Yazen (Ponith) by Nicole Sloan

gem, “It’s supposed to reveal the portal once we get to that spot in the forest.”
    “Cool,” Alex says as he grabs the gem from me. He holds it up into the light, examining it closely. I notice it’s not refracting light like it did earlier when I held it.
    “ Looks like a rock to me,” Jenn says as she flips through her phone. I wonder if she’s waiting to talk to Brad.
    “My grandpa wants me to have you tell your parents that we’re volunteering at a camp for the summer so we can go without having to answer tons of questions. Is that okay with both of you?” I ask them.
    “Yeah … I just hope I don’t tell my parents and then find out this whole thing’s a joke, because I would feel pretty stupid,” Alex says.
    “I agree with Alex, but I’ll tell them I’m going to camp. I just hope they believe me,” Jenn replies.
    We sit at the table for about an hour joking and talking about school, and then we decide to call it a night.
    “Thank you for coming over and don’t forget to pack your bags for Sunday morning. I want to leave early, around 7 in the morning,” I tell them.
    They both nod in agreement while I walk them to the front door. I give Jenn a hug, and her hair smells like apples. I wave goodbye to Alex and close the door. 
    I go and play the game Alex got me for a few hours and then pass out for the night. Saturday goes by pretty quickly for me, as I go through the journal again, looking to see if I have missed any entries that may help us. Nothing more is written about Yazen; the book just lists other maps and details about other places that the book mentioned and there are quite a few blank pages in the back.
    I decide to get my camping bag ready so I grab an extra T-shirt and a pair of pants to put in my bag. I’ll wear a jacket to be safe because the weather always changes here. I grab my hiking boots and put them next to my bag.
    I bring a few essentials like a hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant. I make sure I fill my canteen up with water plus bring a few bottles of water. 
    I definitely pack my new hunting knife, some rope, along with some other basic items. I have to be ready; I don’t want to enter the forest again unprepared after my last experience. I also pack a few sandwiches for our lunch on Sunday.
    After I finish packing, I clean my room up some and go to bed early so I’m ready for our big adventure tomorrow. I’m still not sure what to expect.

Chapter Four
     
    My alarm goes off at 5 in the morning. I set it early so I don’t have to rush and I can eat a good breakfast. I stretch really good and then I decide I want to make an omelet for breakfast. I walk into the kitchen and my grandpa has already beaten me to the task. He has made a feast for me. Omelets, pancakes, toast—you name it. It smells so good.
    “Good morning, Zac . I hope you’re hungry. I want to make sure you eat a big meal to satisfy your hunger on your trip. I’m so happy that you are doing this for me. I can’t express how much it means to me,” my grandpa says with a smile on his face.
    “Thank you so much, Grandpa ; you didn’t have to do this. It looks and smells so good. I can’t wait to dig in,” I say while piling my plate with food.
    “If you ever get stuck and don’t know what to do, always look in the journal. You may not find the exact answer you’re looking for, but you’ll find an answer. When I was at those planets, it was an experience of a lifetime for me. I learned so much, and it has made me a better person. I hope it’ll do the same for you,” he says while sitting down to join me for breakfast. 
    “ I’ll use all the techniques that you have taught me and keep everyone safe. I’m really grateful that Alex and Jenn are both going with me,” I tell him.
    After we’re done eating, I have my grandpa look over everything that I’ve packed to make sure I’ve not forgotten anything. I wore my Army pants, T-shirt, and hiking boots.
    “It looks like you