On Our Own

Lita:

I held my sister's hand as we walked. "Should we set up a camp here then?" I asked uncertainly, looking up to Will for guidance as he was the oldest.

I look around quietly at our surroundings. This place didnt seem right. "I dont like it here. Id rather get to a beach. But Jackie is right. We've been going in circles. Better stay here until the sun comes up." I nod a little and start kicking away some of the dead leafs and sticks, clearing a small areas for us to camp out. I grabbed some wood and made a fire put while jackie continued detail cleaning the area, making sure everything was smooth enough to relax here for the night.

Lita:

I helped Will and Jackie clear to make a space for the four of us. Mina hovered next to me, not helping so much as being in the way. Her eyes were wide and scared as she watched the dark woods. I couldn’t blame her, she didn’t cope with things as well as I did.

After we set up camp Jackie all but passed out. The kid could sleep on a bed of nails with no issue. I roll my eyes a bit and sit down jn front of the fire, keeping it at bay. Both for warmth and light. "You guys get some sleep," I say blankly to Mina and Lita. " I can keep watch. Dont want to get attacked or anything, no clue whats on this island"

Lita:

Mina took a bit of coaxing to lay down and relax but once she did she fell asleep quickly. I laid close to her making sure she was safe. “Wake me up if something happens, and I can take over when you’re tired Will.” I said tiredly. My lungs still ached from getting salt water in them earlier, I only noticed it now after having a minute to lay there and do nothing.

I glance over to Lita as she spoke, "Ill make sure nothing happens. other than that, Get some rest, I can probably hold out for the night." I say quietly as to not wake up Mina or Jackie. I was probably the best off so far, as i didnt almost drown or fall out of a tree. They needed more R&R than I did.

Lita:

It took a while of laying in the silence before I could fall asleep, even then I slept lightly and stirred with every sound.

I stayed awake throughout the night, alone with my own thoughts as everyone was asleep. It wasnt something I enjoyed doing often, as I wasnt exactly alone in my thoughts. The doctors agreed I suffered from split personality, but it was a rare occasion that it came to fruition. All i knew was that as i stayed watch, it kept itching in the back of my mind, occasionally uttering nonsense. Every once in a while i stood up to walk around the makeshift camp site, grabbing more firewood, and returning to my spot. I drew absently in the dirt with a small stick, not big enough to help the fire at all. Eventually I saw the inkling of sunlight coming through the treetops, thankfully nothing happened in the night

Lita:

I woke with a jolt to a scream from my sister. “Mina!” I went to her drawing energy to create a shield around the two of us. When I realized she was having a night terror and she wasn’t actually in trouble I let it drop. She woke up disoriented and clung to me in terror. “Hey, hey, it’s okay, we’re okay.” I held onto her and rubbed her back.

I reacted when i heard a scream, jumping up- my hands holding two balls of ember, thrashing around to see any sort of danger in the radius of our camp. I felt Jackie's hand grip my arm after a second. "Hey, its ok, its just Mina." He says in a slow voice, I let the fire die out and nod slowly, relaxing again. Jackie gave me a small smile and knelt down beside Lita and Mina, trying to comfort Mina a little. I glance down at them and then back up at our surroundings. I hated this forest. I kept feeling we were being watched

bump

((I'm so bad at this. I'm sorry Ethan, I swear I've been meaning to reply for months...))

Lita:

I hugged my sister and murmured soothingly to her as fat tears welled up in her eyes. “I'm sorry,” She mumbled to everyone brokenly. “Hey, it's okay. It's getting lighter, why don't we try to make it to the beach now? I'm sure everyone will feel more at ease there.” I said with a glance to Will for reassurance.

(Hey no worries. I dont do too much roleplaying at the moment, sort of dropped out of most group ones XD i can wait for replies.)
Jackie
I glance away from Mina, joining Lita in her gaze over at Will. He looked out of it, drained and paranoid. "I think that would probably do some good.." i reply for him after a moment, looking at Lita. I see will move in my peripheral, going up to a tree and placing his hand there. After a moment he took it away, showing he branded it with heat, the bark becoming burnt.
"Going to start leaving a trail.. i think we kept going in circles." He says quietly.

Lita:

I helped my sister up to her feet and we both brushed off the dirt. The four of us were rather disheveled. “Smart thinking.” I nodded to Will. “I think you're right about the circling, hopefully in the daylight it will be easier to find our way.”

"Hopefully." Will responded blankly, I couldnt help but hear a bit of doubt in his voice. "Which way?" He asks, looking back at the three of us after removing his hand from the tree.

"Uhhh... gut feeling says that way" I say jabbing my thumb to the right of us. Will nodded and started walking in that direction.

"I'll lead for now, might as well keep marking the way we are going." He grumbled as he passed. Obviously the situation starting to eat away at his mood. Understandable. I look back at Lita and Mina with a half smile and shrug, following Will away from our makeshift camp.

Lita:

I nudged my sister to follow them bringing up the back. I scanned the tropical brush with watchful eyes, weary of any danger. I would feel better once we were at rest on the beach.

There were strange growths on some of the trees we past. It took me a little while to realize they might be fruit of some kind, a thought that made my empty belly growl.

“Hey… What do mangoes look like?” I asked the group ahead of me as I peered at a tree some feet from our path. “Yellow cubes.” Answered Mina helpfully. “Remember? They used to put them in that fruit salad.”

Jackie
The mention of food made me realize i was getting hungry as well. "Im pretty sure they are cubes because the are cut... Maybe im wrong, but id imagine mangoes are like apples." I say, trying to think. But I had been in the facility from such a young age i didnt really remember. And Will wasnt much of a fruit eater, cant imagine he would know. I reach out and pull one of the fruits from the trees as we pass it, tossing it around from hand to hand. "I dont know.. seems like it may be safe to eat"

Mina:

“Isn't that how people die?  Poison berries and what not?”  I looked suspiciously at the fruit.  “Maybe we would cook it first.  You know, to get rid of the salmonella.”  I scrunched my nose, despite the emptiness of my belly.  

Lita

“You don't cook mango.”  I put a small shield between the fruit and the stem and it fell into my waiting hand.  “You think I should bite into it?”  I asked Will.

Will
I glance back at the others when i realized they asked me something. I had been zoning out a little, marking trees with the burns to keep our place marked. I quickly caught up with what they were talking about and made a small face, trying not to just shrug as an answer. "I.... dont know? It looks like mango, yeah, but I probably know just as much as you guys about eating food out here. I would almost try to wait for-" I was interupted by my own stomach growling as well. "Getting fish..."

Jackie
"Ill try it." I offer, "if it makes me sick its not like i will slow you guys down too much." I was the smallest one out of the group, next to Mina. Will could carry me if needed, nothing he hasnt done before.

Lita:

“Don't die.” Mina murmured but looked at him expectantly. I held my mango in hand waiting for Jackie to take the first bite. The fresh tropical smell only made the anticipation and hunger worse.

Jackie
I make a small face, looking down at the fruit before exhaling slowly. I bring it up and take a decent sized bite out of it, immediately digging in more afterward. It was sweet, my stomach growling a little as it had been a while since i ate. "i think its fine, honestly. tastes good, i dont feel sick or anything"

Lita:

I watched him take a few more bites before taking a chunk out of mine. The rind was bitter, but the squishy fruit on the inside was sweet, like the mangoes I remembered from fruit salad. I picked the peel away then handed it to my sister.

“Mmm.” She murmured as she ate. I smiled then looked up to target the yellow fruits above. It took minimal energy to sever the stems with my shields. I gathered them up as the fell.

“Heads up.” I nodded to Will before severing a clump above him.

Will
I look up and catch the fruit Lita dropped down, immediately digging into one like the others. It had been so long since I had eaten. "good call on checking these... do we have anything we can carry these in? Im sure it would be useful to take along."

"I could technically just keep them suspended, if we wanted." Jackie piped in, wiping his mouth as he finished another piece of fruit. "Lita and I could work together, I keep them suspended and she can keep a small shield around them. probably stay fresh longer that way, hm?" he suggested with a small smile, glad to think of something that could work.

(i forgot all about this my bad)

bump, maybe)