Troll Daddy's Arc

Chapter 3 of 4

Troll Daddy woke to the sound of rain hitting the tent roof. Not the gentle patter they'd fallen asleep to, but heavy drumming that made the canvas shake. He sat up and checked his watch. Three in the morning. The air inside felt damp and cold. Troll Mother was already awake, shining her flashlight toward the tent entrance. Water pooled at the base, seeping under the flap. She looked at him with wide eyes. "The lake," she said. He pulled on his boots and crawled outside. Rain slammed against his face. The shore had vanished. Water spread across their campsite, swallowing the fire pit and climbing toward the tent. His fishing rod floated past, the colorful lure bobbing in the current. He grabbed for it but missed. It drifted away into the darkness. Behind him, Troll Baby started crying. He splashed back to the tent and stuck his head inside. "We need to move. Now." Troll Mother was already stuffing sleeping bags into their packs. Troll Sister helped Troll Brother with his shoes. Troll Daddy grabbed the lantern and waded toward the parking area where they'd left the car. The beam caught the old iron gate that marked the trail head. Water rushed through the bars, knee-deep and rising fast. Debris from upstream jammed against the metal frame. The road beyond had turned into a river. He stood there for three seconds, feeling his heart pound. Then he turned around and ran back to his family. "We can't get to the car," he said. Troll Mother held Troll Baby tight against her chest. "The change room," she said. "It's on higher ground." Troll Daddy nodded. He had Troll Brother grab one pack while he hoisted the other. Troll Sister carried the food bag. They abandoned the tent, the cooler, everything else. He led them through the trees, checking over his shoulder to make sure everyone stayed close. The change room sat fifty yards up the slope, old concrete walls and a metal roof. They reached it just as the water touched the bottom step. Inside, it smelled like mildew and rust, but it was dry. He counted heads. Everyone made it. Troll Brother was soaked and shivering. Troll Daddy pulled him close and wrapped him in a damp sleeping bag. His son looked up at him. "What do we do now?" Troll Daddy didn't have all the answers. But for the first time in a long time, he was right there with them when it mattered. "We wait for daylight," he said. "Then we figure it out together."