NationStates Jolt Archive

The village was nothing more than a few huts, and the food being passed around was quite sparse, but Karyn supposed that these natives were just poor hunter gathers with not much to spare.

She gratefully took a piece of fruit and a small strange looking fish.
They were both quite tasty although not anything she had tried before.

Meiana gatherd up food for everyone of the survivors.

"Food rations, anyone in need of food? I have food."

She passed various food items around, mostly fish and fruit.

thanks.

Along the North shore of the island, the waves were getting stronger with the approach of the storm, and a dark shape floating in the water was pushed gradually closer to shore until it eventually struck the sand, halting abruptly and sending the figure huddled atop it tumbling into the ankle deep water.

Teppo struggled to his feet and staggered up beyind the reach of the waves before collapsing. He lay on his back, looking out over the ocean which for some reason had decided to spit him up, rather than swallow him. His eyes lighted on a prominent formation of distant clouds. They were towering things with wispy tops perched on billowy white puffs, with shadowed bases. To his fatigue-weakened mind, they looked like the mythical fortress of some Norse God or another. In a moment of clarity, he realized that clouds that big could only be another storm.

He scrambled quickly to his feet and began to walk inland. The beach was too exposed to weather another storm like the one that had wrecked his lifeboat. As he remembered the lifeboat, he realized he had no idea where Katri was. After a few minutes of walking, he found a large tree with space around the roots where he could comfortably sit. In a few moments, he was unconcious.

(OOC: let's just assume malia was with the dr, karyn, and rae when they went to the village, considering they she was with karyn. this will make things easier.)

Upon entering the village, Malia was overtaken my the smells of the native food. Hearing the villagers talk, she picked up on a Polynesian inflection. They probably spoke a language related to other South Pacific/Polynesian-based dialectal patterns, much like Hawaiin or Tagalog.

Malia loved language and culture. She had been tested at the age of 4 for a type of language aptitude that occurs only within ten percent of the population. Learning that she possesed this aptitude, language after language was poured into her, though she always stayed true to her two native languages: Spanish and Gaelic . She studied lingusitics at the best schools and could disect a language and learn it within an hour. She intended to learn this new language with unrelenting furvor.

The dilapidated state of the village was rather inviting for the Malia. She hoped to find solace in the small huts that seemed both revolting and comforting.

"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore." Malia said to no one in particular.

*in one of the huts, while Rae, Maila and Karyn got some rest, Austin slipped the two diving knives he had around his ankles and pulled a large hunting knife from the backpack he was carrying. that he strapped to his belt, and he then grabed a flashlight, a small bottle of pills (water purification), and one of his backpacks filled with the goodies he packed last night on the ship. He then slipped out of the villiage and headed back towards the beach.*

*Once there, he began searching around and found what he was looking for, the pouch the woman threw back at the armed native. picking it up, he looked inside and saw the perfectly formed pearls inside.*

So it was payment. this isn't looking good. *Austin slipped the pouch into his pack and continued looking for any stragglers.*

As the Matabele canoes approached the shore of their home island the ropes that had secured their two captives were removed from their wrists and aloe was rubbed on their chaffed arms. The people on shore poured onto the beach and began singing a welcoming song. As the boats touched the sand the warriors sprang out and were greeted joyfully. The castaways were taken out of their canoe and escorted with great courtesy up the trail to the Great Lodge, a large log and woven palm structure, topped with a steeple and a cross. Food and drink was brought forth and all joined in. The newcomers were encouraged by hand signs to eat and drink.
After the meal, Lanawasu stood and quieted everyone. There seemed to be great anticipation in the crowd.

"Haley"

Three children raised their arms and were encouraged to cheer

"Ruiz"

with this cue about a dozen shouts went up from the assemblage.

"Schmidt"

a larger response... The cheif continued intoning names each generating a cheer from the crowd until he said,

"McCameron"

nearly half the crowd cheered...

The names stopped. Lanawausu turned to the visitors, swept this arm out to indicate the entire people,

"Matabele"

Pointed to himself, "Lanawausu"

and then pointed to them with a questioning look.

As the group dissipated and trudged off to the village Aly turned and headed for the beach taking her time to stroll thorough the jungle. As she was walking she noticed a pair of feet poking out from behind a tree.
thats a bit odd.....ah, must be another shipwreck
she walked slowly up to the tree, suppressing a quiet laugh at the sight of a man slumped over in obvious exhaustion, not wanting to disturb the man Aly noted where he was, hoping that she could find some one to take him back to the village. Aly sighed and continued walking till she was out on the beach.
A quick glance around reviled that there was also a young man walking on the beach Aly stood watching him slightly cerious.

*noticing the boat bobbing in the water, Austin headed towards it. Keeping any eyes open for survivors. he noticed someone slumped against one of the trees. he headed that way, pulling out a batteryless flashlight. Cranking the handle, he shown the light to see who was against the tree and then he noticed the other person standing there.*

another Native?

Aly looked shyly at the man," do you know him?I though he might be part of your group." she spoke softly and her voice carried a distinct ascent, but one that could not be traced to any one place.

Aly looked shyly at the man," do you know him?I though he might be part of your group." she spoke softly and her voice carried a distinct ascent, but one that could not be traced to any one place.

err... I assume so. if he's not part of your tribe.

*Austin looks him over and cleaned and bandaged his cuts.*

you might want to have some of your tribesmen carry him back.

she shook her head,"i am not part of them..."

she shook her head,"i am not part of them..."

Oh? you from the ship then?

are you injured?

Aly shook her head again," no, no i...i guess you could say i live here.... jumped ship about a year ago" she paused thinking," it may be more than a year now"

Aly shook her head again," no, no i...i guess you could say i live here.... jumped ship about a year ago" she paused thinking," it may be more than a year now"

*raises an eyebrow* oh really... what do you think of those... whatever that tribe is, the friendly one?

Aly laughed softly," to be honest with you, they don't know i am here, well one or two do, i keep to my self, but they seem ok i suppose, every couture has their gripes"

Aly laughed softly," to be honest with you, they don't know i am here, well one or two do, i keep to my self, but they seem ok i suppose, every couture has their gripes"

Well, I kinda need to know... it seems another tribe came along and looks like some bartering was done.


wait a minute, did you teach those girls english?

She leaded back against a nearby tree
" ah that...well i don't know exactly but it sees the two tribes have some sort of treaty. the one that was here this afternoon likes to have prisoners but it seems that they have promiced to take no one from the village, so shipwrecks are a big deal. As for the bartering i have no idea, do you know what was exchanged? As for your second question, no i did not teach them, they don't know i am here"

She leaded back against a nearby tree
" ah that...well i don't know exactly but it sees the two tribes have some sort of treaty. the one that was here this afternoon likes to have prisoners but it seems that they have promiced to take no one from the village, so shipwrecks are a big deal. As for the bartering i have no idea, do you know what was exchanged? As for your second question, no i did not teach them, they don't know i am here"

more questions then...

oh as for the bartering... *Shows her the pouch filled with pearls.*

this was tossed around then the other tribe took a couple of passengers...

Doh... where are my manners... Austin James, Doctor.

she took a few of the pearls and rolled them around in her hand before dropping them back in the pouch," once again this is a guess, i would assume some sort of compensation, but in all honesty i don't think you have too much to worry about, well besides the fact that you are now marooned on an island in the middle of the ocean" she smiled and extended a hand," Aaliyah Hawklight, pleasure to meet you Doctor James"

she took a few of the pearls and rolled them around in her hand before dropping them back in the pouch," once again this is a guess, i would assume some sort of compensation, but in all honesty i don't think you have too much to worry about, well besides the fact that you are now marooned on an island in the middle of the ocean" she smiled and extended a hand," Aaliyah Hawklight, pleasure to meet you Doctor James"
well, we'll see. so you don't stay in the village... you got a hut or a cave near by?

" yes i stay on the other side of the island"

" yes i stay on the other side of the island"

hmm... I would like to meet with you, but I better get this person to the village... don't want them getting suspicious yet.


Evening. and nice meeting you.

" i under stand, best of luck"
Aly turns pauses then looks back at the Austin
" My i ask that you be very selective about who you mention my being here to? For the moment it is best if i remain out of general knowledge"
she smiled and set off, soon vanishing into the forest

The doctor had climbed onto the life boat, and after the funeral of the dead crewman, everyone had wearily introduced themselves.

Karyn fell asleep, to dream of herself sinking under with the ship.

She was woken by Ali shaking her.

"Sorry hun, but you were shouting and you almost kicked the cat, besides, I thought you might be interested to know that we getting very close to that island."

Karyn was woken by someone calling her name and gently shaking her by the shoulder.

She opened her eyes to find the doc and some of the other men on board the life boat were climbing out into the shallow sea, preparing to pull the boat ashore.

She rubbed her eyes in wonder and sat up looknig all around.

"What happened? have the canibals gone? Where are the native girls and the village?"

"What happened? have the canibals gone? Where are the native girls and the village?"
"Village? Cannibals?"
*places a hand on her forhead. then speaks aloud to the rest of the group.*
I think we better get everyone under some shade. take the packs and head for the treelines. DON'T RUN, conserve your energy.

*helps pull the lifeboat to shore and assist getting karyn to the shaded trees*

She leaned heavily on the doctor as they all made their way to the shady area at the beginning of a wooded area just off the beach.
Those imps were back in her head, trying to break out and her leg was throbbing.

"The cannibals came in boats, the two girls took us to their village, don't you remember?"

She shook her head trying to clear the fog away from her mind.

"I think I need some water.
Was I dreaming?"

She leaned heavily on the doctor as they all made their way to the shady area at the beginning of a wooded area just off the beach.
Those imps were back in her head, trying to break out and her leg was throbbing.

"The cannibals came in boats, the two girls took us to their village, don't you remember?"

She shook her head trying to clear the fog away from her mind.

"I think I need some water.
Was I dreaming?"
Possibly, you have a slight fever, and probably a touch of heatstroke... infact, I think we all do.

*Helps down against some shaded trees and plops down next to her. Looking around, he calls out.*

anyone injured? we'll rest here for a moment, then we need to look for water...

*he opens the thermos and let's Orchid drink the last of the water inside.*

Karyn took the thermos and drank gratefully.

On looking about her, she could tell that this island was totally different to the one she thought she had been to.
There was no river just beyond these trees for a start, and it was much much hotter.

Thank goodness it wasn't real.

"How many people do you think have made it Doc? There seems to be at least one more life boat over there."

Karyn took the thermos and drank gratefully.

"How many people do you think have made it Doc? There seems to be at least one more life boat over there."
hard to say really...

I know we lost alot of rafts in the storm...

The water seemed to bring her back to the present time, and their predicament seemed rather dire.
"Do you think that they will come to search for us?"

She watched as some of the others struggled over the beach to the shade of the trees, some with young children.

"Shouldn't someone go explore and search for water? And we're going to need food soon as well.
I don't know how long I was sleeping for, but my stomach is telling me it's rather empty."

The water seemed to bring her back to the present time, and their predicament seemed rather dire.
"Do you think that they will come to search for us?"

She watched as some of the others struggled over the beach to the shade of the trees, some with young children.

"Shouldn't someone go explore and search for water? And we're going to need food soon as well.
I don't know how long I was sleeping for, but my stomach is telling me it's rather empty."
*stomach growls in reply*
rest first... tired people will stumble into things that they would otherwise avoid when alert. ;) besides, *waves for the stragglers to get under the shade* we need to first determine what is edible on this rock.

and while we're here... let me change those salt water soaked bandages of yours...

Rae struggled out of the surf, pulling Malia with her. She could see others, sitting in the shade of a tree on the beach.

"Stay with me, Malia, we'll get into that shade with the others. I'm worried about the blow you took to the head. It will do you good to rest."

It will do me good too, Rae thought. Suriving a sinking ship took a bit more out of you than a morning run.

As the doctor gently unwound the soiled bandage, Karyn watched two other women making their way towards them.
One was a little older than herself, and the other was the girl she had seen in the bar last night.
She smiled shyly at them both.

"Hello."

"Hi. I'm Rae Lang, and this is...Malia. I don't know her last name, or much else about her, but apparently she took a blow to the head last night, someothing to do with the people who blew up our ship."

Rae eased Malia down in the shade. The girl didn't look too good, and Rae was concerned.

"Hello Rae, Malia.

Yes she does look a bit putty coloured, the doc here will look at her I'm sure.
I think we all suffered a big shock with those explosions, not quite the luxury cruise I was expecting."

Let me look at her when I'm finished here.

*after a moment, Karyn's leg sported a new and clean bandage, Turning, Austin looked at Maila*

Concussed, definately...

*reaching into the main pack of one of the backpacks (both are the hiiking types... with metal frame and all.) Austin pulls out a clean bedpan and props her feet on it. he then begins bandaging the wound.*

she needs rest right now.

"Not exactly the one I was expecting either, ma'am.", Rae said with a wry grin.

"Good thing you are with us Doc, as I suspect a few people will need your attentions. What did you say your names were?"

"Not exactly the one I was expecting either, ma'am.", Rae said with a wry grin.

"Good thing you are with us Doc, as I suspect a few people will need your attentions. What did you say your names were?"

oh... Sorry, where are my manners... Austin James.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so rude.
I'm Karyn...Karyn Peterson."

She looked at the nice clean bandage on her leg and smiled at Rae.

"Malia will be in good hands with the doc here, he is a real professional."

Rae smiled back at Karyn. "Nice to meet you both, Austin and Karyn."

"You know, I got a good nights sleep, but now I just feel exhausted."

Rae sank gracefully onto the sand, and leaned back against the tree.

"Soon though, we'll have to see about food..."

Rae smiled back at Karyn. "Nice to meet you both, Austin and Karyn."

"You know, I got a good nights sleep, but now I just feel exhausted."

Rae sank gracefully onto the sand, and leaned back against the tree.

"Soon though, we'll have to see about food..."

there are tests that can be done, so spread the word, don't just eat what you find, bring it back to be tested.

also the same goes for water, I have purification tablets to make em potable and safe.

In response to the Doctor's statements, Rae replied, "I just want to rest a few minutes, then I don't mind going to look for food and water."

"We should see how many make it too, shouldn't we?"

Looking up the beach, Rae thought she saw others, but then, it could just be the heat, playing tricks on the hot sand.

"I saw another life boat besides the one we came up on.
How did you two get here?"

She nodded in agreement about going to look for food and in particular water.

"We should stay together I think...you never know what might be out there."

"We should stay together I think...you never know what might be out there."
stay together and don't over exert yourselves... see if you can find some firewood as well.

*Austin looks at some jagged rocks resting in the water.* I wonder...

*Austin paces out towards the water, well beyond the high tide mark, he begins digging a rather large hole.*

"Just say the word Rae, when you are rested. Which direction do you think will be the best one to take."

Over to the East, the trees seem to be a little thicker and more lush than here.
That might mean water...

"Do you think we should go that way?"

She points eastwards.

Others had made it to the beach before me and my make-shift life perservers. A few of the weakest had climbed up on top of the surf boards and had passed out. That had kept me a very slow pace. As we approached the shore the waves started crashing over the surfboards and waking those who had opted to take a nap. I was ready for one of those myself.

soon enough. just get this jalopy up out of the surf, then you can rest.

Everyone let go of the boards and started wading up towards the group of people. I dismounted once the jet-ski beached itself and dragged it a little ways up the sand. I had long since ditched the shirt out at sea and had zipped the wet-suit open down to my waist. I keep forgetting how quickly it gets hot down here. With the jet-ski safely out of reach of the waves, i stumbeled up to the shade line and collapsed in the sand.

*After a large hole is dug, Austin goes back to his backpack and removes the second and last large bedpan as well as a small silver packet. he then places the pan in the center of the hole, and unwraps a reflective emergency foil blanket and covers the hole with it. Securing it with rocks and marking it with some fallen palm fronds, he places a large rock in the center... approximately where the bedpan is. after studying his handiwork, he calls over some of the rested children and puts them to work, digging a larger hole for a bonfire.*

"Just say the word Rae, when you are rested. Which direction do you think will be the best one to take."

Over to the East, the trees seem to be a little thicker and more lush than here.
That might mean water...

"Do you think we should go that way?"

She points eastwards.
oh, that reminds me, if you bring back any fruits, try to get some intact branches with leaves... it will help us identify stuff.

"I was just thinking I don't really want to wander off alone, Austin, that's all. Karyn and Malia don't seem to be up to it at the moment."

"What have you got going there, with your pit? Is it for drinking water?"

"I was just thinking I don't really want to wander off alone, Austin, that's all. Karyn and Malia don't seem to be up to it at the moment."

"What have you got going there, with your pit? Is it for drinking water?"

yep... condensation is caught in the foil blanket and drips down to the... err... Clean bedpan. won't produce much but it's something.

*pulling out the diving knife, Austin heads for the rocks. sticking out of the water... after a few minutes of searching... he sees the small black, pryamid shaped shells clinging on the rocks.*

what did those islanders call these things... opi... something...

*walks back holding the tiny mollusk.*

???

Anyone know how to make a fire!?

Rae set about gathering some small twigs and brush.

"You got a magnifying glass in your med kit there, Doc? If not, anyone with glasses for poor farsightedness will do."

Rae set about gathering some small twigs and brush.

"You got a magnifying glass in your med kit there, Doc? If not, anyone with glasses for poor farsightedness will do."
*thinks for a moment... then pulls out a swiss army knife and tosses it towards Rae.*

After gathering a good bit of small twigs and brush, Rae carried them out of the shade and into the direct sunlight on the beach, a short distance away. She had collected a few larger pieces of wood as well, to add to the pile if she got the fire going. She hadn't played with trying to set anything on fire with a magnifying glass since she was a kid.

After arranging a small pyramid of the gathered materials, she sat down next to it, and opened the Swiss Army knife and pulled out the magnifying glass. It was small, but by rights, it should work, if she could get the focus she needed.

She played with the angle of the glass, until she got a small clearly defined bright spot on a dead leaf, and held it there. It was quite hot in the direct sun, and she could feel herself sweating. Thankfully, there was a bit of a breeze though, which helped.

Finally, she saw a wisp of smoke rise from the leaf, and she silently urged it along. After a few more moments, she was rewarded with a small flame, as the leaf caught fire. Carefully she added more bits of dried material she had found.

Rae grinned. It was just like her Girl Scout days, only better. After carefully nurturing the small bit of flame for a little while longer, and added some larger twigs and branch pieces, she had a respectable fire burning in front of her.

"Austin," she yelled, "I've got your fire here! We'll need to gather some more wood to keep it going though!"

"Austin," she yelled, "I've got your fire here! We'll need to gather some more wood to keep it going though!"

Why don't either you or Karyn start gathering possible food and water while the other gathers the wood... take some others with both of you, don't wander too far.

*He places the tiny shell near the flames and watches it as it starts to boil in it's own juices.*

Finn collapsed tiredly atop the ridge. It seems he was tired enough to let his imagination get the better of him. What had sounded like drums proved nothing more than a piece of old cloth in a shallow cave, whipped by a breeze. The accoustics must have been perfect from his previous position. The cloth itself was somthing of a mystery, but its age and level of decay stripped any interest away. Up on the ridge, away from the shade he bore the full brunt of the sun. Using the fabric, he tied the cloth as a headdress to sheild his neck and shoulders from the sun. Crude, but it would do.

A thin whisper of smoke caught his attention. It came from the far side of the island, roughly where the other survivors had landed. Flattening against the rocks, he climbed down until foliage would shield his movements.

Karyn watched idly as the doc did something with a bedpan, then Rae performed a small miracle by creating fire without a lighter or match, and with the last traces of the dream fading from her mind, she got carefully to her feet.
The leg wound hardly hurt at all. She peered closely at Malia and decided she was best left resting.

"I'm ready to go foraging now Rae, if you are.
So the thing is to bring back all we find, with leaves for identification, yes?"

It was a statement more than a question, but this was the first time she had ever gone looking for food of any kind other than the local supermarket, she even felt a rather odd twinge of excitement at the thought.

"I'm ready to go foraging now Rae, if you are.
So the thing is to bring back all we find, with leaves for identification, yes?"

Leaves and branches please... oh and I assume you all know what Poision oak, sumac and ivy look like.... right? we don't have that much calamine lotion. :p

*Austin pokes at the small morsel of meat in the opihi shell and then pops it into his mouth... chewing it while making a disgusted face.*

Bleah... yeah... tastes just as I remember...

*austin looks at the small shell and tosses it aside.*

Oh, I'll get the kiddies to round up some Coconuts...

Karyns jaw dropped a little.

Poison oak, sumac, and ivy.

She suddenly felt very naive once more, those things weren't common in her garden back home.
Rae seemed to be otherwise employed for now.

"Um yees, of course...I know not to pick those."

Calara awoke feeling much better. Her body's cyberchemical enhancements had repaired her faculties nicely. She stood up slowly and stretched at the same pace, making sure that all of her body parts were well-flexed. Sighing in anticipation of the long journey home that she was facing, and focusing her dark red eyes on the relative small landmass spreading itself out in front of her, she stepped away from the lifeboat and walked down the beach, looking for something to eat.

"I'll go with you Karyn, I'm quite familiar with what they look like. I've been an avid hiker for years."

"Austin, keep an eye on Malia, will you? She's beginning to worry me."

Rae wished she had some kind of bag, but perhaps they could find something along the way that would suffice, to collect things in.

"I'm ready if you, Karyn.", Rae said with a smile. "Take my arm if you need to."

*after examining the coconuts the kids came back with, Austin pulled out his diving knife and began trying to husk the dam things...*

*after a few bad starts, he got to the inner shell... with a sharp crack, he spit it, serving two halves filled with coconut meat and milk to the survivors.*

keep the shells, it would be nice to have some drinking cups and bowls.

*Others, he started to lay next to the fire.*

She gave a grateful smile to Rae, and tucked an arm through the other womans.

"I tell you what we could use for collecting stuff in...my housecoat.
It is far to hot to be wearing it, and if you think no-one will mind me walking around in my nightdress...we could get two sticks, do up the buttons and put the sticks inside...that would make a kind of stretcher to carry stuff on."

She made a face.

"I read a lot of novels when I was nursing my Mother."

Rae chuckled as she and Karyn set off. "The housecoat is a good idea, Karyn, and as for propriety, I think that is thrown out, along with the rule book, in situations like these!"

"Let's see what we can find, eh?"

Karyn and Rae set off east, in search of edibles, and fresh water. Along the way, Rae picked up a few sturdy looking sticks to modify Karyn's housecoat with.

As they walked they checked out the plants and trees that they passed.

"Do you think we should make some kind of marks, to follow on our way back, or can you remember the direction?"

"That's a good idea too, Karyn."

Fortunately for them, she had forgotten to give the Doc his Swiss Army knife back. Rae stopped just as they lost sight off the beach, and thought for a moment. An "X", just cut into the tree with the knife wouldn't be visible, even a few steps away.

She didn't really know what would stand out enough to help them find their way back, if they got lost. Finally, it dawned on her. She had abandoned her fleece back at the "camp", as she had begun to think of it, but had on a long sleeve bright yellow tee, from that morning.

"Give me a second, Karyn", Rae said as she struggled out of her tee. She promptly cut the sleeves off, and cut them into strips. Modesty never occurred to her, but then, as she had stated earlier, the rule book was out the window. After a minute, she slid back into what was now a sleeveless tee, and tied a strip of the yellow jersey around a limb on the tree they were standing near.

She sincerely hoped there weren't too many biting insects.

"Okay, Karyn, let's go."

"Oh that's an inspiration...it looks like a flag. Now we can't get lost."

She points to a tree a few feet ahead.
It has fruits on it about the size of a small melon, but more pear shaped and a deep red.

"I've never seen those before..have you?"

"I don't think I have, but we'll take one, and mark the tree with a strip of my shirt, so we can find it again, if it's edible."

Rae carefully cut one down, with a bit of the branch and leaves, and marked the tree, and they moved a bit farther in. Rae was trying to stay in a straight line, and as she turned to look back, she could see the first marker she had tied. It wouldn't help anyone if they got lost.

Suddenly, she was startled by some type of small furry animal as it burst out of the brush in front of them. It stopped and looked at them for a moment, as Karyn held up her hand for Karyn to hold still. It didn't look menacing, rather more curious as to what they were. When Rae started to lower her hand, it darted off, into the brush.

"That could be food", Rae said, as she tied another marker.

Two of the others aboard the life-raft helped Ricky to heave the vessel ashore, and after the women and children were safely beached, they pushed the boat above the high tide line.

They were exhausted, but Ricky thought it a good idea if they got out of the heat of the sun, and into the wooded area a little way up the beach before they rested.
Susie was being very clingy, but he supposed that was to be expected, her parents were not among those on board their life-raft and he hoped they had made it to this island, or one of the others that he knew to be nearby.

"I'm thirsty, can I have a drink?"

"You can when we find some water sweetheart, just have a little patience."

There were four children in total, a brother and sister about ten and twelve years with their Mother, a boy of about eight or nine who seemed to be alone and Susie, who had informed him that she was five and a quarter, and that she had been on her way to meet her Aunt.

He sat her down on a fallen log and wearily sat beside her.

A movement in the distance caught his eye.
It was a curl of smoke, from along the treeline aways.

We'll have to go investigate that later, when we feel a bit more refreshed.

The small creature startled her, but she supposed they startled it more.

"Do you mean we could kill it?
I think I'd rather become a vegetarian than that.."

She tried to imagine herself eating something small and furry, but couldn't quite make it.

"I might be able to eat fish though...there must be plenty of those in the sea."

After the animal had scurried off, the silence was broken only but the buzzing of crickets and their footsteps through the overgrown plantlife.

About an hour later I rolled over and inhaled sand. Not the worst wake up call i've had, but its close. I sat straight up and gave a few hacking coughs. The group had grown to some degree. Doc was down by a fire that had popped up since i had conked out. I stood and brushed off some of the sand. I'd spent enough time on beaches to know i'd never get it all. The sun was good and up now, and this island had a suprisingly dry atmosphere. I was begining to regret pitching my shirt out to sea. The only top i had now would be my wet suit, and it was way too hot for that. Being tan will only help keep the sun-burning at bay for so long. I sighed and walked out towards the fire.

"Hey doc."

Rae laughed at Karyn's comment. I didn't mean we would kill it. but it is a food option, presuming it has red meat. I'm certainly not going to attack it with a pocket knife!"

After taking down a few other species of fruits, and digging up a couple tubers, marking trees as she went, Rae stood suddenly.

"Karyn, do you hear that? It sounds like running water..."

Good going kids...

*Austin looked at the clean coconut bowls the children (and their parents) washed in the surf. a small mound of fruit gathered by some of the people sat in two piles, one, being nibbled on by some of the survivors, the other being examined to check for poision. (scratch test... smell and even small bites.)*

"Hey doc."

Hey Jon, glad to see you've made it. you doing ok?

"Not too bad, all things considered."

I looked around and took note of all the going-ons.

"Quite the operation you've set up. You even slept yet?"

"Not too bad, all things considered."

I looked around and took note of all the going-ons.

"Quite the operation you've set up. You even slept yet?"

nope... someone has to... *yawn* keep people occupied else they start panicking... if you know anything about getting some fish...

I'm running out of things I learned when I was doing some outreach on some small polyneasian *yawn* islands.

"Take a load off for awhile. I'll watch the herd."

I offered a slight smile, then waded out a short distance into the water to see what kind of fish where about.

"Take a load off for awhile. I'll watch the herd."

I offered a slight smile, then waded out a short distance into the water to see what kind of fish where about.

Thanks... oh Rae, Karyn and several others went out to search for food and water, the emergency blanket is collecting some condensated water... and there are some edible... but not very tastey... mollusks around... but you probably know more about that than me...

I'm grabbing 40... night...

Aaliyah Hawklight, slowly pulled herself out of the ocean and crawled up the sand, sputtering salty water out of her lungs, she flopped down gasping for air, thankful for the cool night air and the cover of darkness.Slowly her breathing returned to normal as she slipped into unconsciousness,thankful to finally be out of the water.

Later the squawk of a seagull landing nearby along with the sun beating down woke Aly slightly, she looked around and slowly pulled herself a little further up the sand in to the shade of an over hanging tree on the northern side of the island before slipping back asleep.

"Sleep well."

A little ways out, but still within vice rang of the people on the beach, i stopped. Fish would probably be spooked for a little while, so i just stood there. After a little while the minnoes came back. Slowly i drew the knife i still had tucked in around my back. Something a bit bigger than a minnow swam by and i skewerd it.

Not familiar with this one. Looks edible though.

I started back towards the beach, trophy in hand.

An hour or so later Aly woke up again, after spending a few minutes trying to find something to eat or drink she stretched with a yawn and started walking slowly down the beach at the tide line letting the the water erase her foot prints. hoping to come across something helpful if only slightly so.

Finn tensed as he slipped on a patch of loose shale and skidded partway down the ridge. He was already below the treeline, but the unnatual qualities of his motion startled him. He felt exposed. He froze in place until he had been motionless for a short time, then dared to test the slope again. This time the rock held, and he eased his way down. That wisp of smoke had been a little ways off, but if he ambled in that direction, eventually he might find something of use.

It wasn't long at all until he caught the fluttering of something bright a few hundred meters distant. More cloth? Cautiously.. silently, he made his way towards the mysterious fabric, half stooped in a predatory crouch. One that had served him so well on many a raid. The fabric was a strip of material tied about the thin trunk. Another fluttered some ways distant. Markers, perhaps? Withdrawing a medium length blade, he surveyed his surroundings, then carefully cut the cloth away. Winding the strip, he stuffed it in a pocket.

Keeping to only the most dense portions of foliage, he crept stealthaly to the next marker.

Karyn stood still and listened.

A startled bird flew up from just in front of them and called loudly, scalding them for daring to trespass on his territory.

When his noise had died down, sure enough, there was the unmistakable sound of water. It was not the rushing roaring of a waterfall or a large river, but the tinkling of a small stream or brook, and if her ears weren't mistaken, it was not too far away from where they stood.

"I think it's over this way, Karyn", Rae said, motioning off in the distance, in front and to the left of where they now stood. She tied a strip of cloth to the tree where they stood, and motioned for Karyn to follow her.

"It doesn't sound like it's too far."

Rae moved a bit farther and stopped listening. It sounded closer, although she couldn't yet see it.

"Drat. We don't have anything to put water in, do we?"

"Oh what idiots we are, coming to look for water, and not bringing a canteen or anything!
In one of the pockets of my housecoat, there is an aspirin bottle though. It would hold enough water so that the doc can check to see if it's ok...what do you think?
It'd save us carrying food and water, then we or someone else could come back if it's ok to drink."

She searches till she finds the pocket, careful not to tip any of the food onto the ground and comes up with a small container and waves it in triumph.

"Lets go look for that water."

"That's a good idea, Karyn. No point in taking more than a sample back first. What say we head back after we get the water? I'm starting to get hungry, but we can't eat any of this stuff until the Doc takes a look at it."

Rae went a bit farther, stopping every few steps to make sure the sound of the water was still coming from the same direction. "I think we're almost to it. Does that look like water, glinting up ahead?"

Susie was still sleeping when Ricky woke.
He left his jacket beside her as a sign that he would be coming back.

I hope she understands.

He went to the mother with the two children.

"Would you do me a favour please, watch out for Susie there, and when she wakes tell her I'm sorry that I couldn't wait till she woke up, but I will be returning.
I need to go investigate the source of that smoke, it could just be more survivors, and if so we really need to be all together. We stand more chance of survival in one larger group than in two or three smaller ones."

The woman promised to do as he asked and he walked off along the treeline, with just one backward glance at the sleeping child.

As he walked, he realised that the beach curved sharply further along, almost at right angles to where they had come ashore.
Following the curve around, he saw the source of the smoke.

There was a group of people, more survivors, slightly larger than his group.
The new Doctor was there, as was the swimming instructor.
He felt a pang of guilt, realising that they were much more organised than his group were.
The children seemed to be occupied in some way, and there was a small fire burning.

There are more of them than there are of us, and they might have been here longer too.

As he got nearer he called out...

"Hoy there the camp!"

Someone up the beach called out. Instincively i flipped my blade around and dropped into a slight crouch. It was another crew member from the boat, though i couldn't place his name. I'd seen him once or twice. I relaxed and stood up again, offering a slight wave. I handed the fish off to one of the older children and told him to go find a long thin stick to skewer it with. Then i started towards the man up the beach.

Teppo rolled over onto his back where he'd been lying on the high tide line. He couldn't remember getting there. He tried to get up and stumbled, and as he carefully climbed the rest of the way to his feet, the previous night's events began to come back to him. He stood and looked around. The door he'd floated on after his liferaft had capsized in the heavy waves was lying a few feet away. He began walking somewhat unsteadily down the beach, hoping to run into other survivors.

After a little while, by pure luck, he saw a modest group of people with the beginnings of a camp set up by the beach, with fire and some piles of fruit. Forgetting himself in the aftershock of the shipwreck he walked over to the fire and spoke in Finnish to a man sitting next to it.
"Mikä on tapahtumat?"

*Austin yawned when he heard the stranger call out. seeing John going off to greet them, he settled back to sleep... watching a small child trying to skewer a fish for the fire.*"Mikä on tapahtumat?"* the words pulled him back from slumber as he looked up to see a man standing over him.*

Err... sorry, I don't understand... please help yourself.
*austin gestured towards the small pile of fruit deemed edible... he noticed that the pile is now down to a small handfull of berries and a couple of Mangos.*

*Looking around he noticed that not all of the foragers were back.*

Where's Rae and Karyn?

The two of them walked a few paces more and sure enough there was the beginings of a spring.
The water gushed seemingly from nowhere, and formed itself into a mini stream heading off to their left.

Karyn whooped in triumph.

"That looks like it Rae, and I'd bet anything thats it's pure too."

They lay the makeshift carrier on the ground away from the water and bent down, dabbling their hands into the icy water.
Karyn unscrewed the top of the small container and filled it with the water, the tightened the lid so that none would escape.
She straightened up.

"Let's get back to the others, I'm sure we've been gone for long enough."

The swimming instructor gave a half wave and started to walk towards Ricky who started a dog-trot, when he caught up to him, he clapped him on the back.

"Glad you made it friend, I have a group back there. A couple of blokes, some women and four kids...two of whom don't seem to have any parents with them.
Sorry mate I can't remember your name, I think we only met a couple of times...Ricky steward of the late ship."

He inclined his head back in the direction he had come from.

"I shall go bring them here. One of the kids was entrusted to me by the Captain untill we find her folks...I got her to call me Grandpa to take her mind of things poor kid."

"Right then, let's head back, Karyn."

Rae and Karyn picked up the makeshift litter, now fairly well filled with various fruits and tubers, and headed back in the direction they had come.

After only about twenty yards, Rae stopped.

"I'm almost positive this is the way we came, Karyn, but I don't see any of the markers. Do you think we're going in the wrong direction?"

Rae turned and scanned the area. She couldn't see any markers anywhere she looked.

"We must be going the wrong way, it's the only explanation. Lets go back to the spring and start again."

They turned around and head back to the spring, taking note of a tall tree who's branches looked like a parrots beak.

"That's where we were just now, so we must have come along that way."

She pointed in the direction where they could just see the tip of a small mountain in the distance.

They went for another twenty or so yards and searched around for the markers.

"No..wrong again. Now what do we do?"

"John. Name's John."

I looked back over my shoulder at the group.

"Never hurts to have more hands. And we have some kids too, so hopefully they'll be able to entertain themselves until we figure out what to do."

Originally posted by Wild Orchid
"No..wrong again. Now what do we do?"

"Let's go back to the stream, Karyn, and let me look around a bit."

As they turned back, Rae whispered to Karyn. "I'm sure the way we started to go is the right way, but the markers are gone. Someone had to have removed them, Karyn. Someone who doesn't want us to find our way back."

Reaching the stream again, Rae made a show of looking around in all directions, but she was confident that they had started off the right way the first time. She normally had a good sense of direction. The problem was, if someone had followed their markers, then that someone was close by, and probably watching them.

Facing the stream, and away from the direction they had come, Rae whispered again. "Whoever removed them is most likely close by, Karyn. Try not to act concerned or frightened, but keep your eyes open. If we head back the way we came, we'll most likely run into whoever it was, but it's better than being stuck here, or getting ourselves lost by going in another direction. Do you want to risk it? Hopefully, whoever it is, doesn't know I have a pocket knife."

Rae continued to look around, doing her best to appear confused, for another minute, giving Karyn time to understand their predicament. Then, she faced the stream once more and whispered, "I really think that's our best option, Karyn. The only other thing I can think of would be to try and start a fire here, but since I would have to use the magnifying glass on the knife, it would take away the one possible defense we have, as a surprise. But I'd definitely like your opinion...just hurry, please."

Karyn scratched her head and looked around like Rae, making a big show of being puzzled.

"Who would do such a thing Rae?
Why would anyone want us to be lost?
Do you think they are watching us?"

She Put her hand up to shield her eyes and peered into the nearby trees as though still looking for the markers.

"You must be right of course. The markers wouldn't disappear of their own accord. Yes keep the pocket knife out of sight and we will go the way you thought was right.
If we meet whoever it is we shall just have to act as we feel to be right at the time. Play it by ear as it were."

Then, as they started on the chosen route she spoke just a little louder, in case the person could overhear them.

"Maybe an animal or bird took a liking to the colour and took it to their nest or whatever."

Keeping her voice low once again, Rae replied, "I wish I knew the answers to your questions, Karyn."

As they passed the odd looking tree they'd noticed the first time they had come back this way, she spoke louder in response to Karyn's last statement. "I suppose perhaps it could have been a bird, or perhaps some simian like creature?"

Rae tried to walk casually, but steadily, trying not to show alarm, and concentrating on the direction back to the beach. She really would be happy to get back to the Doc, and the safety of numbers, few as they were.

After they had passed the 'parrot' tree, Karyn started looking closely at the ground.

"Look Rae the grass is trodden down along here, it must be the way we came."

Then quietly..."Or the way he/she came. Do you think we should try and follow the tracks?"

Rae was sure that this was the way back to the beach, and rather than veer away from the direction she felt was right, and possibly end up lost, she didn't feel they had any other option than to follow the tracks.

Whispering, she said, "I don't think we've got any choice Karyn. If we don't, we risk getting ourselves lost."

More loudly, she continued, "I agree, Karyn, we're on the right path back to the others now. Doc's probably wondering what's taking us so long."

She had that it somone was listening, they would pic up on the words others, and Doc. Maybe, if they didn't know how many 'others' there were, they would just follow to check it out.

As they were following the trodden down patches of grass and broken twigs, Karyn cast the occasional glance to the nearby branches, hoping to find one of the markers.
She suddenly caught sight of a thread snagged on a bush at about eye level.

She reached up and removed it, showing it to Rae. It was obviously from an old rag not their marker, proving that there was someone else around, but whether long ago or recently it was hard to tell.

"I hope the doc has got water when we get there, I'm so dry.
I'm almost certain that we never walked this far on our way out."

Rae was concentrating on her surroundings, going on her natural talent for a good sense of direction, and also scanning the path they took for future reference. Admittedly, she was also looking for whoever may have removed the markers, although she really didn't want to have that encounter.

"No, I think we're going the right way, Karyn. I don't hear the stream any longer, but I think I'm beginning to hear the surf. I think it's just slower, because we don't have the markers now, and I'm trying to make sure we don't go the wrong away."

She flashed a smile at the other woman, even though it was as effort to do so, with the apprehension she felt. "Plus, I'm betting your leg is bothering you a bit now. You rest after we get back, okay?"

*hours later, Austin opened his eye and took stock of his surroundings.*
Kids swimming, parents and other adults keeping an eye on them... check.
a nice growing pile of wood for the fire... check,
the pile of fruits is low, but that's to be expec... WHOA!
*Austin bolted upright as he saw a little girl grab a large berry, slightly larger than a large cherry and examined the smooth bright yellow serface. Sprinting across the short distance, he managed to slap the inviting fruit out of the girls hand before she took a bite, the tough berry bounced on the sand. More shocked than hurt, the little girl began to cry.*

*picking up the berry, he smelled it, then examined the short stalk. The girl's mother rushed up and started to berate Austin for how he treated her. Austin quietly ignored her prostests as he searched the fruit pile for others like it.*

*Calling everyone over, and quieting the mother's protests... Austin held the fruit aloft.*

Who brought this one in? *no one answered* this is why I asked to bring in a branch containing leaves as well as the fruit. *a small voice piped up from the group.* "but the bush didn't have any leaves..."
and that is what I needed to know. was the bush like a pile of twigs? woody and thorny? *the little boy nodded*
This is a highly poisonous plant sometimes referred to as an Apple of Sodom. The fruit does look like a tomato, but instead of growing on vines, it grows on a thorny bush and the leaves are spikey and thin. but as a weed, it can survive with little water, so it resembles a briar bush. Did anyone eat anything like this? *no one responded* I'm asking because treatment needs to begin NOW! if enough of the poision is absorbed into the bloodstream, there will be nothing I can do. Please, remember to bring everything in for Identification... especially if you are not 110 percent sure of what you're eating.

*Austin turns to the little girl and her mother.* I'm sorry for frightening you, but you would've been very, very sick if you ate this... will you accept my appologies?

*the little girl nodded and both mother and daughter walked towards the surf.*

*Looking at the crowd, Austin sighed in relief*... that could've been bad... where are they?!

As the other man ran off to bring his group along i took up a positon a little ways outside the group. Doc was still asleep, so i did by best to not become so myself. The children seemed to be coping alright and the adults looked like they where tying to busy themselves to keep it all from flood ing in. That was good.

A few hours passed. Doc woke up and gave a little botony lesson to the surviors. The group dispersed again, but Doc looked a little lost. I descided to put off sleep for a bit longer and go see what was up. I stood, brushed myself off a bit, then crossed over to him.

"You alright?"

"You alright?"
that shouldn't have happened, If I didn't wake up to see her with that...

*shakes his head*

Some of our foragers aren't back yet... i'm worried, but not alarmed...












yet

I shurgged.

"Well, now that you're up and about i'm not really needed around here. You want me to go look for 'em?"

I shurgged.

"Well, now that you're up and about i'm not really needed around here. You want me to go look for 'em?"

if you could... by the way... who was that you were talking to?

"Someone else from the crew. Ricky. He was a steward or something."

I looked back over my shoulder in the direction that Ricky had gone off in to fetch his group. I shook my head and turned back to Doc.

"So which way'd they head off in?"

"So which way'd they head off in?" that way *indicates direction*
why the headsha... oh...
*grins*
this tour is really turning out to be something, do you need one?
*holds up one of the two diving knives Austin keeps with him.*

*Austin yawned when he heard the stranger call out. seeing John going off to greet them, he settled back to sleep... watching a small child trying to skewer a fish for the fire.** the words pulled him back from slumber as he looked up to see a man standing over him.*

Err... sorry, I don't understand... please help yourself.
*austin gestured towards the small pile of fruit deemed edible... he noticed that the pile is now down to a small handfull of berries and a couple of Mangos.*

*Looking around he noticed that not all of the foragers were back.*

Where's Rae and Karyn?

"Huh? Ah."
Teppo paused for a moment, shifting gears from Finnish to English.
"Sorry about that."
He walked over and picked up a fruit from the pile. It didn't taste half bad. He sat down underneath a tree and tried to straighten out his thoughts. He was still having difficulty focusing after being out under the sun all morning. He felt like there was something important he was forgetting, but couldn't remember what.

I grinned.

"Naw man. I got it covered."

I pulled out my own blade, winked and headed off towards the forest. Just before stepping into the brush i turned back.

"I don't supose you'd know if this island is inhabited, would you?"

Aly walked till she came to a large sand dune after spending quite a bit of time scrambling up it she peeked over the top she was surprised to see a small group of people gathered on the beach, from this distance she could not till if they might be friendly or not so she turned and scrambled down the dune and then headed in to the trees carefully picking her way through the thick foliage.

Finn had switched to predator-mode watching the two girls from a medium distance. He caught a few words of their conversation, but otherwise remained alert and utterly silent. He was a skilled stalker.. one of the reasons Captain Slade kept him in the more versatile groups. He moved only when they were out of earshot, or a breeze rustling the leaves would conceal any small sounds he might generate. Reversing his grip on the blade, he held it such that the weapon poionted not away from his hand, but along his forearm.

The word "others" drifted to him on the breeze. It was good reason not to move just yet. While a hostage might prove a good bargaining chip, he needed to know how many had survived.

I grinned.

"Naw man. I got it covered."

I pulled out my own blade, winked and headed off towards the forest. Just before stepping into the brush i turned back.

"I don't supose you'd know if this island is inhabited, would you?"

No one said anything... yet.

I grinned and nodded.

"Just wanted to know what I was up against. I'll be back soon."

With that i stepped into the brush. I slit a small branch off of a tree and tossed it onto a bush, pointing the direction towards the beach.

Probably should have gotten their names before i left. Oh well.

A little ways in i cupped my hands around my mouth and called out.

"AHOY OUT THERE!"

Calara almost fell over when she heard someone shout "ahoy" in the distance while she was walking along the beach and looking for something to eat. She had certainly not expected company. Deciding that it was in her best interest to find out who it was, she started running down the beach in the general direction of the noise.

*As slowly more fish ended up on the fire, a figure was seen running towards them. Austin waved at the running figure*

someone has energy to run?

As Ricky rounded the curve in the beach, Susie threw herself at him, her small arms hugging his knees.

"Whoa there young lady, I've only been gone a short while."

Bending down he picked her up and sat her on his shoulders.

"I thought you wasn't going to come back"

"Didn't Anna's Mommy tell you I would return?"

"Yes, but I thought she just said that."

"I promise you I shan't go away again, until we find Your Mommy and Daddy, how's that?"

She smiled and buried her face in his hair.

"That's fine"

They had now reached the place where the rest of the group had gathered, and the woman who had had placed in charge of Susie apologised for the girl not being with her.

"She needed to watch for your return."

"I understand, no worries, she is safe.

Now listen up everyone. I found another group beyond the curve of the beach along there.
The doctor is there, and they seem to have organised themselves much better than we have.
They have even found fruit by the looks of things, so I think we should go along and join them, do you all agree."

They talked quietly among themselves for a short time, then there were murmurings of agreement.

"Right then here we go, follow me."

The group slowly made their way along the beach, eventually arriving to where the others were making their camp.

He lifted Susie from his shoulders and told her to look around and see if her parents were among the adults there, while he went to speak to the doctor.

He lifted Susie from his shoulders and told her to look around and see if her parents were among the adults there, while he went to speak to the doctor.*Austin tested the three fishes that
were cooking on their spits... *

Looks good.

*He noticed another small group of people making their way up towards their group.*

You know... It would be nice to see exactly how many people there are...

*Austin began taking a small tally of who's here.*

As they walked a little further, the sound of the surf became clearer.

"You were right Rae, all we need to do is follow the sound of the sea and we will get back eventually.
Do you think we'll be able to find the little stream again?"

The hair on the back of her head stood on end as she heard someone in the distance calling.

"Did you hear that Rae, there is someone over in that direction."

The call had come from more or less the way they had come from.

"Do you suppose it's the person who took the markers?"

"Hello there doctor. I'm sorry, but I totally forgot your name, although I know we were introduced before we set sail.
I see you have food, would there be enough to share a little with these people here.
We can help to find more, but at the moment they are exhausted.
Have you found fresh water at all, the children especially need a drink.
We have no actual casualties though, so that is one good thing."

The smell of the fish the doctor was cooking, was beginning to make his stomach growl so he continued talking.

"We have two children with no parents, one of which, the Captain charged me to get to her folks. I have made a game with her and we are pretending that I'm her Grandpa.
My name is Ricky by the way, I was one of the stewards for many years."

"Hello there doctor. I'm sorry, but I totally forgot your name, although I know we were introduced before we set sail.
I see you have food, would there be enough to share a little with these people here.
We can help to find more, but at the moment they are exhausted.
Have you found fresh water at all, the children especially need a drink.
We have no actual casualties though, so that is one good thing."

The smell of the fish the doctor was cooking, was beginning to make his stomach growl so he continued talking.

"We have two children with no parents, one of which, the Captain charged me to get to her folks. I have made a game with her and we are pretending that I'm her Grandpa.
My name is Ricky by the way, I was one of the stewards for many years." "Dr James, call me Austin.

We have fish and fruits, not much but go ahead and grab a couple of bites.
Rule of thumb for foraging tho. If you're not sure it's edible, bring it back with leaves and branches intact. we can test it and some people here now know which fruits are kinda edible."

Make sure people don't wander off unless in small groups and that they don't wander far...

So far, I make 30 people here... including your bunch."

*austin makes his way towards an emergency blanket that was secured on the sand. removing the half filled bedpan, and putting the second one in the pit, he brought the sun warmed water to Ricky.*

"It's not bottled water, but its potable."

Calara saw a figure waving, and picked up speed, closing the distance pretty quickly. As she got closer, she slowed to a jog and then a walk, recovering her breath. She noticed that the man had company.

"Howdy! I'm Calara. Are y'all survivors of the cruise ship that went down too?"

Calara saw a figure waving, and picked up speed, closing the distance pretty quickly. As she got closer, she slowed to a jog and then a walk, recovering her breath. She noticed that the man had company.

"Howdy! I'm Calara. Are y'all survivors of the cruise ship that went down too?"

pretty much Calara, I'm Dr James, call me Austin.

you were on the ship also?

He thankfully took some of the fish wrapped in a large leaf.
Then filled a half coconut shell with some water, at that moment a woman approached them.

"Thank you Austin."

"Hello madam, yes we are all survivors, I take it you were aboard too? The name is Ricky, please don't think me rude but would you excuse me, I have some people to feed and water."

He inclined his head and went back to Susie and the others, who he could see had already helped themselves to some of the fruit.

"When you have eaten and taken a little water, you must go in groups and find more fruit and vegetables to replace that which you have eaten.
If you don't recognise anything bring back leaves and branches as well to help identify it, we don't want anybody being poisoned.
The children can maybe bring wood to help with the fire."

He shared the fish around, a very small amount for everyone, then handed the children the water to have first drinks.

"Not too much now, we have to be very careful with our resources."

As i rumaged through the foliage i began more and more to regret not getting the names. I felt rather stupid just bumbling along calling out "Ahoy out there" every few minutes. Still, it was better than nothing. At first there had been a few stips of yellow fabric tied to the trees. I assumed that those where what the others had used for markers, much as i was occationally chopping off branches and placing them on bushed. But they had stopped a short ways back. That fact was a bit disconcerting, but i kept calling out all the same.

"Anyone out here! Doc Sent me to find you! Hello?!"

Originally posted by Wild Orchid
The hair on the back of her head stood on end as she heard someone in the distance calling.

"Did you hear that Rae, there is someone over in that direction."

The call had come from more or less the way they had come from.

"Do you suppose it's the person who took the markers?"

Rae grinned at Karyn, out of relief, her fears allayed for the moment. "Do you really think the person who took the markers would now be calling out to us?"

Just then, another call sounded, a bit closer.

Originally posted by Wandering Vagabonds
"Anyone out here! Doc Sent me to find you! Hello?!"

"Come on Karyn, I think we've been found!"

Rae started to rush, praying Karyn would keep up with her.

"Hello! Yes, we're here, and moving towards you! Please keep shouting!"

Rae yelled as loudly as she could.

That's more like it.

I stood in place and let them come to my voice. God knows its hard enough to do without the voice moving.

"Alright! I'll just chill here! Follow my voice!"

I failed to keep finding things to say, so i just started singing Bohemian Rhapsody.

"Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide,
No escape from reality..."

Aly stopped short and looked around confused, then unexpectedly broke into a laugh, leaning back against a tree as tears rolled down her face
here you are stuck on a godforsaken island in the middle of no where and some bloke is singing the last song you heard at home
It took a while for her to collect her self, but once she had Aly changed directions from west to south,moving slowly and quietly and through the thick trees and brush,(which made her thankful for her jeans and long sleeved shirt) to see if she could maybe stumble across someone.

He would have known that voice anywhere. Finn's grip tightened on his weapon as he recognized the voice of the man who had attempted interrogation. He swore to return the favor.. but not under as pleasant of circumstances.

However, the man's appearance had been unexpected. His voice drew the women almost straight towards Finn's own hiding place. He edged back slowly, contemplating making a move. But now was not the opportune moment. He growled to himself quietly, under his breath. He only needed to lay low until night fall. Then worry about what was to be done. If Irving was still alive, he'd be waiting beyond the ridge.. probably still whittling away on a twig. Finn wasn't sure if that was a help or a hinderance. As one of the girls stepped within arm's reach - practically traipsing through the heart of his dense patch of undergrowth - it was all he could to do restrain himself from grabbing an ankle or perhaps slicing though the acheilles tendon.. But no. He was as calm and silent as the nearby serpent, watching, watching.

After they had passed, he silently retreated, keeping low and out of sight. The bright bits of cloth were safely tucked away. Once he felt reasonably sure that he was far enough away from the trio, he cautiously rose to a crouch. And quite to his surprize, he spotted another woman. This one was alone, and much closer than he would have preferred. Finn froze, watching her.

pretty much Calara, I'm Dr James, call me Austin.

you were on the ship also?

"Yes. I barely got here alive after whatever it was that sank the ship. It's good to see I'm not alone here. We have a better chance of getting rescued if we work together." She smiled and tossed her sea-soaked and sun-dried dark red hair back.

"Care to tell me how your group is doing?"

"Yes. I barely got here alive after whatever it was that sank the ship. It's good to see I'm not alone here. We have a better chance of getting rescued if we work together." She smiled and tossed her sea-soaked and sun-dried dark red hair back.

"Care to tell me how your group is doing?"

Ok... Considering all that happened. we'll need to find some sort of shelter... for all we know, such storms may be the start of the rainy season...

Ok... Considering all that happened. we'll need to find some sort of shelter... for all we know, such storms may be the start of the rainy season...

"Ah. I would agree with you there. We can start scouting for a good site for us to build a shelter and a fire if everyone is ready to move. I'll start looking for some basic food sources as we walk along too."

After the tension of the last hour or so, the sound of someone singing Bohemian Rhapsody out there, almost had the effect of sending Karyn into hysterical laughter, she managed to hold back with just the exception of a little giggle.

As they made their way closer to whoever it was Rae started going faster than Karyn's injured leg would allow, and she almost had to let her end of their makeshift carrier drop, but she kept up somehow.

They eventually found the singer and she was surprised to see it was the athletic looking man who she had noticed in the bar last night.

"We got lost, someone or something took away the markers that Rae tied to the branches."

She felt suddenly conscious once more of the fact she was wearing a long unfeminine nightdress with a bloodstain where she had been shot, and that her hair must have had dried leaves and twigs tangled in it.

She pushed the thought aside, raised her head and smiled.

"We found a small stream as well as this food."

She pointed to the carrier.

"I hope you remember you're way back to the others."

"Ah. I would agree with you there. We can start scouting for a good site for us to build a shelter and a fire if everyone is ready to move. I'll start looking for some basic food sources as we walk along too."

I would suggest taking a small group. until suitable shelter is found, i really don't want to have all of us getting lost.

*looks at the mountain*

Think there might be some caves in there? It might also provide us with a vantage point to look for ships and such.

I would suggest taking a small group. until suitable shelter is found, i really don't want to have all of us getting lost.

*looks at the mountain*

Think there might be some caves in there? It might also provide us with a vantage point to look for ships and such.

"That's an excellent idea. And if it does rain more, being on higher ground might come in very handy." She grinned. "I like you already. Maybe we have some hope with you in charge. I'm too much of a loner to get everyone going."

Rae had to laugh. Bohemian Rhapsody. At least, it appeared Karyn recognized the man that had been singing it, which she hoped meant he wasn't the one who had removed the markers.

"Hi, I'm Rae Lang, and this is Karyn. I hate to add more bad news after all we've been through, but it does appear that someone...or something, removed the markers I had left to mark our trail. We'd best get back to the others."

She looked at Karyn apologetically.

"I'm sorry, Karyn, I didn't mean to rush you so much. I'd just feel safer getting out of here right now."

"That's an excellent idea. And if it does rain more, being on higher ground might come in very handy." She grinned. "I like you already. Maybe we have some hope with you in charge. I'm too much of a loner to get everyone going."

Yeah...

*looks away to watch some kids playing in the waves, a haunted expression on his face.*

Thanks.

* a small group of wood gatherers returns with more deadwood for the fire. Austin gives his head a little shake.*

Pardon, Calara take anyone who had some rest. *looks at the sun going down.*

then again, perhaps morning might be a better time to head out.

Yeah...

*looks away to watch some kids playing in the waves, a haunted expression on his face.*

Thanks.

* a small group of wood gatherers returns with more deadwood for the fire. Austin gives his head a little shake.*

Pardon, Calara take anyone who had some rest. *looks at the sun going down.*

then again, perhaps morning might be a better time to head out.

"We can wait until morning when we're all rested, yes. But I'm going to look around to see if I can't find something for us to eat in the meantime."

Calara walked away, waving at Austin as she did.

"Oh I know we have to hurry, the sun seems to be getting rather low in the sky, and I don't want to be out here in the dark, so don't mind my hobbling along behind."

She looked at the athletic man apologetically.

"Sorry, I'm Karyn.
I don't know what happened to my manners today.
I think they went down with the ship.
Let's go back, I think I am starting to need a rest."

"We can wait until morning when we're all rested, yes. But I'm going to look around to see if I can't find something for us to eat in the meantime."

Calara walked away, waving at Austin as she did.
Bring back the Leaves and branches also...

*He called out after her.*

"Probably just a bird. Why someone would go through the trouble to remove markers i dont know."

I did know, but it would do not good to get the girls all riled up. Not yet anyways. I'd talk have to talk with Doc once we got back. I stepped over to Karyn, smiled warmly, and took her end of the carrier.

"No need to rush now. You take a breather."

I looked around at the surrounding foliage.

"Was it just the two of you out here?"

"So far as we know, friend. I didn't catch your name?"

Rae was skeptical about a bird having removed the markers. She thought she had tied them rather securely.

"Unless it wasn't a bird that took the markers..."

As the man took the other side of their carrier, they set off towards the beach.

Rae was ready for a break herself. She was starving.

As he took the carrier from her hands, the relief she felt was unbelievable.

"Thank you, I appreciate it.
As Rae said, I am almost certain that we are the only ones who came this way, although I can't be one hundred percent certain, someone may have wandered this way afterwards."

As they turned to follow him back, she thought she heard the cracking of a twig, as though someone was walking somewhere nearby.
She shook her head.

No, It is just my imagination. Who else would be out here now the sun is going down.

Aly moved slowly thought the trees untill she felt someone watching her. She stoped and looked around, curseing her bad vision, with out her glasses anything past four or five feet was a blur. she paused looking in the directing that held the shape most resembling a person, the longer she looked the more she was sure that it was some one, she took a few steps forward and paused, waiting.

*As the sun began to set, Austin began calling people in, keeping his tally of who's here and who's not.*

Rae, Jon and Karyn are still out... Calara isn't here yet...

*He looks at the medium sized pile of fruits, Shelfish and fish that people have gathered, He carefully built up the fire into a medium sized bonfire.*

The food and wood will last tonight... but tomorrow?

*he calls Ricky over.*

got any ideas... I have no clue how to keep these people from thinking too deeply on the situation and thus going into a panic...

The children, including Susie had worn themselves out playing in and around the sea, none of them straying away from the so called camp.
They had all becoming very tearful and quarrelsome so Ricky had organised them into a small group.

The eldest of them a boy of about thirteen or so, whose name escaped him at the moment was right now, trying to entertain the others with a magic act of some sort involving shells. They had already had the brother and sister doing a song and dance act, and someone else was going to tell a story.

Austin called Ricky over, and mentioned in undertones that four of the party were still missing, and that after they had eaten tonight the food supplies they had collected would be gone.
This would involve an ongoing foraging expedition for all, and he was worried some of the survivors would start to panic if they thought too long and hard about their situation.

"I think for the time being they are too weary to think too hard. I feel the problem will arise in the morning when they are rested.

I'm hoping that the missing persons will arrive before then, but we may have to go on without them.
We desperately need to be near a goodly supply of fresh water, and some kind of shelter.
I couldn't help but overhear you mention caves up in the mountain over there, and think that would be a good place to go.

Do you happen to know whether they managed to give out our whereabouts before the explosions?"

Watching the kids he had an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach that they would be somewhat older than they were now, before they saw civilization again, if they made it at all.

Poor beggars.
I have had my life, all be it spent working aboard ships, but at least that was my own choice.

I'd like to string up the bastards that did this to them.

"Would you like me to hand some food around?
I think we should try and keep a smile on our faces, and maybe follow the kids example and get some kind of entertainment going while we wait for night and sleep."

Rae was relieved to see the beach ahead of them through the trees. The angle of the sun was getting low, and she knew they would most likely not get back to the stream before morning now. She could only pray that the water was drinkable.

She suspected their rescuer had not heard her question earlier, and Karyn hadn't supplied a name either.

"So, to whom do we owe our thanks for finding us?", she said with a hint of teasing to her voice. "Or do you enjoy playing the mystery man?"

I grinned as Rae and Karyn and myself hit the beach. My angle had been a bit off and we where a few hundred yards down from the rest of the group, but that wasn't too bad.

"John. Name's John."

I looked over my shoulder at Karyn ash she walked behind us.

"How's the leg holding up?"

The beach suddenly came into view and the sun was just about to disappear over the horizon. The relief that they had made it combined with the beauty of the view, brought a lump to her throat and she had to blink to prevent herself from bursting into tears.

"My leg, oh I'm sure it will be fine now thanks."

She managed a weak smile as they made their way to where the doc was talking to someone else she recognised from the ship, the steward who had looked after her so well when she was in her stateroom.

"Doc, are we ever glad to see you", Rae said as she and John set the carrier down. "We found all this, and a small stream, Karyn's got a water sample for you."

Noting that there were others around, Rae kept her voice casual as she continued.

"When you get a minute though Doc, I'd like to talk to you about what else we may have found."

Just then, her stomach growled, loudly. Laughing, she asked, "Okay, and what have we got to eat? I'm starved, and I am sure Karyn is too. She was a real trooper out there today, Doc, injured leg and all."

She shot Karyn a grateful smile, then said "And thanks for sending John after us...."

Suddenly exhausted, Rae just sat, and waited for the answer on the food.

"I think for the time being they are too weary to think too hard. I feel the problem will arise in the morning when they are rested.and that will be the problem. the adults are thinking about it, and I have a feeling that the reason they are not panicing... yet... is because someone seems to be in control.

"I'm hoping that the missing persons will arrive before then, but we may have to go on without them.
We desperately need to be near a goodly supply of fresh water, and some kind of shelter.
I couldn't help but overhear you mention caves up in the mountain over there, and think that would be a good place to go.

Do you happen to know whether they managed to give out our whereabouts before the explosions?"I have no idea if they did. and with that storm, we might be miles off course from the last known posistion...

"Would you like me to hand some food around?
I think we should try and keep a smile on our faces, and maybe follow the kids example and get some kind of entertainment going while we wait for night and sleep."that's why I asked you over... I have no experience in entertaining anyone... much less groups.

*There was a rustle from the woods as Karyn, Jon and Rae came out... laden with food in a makeshift carrier.*

and thus the angels of mercy appear.

"Doc, are we ever glad to see you", Rae said as she and John set the carrier down. "We found all this, and a small stream, Karyn's got a water sample for you."
Great...

*most of the fruit and other foodstuff was already proven to be edible, he examined some of the roots and tubers, smiling and putting a couple a side, he left the questionable ones in a smaller pile.*

"When you get a minute though Doc, I'd like to talk to you about what else we may have found."

Just then, her stomach growled, loudly. Laughing, she asked, "Okay, and what have we got to eat? I'm starved, and I am sure Karyn is too. She was a real trooper out there today, Doc, injured leg and all."Yes, eat first and then we can talk.

"And thanks for sending John after us...."I got worried when you two didn't return for a while... Go on... eat and rest while I check on Karyn's leg.

*Austin went to check on Karyn's leg. when he passed Jon,* Thanks.

Suddenly exhausted, Rae just sat, and waited for the answer on the food.[/QUOTE]

Aly moved slowly thought the trees untill she felt someone watching her. She stoped and looked around, curseing her bad vision, with out her glasses anything past four or five feet was a blur. she paused looking in the directing that held the shape most resembling a person, the longer she looked the more she was sure that it was some one, she took a few steps forward and paused, waiting.

She had seen him.. he was certain of it. Finn glanced about discreetly, searching for any other strangers. None were around.

"Are.. you alrigh'?"

I offered a smile to the two girls as they went of to get food or sleep or something. Then i turned to Doc and nodded away from the rest of the group, indicating i wanted him to follow me. Then i started walking down the beach in the direction i had nodded.

The steward had finished talking by the time Karyn and Rae reached the doc, and was handing food around. The group had almost doubled while they had been gone, and the doc seemed to be pleased with what they had brought back with them.

Rae sat down looking absolutely shattered, as the doc checked Karyn's leg. Just as he finished, John beckoned him away down to the beach.

"Rae, shall we go and get some food from the steward over there?"

There was no answer, and Karyn assumed the other woman had drifted into a kind of exhausted daze, so she left her sitting there while she herself went to where the others were now munching on fruit and eating small pieces of fish.

"Hello steward, Ricky wasn't it? I am pleased you made it here too.
May I have a piece of fish?"

He handed her some fish and a piece of fruit, and she sat down to watch the children while she ate.

Rae shook herself out of her reverie, vaguely aware that Karyn had spoken to her, and left. She hadn't wanted to let her nerves get the better of her while they were out foraging, but she was sure that it was not an animal that had removed the markers. That fact had made it almost certain that they had been watched while they were out there, and that had frightened her badly.

Thankful that they were now with the group, Rae sighed thankfully and went to get some food. After murmuring her thanks to the steward, Ricky, she went and sat next to Karyn.

"Sorry for zoning out on you there, Karyn. I guess the events of the last several hours just caught up with me."

"How's the fish?", she asked, biting into what resembled a pear.

I offered a smile to the two girls as they went of to get food or sleep or something. Then i turned to Doc and nodded away from the rest of the group, indicating i wanted him to follow me. Then i started walking down the beach in the direction i had nodded.*Looks to make sure everyone is settling down... then follows Jon down the beach.*

She was happy to see Rae had come back to earth.

"The fish is very tasty, not unlike snapper I think. How about that pear thing?
If you don't mind me saying Rae, you looked very preoccupied back there. Is there something on your mind?"

The fish was finished, and she sucked her fingers clean.

"I forgot to give the water to the doc...he seems to be in serious conversation there with John, I'll have to wait a while."

Originally Posted by Wild Orchid
She was happy to see Rae had come back to earth.

"The fish is very tasty, not unlike snapper I think. How about that pear thing?
If you don't mind me saying Rae, you looked very preoccupied back there. Is there something on your mind?"

The fish was finished, and she sucked her fingers clean.

"I forgot to give the water to the doc...he seems to be in serious conversation there with John, I'll have to wait a while."


Rae didn't see any need to frighten Karyn with her suspicions, and she hoped John was talking to Austin about her concerns.

"It tastes pretty much like a pear, actually", Rae said with a smile.

Keeping her tone light, she continued, "I was just wondering if we'll make it back to that stream okay again tomorrow, that's all."

While she really didn't care much for fish, snapper was one she liked. After swallowing a bite, she had to agree with Karyn.

"You're right, it does taste like snapper."

Karyn leans up against the tree trunk, all her limbs are now aching.

Must be the lack of rest on top of the trauma....

"You know Rae...I think we will find it...John made a track to follow up to where he found us, and we must have left a lot of tracks ourselves before that.
What we need now is some kind of shelter....suppose another storm hits..."

She had seen him.. he was certain of it. Finn glanced about discreetly, searching for any other strangers. None were around.

"Are.. you alrigh'?"

Aly would have laughed at the question considering her current situation , but she thought better of it and smiled slightly, keeping any sense of uneasiness easily hidden.
"yah...i guess so"

Once Austin and myself where a good distance away from the group, i slowed down a bt.

"While the girls where out there, they tied some cloth around some trees to mark their way back. Somewhere along the way, something or someone removed the last few and they got lost. It could well have been a bird, but the girls are convinced that there was someone else out there. And i can't say that i disagree. The island may not be as deserted as we thought."

"While the girls where out there, they tied some cloth around some trees to mark their way back. Somewhere along the way, something or someone removed the last few and they got lost. It could well have been a bird, but the girls are convinced that there was someone else out there. And i can't say that i disagree. The island may not be as deserted as we thought."

I was wondering about that...

*sigh*

we better look for shelter tomorrow... just incase of storms or other hazzards.

Think there might be something up towards the mountain we can use?

I don't think it will be something the size of a tribe... else some sign would've been discovered by now... but we can't be too careful...

"Still. We should sleep in shifts tonight. Switch crew members every 4 hours or so."

Ricky had made sure that all the survivors had had an equal share of the fish and fruit, then realised John and Austin had eaten nothing.
They were deep in conversation some way away near the sea-line.

I'll take them a little food and see if there is anything else I should be aware of.

He gathered up two small fish and some of the fruit Miss Peterson and her friend had found, and wrapping a large leaf around them strolled over to the other two crew members.

"Hey there, I thought you might need to keep your strength up. Here, there is still enough left to give them all a good start in the morning."

He held out the package.

"Do we have another problem or is it still the same one?"

With a few pieces of fruit, and a bit of fish, Rae felt full enough for this evening. The beach seemed quiet, with people settling down, talking here and there.

It was was calm and warm, but with a bit of breeze coming off the water, as night fell. She retrieved her fleece from where she had left it over a branch earlier, thankful no one had taken it.

Rae wanted to offer it to someone who needed it more than she did, but one fleece wasn't going to help thirty people. I'll let the Doc decide, she thought to herself. He'll know who needs it most.

Keeping her voice low, she approached Austin and John. "It's just me, Rae. Doc, I was wondering whether or not you had a patient who needs this more than I do tonight..."

She held out her hand, offerring the red fleece jacket.

Faith was exhausted. She and the crew had spent the better part of the day bailing water, while the mechanics worked feverishly on fixing the bilge pumps. Though Slade never raised his voice, they were certain he was furious. That was somehow more frightening than any yelling or rage. Santigo on the other hand, there were no doubts about his mindset. An Buile had to be left adrift while they worked on the problem, as any power in the engine room would have long since electrocuted them. Without power, the GPS was not functional, and they were left with only a rough estimate of their location. With the currents runnign unpredictably, it was a very rough estimation.

Aly would have laughed at the question considering her current situation , but she thought better of it and smiled slightly, keeping any sense of uneasiness easily hidden.
"yah...i guess so"

Finn glanced around once more, feeling exposed. Hesitantly yet discreetly, he slid the knife into his waistband. Half crouched the way he was, he was nearly certain she wouldn't suspect anything. Seeming more confident with their surroundings, he straightened somewhat and took half a step towards her.

"W'at are you do'eeng out here? W'ere deed you come from?"

His words were somewhat hushed.

"Still. We should sleep in shifts tonight. Switch crew members every 4 hours or so."
Good Idea...
Can you arrainge that?

I'll take first watch...

Keeping her voice low, she approached Austin and John. "It's just me, Rae. Doc, I was wondering whether or not you had a patient who needs this more than I do tonight..."

She held out her hand, offerring the red fleece jacket.
*Austin smiled at the gesture,*
Give it to one of the kids... it looks to be a cold night tonight.

Originally posted by JuNii
*Austin smiled at the gesture,*
Give it to one of the kids... it looks to be a cold night tonight.

Rae smiled back at the doctor. "I'll check with Ricky, and let him decide. I'm afraid we have a few who may get a little chilly tonight."

She headed back towards the steward and the rest of the group, stopping to throw a few more pieces of wood on the fire. Fortunately, that part of the scavenging had gone well, and they had a sizeable stack.

She spotted Ricky, and headed over to him.

"I was wondering if any of the kids could use this tonight. I know some of them are probably still in pajamas, and Doc says it looks be be chilly tonight."

She held out the fleece for him to take.

Before he could get a reply from either of the other two crew members, the other young lady who had been lost on the foraging expedition with Miss. Peterson, offered her fleece as a cover for one of the children.

"That is very kind of you miss."

He ran his fingers thoughtfully through his beard.

"Tell you what we'll do.
Come along of me, and we'll organise the kids into a big sleeping bundle.
We'll have the smaller ones in the middle, and if they all snuggle up tight, and all the adults donate their jackets, fleeces, dressing gowns whatever they have with them, the children at least will be warm.
What do you say to that?"

"Sure thing, Ricky! And please, call me Rae."

She followed the steward as they began organizing the kids. The night seemed comfortable warm still to her so far, although it could get much colder she supposed.

Smiling at Ricky, she added, "You're good with the kids. Got any of your own?"

He gave her an easy smile.

"Rae then."

A wistful look came over his face and he let out a small sigh.

"Unfortunately, I never had the time. I have been stewarding for most of my working life and never got the opportunity to find Miss Right, but I would have loved to have had kids of my own."

He lowered his voice.

"Between you and me, I rather hope that young Susie doesn't find her parents and she continues to look at me as her Grandpa.
Does that sound awful to you?"

Great... If there are natives...

*sigh*... once a missionary... always a missionary...

Originally posted by Pats Atoll
He gave her an easy smile.

"Rae then."

A wistful look came over his face and he let out a small sigh.

"Unfortunately, I never had the time. I have been stewarding for most of my working life and never got the opportunity to find Miss Right, but I would have loved to have had kids of my own."

He lowered his voice.

"Between you and me, I rather hope that young Susie doesn't find her parents and she continues to look at me as her Grandpa.
Does that sound awful to you?"



Rae looked pensive for a moment, then smiled at Ricky, before saying softly, "I'm sure you don't really want Susie to lose her parents, Ricky, but I understand your atachment to her."

"I'm sure what you want is for her to find her parents, but stay a part of her life afterwards. I think this experience will ensure that, Ricky...you saved Susie's life. I think you may have that Grandpa title permanently, either way!"

Smiling warmly at him now, Rae continued, "And who knows about Miss Right? You may yet find her...perhaps even here on this island!"

I nodded and went off after Ricky. He and Rae where having a conversation about, of all things, finding him a Ms. Right. I had to respect their optimism, but truthfully i didn't think rescue would be coming. At the very earliest, we would have been missed tomarrow, because we where due in port that day. But even then, the port authority would probably just give our slip to someone else, what with tourist season being in full swing. I sighed and intergeted myself in the conversation.

"Hey, Rick. You got a sec?"

Finn glanced around once more, feeling exposed. Hesitantly yet discreetly, he slid the knife into his waistband. Half crouched the way he was, he was nearly certain she wouldn't suspect anything. Seeming more confident with their surroundings, he straightened somewhat and took half a step towards her.

"W'at are you do'eeng out here? W'ere deed you come from?"

His words were somewhat hushed.

Aly shifted slightly as the man stood and stepped towards her.
"i could ask you that same question"
she regarded him for a moment before answering
" i am looking for shelter....as for where i came from originally, that is best unsaid, but most recently i jumped ship and swam here"

Aly shifted slightly as the man stood and stepped towards her.
"i could ask you that same question"
she regarded him for a moment before answering
" i am looking for shelter....as for where i came from originally, that is best unsaid, but most recently i jumped ship and swam here"

"You swam heere? T'ru th' storm?"

He looked at her, incredulous.

"Mus' be a strong sweem'mer."

He looked around again. Certain now that there was no one hiding nearby he felt more confident. The fact that he had a weapon played only a small role in that confidence.

"Sheep wreck. Come.. I 'ave shelt'er."

He grinned slightly, losing much of his earlier tension, then nodded towards the ridge.

"My name ees Finn."

John and the doc had finished their conversation and Rae was talking to the steward as John walked over to join the pair.

The thought of the water sample nudged Karyn back into action, and she eased herself onto her feet taking the short walk to where the doc was.

"I just remembered this doc."

She held out the water sample.

"Rae and I found a small stream...well...it is too small to be classed as that really...but we thought you might like to test the water."

"I just remembered this doc."

She held out the water sample.

"Rae and I found a small stream...well...it is too small to be classed as that really...but we thought you might like to test the water."
this is promising...

*taking the bottle, he sniffed at the contents... noting that there was no mildew smell, he then held it against the firelight.*

no obvious contaminates...

*taking one of his purification tablets, he breaks it in half and plops on inside... watching as it slowly desolves and notes that the usual fizzing doesn't take place.*

no chemical reaction... *shakes the bottle.*

Should be ok... perhaps we should start with this stream area... perhaps we can damn it up to increase the size of it.

Of course if we can find a river or larger stream to supply cleaning water, we can leave your find... *grins* for drinking.


and since you and Rae found it... I guess you two can name it.

All the while they were talking, Rae and Ricky were attempting to settle the childeren to sleep, covering them with any thing and every thing they could lay their hands on.

"Ah Rae you do understand my feelings, even though I did put it rather badly.
I never was any good at putting my thoughts into words."

Just at that moment John approached. Ricky gave the young woman a wink and turned to him.

"Yes John, what can I do for you?"

*While John and Ricky were talking, Austin sat down and began sharpening some small straight branches that were gathered. Tempering the points in the fire, he had a pointed, and slightly barbed spear within minutes.*

Water... Food... shelter...

got alot to do before we can really relax...

"I think I'll leave that for Rae, I wouldn't like anything to be named after me.
We should find a larger water source on that mountain over there."

Flushing a little, she stood and watched the doc for a few minutes, until curiosity got the better of her.

"What will you use those for?"

"I think I'll leave that for Rae, I wouldn't like anything to be named after me.
We should find a larger water source on that mountain over there."
I dunno... Karyn's creek has a nice ring to it...

"What will you use those for?"
oh... many things...

tent poles... Fishing... Hunting...
*protection*

all sorts of things...

"Karyn's creek? Oh no, that wouldn't be fair to Rae."

She gave a shy laugh.

"It does sound nice though.
Um, would you mind if I join you, and can I help with those poles in any way?"

"Karyn's creek? Oh no, that wouldn't be fair to Rae."

She gave a shy laugh.

"It does sound nice though.
Um, would you mind if I join you, and can I help with those poles in any way?"

...

Sure...

but you really should get some rest... you'll need to lead us back to where you got the water from...

"I know...but I know I'll not be able to sleep for a while, and sitting helping you my leg is resting.
What do you think is going to happen to us...honestly."

She sat down beside the fire and sat staring into the flames.

"I know...but I know I'll not be able to sleep for a while, and sitting helping you my leg is resting.
What do you think is going to happen to us...honestly."

She sat down beside the fire and sat staring into the flames.

Dunno... this island looks big enough to support us, but if there is anyo... any emergency, it can get rather... tight.

*places a third spear on the side.*

as for rescue... *shrugs*

we can plan for it and also plan on no rescue... :(

I nodded politely to Rae, then walked ricky a little ways away.

"The doc and I think it would be a good idea to sleep in shifts. At least for tonight. Near as i can tell, the three of us are the only crew members around, and it would probably be a good idea to have one of us up at all times. While the girls and i where out there, they seemed to think that there may be someone else on the island. Someone not all the friendly. I chalk it up to them getting lost, but it is entirely plausable. Doc's taking first watch. You want second or third?"

John walked us away from earshot of any of the other survivors, and told Ricky of his and Austins idea.

"That sounds like a plan. I'll take second watch if that's fine by you.
I have to tell you, I have been doing this cruise for some time now, and we always steered clear of these islands.
The rumor was that pirates worked from some of the larger ones. I think we now know that to be true, so my thoughts are, if the girls were right, we should be well prepared.
It looks to me as though Austin has the same thoughts on the matter."

He nodded to where the doctor was sitting making what could be taken for spears or some other weapon. Miss Peterson was sitting beside him, although she seemed to be intent on the flames of the fire.

I nodded.

"Alright, I guess that leaves me with the third. 4 hour shifts should get us till morning. So find yourself a spot by the fire and get some rest. I'll go tell Doc, then hit they hay myself."

5... not much, but that's it for the straight branches...

guess I can try to fashion some bows... slings would be better...

I wonder how I can convice the women to give up their bras...

"Alright then John, I'll wake you when my four hours is up, will you ask Austin to wake me at the start of my shift? G'night John."

Ricky did a final walk around the 'bundle' where the children were sleeping, tucking a jacket here and a sweater there.
The was the occasional shout or sob coming from one or another of them in their sleep, but mostly they were sleeping peacefully, and Ricky put Patti back into Susie's arms.

After he had finished checking on the kids he walked amongst the adults, exchanging a word every now and again, nodding and smiling and trying to reassure them all that their present predicament would only be temporary.

He didn't feel that way himself though, especially after Austin telling him about the girls fears.

He sat near the fire with his back against a tree-trunk and let his mind run through the past 24 hours over and over, until he eventually fell into a light sleep.

*After stretching Karyn out so that she's comfortably sleeping, Austin paced around the fire, and settled on a point just outside the firelight. in the near dark, his eye took a moment to adjust and he kept an eye and ear out for anything out of place.*

A wetsuit really isn't the warmest thing to be wearing at night... :(

*Four Hours pass, as a tired Austin Nudges Ricky awake.*

your shi*Yawn*ft... so far nothing unusual...

*Lying down by the fire, Austin was asleep in next to no time.*

Austin approached and as he nudged him, Ricky woke.

"Have a good rest Austin, you never know what is around the next corner."

Austin was asleep before Ricky had even finished talking.

Poor guy, he is beat. Just as well there are three of us to take watch.

Ricky walked around the camp, checking on everyone, but all was quiet this time, so he helped himself to a mouthful of the water and settled himself in the fork of one of the nearby trees.
From this vantage point he could see out to sea and in both directions across the beach.
It would also enable him to get first sight of anything or anyone coming out from the woodland, before he was sighted.

The moon was very high up in the sky now, and although not a full moon it wasn't going to be many more days before it would be.
This made it easy for him to see out to sea and he couldn't help but think how beautiful the water looked, almost like liquid silver.

That's just one of the things that kept me going to sea all these years.

"You swam heere? T'ru th' storm?"

He looked at her, incredulous.

"Mus' be a strong sweem'mer."

He looked around again. Certain now that there was no one hiding nearby he felt more confident. The fact that he had a weapon played only a small role in that confidence.

"Sheep wreck. Come.. I 'ave shelt'er."

He grinned slightly, losing much of his earlier tension, then nodded towards the ridge.

"My name ees Finn."

" I got here befor the stom hit, water was calm and the boat I was with passed just by here"

She looked him over as best she could and shrugged.

"well i guess i'll follow you Finn...Iam Aly"

Faith rested her chin on folder arms, leaning against the rail. It was night again. The liner would have been missed at its next port by now. Given the storm, she could expect until probably midday tomorrow before port authorities concerned themselves over lack of contact. That meant they had until noon to dive on the wreck and bring up what they could. Thankfully, the bilge pumps had been restored, and with them, electricity. Santigo and Slade were cursing the GPS. They must have caught some sort of current because they had drifted farther off course than anyone had expected. But at least they were back on track now, and pushing through the night to reach the site. They should arrive just at daybreak. Not much time, but enough.

The attack had taken place at a precise location. There was a flat, underwater plateau rising from the depths in that area. The depth of the water was only 100 feet or so in some places. Easy enough to dive. Just a few hundred feet to the south, the plain dropped off to a thousand meters or more. Deep enough for blue water. At the northwest end of the plain, pieces of the old volcanic chain jutted out of the ocean into what could be called islands - with a little imagination. They would be a logical first stop for search parties and any survivors, but after all that, a nice stronghold for their earnings. At least until their ship was in better condition.

Santigo stepped up and lay a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about Finn."

"I'm not. Just worried about the dive."

She could feel his eyes on her for some time... knowing full well that she and Slade both were concerned about each crewman. There was the old Code of the sea to keep, but compassion and comraderie played their hands as well. Santigo remained with her, but silent.

*about 4 hours later, Austin woke up, feeling the raindrops as it landed on his face. *

Great... Rain...

* The other castaways began waking up and started to complain as the drizzle turned into light showers...*

"Stick Together... don't panic, and just head for the trees, keep together..."

Well, that respite was fun... :(

The falling rain was making the fire hiss loudly, and it brought Karyn out of the dream world she had been in for some time.
The Doc was telling everyone to go under the trees.
The clouds had almost covered the moon, and it was difficult to see where she was walking, but the steward was calling for people to head towards the tree he was sitting in so she followed suit, her leg now very stiff.

Well at least so far there are no signs of another storm.

The damp was beginning to seep through to her skin, making her feel cold and uncomfortable.

Teppo woke up slowly, floundering slowly up through the darkness that had claimed him for most of the previous day. He stood up, feeling raindrops on his face and hands, and looked around. The other people seemed to be heading back into the cover of the trees, so he followed, not wanting to get seperated from them.

He settled back down into a comfortable position at the base of a large tree, but couldn't manage to fall back asleep, not surprising given the amount of time he'd just spent unconcious. He sat up, with his back against the tree, and decided to sit and watch. He wasn't sure exactly what he was watching, but there certainly wasn't much else to do.

" I got here befor the stom hit, water was calm and the boat I was with passed just by here"

She looked him over as best she could and shrugged.

"well i guess i'll follow you Finn...Iam Aly"

He nodded approvingly. With a quick glance skyward, he noted that it had started to rain again. It was gentle for now, but who could tell? Distantly, he could hear people moving through the trees, back towards where he had left the two girls. Withdrawing the long knife, he growled under his breath and stepped back towards the ridge.

"Come.. we mus' get to shelter. This space ees no good."

Turning, he beat a path to the ridge. There he had seen several shallow caves, but more importantly, it afforded him the high ground, and a good surveillance point.

*As Austin settles himself back down, and he noticed Karyn shivering. Moving next to her to keep her warm, his mind drifts back to the events earlier that day...*

Has it been only one day?
gotta find that stream Karyn found... find better shelter, and make preperations for rescue...

need to locate a bigger food supply also...
*yawn*
Morning should be a good time to get some fish for the day... I believe most fish would start feeding near dawn...

He nodded approvingly. With a quick glance skyward, he noted that it had started to rain again. It was gentle for now, but who could tell? Distantly, he could hear people moving through the trees, back towards where he had left the two girls. Withdrawing the long knife, he growled under his breath and stepped back towards the ridge.

"Come.. we mus' get to shelter. This space ees no good."

Turning, he beat a path to the ridge. There he had seen several shallow caves, but more importantly, it afforded him the high ground, and a good surveillance point.

Aly followed quietly keeping her eyes to the ground so that she would not trip,thankful to be moving since it kept her dry for the most part.Once they reached the ridge she stopped and looked around.
" From here I bet you can see for miles" she laughed softly to her self and looked out over the land below, though to her it was one large green smear.

Aly followed quietly keeping her eyes to the ground so that she would not trip,thankful to be moving since it kept her dry for the most part.Once they reached the ridge she stopped and looked around.
" From here I bet you can see for miles" she laughed softly to her self and looked out over the land below, though to her it was one large green smear.

"Miles.."

Finn paused long enough to grin himself and glance down along the ridge, towards the edge of the trees, and the ocean beyond. Squinting, he thought he saw a ship in the distance.

"I doub' th' eye-land is tha' big."

The sloping ground gave way to loose shale as it continued up towards the peak. Rather than risk slipping on the shifting ground, he found a deer path of sorts, and followed it around an outcropping to the sheltered side of the stone. Here, there were caves.

"Miles.."

Finn paused long enough to grin himself and glance down along the ridge, towards the edge of the trees, and the ocean beyond. Squinting, he thought he saw a ship in the distance.

"I doub' th' eye-land is tha' big."

The sloping ground gave way to loose shale as it continued up towards the peak. Rather than risk slipping on the shifting ground, he found a deer path of sorts, and followed it around an outcropping to the sheltered side of the stone. Here, there were caves.

"well if the islands not, the water can make up for it"
Aly followed as they walked to the caves slipping slightly on the damp stones
"cozy" she grinned and ducked down to look

"well if the islands not, the water can make up for it"
Aly followed as they walked to the caves slipping slightly on the damp stones
"cozy" she grinned and ducked down to look

"Protected, a' least. An' dry-er t'an when tha' storm hits."

Edging into the narrowish opening, he prodded a small pile of dry driftwood with his toe. This was the shallow opening where he had found the larger section of cloth before.

"Enough for a fire, warmt'."

Day was breaking as a bolt of lightning ripped the sky in two.
A tree had been hit some distance away, and flames lit the surrounding area.
Susie woke with a cry, and Ricky slid from the branch he had been sitting on to go and comfort her.

Austin had brought the others under the trees here a while ago to try and keep them from the rain, and although the rain was still light he could see the drops glistening as they dripped from the leaves onto the group.

He awoke Austin.

"I do think that now day is breaking, we should get these folk to some proper shelter. If one of theses trees here gets hit, I dread to think of the consequences."

His eyes went to where the tree was burning. Luckily, the rain was keeping the flames to a minimum.

Day was breaking as a bolt of lightning ripped the sky in two.
A tree had been hit some distance away, and flames lit the surrounding area.
Susie woke with a cry, and Ricky slid from the branch he had been sitting on to go and comfort her.

Austin had brought the others under the trees here a while ago to try and keep them from the rain, and although the rain was still light he could see the drops glistening as they dripped from the leaves onto the group.

He awoke Austin.

"I do think that now day is breaking, we should get these folk to some proper shelter. If one of theses trees here gets hit, I dread to think of the consequences."

His eyes went to where the tree was burning. Luckily, the rain was keeping the flames to a minimum.
*Yawn*
Good Idea... why don't you find us some...
*stretches*
still gotta nail down the food situation... man can't live off of berries and coconuts alone ya'know :)

"Protected, a' least. An' dry-er t'an when tha' storm hits."

Edging into the narrowish opening, he prodded a small pile of dry driftwood with his toe. This was the shallow opening where he had found the larger section of cloth before.

"Enough for a fire, warmt'."

Ally nodded and sat down and tiredly leaned her head against the wall
" I hope you can make a fire... I am afraid that I am quite useless when it comes to this sort of thing"

Ally nodded and sat down and tiredly leaned her head against the wall
" I hope you can make a fire... I am afraid that I am quite useless when it comes to this sort of thing"

He grinned a produced a piece of flint from a pocket.

"You could say I grew up in th' bush."

Crouching, he picked up a suitable rock and struck a few times, producing sparks. Eventually a few of the reeds caught and he carefully coaxed the flames to life. Pleased with his work, he stood back a moment to realize the smoke drifted not outside, but inwards. It did not collect their either, but seemed drawn away. That indicated another shaft somewhere that must open along another point. The airflow there created low pressure, and therefore created an artifical ventalition system in their cave.

Rain. Wonderful. Woken from one nightmare into the nightmarish reality in which I now find myself.

I blinked open one eye and just sat there staring up at the sky. The signal fire had gone out and most everyone had evacutated off the beach. Probably following doc. Or Ricky. I shouldn't have been offended that nobody woke me up. Well built guy, probably look like i can handle myself. And whats more, I was part of the crew. Not the most likely candidate for help. Still, it would have been nice to be poked or something. I sat up and shrugged off the annoyance. As I stood, I re-zipped up my wet suit and found myself warm again. Probably one of the few ones who was. Then i hoofed it up into the trees.

*Yawn*
Good Idea... why don't you find us some...
*stretches*
still gotta nail down the food situation... man can't live off of berries and coconuts alone ya'know :)

"I think that there must be something over towards that mountain. Some kind of outcrop or maybe even a dry cave.
If you will take good care of Susie here, I shall go take a look.
Will you stay with the doctor here Susie?
I don't want to take you away from the others."

The child clung to Ricky's knees, but after thinking about it for a moment she tearfully nodded.

"Alright, but you will come back for me won't you?"

"Of course, I promise."

He gently removed her from his leg and smiled and nodded at Austin.

He picked up one of the pointed sticks the doctor had made earlier, and after taking a sip of water started his journey towards the mountain.

"I think that there must be something over towards that mountain. Some kind of outcrop or maybe even a dry cave.
If you will take good care of Susie here, I shall go take a look.
Will you stay with the doctor here Susie?
I don't want to take you away from the others."

The child clung to Ricky's knees, but after thinking about it for a moment she tearfully nodded.

"Alright, but you will come back for me won't you?"

"Of course, I promise."

He gently removed her from his leg and smiled and nodded at Austin.

He picked up one of the pointed sticks the doctor had made earlier, and after taking a sip of water started his journey towards the mountain.Hey Susie... if you and some of the other kids gather some of these leaves *Shows her a coconut palm frond and points to several lying on the beach* I'll show you a neat thing you can do with them. ;)

*reluctantly, susie goes to gather some of the palm fronds... motioning to some of the other kids to help, he then begins teaching them how to weave the leaves into wide brim hats. After a couple of hours, several hats can be seen being formed in their tiny hands.*

http://www.hatsandbaskets.com/splash2.jpg

Rough hands are taping her mouth. Her hands and legs are tied and there is the feel of cold metal against her head.

She hears the words "you will not live to be able to point a finger at me".
The loud shot echos through her head and she screams.

She opens her eyes and finds that she is still under the trees on the island, and as she looks around she notices the doc is attending some of the children, who seem to be playing with leaves.
She stands, her head still feeling thick with the sleep she had just woken from, the voice from the dream still vivid in her mind.

There is a steady rain falling, and from the distance she hears a roll of thunder.

Finn was restless. The fire was steadily drying out the cave, and the pile of driftwood would provide enough reserves to last for some time yet. But his attention was continually drawn outside, towards that spot on the horizon where he thought he had seen a ship.

"Try to get sahm res'. I go to find supplies."

He nodded reassuringly at the girl, feeling certain she would remain undiscovered here. Then silently, he turned and squeezed out of the mouth of the cave. He strode quietly to the edge of the ridge before realizing it wasn't the ship that had caught his attention, it was a sound. The sound of someone moving through the brush down near the base of the slopes. Scowling, he crouched among the rocks, watching.

After one backward look, Ricky had set off at a steady pace towards the mountain.
He had figured that if he went as the crow flies, he could be at the foot within an hour and a half to two hours.
Using the stick as a walking pole, he went through the woodland which was not as large as it had at first seemed, and came out in scrub-land.

From here he had a good view of the mountain, and from this closer range it looked more of a headland, which he suspected might overlook the sea on the opposite end of the island from which they had found themselves.

After a while of scrambling over large rocks and once almost tumbling into a large opening in the ground, (he silently thanked Austin for making such a stout pole) he arrived at the foot of the slope.

He was certain that he could see a few openings into the side of the hill, but from where he was, it might just be a trick of the light.

Finn waited patiently. The area of disturbance was easy to spot, since the breeze had dropped off. Whoever was down there scrabbled through the brush for a time, seemingly searching for footing. When he finally got a glimpse of the stranger's face, it was not a face he recognized. Something in Finn scowled. While this was yet another person who could not identify him, he longed to repay the kindnesses of two former passengers in particular. Well-hidden amongst the rocks, he waited to see what the stranger would do. Revealing himself as he had to Ally did not seem wise. He knew his second assailant had survived, and if the two had met, it was an unmitigated risk. For now, he would lay low until he could ascertain the group of survivors.

If this new stranger began climbing the slope, he would have to retreat with Ally. Temporarily.

A movement in the grass caught his eye. A flash of yellow and black.
His reactions were rapid.
He took a leap backwards and at the same instant brought the pole down a hefty blow.
The snake twitched a couple of times and then became still.

Man, that was a close thing. I guess I'll pick him up on the way back, warn the others that he is most likely a deadly little bugger.

He found five rocks and made a kind of tomb around the dead viper, then ripped a piece from his shirt-front and tied it to the nearby tree as a marker.

Prodding the ground before him carefully now, he made much slower progress than he had hoped, but eventually started to climb diagonally up the lower slope.
It would take much longer to reach what he hoped were caves this way, but it would make climbing easier, and he needed to make certain that the little ones would be able to manage.

Finn scowled. The stranger was still advancing, albiet slowly. He weighed his options carefully. He could retreat, take a prisoner, or simply wait and follow the man.

Silently, Finn waited until the stranger was entirely focused on his work. Then he slipped away, back along his side of the ridge. There was no time now to warn Ally. Hopefully, some of the shallower openings on the other side of the ridge would distract the stranger. Keep him from advancing. More immediately, his presence meant there was one less to guard the survivors. He may get in some valuable recon work. He had seen the smoke before and had a rough estimate of their location. Picking his way down the ridge, he set off for the other settlement.

The children were getting bored and beginning to squabble.
Karyn had no experience of how to handle them, and to be honest she didn't feel she wanted to learn so she took herself a little way from them where she found a rock pool.

Rains slowing down, good.
Is that a rock pool over there?

She wandered over and peered down into it.

Not much down there, nothing of any use at least.....

She jumped down into it and washed her hands, face and feet but kept one eye on the group.

I expect they will be making a move or something soon...

"ok, now you see this bowl shape that we did for the hats? if you continue the shape, you know what you have?"

*To demonstrate, he places a small coconut inside it.*

"a basket!"

"so let's make some baskets now, so that the adults can fill it up with fruits and such. common, now, no arguing you two..."

*Austin watched Karyn as she wandered towards the rocks.*

The water in the rock pool was icy, and her feet were beginning to feel cold so she climbed out and rubbed them on the hem of her nightdress.
There was a large shell nearby, and she bent to pick it up.
As she did so, a large claw emerged from inside, making her jump and causing her to drop it quickly and run back to the group.

"Good morning Doctor. I see you are keeping the kids occupied....what is on the agenda for today...do you know?"

"Good morning Doctor. I see you are keeping the kids occupied....what is on the agenda for today...do you know?"craftwork... thinking nets and other traps also for fish and stuff...

also, I kinda found this...
*holds up a cracked coconut shell.*

If this means what I think it means...


we'll be eating grand in the future...


oh, and we better map out where that spring of yours is.

It was starting to warm up now that the rain had stopped and Ricky was hoping that he would find a freshwater spring soon.
This route was certainly proving an easy climb, they could get the children and women up here in only about three hours, two and a half if they pushed them a bit.
He rounded a large bush that was growing some kind of berries and there it was, the first cave.
Smiling to himself he stood at the entrance and whistled shrilly. The resounding echo was dull and almost immediate.

That's more just a recess in the hillside than a cave, not what we need at all.

Disappointed, he carried on for a while longer till he came to another opening, a little higher up than the last and he carried out his whistling test once again.
This time, the echo came back shrill and clear, and repeated several times.

Ah, that sounds much better, more of a cavern I think.
I wish I had a torch though, it looks awfully dark in there.

He gingerly took a few paces inside, keeping close to the left hand side, feeling the wall with his hand, and probing the ground in front with the pole.
It took what he estimated to be twenty minutes or so to work his way around and arrive back outside.
Feeling a little smug with himself now he started back down, this time not bothering to take the winding course, but heading straight for the bottom.

"How can you make nets?

The hats and bowls are really good...strong too. But surely you can't make nets from leaves?"

Her interest was now aroused, and she sat down among the children.

"The spring was over that way and I think it was a straight line almost...John or Rae might remember better."

She pointed in the direction that she had walked yesterday.

"How can you make nets?

The hats and bowls are really good...strong too. But surely you can't make nets from leaves?"

Her interest was now aroused, and she sat down among the children.

"The spring was over that way and I think it was a straight line almost...John or Rae might remember better."

She pointed in the direction that she had walked yesterday.

simple.. keep the bowls, but make them deeper. Then you anchor them in the rocks. the fish swim inside and you pull them up... the water drains out leaving the fish inside.

other method, takes longer but produces better results, is to weave a net using the coconut fibers... unfortunatly, while I know it can be done in theory... I never really learned that.

She thought for a while then replied thoughtfully.

"Yes, I see.
Could you give me some of the coconut fibres?
I would like to try something."

She thought for a while then replied thoughtfully.

"Yes, I see.
Could you give me some of the coconut fibres?
I would like to try something."

*hands her several coconut husks that were discarded last night and looks at the kids and their projects.*

"Very good, why don't you go and show the adults how you did those... maybe you can teach them."

"Wow Susie. that looks grand. I like the shells you put on there."

Ally nodded and kept an eye on the fire making sure that it stayed burning but did not get to big or hot. After she was sure that the fire would not go out she lay down and drifted in to a light sleep.
The fire cracked and once again Ally was awake, the drizzle of rain had picked up slightly and with it the temperature had dropped chilling the air out side. She added a little more wood to the fire and once again fell back asleep

Finn crept silenety through the brush. It wasn't long at all before he reached that thin strip of shrubs that divided the jungle from the beach and he followed that for a distance.

After some time, he came to an area where several sea rocks had washed up to replace the normally rocky sand. There were several tidal pools that the rocks had formed, and in one of these sat a familiar figure - the girl from the bridge, and from the jungle earlier. She was talking to someone. He decided to lay low and wait, listening.

It quit raining and the sun was up again. Which meant that it was getting warmer again. I reached around my back and unzipped the wet suit to my waist and slid my arms out again.

I gotta find some other clothes.

I wandered back out from the trees and towards the ocean. Rain water was one thing, but being in the ocean was another. It was something i like much better than just sitting around. Besides, there where fish to be caught.

She took the husks from Austin with a smile, then sat patiently twisting the fibres together.
After some time she has a short length of a kind of string in her hand.

"I thought it should be a little like spinning wool into a yarn. In a way it is, but much too time consuming.
I think that the end result isn't worth the amount of effort used."

She pushed her hair from her eyes and held the twine for Austin to see.

"Tell me doctor, how did you learn how to make the hats and bowls and collecting the drinking water?
It isn't something that I would expect a doctor to have much call for normally."

She took the husks from Austin with a smile, then sat patiently twisting the fibres together.
After some time she has a short length of a kind of string in her hand.

"I thought it should be a little like spinning wool into a yarn. In a way it is, but much too time consuming.
I think that the end result isn't worth the amount of effort used."*Austin leans over and whispers into her ear*

"If it keeps the people busy, it's not a wasted effort. besides, string can be very, very useful.

and we can use the string"

"Tell me doctor, how did you learn how to make the hats and bowls and collecting the drinking water?
It isn't something that I would expect a doctor to have much call for normally."*Austin pauses at the question... staring out into the wide expanse of ocean.*

Before this cruise, I was... a... Missionary. You know... things like trading skills with natives... We teach them things, they teach us things... one of my tours was down on an island off the Phillipines... as well as the Mid East...

"If you think so, then I'll continue.
I might show one or two of the kids how to do it later."

She digested the information about Austin having been a missionary.

"That must have been interesting as well as dangerous.
No wonder you know what to do."

"If you think so, then I'll continue.
I might show one or two of the kids how to do it later."

She digested the information about Austin having been a missionary.

"That must have been interesting as well as dangerous.
No wonder you know what to do."well, I'm just glad some of my last assignments were on near tropical islands. :p

I doubt desert skills would be much use here.

He reached the place where the dead snake lay beneath the rocks.
He picked it up and wondering the best way of carrying it back, he hung it around his neck then carried on his way.

He passed the opening in the ground.
That might be worthwhile exploring with a partner, not to be undertaken alone though.

Once over the scrub-land and through the trees, he arrived back at the beach some four hours after leaving.

A movement caught his eye, and he moved forwards very carefully, a pace at a time.

He could see Miss Peterson talking to Austin, but there was someone else.
Someone who was watching them!

He ducked behind a tree hoping that he hadn't been seen.

What to do?

The decision came almost immediately.

I have to make out I haven't seen him.

He came from behind the tree calling as he walked.

"Hey Austin, I caught me a snake.
Might make a good stew, what do you say?"

He waved the pole and approached Austin and Miss Peterson, he hoped in a nonchalant manner."

"Hey Austin, I caught me a snake.
Might make a good stew, what do you say?"

He waved the pole and approached Austin and Miss Peterson, he hoped in a nonchalant manner."depends... what kind of...

*Sees the coloration of the snake, pauses and motions him closer.*

ahh... Good going there... please let the adults know that we got Coral Snakes on this island... if they ask, let them know that they are the worlds most poisionous snakes, and while I do have some anti-venom, it won't be enough if everyone gets bitten.

as for stew... dunno, really. we can see.

Finn nearly flinched as the stranger from the ridge emerged from the trees nearby. Close... far too close. Retreating slowly for utter silence, he drew his blade. He wasn't ready to run off just yet, but he had to move to better cover.

He approached Austin and Miss Peterson.

"I also went round a very nice cave up there, there seem to be several some larger than others.
The one I walked around was about the right size for this group and dry too."

From the corner of his eye he saw the sun glinting off something metal, a pistol or a knife, he was too far to see and he didn't want to make it obvious he was looking in that direction.

"The snakes in the grass are not the only thing to be wary of though."

He made a small movement with his head, hoping that Austin would understand without alarming Miss Peterson.

"I almost fell into an opening in the ground, it could be that there are underground tunnels to the caves."

"I also went round a very nice cave up there, there seem to be several some larger than others.
The one I walked around was about the right size for this group and dry too." great... that solves one of the many problems. think you can lead the group there?

maybe if we can find some bamboo or reeds, we can make a system to bring water to the cave...


"The snakes in the grass are not the only thing to be wary of though."

"I almost fell into an opening in the ground, it could be that there are underground tunnels to the caves."ah... one has to be careful where one puts their foot down. One never know what has venomous fangs around here... and some holes can't be climbed out of. I learned and taught alot while I was a Missionary. *nods*

*with a deft movement, Austin slides one of his scalpel blades along the side, where the tough belly scales and the softer back scales meet. within seconds, the snake is skinned and Austin begins slicing the meat into smaller chunks.*

let the others know not to wander far, and to stay in groups no smaller than three. this snake is too small for the stewpot, but it will make excellent bait for the leaf traps the kids are making...

*looks around for John and any of the other adults.*

Susie is around here... ahh there she is. oh and speaking of holes. if you see any at the base of the coconut trees, don't stick around. while the thing inside isn't known to be nasty, it's strong enough to do this.

*shows a coconut that has been husked and cracked open. *


*With a whistle, Austin calls over the kids and with their leave baskets, he shows them how to make the opening smaller, then by putting it a bit of snake meat in the folds, he shows them tidal pools and areas to anchor them down. *

Now, when you see a fish swim inside, yank the whole thing up and out of the water. keep the opening up and the fish will be trapped inside. ok?

Ricky, why don't you take some of the adults up to the cave to set up shop. then come get us as we see what we can catch here.

A few hours passed. Occationally a kid would come by and poke at one of the fish i'd caught once i tossed it onto dry land. The sun was fully up and i knew it wouldn't be wise to stay out much longer. I sighed and resigned myself to collecting the dozen or so fish i'd caught and bringing them to where the group had fled to in the trees. As i waded back out of the water i sighed and shook my head.

Well, at least i'll not have to work on my tan for awhile after this crap. Plus, now i have an actual story to tell. Won't have to coast around on the bum leg thing anymore.

"nice catch there John. carefull tho. "
*points to the snake skin as it dries in the breeze*

Ricky followed Austin to where John was laying out the fish he caught.

"I shall pick some of the adults to take up to the cave Austin, but meanwhile I'm glad you are both together."

He looked over his shoulder to check that there is no one within earshot.

"I tried to warn you just now Austin, there was someone watching you and Miss Peterson.
Someone who didn't want to be seen.
I also saw the glint of metal in his hand.
I didn't want to say anything with Miss Peterson there though, and I daresay he has gone by now."

He turned and called Susie to him.

"I see you have been making yourself useful like the good girl you are.
Now I am going to take some of the grownups to the caves so that we can make a little house to stay in until we can go home again.
You help the Doctor to look after the other boys and girls and as soon as the little house is ready, you shall all come up there with me."

He called the group together, and explained to them about the caves and warned them all about the snakes.

"Dr. James here says these coral snakes are amongst the deadliest in the world so please be extra vigilant when walking through the grass and shrub land.
I would advise taking one of these poles with you and testing the ground in front of you.
Now, I need at least two men and one or two women to volunteer to come and help me get one of those caves fit for habitation.
Have a meal then come and see me.
I shall be setting off in about a half hour."

The sight of the snakeskin and the thought of snakes made Karyn shudder.
She would have liked to go with Ricky to help set out the cave, but the thought that she might encounter a living one stopped her from volunteering to go.

Her hands were stiff and sore from twisting the fibres together but at least she had a decent sized ball of string to show for it.

"Great. Coral snakes and sneaky shadow characters. This island just keeps getting better and better."

I sighed and watched as Ricky started gathering the adults together, then turned to Austin.

"You really think its a good idea to go chugging off into the jungle with the whole group? Not a good chance of rescue boats seeing a signal fire way out there."

"I tried to warn you just now Austin, there was someone watching you and Miss Peterson.
Someone who didn't want to be seen.
I also saw the glint of metal in his hand.
I didn't want to say anything with Miss Peterson there though, and I daresay he has gone by now."*Austin gives Ricky a sideways glance and softly replies.*

"Message recieved and replied. if you're going to use code, then be prepared to have the response coded. "

after Ricky gives his little speech to the group and gets his volunteers, Austin hands him some bandages and asprin.

"Just in case."

"You really think its a good idea to go chugging off into the jungle with the whole group? Not a good chance of rescue boats seeing a signal fire way out there." "I figure, a bonfire here and maybe one up on the mountain side will improve our chances of getting a signal fire seen.

either way, we can't stay out here in the beach... another storm system like that one that our ship hit and we loose more people. Also we don't know what kind of building material is here, and we are lacking in tools, so building a shelter is out. *Holds up a diving knife* not much good for cutting bamboo or any type of wood."

*Shrugs*

"If you have any suggestions or ideas, I'm just making things up as I think of em... you know... perceived confidence to keep the people from panicking."

Her hands were stiff and sore from twisting the fibres together but at least she had a decent sized ball of string to show for it.
"Nice... take a break.... before your hands cramp up."


"Oh and good work on the string as well." *winks*

I shrugged.

"I dunno. Just seems to me like we'd be putting all of our eggs in one basket. It might not hurt to leave a skeleton crew back here on the beach, if only to manage the bonfire down here."