NationStates Jolt Archive

The wave broke upon the sand, as it had a million times before. Leaving its mark, it was pulled back, in an endless ebb and flow. The sun glinted on the wet sand, a shower of tiny diamonds sparkling.

Rising up a second time, the water brought forth memories, as it brushed upon skin. The touch, slowly working up the body with each coming, slowly roused the sleeping mind. Suddenly, in a flash, the rush of dreams ended and reality began to bite.

Flickering open, eyes fought against the sun, the glare burning into the pupils. Raising a hand, blotting out the world for another moment, as dark thoughts filled the awareness. Scenes passed recalling the horror. Closing eyes to forget, but they continued relentless.

The wave moved further up the beach, hair catching, floating. Water droplets splashed the soft skin of cheeks, slightly pink from the sun’s exposure. A small groan escaped from dry lips, as finally the strength was found to move out of the watery bed.

Looking around, the surroundings unfamiliar to her eyes, Lauri slowly rose onto her knees, then her feet. A pain shot up her leg as the weight was transferred, causing her to fall back onto the sand. She cried out, breaking the silence.

Her hand went onto her ankle, as she bit her lips; a tear threatened to fall. She glanced around her hoping that others had managed to pull themselves out of the potential watery grave. In the distance, The Silver Storm could be seen slowly disappearing below the sea, forever lost…


[ooc: This is an open RP, but all characters are to be everyday humans. No military, no superheroes and no one with special powers. This is about a group of people working together to survive. No attempts at rescue are to be made.]

Bryan slowly came to, to the feeling of a bird pecking at his face. Blinking up at the fuzzy sky, ke brushed the bird off his face. It took flight instantly, seeing its prey wasn't dead.

Bryan put a hand behind his head, slowly pushing himself to a sitting position, his head throbbing like mad. He looked out at the ocean. SO peaceful. You wouldn't think it could unleash something like what had happened so lately, to the Silver Star.

He looked around the beach. He could see no life except hearing faint noises from the land behind him. He took a chance, raising his voice and letting his loud, deep voice come out in a lonc cry of "Hello?"

His felt his matted blonde hair. The salt water had stuck it together, and it hung in clumps around his head. He bet he looked a mess.

((An interesting idea.))

Daniel slowly started to awake as the sun bore down upon him, rousing his frayed nerves. As a scream of pain cut through the fog of his mind, his eyes shot open, and he looked upon his new surroundings. He tried to remember the events leading up to his predicament, but nothing would come to him.

'The scream!' He though to himself. 'Someone must be hurt. But...I just want to lie here...no, I must help them.'

Daniel stands up and stumbles, falling to his knees. He throws up, expelling the salt water from him onto the sand. Wiping his mouth, he walks over to the source of the scream. Spotting a woman, he quickens his pace.

"Are...are you ok?" He asks her, concern obvious in his voice despite the angry swarm in his head that dizzied him.

His Vision swims...

...Now, whatever you do Mr Fields, when you have collected the case make sure it gets back to us without delay. We are notoriously impatient, though you will find us most generous as well, assuming you are able to keep your side of the bargain. If you cannot, well, let's not dwell on that shall we? Suffice to say it would be a long time before you were able to hack again with those ever-so-skilled skilled digits of yours...

...And slowly begins to focus on more current events...

The first sensation that struck Thomas was the sun open his back, closely followed by the sand in his mouth and a number of muscles queuing up to express their displeasure at their treatment of late. Blearily he pulled himself from his flat out position on the beach to a sitting position, feeling his muscles twinge and a strange tugging sensation at his wrist. He looked down, revealing a once very nice suit which had suffered at the ravages of the elements. His watch was gone. Damn. That was a nice watch. Tracing his arm down further, the obstruction was revealed as a chunky metal handcuff connecting him to a thin metal briefcase, partially buried under the sand.

"What on earth is...oh god"

It all comes flooding back. The deal, the heavies, the case, the ship...the ship sinking...

Thomas slumps back onto the sand and weeps.

Sitting slightly in the surf, Lauri was about to attempt to stand when a shadow fell over her, and a voice spoke. It took a moment to sink in that the query had been aimed at her, as her mind continued to straighten itself out, filing memories for later perusal.

Shielding her eyes from the sun, she looked up to be greeted by a silhouette, of a man, obvious from his voice. She swallowed as she squinted, trying to make out features.

"I seem to have hurt my ankle." She grimaced a a slight pain ached in the joint, her hand slowly massaging some heat into it. "I can't stand on it." She lowered her face, and placed her hands on the sand behind her, ready to try again.

"Let me take a look at it, please. Maybe I can help you." Daniel said, kneeling down to peer at her ankle.

He ran his finger over it, probing it gently.

"I'm pretty sure you've got a sprain there. Don't worry, I can help it if you'll let me. But first, we should probably get out of this sun." He told her, forcing a comforting tone to his voice. "Try to stand on it again."

He held out a hand for her to support her with.

Removing her hand from her ankle and transferring her weight to her other leg, Lauri manages to pull herself up from the wet sand, with the aid of Daniel's arm. She grimaces as she tentatively puts her injured foot onto the floor.

Running her hand through the shoulder length dark hair, she blinks out the sun as she gets a better look at her helper. Her eyes quickly suddenly move to the scenery around her, and she spots a shady area under some over hanging trees.

"I think I should be able to make it over there." She lets go of his arm, and instantly regrets her decision as the first step almost sends her back onto the sand. Her hand instinctively reaches out to steady herself. "I think I may need your help." Her pain etched on her features.

Brian climbed to his feet, once more calling out. "Anyone there?"

He turned and started walking down the beach towards his left, where he thought he'd heard something a little while before.

Screams cut the air, intermingled with shouts. He was scared, and he clung tightly to his mother. She would protect him. She always had.

A flash of light. Then another.

Will blinked his eyes again. It was bright here. But where was Mommy?

He pushed himself of the sand, at which point he saw her.

Mommy was asleep. Her clothing was torn, as was his. He wondered why.

Mommy had never fallen asleep at the beach before.

Especially without Daddy. Where was Daddy, anyway?

He walked over to his mother, and shook her shoulder. "Mommy, wake up."

Nothing.

"Wake up, Mommy!" He was shouting now. Why wouldn't Mommy wake up?

He began to notice other things now. Mommy's clothing had dark blotches on it, and the sand under her was a different color.

He didn't know. But Mommy wouldn't wake up and tell him either.

Will began to cry.

[OOC: In case it isn't clear, Will is about 5 years old.]

Robert coughed up a good deal of sand and water, which he had probably injested while unconcious. He groped around trying to find his cane, but to no avail. He rubbed his face with his shirt, wiping off most of the sand and water off. Today was not a good day to be blind.

He continued to grope around the sand looking for something similar to a cane, for without one, he would be completely blind, unable to survey his surroundings. "Help me" he managed to utter out, his voice raspy from the sand and water he had so recently coughed up.

Brian rounded the little outcropping of rock he'd seen before, his contact lenses itching into his eyes. He so badly wanted to scratch them, but he stopped himself.

He turned the corner, looking towards the coast of the island, ahead of him. He saw movement! He ran towards it, yelling out again. "Hey! Can you hear me?"

"Anyone there?"

"Hey, can you hear me?"

A noise! Coming from his right!

Thomas scrambled to his feet and looked around for the approaching individual. Thoughts rushed through his head, What happens if I've landed in some hostile land? What is it's a wild animal? What do i do? He hesitates for a moment too long and before he can crash away into the undergrowth the figure of Bryan appeared fro over a dune. Thomas looked initially ready to run, but seeing the other man in the same situation as him quelled his nervousness. Of course, he thought, he's another castaway.

Thomas looks bedgraggled, as you would expect from any of the people trapped on this island. His suit, once probably an executive black number is both torn in some places and soaked everywhere else. His mop of dark brown hair hangs down over his face until he brushes it aside once again. He looks in his mid-twenties with a medium build, but his most distinguishing feature is his suitcase, and the fact it is attached to his right wrist. He steps forward to meet Bryan and is pulled back by the chain, struggling to pull it free of the sand, which he does so eventually.

"Hi...I'm Thomas. Were you on the Silver Storm too?"

Will cried for a while, but soon was interrupted by a noise from his stomach.

He sat back, and pushed his long hair around his ears.

He was hungry. Mommy wouldn't wake up, though.

She'd told him not to wander off many times though.

But maybe he could find Daddy. And Daddy would have some food.

Daddy always had food.

Will pushed Mommy's hair around her ears, and noticed that her hair was sticky and thick.

He suddenly realized that Mommy was hurt. He had to help her.

But Mommy always helped him when he was hurt. Mommy had never been hurt before.

But Daddy could help. Daddy would have food, too.

William stood up. He had to find Daddy.

He began to walk across the sand, then broke into a run.

"Daddy?!"

He had to find him.

Robert tried to push himself up off of the ground. "Groping around isn't going to help me." he thought to himself. As he stood up, his legs felt like they were made of rubber, so he naturally figured he had been unconcious for some time. He put his hands out it front of him and began scanning the area directly in front of him. First, he used to sound of the ocean to tell him which way not to go, and went on a symetrical line along the coast, constantly calling for help.

"Would you rather I just carry you? That would make it a lot easier." He said, looking at her, and expression of care for her on his face.

The fog began to clear from Daniel's mind, and he looked over the woman before him. He ran a hand through his dark blonde hair, attempting to free the bits of sand from his hair.

Ramirez crawled up onto the beach, weak from having had to swim for it.
"Darn. You would think I would catch a break once in a while. First Esparanza got attacked and my house got shot up. And now this. Hey! Anybody out there!"

Ramirez runs into Reobert. "Hey pal, are you alright? Need any help?"

Brian came to a halt in front of the man. He nodded, somewhat out of breath from sprinting through sand. "Yeah, I was. I'm Brian."

Ramirez's voice caught Robert's attention. He quickly stumbled towards it's source, falling several times. "Where are you?" He kept asking, trying to walk as straight as possible. He kept feeling the air around him until he reached Ramirez. "Thank God I found somebody!" he said, "I was beginning to think I was alone here."

"Hey, are you blind?"

Daniel listens intently to the sounds from far off conversations. The voices he heard sounded distressed.

"Good to know we're not the only survivors." He remarked. "We can help each other."

"Hey, are you blind?"

Robert faced Ramirez totally revealing that his blue eyes had no pupils. He quietly responded "yes".

Will crests a hill, and sees two people at the bottom. One appears to be a woman. The other a man.

He stumbles as he passes the top of the dune and shouts as he rolls down it.

He climbs to his feet at the bottom and notes the people are strangers.

Mommy and Daddy both said not to talk to strangers.

But he needed to find Daddy.

And as he saw no policemen around here to ask for help, he'd ask these people.

They were moving slowly for adults. He could catch them.

He ran after them.

"Have you seen Daddy?!"

Daniel was suprised as the little kid practically barreled into him.

"No, I haven't seen your Daddy. Where did you come from?" He asked, peering down at the child.

Stopping for a moment, her limping made worse by the sand shifting beneath her feet, she turned to face him. She held on to his arm, to aid with her balancing, as she struggled to keep her foot off the ground. She looked how far it was to theit destination and decided it wasn't worth the struggle.

"Thank you." She looks guiltily at him, an embarrassment written on her face. It was hard for her to ask for help, she had always tried to portray the independent woman, but sometimes...

Suddenly there was a child standing there in front of them. She attempted to crouch, but her leg would not take the strain, so she fell onto her knees. "Hello, what's your name?" She smiled kindly as she extended her arm.

"I came from over there."

Will pointed behind himself.

"Mommy won't wake up. I'm looking for Daddy. He can help me."

"Mommy won't wake up..." He mumbled to himself, realizing all to well what that meant.

He looked to the woman beside him, noting her pain.

"C'mon, let's get out of the sun. Then we'll find your daddy."

He offered a hand to the woman.

Will nodded. "Okay."

He set off for the treeline.

Adults always knew what to do.

If this man wasn't worried, Mommy was gonna be okay.

As he scampered towards the trees, the wind blew his hair down, uncovering his pointed ears on the top of his head.

Daniel watched the boy scamper off. He looked to the woman again, and picked her up, bridal style. He began to take her to the treeline.

"It's only a short walk, don't worry. Once you're there, I'll go see what I can gather to make us something to eat, and something to help your ankle." He told her. "I should also go find that boy's mother..."

His voice trailed off.

Rising slowly from the floor, Lauri brushed the clinging sand from her wet clothes. Once she had gained her balance she took Daniel's offer and slowly made her way to the shaded area of the beach. She instantly felt the coolness after spending so long in the sun, a hand instinctively moving to her pink cheeks.

She looked at Will, standing impatiently waiting for them to begin the search for his father. She turned to Daniel, a look of concern maring her features. "I don't think we should be strolling around looking for his father, when he is probably doing the same looking for him." Her eyes reflecting her deepest fear that they would not find him alive.

Looking at Will, she again smiled, a pitying glaze covered her eyes. "Daddy will be here soon." A sadness filled her as she thought about this young man's loss.

Daniel nodded. The woman was right, this boy's father probably was looking for him.

"Oh...erm...I'm Daniel, by the way." He said to both of them.

He sat down in the cool shade and sighed in relief.

Noting the woman's concern, he whispered to her, "I can't say for certain that the boy's father will be alive, but there's always hope."

Will smiled back at the woman. "Good. Daddy will have food."

Looking at her carefully, Will decided she looked upset.

"Are you okay?" He sat down, facing her, back to a tree.

"Do you think we're the only survivors? The Silver Storm sure took it hard and I certainly saw..." Thomas pauses and shudders "...actually I don't want to really think about what I saw, but a whole lotta people didn't make it."

Thomas looks across the beach stretching away in both directions, shielding his eyes from the bright sun with his hand. His left hand, obviously. The golden sand is slightly marred by the odd flash of colour from a piece of debris that has joined them on this island.

"Well, what do we do? Look for survivors? Build a shelter? Go beachcombing? I have to admit I'm generally an indoors type of person, although I can still remember a little from cub scouts. God, I wish we weren't here..."

Thomas peers at his feet despondantly and gives the case a kick.

Looking up briefly at Daniel, Lauri returned her attention to Will sitting across from her. In all that had happened, he was asking her if she was okay. It made her feel strange, and a touch guilty. She smiled at the little man and patted her lap.

"I'm Lauri." She said with as bright a voice as she could muster, for her sake as well as those around her. "And what is your name?" Smiling, her eyes gleamed with a kindness, her mothering instincts coming to the fore. She surprised herself, as normally she steered clear of children.

What am I doing, so hot oh, haze...sand..no...desert...wild west.
A familar scene played it self out in his head

The fastest gun in the west was sitting at the bar. With a barely noticeable nod to the bartender, he ordered another shot of whiskey and turned to take a quick glance around the saloon.
Just another chickenshit mining town, he thought to him self, and turned back to stare the mirror in the bar.

A rugged man in a tattered coat stared back at him.
A faint smiled flashed over his face, revealed a deep scar in his left cheek. It was the most frightening thing the bartender had ever seen.
Sweet jesus, I could swear that was a bullethole. How does one take a bullet in the face and live...

The regular crowd of the saloon kept a respectful distance. It was neither his sense of humor or desire for small talk that had made him famous.
Most of them felt an urgent desire to leaving the room, but to do so would be disrespetful towards the gunfighter. And disrespect was the most common cause of death these days.

Sherif John Nielsen was sitting at his desk. It was a hot day, and he was getting a headache. He put both feet on the desk and tipped his hat over his face. He hated his job, it was demeaning for one of his abilities to spend all his time breaking up fights between drunking miners.
He dozed off in his chair, but a small part of his brain never slept. Subconsciously he heard running on the porch outside his office.

In a splitsecond he rolled of the chair, pulled both revolvers, ready to deal with the intruder. The Sherif used to take great pride in his reflexes, now they were just a nuisance.
A skinny tall man entered the door, it was just the local barber.

Damnit Seth. I told you NEVER to barge in here like that. You're going to get your head blown off some day.

Sor so sorry Sherrrrif, bu bu but wa wa wa, the man stuttered.

Calm down man, whats so important.

Wai wai waing, waing, Waingrow is in the S s s SALOON.

Waingrow... Carl Waingrow, the name send chills down his spine.

Seth, go home and lock up... I'll go greet our guest.
The barber tried to say something, but the sherif's look stopped him. He ran out of the door.

John Nielsen checked the chambers of both his revolvers, picked up his hat from the floor, and walked out to face whatever fate had in store for him.

It was hard to tell wether it was the newcommer or the terrible heat that kept people indoors. Either way Main Street was deserted. His mouth felt very dry, and the Stetson didn't seem to offer any protection from the sun.

Damn, whats with this heat today, Waingrow must be the devil because this is definetly hell

John Nielsen, the 16 year old wizkid, opened his eyes. For a few seconds he was confused, but then it occured to him. The ship.. the storm... then.... He was lying on his stomach with his right arm tugged undernieth him. It was completely numb and gave a weird sensation when ever he moved.

He tried to spit out some sand but his mouth was too dry. With the help of his left arm he got on his feet and looked around... All he could see was endless stretches of beach, the merciful sea that brought him here, and the stretch of trees that might mean his survival.

He tried to shout, but all he could manage was a faint whisper.

Have to get out of the sun, he thought and started walking to the treeline.

Darret regained conciousness lying in the water face up.
Oww man my aching head. Damn sun. He thought to himself and reached a hand up to block the sun from his eyes. That's the last time I stowaway on a boat. He continues and opens his eyes. He looks around himself and sees land. Hey aren't we in luck. Well I always am. Darret the luckiest of all thieves. He said to himself boosting his ego a little.
He started swimming for the shore. It was further away then a thought and took a lot longer. Stupid boat. Couldn't you sink closer to the shore?. He talks in himself and gets close to the beach on wich the others are. Only a few meters still from the coast...

"My name is Will." he replied, after a moment.

He wasn't supposed to tell people that.

But Mommy needed help. And these weren't bad people.

He was scared. But Daddy wasn't here yet.

"Where's Daddy? You said he'd be here."

His voice is accusing.

Maybe these people didn't want to help.

Trying her best to say comforting things to Will, Lauri knew she was going to fail. The last time she had spoken to a child his age was when she was one herself, she'd never been one to fawn over babies. She couldn't help but hope that there was someone alive on this island that knew the first thing about kids.

She shifted until she was on her knees, the movement sending a fresh bolt of pain through her ankle. She tried to hide her grimace, as she looked kindly down at Will. "Your daddy will be here real soon, but this is a big place. You may need to wait a little while for him come." She looked up at Daniel, a questioning look in her eye. She didn't know what to do.

Turning back to Will, her face had returned to it's happy position. "Daniel is going to find your Mommy, and see if she's alright."

Darret swam up onto the beach and slowly crawled out of the water. Land at last. I got to go and get into the shade before I get sun burned or sun stroke. But I'm so tired. He kept saying to himself.
Eventually he got up and looked around to find some nice shady place.
What's this? Other people alive? Lady luck still smiles upon me. "Hey you there! Hello!" He shouted as loud as he could and walked in a slow tired pace to the people.

Will saw the man moving near the shore, and a voice.

He was hopeful for a second, mummuring, "Daddy?"

Then he shook his head. That wasn't Daddy.

He looked at Lauri and simply said one word. "Okay."

He didn't know why, but then Will hugged her. She was nice.

She was good people.

"Yeah...I'll go see about your mom, Will." Daniel said, and began to trek towards the direction Will had come from.

"Hey you there! Hello!" Came the voice.

Daniel instantly went into a fighting position, through instinct. When he wasn't charged by someone, he looked towards the source. There was another man, a castaway as well. Daniel began to move towards him.

"Hello." He said with a wave.

"Yeah...I'll go see about your mom, Will." Daniel said, and began to trek towards the direction Will had come from.

"Hey you there! Hello!" Came the voice.

Daniel instantly went into a fighting position, through instinct. When he wasn't charged by someone, he looked towards the source. There was another man, a castaway as well. Daniel began to move towards him.

"Hello." He said with a wave.

Darret waves back at the man. "Hello. I take it you also have no idea where we are." He says and looks around himself. "I'm Darret by the way." He extends his hand. Nicely done. Gain trust and then thrust.

"That'd be right." Daniel says, taking the hand and shaking it cautiously. "Name's Daniel."

John reached the treeline and sat down on a log. His mouth felt as if he had licked a cats litterbox and quite thorougly at that. He looked around for some fruits, berries or even some leaves with deww but found nothing useful.

He coughed up a few grains of sand and decided to do some constructive thinking. He'd always been fairly good at getting to the core of the issue. There was no point in complaining about what happened, only the possible consequences for his survival, had any meaning now.

Okay assumption 1... if someone in as piss poor shape as I survived, it's likely others did too. Assumption 2, if I washed up in this place, any hypothetical survivors will probably be close by.

John tried shouting again, this time his throat managed a faint cr7oaking sound. For some reason John found it absolutely hillarious. He dropped down on his knees and started laughing hysterically. The sound of his laughs inspired even more laughs and in the end he could barely breathe.

It took him several minutes to regain control of him self. His throat felt worse than before, but at least his spirits were lifted. He got up and walked back down to the water. Looking left and right up the beach, he decided to walk with the sun in his back. Then he got a bright idea. He stopped, and gathered a small pile of stones, and placed them to form a few words in the sand. "J.N. WAS HERE. WENT WEST

He patted him self on the back and continued up the beach. After a few minutes of walking he spotted a person lying face down in the water. He started shouting and ran towards it, but his perceptive mind had already told him what he would find.
HEY THERE, YOU OKAY? He knelt down next to the body.

It was a woman in her late thirties, quite good looking he thought, and promptly hated him self for thinking it. Her long brown hair partly covered her face, but it was obvious to anyone she was dead. It was the first dead person John had ever seen, but he was strangely unaffected by it.
Maybe I'm in shock.. or just a horrible person

Then he noticed the impression in the sand next to the woman...and the tiny footprints leading away from it.

Oh god, a kid...alone

John felt suddenly nauseous. He was the lone survivor of his own parents car crash. This brought back disturbing images.
John got up and tried not to look at the corpse.

Get a grip, she's dead, you're alive. Let's stay focused on the essentials here

He forced himself to start walking. Following the tiny footprints up the beach.

<edited>

"Alright, gimme your arm, I'll guide you. We should try and find other surviviors. By the way, the name's Ramirez. What's yours?"

"That'd be right." Daniel says, taking the hand and shaking it cautiously. "Name's Daniel."
"Well then Daniel. Are there any more survivors?"

"Yes, there are." Daniel answered vaguely.

'Don't trust anyone.' He thought to himself. 'If there in as bad of a position as I am, who knows what they'll do to survive.'

"Yes, there are." Daniel answered vaguely.

'Don't trust anyone.' He thought to himself. 'If there in as bad of a position as I am, who knows what they'll do to survive.'
"Ah. And where might they be?"

Daniel pondered his answer for a moment. He looked the man over once again.

"Back that way, under the treeline." He said, jabbing a thumb back the way he came. "Would you mind coming with me? I'm out to gather things for a shelter and food, and I could use some help."

"Certainly. But fresh drinking water would be our main concern. But lead the way."

Lauri sat under the shade of the trees with Will cuddled to her chest. She leaned back against the trunk, and gently rocked from side to side, as she looked down at him. She ran her hand over his head, as she remembered her own mother doing in times when she was upset or scared, a smile played on her lips at the memory.

She watched Daniel walk away, a slight fear creeping through her body at the thought of being alone. She let her gaze drift around her, a sigh escaping as they were drawn to the now completely sunk ship. Her heart dropping into the depths of despair.

Letting her eyes close, she waited for someone to return or for sleep to engulf her. She battled to keep her eyes open and focused, but her energy seemed to drain out of her body, and she slipped into a dream...

Will had arranged his hair to cover up his ears again, and he sighed as Lauri stroked them.

She was nice. She was warm, too.

He fell asleep, and began to purr. That was the only word to describe it.

But it subsided after a minute or two, and his breathing became deep and even.

Will too began to dream.

Screams. Panic. Fear. Mommy! The boat. Daddy thrusting them into a life boat, shouting at them. Mommy was crying. Daddy was crying. Will started to cry. Mommy's arms. The crash.

Will awoke with a start, clinging to Lauri, one leg kicking out involuntarily.

Daniel nodded his agreement.

"Yes, we need water, and food. How about you find water, and I'll get us some grub." He said, taking out a pistol.

Daniel looked at the pistol in his hand. Standard issue, but it had a small engraving on it's barrel. His father's crest. He set out to look for an animal to hunt.

He watched the waves pound the surf below him, and cuddled her in his arms.

He didn't speak, only watched the waves. They had met on the Boat, her from Gehenna Tartarus, him from Canada-Germany and had, almost instantly, fallen in love.

And so here they lay, watching the tides come in. It's amazing how beautiful it was, how comfortable. Another tide came in, washing up peices of

[Wreakage]

seaweed, while here and there bits of wood and

[Metal]

other debrie lay scattered.

His eyes catch sight of a crab scuttling around below him.

"Hey babe, look at that." he tells her.

She doesn't respond, but that was ok. She didn't have to.

So he keeps on watching.

But it occures to him, in the back of his mind, that he doesn't know how long he's been doing this, or even how he got off the

[Sinking]

boat. Where was the boat anyways? He couldn't see where it was anchored and he didn't see anyone else around on the beach. They must all be

[Dead]

on another beach further off. Of course... he doesn't remember seeing any of THEM in a long time either.

Quite strange, and had he gone swimming? His clothes were all wet, so were hers. She had on beautiful light blue dress with a empire waist for their first date and he had choosen a gray dress shirt with a black belt and black dress pants. They had made quite the good looking couple. But both of them were quite soaked now so they must have gone

["Don't worry"]

swimming.

"Too bad... you wreaked your hair." he told her and then looked up.

She had fallen asleep. He chuckled. Come to think of it, his voice sounded really terrible. Almost like

["It's ok."]

sand paper or something.

He shrugged to himself, too much wine he guessed, and then hugged her closer. She felt alittle cold, like

[corpse]

she had been in the water too long. Oh well, he'd warm her up, and she was sleeping, so he guessed that they could lay there for just a while longer.

They had met in the Boat's dining room. She had been having breakfast by herself and all the other tables had people at them.

Quite fortuneous for him he supposed. He had asked to sit down and she had said yes.

They had a good breakfast, chatting back and forth, getting to know each other. By the time breakfest was finished, had asked her if she wanted to take lunch with him as well.

To that too, she said yes. She gave him her room number and then walked away.

You know, come to think about it, she was getting really quite

[dead]

cold. He knew he should probably wake her up, but she seemed to be sleeping quite peacefully. He cuddled her closer and hoped that she awoke on her own.

Lunch had been very fun. They had talked and talked. They didn't share too much in common, but still managed to talk for

["So, how old are you?"]

4 hours on what they did share.

By the time they had finished, it was 4:30. This time, when he asked her for dinner, she had said no, citing some previous engagement.

He noded, and understood. They hugged, she gave him a kiss on the cheak

[so warm]

and they had parted ways.

That night he had had a dream about her, a dream so vivid that the next morning when he had woke up, he quickly got dressed, rushed over to her room and asked for a date.

She had been uncertine for a small while but had said yes in the end.

Ok, she hadn't woken up and was getting way to cold.

"Hey... wake up."

He started to shake her a bit. She was quite

[Dead]

limp in his hands.

"What the hell?"

She was cold even with the sun shining on them and she kinda

[Corpse]

floped around when he shook her.

"Hey.... wake up. Yo..."

Why wouldn't she wake up? What was

[DEAD]

wrong with her? Was she

[DeAd]

still breathing? What the Fuck!? He put his lips to hers started what he remembered of the first aid resusitation on her. No. How could she be

[Dead]

No.... NO! She couldn't.... How could she be

[dead]

He screamed.

He sobbed into her chest and clutched her. In the monsoon that was his thoughts, conflicting emotions swirled around. Pain, loss, love. And then the

[Stiffen up that spine kiddo]

memories.

The fun of that nights

['So how old are you?']

dinner and the

['Guess']

dancing that came

['I'd say... 20?']

afterwords brought itself

['Nope, 17.']

to the forfront

['17...?']

of his

['Why how old are you?']

mind.

['Twenty five.']

But it was a better memory to have in his mind that the others. Like that of what happened

['I'm married.']

after.

['I love you.']

For it was

['I'm married. I told you already.']

['But how do you feel?']

['....']

only after

['I love you too.']

when

['What's happening?']

he

['I don't know.']

had

['Just hold on Amber... remember, I love you. I'll protect you.'']

Failed.

Daniel nodded his agreement.

"Yes, we need water, and food. How about you find water, and I'll get us some grub." He said, taking out a pistol.

Daniel looked at the pistol in his hand. Standard issue, but it had a small engraving on it's barrel. His father's crest. He set out to look for an animal to hunt.
Darret nodded in agreement and walked deeper into the island. Into the forest. Carefully noting his route. Okay Darret. He has the gun. So he's in control. Untill he loses it that is. He said to himself.

He walked constantly deeper into the forest of the island in search for water. What's that? Sounds like a waterfall. He slowly walked in the direction of the sound. And he was right. Overlooking a small pool of crystal clear water was a tiny waterfall. Maybe only 3 to 4 meters tall.

He walked to the water and bend over to test it. It was good and he quickly drank his fill of the water. He also jumped in to wash the salt of his body.

Now his thirst cleansed and his body and clothing clean he started backtracking towards the beach.

Lauri's mind was filled with scenes from the cruise, her thoughts miles away from the beach, from the horror. The sounds, the sights, the atmosphere, as people laughed and enjoyed themselves, flowed like a film. She watched them from the outside, like a stranger peering in, her job to make them happy, to make the trip special.

She wandered down corridors, smiling at the guests, advertising her upcoming event. She had been unwell for the first few days, and was looking forward to making her debut. Her routine had been worked out weeks in advance, hours and hours of rehearsal.

She stepped up onto the stage, a troop of dancers standing behind her. She moved closer to the microphone, the music beginning, waiting for her cue. Suddenly there was a scream, and the dancers began to run, one tripped and caught her leg with their heel...

...Her eyes shot open, her mind bringing her back to the now. She was on the beach, the little boy on her lap was kicking his feet, and crying out. She pulled him closer, as she rocked him gently. She kissed the top of his head lightly.

"It's okay." She tried to sound reassuring, trying to make him feel safe. "You're alright. It's going to be alright."

Darret walked ack onto the beach. He isn't back yet. Well I'll go scout ahead. But I'll let him know I was here. He thinks to himself and starts stacking rocks on top of each other.

He walked down the treeline along the beach trying to see if any usefull debry floated ashore yet. Nothing.
He looked around and saw something near the trees. More people. Excellent. "Hello there!" He screamed and ran over to the people. "Are you alright?"

Will started to pull away, waking to the feel on unfamiliar arms around him, and then relaxed, remembering Lauri.

Lauri was good people.

If she said it was going to be okay, it would be okay.

Will began to cry. Big boys didn't cry.

He didn't hurt. Why was he crying?

Big boys didn't cry. He snuffled back the tears, and allowed Lauri to hold him.

Daniel walked towards where Will came from. He soon found his small footprints, and followed them to the source. There he saw a woman, laying face down. He checked her pulse, feeling the icy cold flesh. Nothing. Most of the blood had drained from her body, staining the ground below her a black-red with caked blood. He gave the woman a moment of solmen silence, and carried the body up the beach. He dug a shallow grave in the soft soil, and buried the woman. Looking up, he saw a rustle in some bushes nearby. Taking the pistol from the back of his belt, he snapped a shot off into the dense green undergrowth. The rustling increased, and Daniel investigated the bushes. It was a wild boar, and it had been shot through the pelvis. It struggled to get free of the foilage with only it's front legs working. Daniel put another round into the boar's head, and it stopped moving. Tucking the pistol back into his belt, he hoisted the boar over his shoulders, and began to carry it back to camp. He came across the pile of rocks, and nodded. That was good, Darret must have found water. He passed the place where Laura and Will were sitting, and gave them a wave and a smile, proud of his handiwork. He set the boar down, and looked about for a sharp object to skin it with.

"Ah...Will...I'm sorry about your mother. She didn't make it..." He said softly.

Lauri continued to hold Will close as she softly sang lullabys to him, rocking him gently, as she gazed down into his face. She was surprised how well she could remember the words, her mind filled with her mother's voice. She felt comforted by the memory, and she relaxed against the tree.

She was miles away, safe in her own little world, when the voice broke through her thoughts. She looked up and saw a man standing in front of her. For a moment, she felt nervous, and vulnerable, as she sat on the ground. Gazing up into his face, she smiled. "We're fine. Well, as fine as you can be considering." She looked down at Will, and then raised her eyes. "Have you seen anyone else? Has anyone else survived?"

Realising her manners, although they seemed little important at this point in time, she introduced herself and William. Explaining briefly about Daniel, and where he had gone. "Sit down. I think he should be back soon."

Suddenly a shot rang out and a while later Daniel returned with an animal, which he placed on the sand, waving as he passed. Her heart sank as he gave Will the news of his mother. Lauri couldn't help but hope his father hadn't met the same fate.

Darret tried to keep up appearence and smiled. "Good to hear you are all fine. I met Daniel a little while back, and then went to look for some fresh water. Wich I did." He says and looks at the wild boar before looking back at the girl and extending his hand to shake hers. "I am Darret by the way."

Will blinked, confused.

He was supposed to be sad, he could tell that from the people around him.

But why? Mommy was asleep.

The words made no sense.

His expression one of confusion, Will began to cry, burying his face in Lauri's body.

Daniel finds a small, sharp rock lying in the sand.

"Hmm...this is obsidian. This is a volcanic island." He tells them.

He begins to skin the boar, the sharp volcanic glass easily slicing the boar up. After he is done, he looks over at the boy as he starts to cry. His heart sank at the pitiful sight of the child.

Lauri felt uncomfortable as Will begins to cry, she sighed softy and held him close, whispering soft words, trying to calm him down. She gently rubbed away his tears with her finger, smiling at him as she did. How she wished she had a handkerchief or something to dry his face.

She extended her hand to Darret, and shook it firmly from her lower position. Her gaze travelling over to Daniel, as he prepared the boar for cooking. Another feeling of dread filled her body as she realised that they had no shelter, no heat and no idea what this island - she assumed it was an island - would throw at them in the night.

"Anyone got a lighter?" Daniel asks those around him.

Darret shoke her hand firmly. "Listen Daniel. You should stop with the skinning. We aint got shelter or fire. And a skinned boar rots faster then unskinned one." He says. "Listen I'm going to get a lot of palm leafs, vines, and large branches. As to make a shelter. I suggest you prepare a fire." He followed up and walked away into the forest. Grabbing everything long thick branch, palm leaf and long vine he could find. And when he couldn't carry more he dragged it all back to Lauri.

"I know. I am hungry, as I'm sure you are as well. I'm sure you know it's hard to think when you're hungry." He said, taking some kindling out of his pocket he had picked up while walking around.

He found a few larger branches, and arranged them. He found a flat, hot rock, and lay some strips of boar out on it, in an attempt to make some jerky.

"Anyone got a lighter?" He asked again.

And then he picked her up, staggering even under her small weight due to his weakened condition. He still cried, tears dripped down his face and on to her's and he still clutched her in his arms, but he started walking.

It was an unsteady gait that he managed, but he was moving down the beach, carrying her, and knowing not what he was looking for.

((Uh...are you referring to Will's mother?))

OOC: Is Will's mother 25, named Amber, kinda short, married, but not with her husbend on the cruise ship?

OOC: Is Will's mother 25, named Amber, kinda short, married, but not with her husbend on the cruise ship?

Uh, no.

OOC: then it isn't Will's mother, ^_^

Darret returned once more with palm leaves branches and vine's. "That should be more then enough. My idea is to build a floor on stilts with a roof above it. I heared sand lice can be really annoying." He says and starts drawing his idea in the sand.

Lauri spoke softly to Will as she rose slowly to her feet, she wobbled slightly and bit her lip as her ankle hurt under the weight. She leant against the tree, and changed the way she was holding the small boy, resting on the opposite hip to her injured foot.

She looked over at Daniel, and shrugged. "I'm afraid I have no lighter." letting her gaze fall onto her outfit, she'd forgot want she had been wearing when the boat went down. She shuddered as she realised it really wasn't the thing to be stuck in on a desert island.

His steps had grown more unsteady, making his gait more like a stagger; his weakness more apparent.

It suddenly occured to him that she was still soaking wet... and her pale blue dress no longer really offered her

[corpse]

protection.

And so, he set her down, took off his suit jacket and wrapped her in it. He idealy noticed that while it had fit him well, the jacket hung down to her knees.

Picking her up agian, he continued his stagger down the beach. Minutes later, he saw a stand of trees ahead of him.

"Maybe..."

Will clung tightly to Lauri as she stood, crying into her shoulder now, that she had shifted his position.

This was just how Mommy had held him, when she was awake.

The thought made him cry harder.

Leaning against the tree, realising that she was fighting a losing battle with stopping the ever increasing tears of Will. She slowly bounced him up and down, while softly singing to him, her hand lightly caressing his head.

Moving against the bark, she could feel the tiny scratches on her bare back, and again cursed the dress she was wearing. It has seemed a good choice back on the ship, and suited her role perfectly. But now the ankle length red dress was more of a hindrence.

She placed her foot gingerly on the floor, testing her weight on it before tentatively making her way down the beach to where Daniel was trying to light a fire. She was hoping that he would have some idea of how to calm the poor boy cradled in her arms.

He needs a motherly figure. Someone to care for him. And I don't think it's me.

Looking at Daniel and back at Darret, she knew there had to be more survivors here somewhere, they couldn't have been the only ones lucky enough to have escaped a watery grave.

Mikey had reached the beach on a fragment of debris. The man who did most of the paddling had slipped below the waves just short of the island and Mikey had found the rest of the journey fairly easy.

Some would say that Mikey ought to feel guilty for this, but right now what he was feeling was hungry.

Mikey looked up at the tree. The things at the top of the tree looked like fruit: in fact, they looked kind of like apples. Mikey screwed up his face and began to climb the tree... intent on biting down on the orange.

Daniel had gotten a small fire started using the tried and true method of friction. It crackled contentedly, happily gobbling up sticks and dried grass. After a bit, Daniel got it to grow, and stuck a sharp stick through a tender piece of the boar. He spun the meat over the fire, and the skin began to grow dark and juicy. He looked over at Laura carrying Will over to him. He plucked a bit of the meat and handed it to Will.

"Here, this'll make you feel better." He said, smiling at the boy.

Will turned his face away from Daniel.

As he had cried, the memories had come back.

Daddy was gone. Moomy was gone now too.

He was alone. Except for Lauri.

He began to run out of tears rather soon, though, and snuffling them back, took a piece of meat from Daniel.

He ate it, one handed, refusing to let go of Lauri with the other.

"Better?" Daniel asked comfortingly.

Will nods, feeling a little less hungry.

But as soon as he finishes eating, he returns his second hand to Lauri, refusing to let her go.

Perhaps for fear of losing her too.

Mikey bit down into the orange. He grimaced as the bitter taste of the peel hit him.

Throwing the bitten orange away from him he inspected the next one and decided that it might be a good plan to peel it. Peeling began...

A part-eaten orange lands near Daniel and Will.

As the peel lands next to Daniel, he looks over at Lauri and Will, and then up into the trees.

Darret had finished putting some heavy thick braches into the ground and made sure they were secure before connecting the four branches with four more thick strong branches. Tying them together with some vines securely. "The things you can learn from a drunk." He thought out loud and chuckled.

He started laying braches ontop of the horizontal braches. First in the lenght then with untill it was all nice and fairly even. The deck only about half a meter off the ground.
He wiped the sweat off his forehead and walked over to Daniel. "That boar looks mighty fine. Could I have some?" He asked and put out his hands knowing he would surely get some food.

"Sure thing." Daniel said, slicing some of the boar off and placing it in Darret's hands. "Nice work."

Darret glaly eats the piece of Boar. "Thanks. But *munch* It isn't done yet. If it rains *much* We'll get wet." He says and continues eating untill He's almost done. "We'll finish it once we're done eating." He says and finishes his piece. "Could I have some more?"

"I see. I'll help you with that later." Daniel says, slicing off another piece and handing it to Darret.

He takes a piece for himself, and then offers some to Lauri. The cooked boar is almost gone, but there is a significant amount of jerky.

A few miles down the beach, a wet figure clad in a wool sweater, a cotton shirt and some jeans made his way across the sand.

"Damn this f*cking earth travel! They should've let me take my aircar, but noooo....... I had to travel incognito. Hey! Waht's that?"

He sees the fire and starts to walk twoards it.

A simian face looks down at Daniel looking up.
Clinging to the branch by one leg and a tail, Mikey the monkey looks Daniel in the eye and offers him a half-peeled fruit.

"Eek?"

"Interesting..." Daniel says as he cautiously takes the fruit.

Daniel looks to those around him, not sure what to do.

Mikey looks at the man... he doesn't look like his master. But he didn't hit him like his masters mate, so it might be okay.

"Eek oo?"

Mikey pulls out another orange and begins to botch peeling it in front of them.

Lauri took the food, not realising how hungry she had been until the meat touched her mouth. She savoured every bit, relishing the texture, the taste, the feeling as it slid down her throat. Her whole bearing on her situation altered as it occured to her that they could survive here.

She smiled down at Will, as he silently ate. His grip tighter on her than previously, but there was a calmness that wasn't there before. She hugged him tightly to her, and began to walk back to their place by the tree, in the shade.

She sat down, and began to build little mounds of sand, something she hadn't done for many years. Not since she was a child. Speaking softly to Will, she released her grip on him slightly. "Do you want to help me build a sand castle?"

Will looked at Lauri. He nodded.

A sand castle? That would be fun.

He looked around for something to collect sand it.

The broken coconut looked like a sand pail.

He filled it with sand and started to walk towards the water to wet the sand.

He took about three steps and froze. Not the water.

He wouldn't go near the water.

He sat down, fear on his face.

The Suddeness of a the flickering flame that sparked ahead of him surprised him greatly.

Or at least, it would, were he to have had any energy left.

Instead, he only quickened his pace, ignoring the flairing pain that his hip radiated.

He finally reached the fire and it registered that there were infact people still alive.

This hit his mind a microsecond before he collapsed, drained of all energy and out cold, onto the sand in front of the fire, still holding on to the corpse.

The stench of death... wafting through the air. A body.

Mikey paniced at the smell and discarded his orange, hunger forgotten, and disappeared into the tree with only the slightest blur and a tinkle from the name tag on his collar.

Lauri smiled as she watched Will move to help with the castle building, piling up the sand in an effort to help. Her eyes were glued to him, as he walked over to the coconut shell and began to move towards the sea. She felt happy, that she had managed to draw his attention away from what had happened.

What the...?

She stared unblinking as he stopped suddenly, his body taut. Immediately she knew there was something wrong. She rose from the floor and walked slowly over to him, crouching to catch him in her arms. She caught a glimpse of his face, and followed his eyes to the sea.

You idiot...

Picking him up, she held him close to her chest, and made to turn around. Just then her eyes fell on a newcomer to the beach, he was carrying something. Someone. She watched in stunned silence as he edged towards the fire, then collapsed.

Will dropped the coconut shell after a moment, as Lauri picked him up.

As soon as she broke his eye contact with the ocean, he began to cry again.

He was afraid. Not the water.

He couldn't go to the water.

Suddenly she was back to square one, and Will was back in tears. She silently berated herself for her stupidity. She turned them away from the man lying on the floor, and the woman he had been carrying in his arms. She had noticed the others gathering around to help.

As she neared the tree, she looked up as she retook her place under the tree, her eyes catching sight of the little monkey. The little thing looked as frightened as Will. She pointed up slowly, guiding the boys eyes to the tree.

"Can you see the monkey, Will?" She smiled, as another of her memories stirred. How she wished she was that little girl again, safe in her mother's embrace.

Will snuffled back his tears for a moment, and nodded.

He hadn't said anything since he'd been told his mother was dead.

Will stares at the monkey for a moment, long anough to stop crying and then goes back to burying his face in Lauri's shoulder, but not crying this time.

Ramirez panted as he dragged his new found friend through the sand. It appears that he had passed out. As the pair went over another sand dune, he saw a lady and a little boy.

"Hey! You! Over there! You alright?"

Darret had finished his bit of boar and got back to making the shelter. It would hold for a week or two. But if they were going to stay here long they would have to make something a lot better.

The shelter was nearly completed. It looked like a prism facing upwards on stilts and having palm leaves for walls.

Lauri, still craddling Will in her arms turns and watches the others on the beach. She felt guilty not really being help to the others, but she couldn't leave Will in the state he was in. Not that she thought he would let go of her anyway. She smiled, feeling needed.

Suddenly her attention was draw by the voice of a stranger, coming from the direction of the dunes. She smiled, as she waved them nearer. "We're fine. Are you both alright?" As he drew nearer with the man he was aiding, Lauri pointed to the other near the fire. "There's food there."

*Post Moved*

As the man collapsed near him, spilling the woman's corpse in front of him, Daniel lept up, turning the man over in the sand. He looked him over, noted the parched mouth and dialated pupils, and turned to Darret.

"Darret!" He called. "Go and get some water from where you found it before, this man is fading fast! I'll start to dig a grave for the woman..."

And as quickly as he had passed out, he snaped awake.

What had been maybe 3 minutes for those around, was to him, a evening that had lasted a lifetime.

And from his lips issued a hollow, rasping cry, the last gasp of the dream.

"Don't leave me Alone."

Sitting back against the tree, Will held tightly in her arms, Lauri felt the last of her energy begin to drain from her body. Listening to the voices of the others in the group, the gentle breaths of the boy on her lap, and the breaking of the waves upon the sand, she slowly closed her eyes.

Her mind began to form images, nightmarish images, moments that her conscious had tried to forget were suddenly thrust to the forefront of her memory. The noise, the terror, the panic. She ran through corridors, full of the lost and confused, aiming for the fresh air. The deck was crowded and she could taste the fear, and could feel Death's hand clawing and grabbing as the ship began its downwards journey.

Suddenly she found herself on the ground, her foot had slipped out from under her, a dull pain spreading up her leg. She cried out, but her voice was lost on the wind. The ship's groan filled the air, it's last painful wail, as it fought valiantly against the grip of the sea.

Someone grabbed her arm, and she was pulled up from the floor, the face of her rescuer a blur as they were parted by another surge of people. She was carried by the wave, and in a daze let it carry her to her final destination, no longer able to make rational decisions.

Moments later she was lowered into the sea on a boat, how she's got there she didn't know. She sighed deeply as the boat moved away from the sinking ship, her eyes locked onto the striken faces waiting for their way out.

Just when it seem everything was fine, the boat came into contact with another, tossing the contents of both into the sea, a scream went up...

Her eyes flashed open, the scream still fresh on her lips. Her body shook. Breathing deeply, she craddled Will even closer to her chest, as she realised how lucky she had been to get here, to be out of that hell. She couldn't help wonder how many had falled to escape from Death's grip.

As Lauri screamed, Daniel's head shot up from his work. He pondered for a moment where the hell Darret was, and began to go over to Lauri and Will.

"It'll be alright." He said, forcing a comforting smile onto his face and placing a hand on her shoulder with a light squeeze.

Will, who had been asleep, jerked awake roughly at Lauri's scream. He started to pull back, but the scream communicated danger to him, and instinctively he grabbed on tighter to Lauri.

Where?

Danger?

What was it?

His head swiveled about on his shoulders, searching for danger.

But there was only Daniel.

He looked at him curiously, and then smiled back. A small smile, but a smile nonetheless.

Daniel smiled down at Will.

"It's ok, Will. Lauri just had a bad dream, that's all." He said.

Lauri, cuddling tightly to the now clinging Will, looked up at Daniel and smiled embarrassedly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...um..." She shrugged as she took a deep calming breath and sighed.

Looking down at Will, she smiled and ruffled his hair. "It's alright, Will. Everything's fine." She gentle rocked him, as she looked off into the distance, gazing at the sea.

As Lauri rocked him Will quickly fell back asleep, the heat and exhaustion quickly draining any energy he had left.

This time when he slept, though, his dreams contained no scenes of violence, no sinking ships, no screams of terror.

He slept peacefully, as small children do, cuddled against Lauri for warmth and protection.

"It's understandable, you just barely survived a boat sinking." He said, sitting down beside her and following her gaze. "Amazing how something so peacful looking can cause the deaths of so many people..."

Daniel trailed off, not wanting to relive the memories that Lauri just did. He placed a hand on hers and gave it a small squeeze.

"It'll be alright..." He said, more for himself than anyone else.

Sitting quietly, watching the breaking waves, Lauri listened to Daniel's words. The sea seemed so calm, so peaceful, so friendly. Her childhood memories surfaced of days at the beach...

She looked at Daniel, grateful for his kind and reasuring words. She found comfort from his light touch. "Thank you. I think I needed someone to tell me, it will be alright." She lowered her eyes to the top of Will's head, and smiled. "At least, he's sleeping peacefully."

Darret looked at the setting sun on the horizon as he finished the shelter.
It was a beautifull sunset. But Darret din't care for such things. He only looked at it to note the time.
He walked down onto the beach to the people and spoke. "I don't know about you all but it's getting late. So I'm turning in so I'll be fit tomorrow." He said and walked to the shelter. "One more thing. This shelter only has room for four adults. Sorry." He said and got in and lied down on the most comfortable spot.

"You're welcome. I think I needed it just as much as you did." Daniel says, smiling at her.

"I'll sleep in the trees." He says, looking up at Darret.

Daniel gets up to help the unconcious man into the shelter.

Mikey stays in the trees. Even though the source had gone, some of the smell remained and he didn't want the people to do that to him again.

But it was warm down there... with man's red flower. Warm like he hadn't been since the ship lurched and his cage was smashed against the side of the room. Since his master had been flung against the wall. His master had stopped moving, like that person had stopped moving. And Mikey had been cold.

He watched them from the tree, unwilling to return yet and failing to peel a third orange very well.

A strange man was dragging him somewhere.

"Wait... where's... where's...."

["What are you, a man or a pussy? Get up."]

"Who are you? Where's Amber?" he askes.

"Gone." Daniel says, reaching the shelter and laying him down on a reed bed.

"Gone...? But.. I just had her, before I came, I carried her here! How could she have

[Died]

gone!?"

"She was gone long before then. I'm sorry, but she's dead."

"I know she was dead... but I got her here... where... why isn't she HERE!?"

Lauri watched Darret finish the shelter and climb in, his statement not the best of things to hear. Only big enough for four adults. She decided on the spot that she would not be taking a place, as she didn't intend to sleep. She feared the images that haunted her dreams.

Turning her head, she gazed at Daniel, who was struggling with a man. She didn't know his name, but that didn't mean she didn't share his pain and suffering. She had seen the body of the woman being taken away and buried, Daniel had been kind to do that. She knew that in his place she would have broken down, been unable.

She sighed as she felt Will in her arms, his little chest rising and falling peacefully. She wondered when she would be able to close her eyes and not have to confront the faces and noise.

Daniel sighed. He didn't have the energy to argue with this delerious man right now.

"I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to your question." He said tiredly.

He closed his mouth and laid his head back down, not knowing exactly what had happened, but in the back of his mind knew that a rotting corpse would never be a good thing in a camp site.

"How many survivers are here?" he asked quietly.

"There are 5 of us, including you. A woman, a child, and three men." Daniel explained.

He wished his father

["Thinking can get you killed. Don't think, do. Leave the emotions for when they can't fu*k you up."]

was here. He'd know what to do...

"Do we have any water around here?"

Daniel nodded.

"We have no way to hold it, yet, but there are several pools of clear water around here." He explained.

Pools? Something about pools....

His eyebrow furrowed in thought.

"Are these pools like, gethering places for streams or rivers?"

Daniel shook his head, and sat down in a more comfortable position.

"No, hot springs, I believe. This is a volcanic island, after all."

"I didn't know you could drink water from Hot Springs." he muttered.

"Yes, it's very clean." Daniel remarked.

OOC: In C-G, there is manditory enrollment in the Military. You either join at 14 for 3 years, or 18, for 4 years. This guy choose the 3 year deal, so he's fresh out of the military. Fortunetly, he was never very good anyways, lol.

"Geez... I really should have listened better in my class.."

He got up, shaky from exhastion. "I need a drink.' croaked he.

((Same for Cyber, only you join for 2 years, at 18. Daniel is 20, I guess, so he's fresh, too.))

"Alright. Do you want me to come with you?" Daniel asked the man, helping him up.

"Thanks..." he mummbled.

As they slowly proceded outside, he caught sight of the girl... no, woman, he had seen before.

"Who is she?"

"Her? That's Lauri." He said, guiding the man to the hot springs. "What's your name, anyway?"

Darret lied in the shelter sound asleep. Or was he? He was never known to be asleep, only on guard. Anyways he kept thinking of ways how to get off the island, and do it with some profit.

ooc: Just so you remember. Darret found the water and never tolled anyone were it was. And it was a small pool formed by a waterfall, quite cold water really.

((I know. I'm talking about different water.))

Mikey knew the scent was fading... one of them had burried it. He didn't want to know where.

He was cold. Definately cold... and the mangled remains of the orange were revealing too many pips for his patience.

Dropping his fourth orange half-eaten, Mikey moved closer to the place where the wire was. Keeping to the tree branches, but definately heading for the light.

It was dark, too. Master always had light for him.

"Hao-Li Tse. Her name was Amber... fu*k... I never even knew her last name."

Daniel felt great sympathy for the man, but knew not how to express it in a tact way. He never was too good at dealing with people who were emotionaly hurt. They reached the water, and Daniel found a large leaf for Hao-Li to drink with.

"I'm sorry about your loss..." He started to say.

Lauri stood up, Will sleeping in her arms. She walked over to the shelter where Darret was lying, asleep. Not wanting to wake him up, she gently placed the small boy on the ground, knowing that he would sleep better somewhere warm. She didn't know what the weather did on this island during the night, it could turn freezing.

She stood a moment looking at him, watching to see whether he had been disturbed, worried that he would panic if he woke and she wasn't there. She missed his closeness as soon as he left her arms, as if she needed him as much as he needed her.

Walking slowly across the sand, she stopped by the fire, its heat improving her mood, as it seeped into her body. She shivered slightly, as the last of the chill left her body. Staring into the orange glow, she lowered herself onto the floor, sitting she looked out to the sea and listened to the continual crashing of the waves.

"I'm sorry about your loss..." he heard the man named Daniel say, but only with half an ear and half a mind.

The rest focused itself on a image, a sepia coloured memory on the edge of forgetfulness

["Don't worry..."]

and then

["Please..."]

with

["Take it."]

A flash of

[Silver?]

finally

["I love you."]

Hao-Li's eye's focus again as he stumbles. He rights himself before hitting the ground and fumbles for his back pocket.

From it, he pulls a silver chain, carefully wraught and delicutly constructed, with a small locket.

"This... was hers." He said, more of a question to himself than any kind of statement.

"I see. It's beautiful." Daniel said, watching as the moonlight glinted off of the jewlery.

Daniel gathered up a bit of water from the spring in a leaf, and handed it to Hao-Li.

"Here, drink this if you're thirsty." He said, glancing around. "Hmm, it's getting dark. When you're done, we need to go back."

He takes the leaf carefully while still looking at the necklass.

"Her name..." he mumbles before taking several drinks from the leaf.

Hao-li sets down the leaf and straightens up.

"Thank you."

Sitting on the sand near the fire, Lauri watches as the darkness begins to take over the sky as the Sun disappears below the horizon, casting a blood red glow over the water, like a reminder of the lives lost in that merciless blue.

The beach was silent, other than the waves that continued to batter at the sand, roaring as the waves broke. The sound rythmic and soothing to her ears. Her thoughts for a moment returned to her home, her family and friends safely tucked up in their beds. Did they even know what had happened to her? Were they frantic with worry, trying to get news.

A lone tear ran down her face, followed slowly by another then another, until she was sobbing. Her body shook as the magnitude of the sinking finally hit her, her closeness to death. For, but a tiny piece of luck, she too could be lying at the bottom of the sea.

"You're welcome, it's the least I can do." Daniel said, starting to walk back to the camp. "You should get some rest, as well. You're probably the one most in need of rest"

After getting some bedding set up for Hao-li, Daniel notices that Lauri is sobbing out by the beach. He walks slowly over to her, and sits beside her in the cold sand. He places an arm around her, and gives her shoulder a light squeeze.

"It's ok, it's hard, I know..." He said softly.

A tear of his own stained his sandy shirt, but he kept the others clouding his eyes back.

Lauri looked at Daniel, as she rubbed the tears from her cheeks, a job made more difficult by her sandy hands. She smiled at him, grateful for the second time of the comforting words.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realise how bad I felt until I sat here." She sighed, as the last of her thoughts were swept out of her head, by his presence. "I think I just realised how lucky I was to be sitting here. When I think of Will's mother..." She fought back a fresh wave of tears.

She looked back up the beach towards the shelter. "How's that man you were just helping? That was a nice thing you did for him." She ran her hand over her hair, pulling out the pins that were holding the tangled mess up. She shook her head and let it fall about her shoulder; her fingers running through it dislodging the loose grains of sand and salt.

"I understand what you mean." He said, whipping away a tear that avoided her hands. "The man, Hao-li is his name, is basically an emotional wreck. I don't really know what to do with him."

His face went slightly red at her compliment, and he looked out to the sea. Under happier circumstances, it would have been a wonderful sight. But the blood red sunset only brought back more painful memories.

Lauri followed Daniel's gaze out across the sea, and watched at the sun disappeared, sending the darkness racing across the beach, the water turning into a shadowy grave. The temperture was already beginning to drop, which caused her to shiver slightly.

She turned back to Daniel, his face in profile. "I suppose we should call it a night." She got up and walked past the shelter, peeking in briefly to see that Will was still asleep. She then continued on to her spot under the tree and sat down, making herself comfortable for the night.

She heard some rustling in the tree above her, and smiled as thoughts of the little monkey bedding down came to her mind. She closed her eyes slowly and thought of the warm bed she had at home, soon her tiredness engulfed her, and she slept a restful if not entirely peaceful sleep.

The rustling in the trees was indeed the Mikey, but he wasn't bedding down just yet. Asside from the problems of bedding down in a tree with inadequate preperation, Mikey was cold.

Native environment or not, he was bred in captivity... and his master had always kept it warm. Mikey knew his way around an appartment... but he also knew there wouldn't be a thingy [theromstat] to turn to make it warmer. His only answer lay in man's red flower, which bloomed in front of the person who had just curled up.

Of course, he might be shoe-ed away from the people, so he waited until the person was curled up to sleep (like master had) and snuck down to ground level as silently as he could.

He sidled up close to the fire, and curled up in a ball. Maybe they wouldn't see him here.

Daniel stayed where he was as Lauri rose and walked off to seek sleep. He let his mind wander, thinking of home, of real food, and a real home. With a sigh, he pulled himself from his daydream, and walked into the shelter. As quietly as he could, he gathered some reeds, and soon fell into a dreamless sleep.

The sun slowly rose, casting an orange glow over the sand. Already with just the first few rays the temperature began to rise, as the night's chill was swept away by the heralding of the day. The island began to come to life, as animals could be heard greeting the morning with their call.

Lauri's eyes opened slowly, her mind still in her bed, miles away in the comfort of her own room. She moved slightly, and felt the stiffness in her neck and back, realising too late that leaning on the tree had been a poor idea. Slowly getting to her feet, she stretched her body, bringing it to life, as her brain adjusted itself to her surroundings.

Her sleep had been uncomfortable, but the nightmares had stayed away, allowing her body the rest it needed following the battering it took the previous day. Her ankle was almost back to normal, only the slightest twinge marking the sprain.

She walked over to the shelter, her eye catching the now burnt out fire on the beach, the last glowing embers long since extinguished. She peeped in the makeshift tent, her eyes falling instantly on Will, who still appeared to be sleeping, she smiled grateful that he was free from his torment. She couldn't help hoping his father would turn up today.

Darret slowly and quietly got up. He wasn't used to being awake during the day but he had no choice now. There was no use to his usuall routine.
He tried to walk into the forest unseen. He was going to the waterfall with small lake he found. He din't want anyone else to know where the water was all to soon.
He din't walk in a straight line but zig zagged through the thick forest, looking back from time to time. Once he got at the lake he was sure no one followed him. He took off his clothes and went for a little swim and drank some water to refresh himself.
After a few minutes he got out the water and drip dried. He put his clothes back on and walked back to the 'camp' totally refreshed.

As sunlight began to caress the beach, Will began to stir.

Slowly, he opened his eyes.

Where? Where was he?

Where was Mommy? Where was Daddy?

Then it all came back again. The ship, the cold, the fear, the screams, the water, the island, Mommy. Lauri.

Will let out an involvuntary yell.

He wasn't going to cry. Big boys didn't cry.

Will looked around for Lauri. Was she gone as well?

His eyes fell on her, and he moved towards her cautiously, a small look of hope on his face.

Lauri was sitting a little way from the shelter, when Darret returned. She didn't want to move to far away in case Will needed her when he awoke. She looked up at him as he draw near, and smiled a greeting. Her mouth parched and dry, she realised she hadn't drunk anything since before the boat sank, if you didn't include the sea water that had been accidentally swallowed.

She looked down at her sand covered dress and skin, the tiny grains caught in the material and the now dried salt showed as little white specks against the red. She gently brushes her hand across the cloth adding more than she is removing, she gives up the endeavour.

Hearing a yell coming from the shelter, Lauri turns to see Will standing by the opening, his face frightened but there was a determination there. She waited for the tears but they did not come. Smiling, she opens her arms allowing him into her embrace if he so desired it.

Darret tried his best to return a smile.
ooc: Sorry can't think of anymore to reply now. And best to reply now.

Will accepts Lauri's embrace, moving into it hurridly, perhaps still afraid she would be gone soon.

Will licked his dry, cracked lips, but little moisture found them.

Hugging Lauri, he pronounced. "I'm hungry. And I want a drink."

Having subconciously accepted Lauri as a surrogate mother figure, he obviously excepted her to be able to provide this for him.

But then, he was only four.

Lauri held Will in her arms, feeling her comfort as she held him to her. She looked down into his little face, his words echoing her own needs and desires. Her mouth was dry, and her stomach growled in protest. She looked around her beach, knowing there must be something she could find to satisfy their hunger.

"Let's see what we can find, shall we?" She spoke comfortingly to Will, hoping her words would bring him more hope than she was feeling herself. She knew there was water on the island, as both Darret and Daniel had found some, she wished she had thought of going with them when they searched yesterday.

She walked over to Darret, perhaps he would be willing to point her in the right direction. He'd been the one to build the shelter, and he seemed to know what he was doing. Looking into his face, with Will cradled safely in her arms, she smiled. "Can you show me where the water is?" She would deal with the food later.

Will smiled as Lauri spoke, knowing she would find something.

Trust. Innocence. Youth.

Would this island change him?

Will allowed Lauri to pick him up, wrapping his arms around her neck to make lifting his slight weight easier.

He cuddled against her. Again the trust.

Would it last?

Darret looked at Lauri and Will. "I'll get you some. It's a hard walk. And carrying Will with you wont make things easier." He said. Without giving her time to reply he turned and walked to the shelter. He grabbed a few coconuts and walked into the forest.

At the lake he made a hole in the nuts by smashing them on a pointed rock. And filled them with water. I can't have them know where water is to soon. I got to keep a bargaining chip. He thought to himself and walked back with a few water filled coconuts.

Flickering light shone on to his eyes, disturbing him from his slumber. As soon as the the light penitrates Hao-li's brain, he shoots up.

"Shit, I'm late for sch..."

Hao stops at the sound of his own raspy voice, the sight of the ramshackle hut around him and the stabbing pain burning through his entire body.

And then the last few days hits him and Hao goes down on his ass with a thump.

"Fu*k." he mumbles as the pain of a sore ass adds to his discomfort.

Lauri smiled graciously at Darret as he offered to get the water, although she was a little disappointed that he hadn't offered to show her. A walk around the island would have been a welcomed relief, letting her and Will get away from the pounding waves, that did nothing except bring back memories.

She settled down and watched as the other began to slowly awaken. Another day dawning, would it bring with it any new hope, any new survivors. There had to be more than the few that were sitting on the beach, they couldn't be the only survivors, could they?

She lowered Will to the floor and took hold of his hand, as she looked into the wooded area. She really needed to find something to eat, she couldn't keep relying on all the others. She sighed and waited patiently for Darret to return, her mouth feeling drying as she thought about cool refreshing water.

She looked down at Will and smiled. "He shouldn't be long, then we can have a drink. Then we'll find something to eat." As if on cue, her stomach made some gurgling noises.

After what seemed like an age, Darret appeared carry some water in coconut shells, she took one and gave Will the first sip urging him to drink slowly. Once he had finished, she quenched her own thirst.

She looked up at Darret, her eyes filled with her gratitude. "Thank you."

Will took the coconut gingerly, and drank slowly.

He wanted to climb back into her arms.

Lauri was safe, but Will knew that he was heavy.

Even Daddy couldn't have held him forever.

Will giggled as his sensitive ears picked up on the sounds of Lauri's stomach, sounds his had stopped making some time ago.

He was hungry, yet not.

It was a little confusing.

Waiting for the other to awake, Lauri found herself getting more and more hungry. Gone were the days of waking up and finding breakfast already laid out, when all she had to do was grab a plate and then choose what you wanted to eat.

Suddenly it dawned on her how much in life was taken for granted. How you never really knew what you had until it was snatched away from you. Water from a tap, food from a microwave, a bed. Everyday they were there and yet she never gave them a thought. They were there, that was all that mattered.

She looked down at her dress, and thought of how she complained at its cost, even though she eventually bought it, but now she would pay anything to be able to change into something else. When she returned home she would look at things differently, she would appreciate what she had.

If I ever see home again.

She sighed as she thought of home, needing to feel the warm embraces of her family and friends. She looked down at Will, his bravery making her feel guilty as she dwelled on losing luxuries when he had lost his family. Fighting back the tears that always threatened to fall when she thought of his loss, she picked him up and made her way over to the shelter.

"I think we should check out this island." She addressed no one in particular, just anyone who was awake and listening. "There could be others who need our help, and we need to find food." She looked at the others waiting for their response.

Darret came back to the shelter with the coconuts filled with water.
"Here." He said and tossed one to Lauri. The dropped the rest of the nuts at the shelter. He sat down with his back against a tree and closed his eyes. Trying to enjoy the sun.

Mikey had been woken up as much by thirst as by the noise of the people. He was rather paniced to realise just how much it had taken to wake him... he would never have let this happen at home.

The thirst was a problem, though. The poison-water his master had fallen into was not good to drink... not at all. But the people seemed to be drinking something... from one of those very hard fruit-things.

Spying several more, he said "oook?" and crept up to where the coconuts lay discarded. Investigating, he discovered that they contained water like the people's did... so he began to drink.

Hao-li exited the make-shift shack with a cocanut filled with water in hand and entered into a tropical paradice.

"Fu*ken' irony." he muttered to himself and look around.

Ahead of him, the woman, Lauri he thought her name was, walked towards him with the small child.

"I think we should check out this island." Hao-li heard her say.

"Where's Daniel?" he replied.

"I'm here." Daniel said as he walked out of the shelter behind Hao-li, also holding a water filled coconut. "And I agree with Lauri, we should find everything we can about this island. We're going to be spending a long time here, I bet."

He shuddered at that thought; almost like

[Amber]

something had walked over his grave.

"Well... now that's a cheery though." he said, trying to cover both his discomfort and to try and brighten them up.

After all, that's what he would have done

["Leave the emotional crap until AFTER you've survived."]

before the sinking.

Lauri watched fascinated as the little monkey moved out of the trees, and over to the water filled coconuts, helping itself to a drink, quenching its thirst. She wondered if it was the same one from the previous day.

Turning her attention to Daniel and Hao-Li, she nodded sadly at the thought of being stranded here, she too felt that it would be a while before they were rescued; a tiny part inside of her couldn't help imagining the worst. What if they were never rescued? The thought of growing old and dying here chilled her to the bone.

"Should we spilt up or should be go together as a group?" She looked at the people standing around her. Her desire to be off the beach evident, as she looked at Will, sitting quietly in her arms.

"I guess together. We don't know how big this island is and I don't really fancy getting lost here.." he said looking around vaguely.

"He's right." Daniel said, taking another sip from his coconut.

'Ironic how you alway see people using coconuts for so many things in castaway movies. I bet most people thought that was fake. Well, at least I know the truth.' He mused to himself.

"It's bad enough we're stranded. We'd better avoid being stranded and alone too.

OOC: YAY!! I CAN POST AGAIN!!

Looking around the group, Lauri was more than a little relieved that everyone felt the same as her. The idea of splitting up, losing half the group had terrified her. She knew that she was going to be a bit of trouble to the others as she had to look after Will, but she wanted to help, this was her home as much as anyone elses.

She cuddled the boy close to her, feeling his warmth against her body. Her stomach growled as it reminded her of her need for food. She looked at Will, and smiled before running her hand over his head.

"Do you think we should try to find some food first?" Her stomach rumbled again, stressing its point.


[ooc: welcome back Vyse King of Rogues]

Will nodded at Lauri's last, his stomach had been rumbling again too.

He giggled when Lauri's stomach rumbled though, and he leaned against her.

Trust. The most important thing to a child. An adult he could trust in, believe in.

He had lost them all in the storm, the loss of the ship. But had he found a new one?

Only time would tell, but for now, Will trusted Lauri. The others, though, he wasn't so sure about.

Lauri stood and watched the others as they made their preparations to leave the camp. Beyond the beach there was a whole island of possibilities, or danger. Her heart sank as she realised that this place may not be the paradise that it's first impression gave.

She hugged Will to her, as the group collected themselves together, making arrangements as to the general direction they were going to take. Moments later they left the beach, moving deeper into the greenery.

Never having been out of contact with people for very long, Mikey set off after the group, shadowing them from the tree-tops with the occational "ook".

OOC Whether or not "ook" translates as Bump is a matter for debate amoungst scientists. :)

Lauri moved deeper into the greenery, Will held tightly to her body as she moved slowly behind the rest of the party, leaving it to their expert guidance to see her safely to wherever they were going.

Every time they entered a clearing or moved around a tree or rock out-cropping she hoped that they would run into another survivor, none more so that the father of the young boy holding tightly to her neck. She smiled at him, looking into his little face.

ooc: hey, is it too late for me to join? Maybe you can find someone else.

[ooc: Feel free to join, but character must be standard human, non-military]

Giovanni ran through the dense foliage, his heart pounding in his chest. The pain in his rib cage was immense, yet he kept running. His throat was raw from a lack of fresh water and the rapid inhalation of so much stale morning air, yet he kept running. The sound of human voices was enough to instil solid motivation into the most comatose of individuals.

He kept running.....until his legs burned and his chest ached and his knees gave out. Exhausted, his legs were no longer strong enough to support his frame, and he collapsed into the scornful sand.

To ears that had heard it before, the sound of a body collapsing on the sand was like a bellow.

"Hey, guys, you hear that?"

Darret opened his eyes for a second and closed them again. "Just a coconut falling. No need to worry." He said.

"You sure man? I dunno about coconut's, but I've heard bodies fall before..."

Hao-li falls flat on his face as he trips over a *BuMp*

The noise certainly sounded different than a coconut falling, it seem more like a dull thud, like a person who'd drunk too much at a party losing the battle with gravity. She looked over at the others in the group, wondering briefly what to do, not that they really had any choice.

"We should investigate." Her voice containing a note of hope. "It could be someone in trouble. We should make sure." She waited for the others to reach their decision.

"I think so to." Hao-li replied a bit firmer, but then looked at Daniel. "What do you think man?"

"I think we should check it out. It sounded like someone collapsing. Trust me, where I come from, you hear that all the time."

Noticing no one about to lead the way, Lauri took the initiative and lead the group through the bushes, moving in what she thought was the direction the noise had come from. She looked around at the others, as the followed.

"I think we should spread out." She waved her arm in front of her, her other wrapped around Will. "They could be anywhere, and we don't want to miss them if they are injured." As continued moving forward, her eyes fixed to the ground, praying that they found what they looking for.

Hao-li followed the woman with the child.

On an island as un-explored as this one, dangers could lurk anywere and their small group could not afford to lose anyone else.

Of course, he had other reasons for his caution, one now lieing bured on this island, maggots eating away at her stomach, worms diving through her fa-

["Shut up! Stop whining. Survival first, THEN you can bitch about your 'emotions'."]

-ce.

Hao-li *BuMpS* into the woman.

Lauri continued to make her way through the shrubbery, watching the ground all around her for signs of life or the object behind the noise. She held Will tightly, carefully making sure that none of the branches and twigs didn't hit him as they moved.

She could here the others walking along their paths, seeking like herself. She lightly placed her hand over her stomach as it growled again, wondering whether they should have eaten before setting out.

But then we would have missed the sound. It must have been Fate.

She pushed on through the greenery, suddenly coming out into a clearing, as she saw some of the others breaking through. There on the ground was the body of a man. Unable from her position to see whether he was alive or dead, she watch as one of the others moved forward.

"Is he alive?" Her voice trembled with the question, her heart filled with hope that they wouldn't have to bury another today.

Hao-Li moved to the side of the downed man and felt for the pulse.

A slight thudding made itself felt under his fingers.

"I think so... his pulse feels extreamly weak though."

Lauri watched as Hao-Li checked the man for vitals, calming herself as he called out that he was alive. Taking deep breaths the bring her heartbeat down to a normal rate.

She lowered Will to the floor, and holding his hand, she moved a little closer. She made sure that he was positioned behind her, unable to see a clear view of the man lying in front of them, in case it reminded him of his mother's death.

Not that he needs reminding, she thought, as she ruffled his hair with her fingers.

"He's probably dehydrated or something." She felt the growing heat of the sun, breaking through into the clearing. "He needs some water."

Will sees the man, and doesn't object when Lauri puts him down, or hides him behind her.

He stayed where she put him, silent, afraid, but reassured as she ruffled his hair.

Carefully, he checks over the body. No broken bones, no visible wounds...

"I think he's safe to move. We should get him back to the camp and get some water into him."

Lauri looked at the prone man lying in front of them, her relief evident as she brought herself back into a calm state, her heart resuming its usual beat rhythm.

She offered her hand to Wil, keeping him close to her, as she looked at Hao-Li. "There must be water nearer than the beach, that would mean doubling back on ourselves." She let her eyes wander over the others. "But his health is more important. Okay let's go back."

She felt her heart sink at the thought of seeing the ocean again so soon.

Gently, Hao lifts the man into a firemen's carry.

"Geez... you'd think he'd weigh less after all the water's gone..." He mumbled to himself before speaking up. "Lead the way Ms."

Giovanni breaks in and out of consciousness. His entire body is drained, sore, and dehydrated.

Completely unaware of the people around him, or even the one carrying him, he starts to mumble to himself.

'Geez... what the hell is this guy saying?' Hao-li thought to himself.

"Chiara!!, dove tu???.....", he mumbled.

Lauri picks up Wil, and takes the lead of the group as they begin to work their way back to the beach. She talks to the little boy in her arms, pointing out objects of interest and pretty things as they go to keep both their thoughts away from their growling stomachs.

They arrived back at the beach a short while later. Lauri pointed to the shelter, indicating for Hao-Li to place the injured man there, while she walked over to the coconut shells filled with water, and picked one up. She lowered Wil onto the sand, as she handed the natural cup to Hao-Li.

"How is he?" Her voice was edged with concern, as she listened to the man's incoherent mumblings.

Will watched the strange man with some fascination, as his words didn't seem to make sense.

Didn't everyone speak at least some Common Speech by now?

He knew that is what it was called, at least at home.

Lotsa people called it English, for some reason, though.

Not that that mattered.

He sat in the sand quietly, drawing pictures with his finger as the older people fussed over the man.

Darret opened his eyes slightly and look at the injured man. "Big coconut." He joked and slowly got up. "Is he allright?"

"I don't know... I think he's suffering from dehydration, cause I don't see any real bad marks on him."

He recieved the cocanut with a thanks, and cupping his hand to make sure as little water as possible spilled out, he gently wetted the man's lips and mouth.

Lauri watched silently as Hao-li tended the man, biting her lips as she focused on the water trickling into his dry mouth, waiting for signs of improvement, as if expecting him to jump up onto his feet as soon as the liquid enters his body.

She turns to see what Will is doing, and she smiles to herself as she sees him drawing in the sand. Content that he is happy for the moment, she moves closer to Hao-li. "Do you think he'll be alright?" She stared down into the man's face, her brow furrowing as she scanned over his body.

Suddenly she turns her attention to Darrett, standing off to one side. "Would you be able to get some more water, as you seem to know where it is?"

She felt her stomach rumble again, the meal from the previous day just a distant memory, as she turned to the others. "I think we need to find food." She nodded in the prone man's direction. "He's gonna need some too."

"Okay." Darret said as he slowly got up and grabbed a few more coconuts and ran off, when he was far out of site he started walking again, mainly to give the illusion the water is far away. Once he arrived he drank some water first himself, his throat was a little dry, not as dry as the others though.
When he filled the coconuts and ran back. Arriving back at the camp panting he handed Lauri the coconuts with water and bend over leaning on his knees breathing hard. He put up quite a show faking his mild exhaustion even more.

The longer they din't know where the water was the better. He'd be a lot fitter and stronger and thus would be able to grap the rule.

"I dunno.. he might be. I wish I'd paid more attention when they were talking about this..."

Once the lips and the surrounding tissue was wetted to a satisfactory amount, so as to not crack and bleed when the mouth was opened, Hao cracked the man's jaw open and gently delivered additional water to the dried inner cheek.

"I think they said to always go slowly and to make sure to wet everything down first, but I *REALLY* wish I had paid more attention."

"You are doing great."

Lauri smiled at Hao-li, as he administered first aid to the sick man, then she let her eyes return to their vigil of the water slowly slipping into his mouth, watching for signs of movement.

She broke her gaze, turning to the others in the group. Her stomach promoting the urgency of her next request.

"We need to find some food. There must be ample around here to keep us going until we can find a permanent source."

She crouched down and spoke to Will, smiling as she looked at him, her hand gently stroking his cheek.

"Shall we find something to eat?"

Hao-li vaguely hears her talk as he consintrates on his task, but he mumbles that it was probalby a good idea.

*Bump*

Lauri looks at the group, waiting for one of them to make a move, to take control of the group, to even make a small suggestion of where they should being to look for food. But they stood there silent, all watching the injured man getting cared for my Hao-li. There was nothing for it, the cabaret singer was going to have to take charge.

"Okay, we'll head out the way we started when we came upon him," she indicated the fallen man with her head. "There has to be a supply of food on here somewhere. Their are animals, we've heard them since yesterday."

She watched as the other began shifting silently, remain quiet as she waited for a response she didn't think was going to come. She waited for a moment, her gurgling belly rushing her on.

"Okay, let's go!" She turned to Hao-li. "Are you staying with him?"

The man started to sputter alittle.

"He's out of danger for now..."

The women turned to him and asked, "Are you staying with him?"

Hao-li considered.

"No, I think the others can take better care of him right now than I can. Where you headed off to?"

Lauri pointed back towards the trees, where they had moments ago emerged with the ill man, who was now showing more signs of improvement.

"I thought we'd go that way. Who knows, maybe we will find a better place to camp." She looked at him, her face rigid, but her eyes reflecting her fear of the unknown. "Unless someone has any better ideas." Her eyes cast over her fellow survivors.

(OOC: wow.. guess everyone is gone, ^^:: )

"I think it sounds pretty reasonable."

He bows from the waist and sweeps his arms towards the trees in a joking manner, "After you ma'am" before thinking about how out of place and silly it looked after getting ship wreaked on a Tropical Island.

'Are you flirting? So fast? wow man, you're getting over her fa..'

'Shut UP. I'll never forget.'

Will trailed along behind Lauri, silently, staring in horror at the body, so still, so limp.

He wanted to help, but he was afraid. He was too young, too small.

But he remained quiet, forcing back his tears.

Big boys didn't cry, after all.

Lauri laughed at Hao-Li, for possibly the first time since this whole nightmare had begun. Not that the situation had really given her much reason to be cheerful. Still, seeing his exaggerated bow and his chivalry reminded her that she wasn't really that removed from her civilisation.

She lead the way into the bushes, her hand instinctively searching for Will's. If she had stopped for a moment to think of her actions, she might have been surprised how quickly her mothering instincts had kicked in, but she didn't so was blissfully unaware of this change in her. In the past, only her own happiness had mattered, and her career.

Holding a large branch back, waiting for the others to move through before letting it go, hearing the swooshing sound as it returned to its original position, hiding all trace of their movements. She lead them back the way they had been an hour of so before, spotting familiar sights, until they reached the spot they had found the injured man.

She turned to the others, a kind of scared but trying not to be look on her face. Her voice was light as she spoke. "I guess it's all new ground from here. Let's be careful, and keep your eyes open for any others that might be...around."

((I'm sorry I haven't posted on here for a while. I will make a big fat post to make up for it, but for now you'll have to settle for a big fat BuMp.))

It was good to hear laughter after all the death.

Tromping behind the forms of the woman (he knew that she had a name, but for all his memory, he couldn't remember) and the little boy that she walked hand in hand with.

Moments to ponder and think had been rare up till now, perhaps a good thing, but now, he did have time to think.

And think Hao-li did as he followed the pair.

Only to be wacked by a branch swinging back into place.

'so much for thinking' he though as he grabbed his face and groaned.

Turning round at his cry, it didn't take Lauri long to realise what had happned. So deep in her task had she become, that she had let the branches go forgetting all about the people behind her.

"Oh! I'm..." She raised her hand to her mouth, a shocked look on her face, eyes reflecting her guilt. "I'm so sorry. I was thinking." She stood in front of him, Will standing close beside her. "Let me see."

Her eyes were running over his face, looking for damage, cuts or scratches. At first glance she couldn't see anything, but then she wasn't a doctor.

Normally, perhaps he might not have laughed. After all, a branch to the face sting liks a bi*ch, but... in this situation...

He started to chuckle alittle. The chuckles turn to stomach cramping laughter.

It's not that the situation was really funny, but, it just was.

"Its... ok... I'm really.... fine." he croaks out in between laughter and gasps for air.

Standing, staring at him, Lauri was more than a little puzzled when he started to laugh. She looked at him, his ever increasing laughter. But as always happens when someone near you being to laugh, she felt the sides of her lips move up at the sides.

Fighting to stop herself, she bite her lip, the urge to laugh getting stronger and stronger, as she tried to remain concerned. But as his laughter became louder, she lost the fight, and within seconds was giggling along with him. Until eventually, she was in as bad a state as him, unable to speak, unable to move. Just laughing.

This was not connected to just him, this was the joy of survival, the delight that she had survived what the sea had thrown at her, that she was here to see another day, another dawn, that her life would go on, even as she mourned her friends that had not been so lucky.

As if in a bid to bring her back to Earth, her stomach rumbled drawing her attention to more important things.

"Are you alright?" She asked as soon as she was able to form the words.

He was still chuckling as he rolled over towards her to get up.

"I think I'm ok. But, I think next time, we're gonna have to watch for those flying branches." he says with a small grin and a chuckle.

Hao hoists himself up then turns back and offers her a hand up.

Taking his hand, she allows Hao to help her back onto her feet, suddenly feeling a little foolish for her bahaviour. Brushing off the bits of dust from her dress, looking down realising that it needed more than her hand to make it ever look clean. She ran her hand through her hair, fingers catching in countless knots.

What do I look like?

She smiled at Hao, nodding her consent as she spoke. "Right, no more branches." She held her hand out in front of her, indicating the way ahead. "Perhaps it would be easier if you went first?"

Taking hold of Will's hand, she looked down at him, checking that he was still alright. She was amazed by the braveness of the little boy standing beside her. Hungry and parentless. How did a child deal with that?

'What was that, eh? Like I said, no regrets, no thoughts about her. You've just moved on haven't you? Her body's not even cold in the ground yet!'

He mumbles to himself: "shut up shut up shutup."

The voice just sneered.

And then another.

'This is NOT the time to think about it son.'

Looking down at the small boy, he asks, perhaps to try and quiet the voices, "How you feeling kid?"

Lauri frowned, staring at Hao. By the look on his face, he had recovered from his laughter and had perhaps come to far back the other way. She heard his mumbling, but couldn't quite make it out. Not wanting to pry, she tried to think of something else to say, but failed miserable.

Her relief was evident when he turned to Will. She stood watching the two of them, her mind returning to the woman he had carried to the beach. Was it his wife, girlfriend, lover? How did you offer someone comfort, when you needed it yourself?

"Shall we get going?" She felt the growing heat on her skin, even though they were shaded by a canopy of green. "If we don't find something to eat soon, I'm going to start nibbling leaves." Trying to make light of the situation, but she was really quite concerned.

The kid didn't answer, but just stood there, stairing at him.

'guess all of us are hurting one way or another.'

"I dunno, I hear leaves are high in Protein." he said in response to her lightness. "but I also hear the taste like shit."

He gave the girl and the kid a slight smile and started walking again.

Licking her lips, Lauri looked at a couple of the leaves as she passed, suddenly dreaming of proper food, like the boar they had eaten last night, the taste a distant memory. Her stomach growled again, and she silently berated herself for allowing her mind to dwell on food.

"I'll keep that thought in mind, but there may come a time when my mouth won't care what it tastes like." She pulled a wry face. "I just hope it never comes to that."

She bent down, and lifted Will into her arms, saving his energy. To distract him from his own hunger, she began to point out birds and unusual plants to him.

As if summoned by her hungry thoughts, a wild piglet burst out of the surrounding vegitation and raced across their path, squelling in sheer terror.

"Didn't think pigs ran like that unless something was chasing them."

The predator appeared, as if being called by Hao-li's thoughts and in an instant, forgot about the wild pig.

"Ah shit."

The piglet rushing through the bushes was enough to startle Lauri, who immediately let out the breath she was holding as she spotting the little creature, feeling alot calmer, until Hao-li spoke. Suddenly her mind was full of vicious creatures.

Seconds later, her vision was too. Standing still, more from panic than any real thought, Lauri clung tightly to Will, grateful that she had decided to pick him up when she did.

Her voice was little above a whisper. "Wha...what should..." She swallowed. "we do?"

Darret had waited for the right time and then left back to the old camp as the others went ahead.
Back in the camp he searched for items other people might have left behind, most importantly the gun. If he could get it. Yes that would be good.

The piglet rushing through the bushes was enough to startle Lauri, who immediately let out the breath she was holding as she spotting the little creature, feeling alot calmer, until Hao-li spoke. Suddenly her mind was full of vicious creatures.

Seconds later, her vision was too. Standing still, more from panic than any real thought, Lauri clung tightly to Will, grateful that she had decided to pick him up when she did.

Her voice was little above a whisper. "Wha...what should..." She swallowed. "we do?"

"On the count of three, run to the left. Go back to the camp I'm gonna see if I can distract the bugger." Hao whispered while slowly picking up a rather large branch from the ground.

"1...2...3!"

Lauri stood staring at Hao-li, rooted to the ground. Her mind whirled at his suggestion. If she moved the thing would be attracted to her and Will, and she knew she wouldn't be able to outrun it alone, without having the boy in her arms.

But she trusted Hao, if he said to move, then it must be the right thing for her to do. Taking several deep breaths, then looking at Will, smiling at him, trying to hide her fear, she held him tight.

As the count reached three, she moved left as instructed, not looking back, focusing on her goal to get the two of them back to the beach, and hopefully be in time to get some help. Her guilt at leaving, began to grow. She knew she didn't just have her own safety to think of. It helped her keep going, but she felt no better about herself or her decision.

They say that many animals can smell fear on you and there is few things less fearfull than a full fledge flight.

And so, as the predator lauched itself after the woman, Hao-li brought the stick up and smashed it into the animal's face.

Well, that was the plan anyways.

It seemed almost impossible, but the predator managed, in mid flight, to twist itself and instead of catching the stick in the face, managed to catch it on the shoulder.

For that moment, the predator seemed stunned. In those moments, thoughts struck his brain, thoughts that sounded like his father... or his Master Corpereal.

'What do you have? no knife? no weapons? no way to survive? Live to fight another day private.'

And so in those moments, Hao-li droped the big stick and ran.

Lauri wasn't sure how long she'd been running for, or what distance they had actually covered before coming up against the predator, but it felt like she'd completed a marathon when she finally reached the beach, collapsing onto the sand, breathless.

Gasping as she tried to bring her breathing to normal, she looked at Will, who was now on the ground beside her. Suddenly remembering Hao-li, she spun round the way she came, watching the bushes, listening for sounds. Her heart beating loudly in her ears, making the distinquishing of noise a little tricky.

As if a solution had been found, Lauri took hold of Will's hand guiding them both to the camp, looking at the others present. "The gun! Someone get the gun!" She stopped, still fighting for breath. "We've got to help Hao! He's in trouble!"

Will had never been so frightened before.

He didn't know what was going on. Lauri was scared. Everyone was scared. Well, the man had been scared too.

He felt tossed about a Lauri ran, him in her arms, but he knew, somehow, that she would keep him safe.

Hao-Li was panting hard and appreasheating every second of the PT runs he had had to do in the army.

Behind him, however, he could still hear the footsteps of the predator.

"Gotta move, gotta move..."

It seemed like an eternity before anyone seemed to register and react to her concerned, the whole camp suddenly coming alive at once. A search began for the gun, frantic people tossing the few possessions they had as they looked for weapon, which did not show itself.

Lauri watched the bewildered looks appear on the faces of the people around her, each one looking at the other with a kind of suspicion but no one spoke it allowed, no one questioned their fellow survivor.

"Damn it! We have to do something." She looked around the beach, looking for a way to help Hao, the only thing to hand were a few empty coconut shells. "Rocks! We need something to throw at it!"

Searching the area, several decent sized projectiles were located, and gathered by those on the beach. Minutes later, they were making their way back through the bushes.

Please don't let us be too late!

Will collapsed to the ground, shivering in fright as the adults moved about him, searching for a weapon.

He was curled into a ball, rocking on the sand.

It had been so scary, just like the other night, when the ship...

Will still didn't cry, nor did he speak. He just silently rocked back and forth on the sand, trembling in fear.

Making their way slowly through the bush, Lauri suddenly realised her foolishness, more than that her desertion. Looking down beside her, she no longer saw Will. She looked around her, searching to see if he had wandered off slightly, but when she thought about it, she couldn't recall seeing him from the moment they had arrived back at the beach.

What have I done?

She had forgotten him totally. In her concern for Hao, she had neglected her duty to the little boy currently in her charge. She shouted over to the others, informing them that she had to go back to the beach, she had to return. Hao could look after himself, she knew that Will couldn't.

Let him be alright.

Running, she made it back to the beach in no time, spotting the boy huddled on the sand, as she broke through the bushes. She ran to him, scooping him into her arms, holding him close.

"Will, I'm so sorry." She kissed his head gently. "I'm so sorry."

Gaining... gaining... gaining. It was gaining on him. Meter by meter, he was losing ground.

The Body, aware that it was in a flight situation did what it had to. Oxygen levels to the brain dropped and the oxygen instead went to the muscles that needed it.

ooc: I'm terribly sorry, really I am, but I have found myself with such little time to RP as of late that I can no longer participate effectively in this thread. I am sorry for the inconvience, and if anyone wants to take over my character to preserve continuity they are more than welcome to. Goodbye and goodluck.

OOC: that's ok, I think I'm about to die anyways,. ^^::

Edit: Oh won't somebody come to my character's Rescue? *faints*. lol.

[ooc: as most of the other players have left, I am taking the liberty of using their characters as NPCs, I have permission from Diablo NL to control his character out right.]

They were no longer walking, picking up pace as they heard the noise up ahead the group could hear the chase. The sound of bodies brushing past bushes, snapping twigs and rustling leaves, could be made out up ahead.

Stopping out of sight, a couple climbing trees to improve their view, giving them a better aim. Darret took himself up to a shielded from the others in the party, just in time to see the man and beast break into the open. From his viewpoint he could see that the man had little chance of surviving for long.

Watching he saw the others beginning to pummel the animal with the projectiles they had gathered, giving the man a chance to gain a little respite as the animal slowed as its body took a beating. Growling louder, its anger rising, its pain showing as it made a move against another of the party.

Just for a moment, Darret considered remaining where he was, before raising the gun and finishing the beast of with a shot to the head. It stopped mid-leap, falling to the floor, catching his victim with his claw scratching a wound through thigh flesh.

Concealing the gun about his person, Darret jumped down from the tree, as the others in the group split between helping the injured and dealing with the felled beast. There would be meat on the menu tonight...