enjoy it."

Elena heard Diego's roaring laughter as he cracked jokes with the rest of the hikers. She did want to be a part of it.

"I don't feel like I'm up to it," Elena lied. 

"Just join us for a bit," Andreas proposed. "And if you want to leave, I won't say anything."

Elena thought about this proposal and sighed. She unzipped the tent and crawled out.

"Okay," She said reluctantly.

She knew she wouldn't stay long, so she was doing this to make Andreas happy.

Elena sat in between Margaret and Anna on a log who warmly greeted her while Diego told everyone of mysterious island legends. After all, they were in the Caribbean and there were many mythical aquatic creatures and island wanderers to mention. Elena listened, completely fascinated as she watched the fire in the middle light up Diego's expressive, dark eyes. He was a wonderful storyteller to the extent that Elena had goosebumps on her arms.

"Papa Bois," Diego smiled, looking at Andreas. "This is Andreas's favorite."

Andreas grinned at him.

"He is the keeper of the forest," Diego enthusiastically said to everyone. "He protects the trees and flowers of the Caribbean islands. He's a short, old man with a beard of leaves, but he can transform himself into a deer too. He carries around a horn to protect the animals from hunters and is dedicated to protecting the forest from all things. He represents responsibility and hard work. He is a guardian of all of the trees and animals from the tiniest insects to the largest elephants. They say he protects the forest like a mother protects her young. That's why hunters have a hard time catching animals because Papa Bois is there to warn them. All the animals rely on him for protection."

"Is Papa Bois here?" Anna asked excitedly.

Diego smiled at her through the thicket of his long beard. "He is. That is why all the animals here are at peace and let us get across this island knowing that Papa Bois will protect them. The thing about him is that he is hard to find. But, if you see a deer in the forest, Anna, it probably is him."

Elena remembered the deer from last night and how it had stared at her for the longest time. Though it was a legend, Elena wanted to believe it was Papa Bois: the guardian of the forest looking at her. 

Everyone retreated to their tents except one of the couples who stayed out watching the sea below. Elena sat outside her tent knowing she wouldn't be able to sleep. She lay down on the grass and peered up at the moon and the constellations. She heard the couple laughing in the distance and it made her smile, remembering the fun times she had with her family. The woman's laugh sounded exactly like Melissa's. She had laughed so hard one time at a party that soda came out of her nose. Elena chuckled to herself remembering that moment.

Suddenly, a face came into view. Andreas was standing beside her with his hands casually tucked in his pockets. He looked down at Elena who had her hands behind her head taking in the peaceful night.

"No plans on sleeping?" He asked.

"How can someone sleep in a beautiful place like this?"

Andreas chuckled. 

"I really liked that story of Papa Bois," Elena said.

"See? I thought you might like Diego's stories. I love that legend so much."

"He almost seems real," Elena said, remembering the deer from last night. "I almost want him to be."

"I always thought he was real when I was younger," Andreas said, looking into the dark forest. "I would always try to look for him."

"Did you ever find him?"

"I thought I did. But, it was just a regular deer. When Papa Bois transforms into a deer, you're supposed to immediately have a feeling it's him. That deer just boringly looked at me and walked away."

Elena and Andreas both laughed.

"Are you going to bed now?" Elena asked.

"Yeah, I think I should," He said. "I just thought I'd come over and say good night."

Andreas smiled at her. "And Elena, if you want to talk, I got all the time in the world."

Elena nodded.

"You're a good friend," She suddenly blurted.

Andreas blushed a little. "Thanks. You are too, Elena."

Andreas awkwardly stood there not knowing what else to say. Again, he was overstepping professional boundaries and he backed away.

"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then," He said.

Elena nodded but was a bit disappointed he was leaving. 

Good night, Elena," Andreas's green eyes glinted in the moonlight as he held a small smile.

"Good night," Elena said, still burning red.

You're a good friend, Andreas, Elena thought.

She didn't mean to say it out loud. It sounded cringy enough in her head. She embarrassingly chuckled to herself as she watched Andreas walk back to his tent and she retreated to her own. 

She stared up at the tent's ceiling and kept her flashlight on, listening to the nearby owl's hoots and the crickets' chirping. She thought about Papa Bois and how the story was quite inspiring. No matter what, he protected the forest at all costs. He had real purpose. It made her wonder what she was sent for here on this Earth? Surely, God didn't create her to smoke weed all day. There had to be more to her.