Miranda looked over at Jason, "Will she be alright?" Jason seemed to know the girl well. Perhaps the girl had an obsession with horses she thought wryly. A lot of girls did.

Jack her stomping footsteps and tilting his slightly, he peaked an eye open. Jessica was back and it didn't look like she had enjoyed the walk. Whispering to Kae, he said, "Kae, your number one patient is back."

Morning dawned, bringing with it the harsh realization: they were stranded on an unknown island with no way to leave. Shayera sat with her chin on her knees in front of the long-dead fire and stared into space. She had been brave while on the ship and in the water, but she couldn't keep it up. Tears threatened to flow, but couldn't. Turmoil raged inside of her between absolute terror and anger at herself for not holding up better. No one else was sitting here having a nervous breakdown! They were all brave, especially Jessica with her shoulder. She could have easily died, yet she leapt after the wild horse and almost killed herself without thinking. As the others had tended to her friend, Shayera had stood there numb with fear and unable to move. Only when the others were almost out of sight had she snapped out of her paralysis and followed. When she got back to the beach, they were all lying down again, seeming to sleep the night away. Unable to close her eyes, Shayera had trudged to the fire and fell down to her knees beside it, watching during the night as the embers grew cold.

The salty breeze blew her dark red hair and she sighed, filled with sadness. Would she ever see her family again? Her home? Her room? How was she, the most non-outdoorsy girl in the world, hope to survive in a place like this? As the tears finally started to flow, she laid her head down on her knees and cried for what seemed like forever.

Jason shook his head, looking after Jessica as she disappeared into the darkness. "I am sure she'll be fine. She usually has a good head on her shoulders, but life has been rough on her." He shrugged. "Let's head back and get some sleep," he said with a smile for Miranda.

Jessica opened her eyes, waking at dawn like she had done for years now. She noticed Shayera sitting desolately by the fire. She sat up and moved to the girl's side. "How are you holding up?" She whispered.

Shayera didn't look up, not wanting Jessica to see her weakness. "I'm fine," the lie muffled by her knees. The tears had dried by now, she was so thirsty she didn't have enough water to keep crying. She had been in such a daze the night before, she hadn't even gotten a drink with the others, just stood off to the side. "How are you feeling?" she asked, her head still down.

Miranda woke up and slowly rolled over. Morning light filtered across her face and the sea breeze tugged at her hair. Sitting up, she saw that Shayera and Jessica were up. Not really a morning person but needing to answer nature's call, she stumbled to her feet and headed into the trees.

Jack heard the low murmur of voices and someone walking. Blinking open his eyes, he saw Miranda disappear into the trees. Sitting up and stretching, he got up and headed for the nearby creek. Kneeling in the sand at it's edge, Jack splashed his face and then cupped his hands, letting the cool water reflect his face a moment before splashing it over his head.

Jessica nodded slowly. The black stallion had danced through her dreams all night and she couldn't explain why she felt connected to the horse. She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the thoughts. I'm thristy, you want to get some water?" she asked, realizing that she hadn't actually drank anything in the craziness last night.

Being sure her face was dry, Shayera lifted her head and nodded. They rose from the fire and walked quietly walked out of camp, noticing that Jack and Miranda were gone. As they walked, the details that she hadn't seen during the night came alive in the morning light. The palm trees on the beach turning into a more wooded forest farther into the island, the colorful birds singing their songs of morning, and the strange flowers blooming bright and clear. It was a beautiful place! If she had to be marooned on an island, this wasn’t bad! Coming to the little creek, she saw that Jack was already there, splashing water on his face.

Jack looked up and smiled cheerfully at the two. The morning light played upon their hair giving them an extra glow. "Good morning Jessica. Shayera." He stood and wiped the water onto his pants before stretching out. The cool morning air felt so good to him that he couldn't help but feel positive.

---------- Post added 10-15-2012 at 12:43 PM ----------

Miranda finished her business and started looking around. If this place was like most islands, there was a good chance of rainshowers everyday for about 10 minutes. It wouldn't hurt to get an idea of what was available for them shelter wise. So far, not much in the way of natural shelter. They most likely were going to have to build a shelter.

Jessica smiled, though some what guardedly, at Jack. She hoped that he hadn't heard about her stupidity from the night before. "Morning," she said, kneeling to drink. She heard a snort and looked up to see the stallion standing a little ways off. In broad daylight she was able to get a better look at him. He was a gorgeous, tall animal, standing at least 15 hands at the withers. His coat glistened a solid black and muscles rippled under the silk of his hair. His brown eyes, when you could see them through the lush, long forelock, burned with intelligence and spirit. This was a horse that, if you could win his trust, would fight to the death for you.

His eyes were locked onto her and he seemed to call to her. Jessica stood and made her way slowly towards the stallion, her eyes always watching him and reading his movements. The stallion tossed his head and took a step back. Jessica stopped still holding her hand out to him. "Come on friend," she breathed. "I'm not going to hurt you."

Jack's breathe caught. It was a beautiful creature, but a wild stallion nevertheless. As magnificent as his glistening coat, powerful muscles, and graceful form were, he was also a creature of dangerous power. Watching Jessica walk towards the stallion sent fiery beams of fear through him for her safety. Why couldn't she do the sane thing and watch him from a distance. Yet he stayed rooted where he was. Any movements on his part now would put her in more harm's way.

Miranda proudly walked onto the beach with her arms full of bananas. Coming to a stop, she stared at Jessica and the stallion. Gorgeous creature, but, what was Jessica doing? Stifling the urge to scream out a warning, she looked over at Jack and Shayera. Surely they would do something, right? They weren't going to let Jessica go right up to him. What if he had some disease and she got bit.

Shayera stood rooted to the spot. Jessica was walking towards the beautiful black stallion, without a care for her safety. The events of the night before played before Shayera's eyes. Jessica could easily get hurt again or the horse could hurt her! Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Miranda come out of the trees with bananas, but neither she nor Jack were making any move to get Jessica away from the horse. Maybe that was the best thing to do was to stay still and pray that the horse wouldn't kill her friend. Jessica stopped a few feet away from her, holding her hand out.

Jessica's eyes seemed locked on the stallion, almost as if in a trance. "Jessica," Shayera whispered softly, hoping to make her friend more cautious and yet not startle the huge beast.

Jessica heard Shayera's quiet plea, but she couldn't tear herself away from the stallion. She couldn't explain why but she knew that she and this stallion were meant to be. She knew that the Native Americans believed that animals came to you in dreams and she had been dreaming of this stallion for more than a year now. Its going to be okay she crooned hoping that the others would realize that the words were for them.

She turned her shoulder to the stallion, her eyes downcast, watching him out of her peripheral vision. The stallion snorted but held his ground as if he too felt the connection. A branch somewhere in the woods snapped and the connection was broken. The stallion reared with a deep bugeling cry and spun. Jessica watched as the beautiful black animal thundered down the beach, his hooves throwing up sand. He disappeared around a sharp bend in the beach, never slowing, and disappeared from sight.

Miranda ran out from where she had been hiding towards Jessica. She reached her breathless, not tearing her eyes from the retreating creature. She saw Jack reach out a hand towards Jessica's shoulder, "Girl, you have got to stop doing that. I get it that you like horses, but you seriously should consider those hooves and teeth of his." Miranda turned and looked at them. Wanting to break up any tension before someone said something that would hurt someone, she offered, "Banana?"

Jessica opened her mouth to explain and then just gave up and nodded. They would never understand, she thought. She knew that she and the stallion where meant to be together. Why else would he have come to her in her dreams continously? She would just have to work with the stallion at night when the others were asleep. Then they wouldn't have to worry about her. She turned and walked back towards camp. She walked right past Jason without saying a word.

Jason cocked an eyebrow but continued on to the group. What's up? He asked, seeing their frightened faces.

(( Im back! :) Sorry about being MIA guys..))

Kaeori pushed herself off the ground and brushed the specks of sand off. "Hey.. um, who's the one with the hurt arm?" She called out softly while heading over to the group. She pulled a bottle of rubbing alcohol and swabs out of the medical bag. Hopefully the girl hadn't cut open the wound again..

Jessica looked up at the sound of Kaeori's voice. She gave the girl a chagrined smile. That would be me. She hoped that the girl hadn't just witnessed her out with the stallion again. She just couldn't ignore the fact that he was the horse that had been in her dreams for over a year now. She was meant to be here and to tame him, even if no one else could understand that.

"How are you doing? Any pain.. discomfort... anything at all? I'm here to help." She gave the girl a reassuring smile. She had practiced on her brothers countless cuts and bruises. A screw hole shouldnt be that bad to fully treat. It would just take a few days of rest and plenty of oxygen for the wound.

Its doing pretty good. Not bothering me more than expected, Jessie said with a smile. She was glad the girl was along, because she her self probably wouldn't have done much for it. Probably just kept it clean and wrapped. Would she have a scar she wondered. She had plenty of scars, just most of them were emotional. She found her gaze straying to Jack. What would he think of her scarred soul she wondered. Was he even interested or just being nice?

"Oh, thats great. It should be healing nicely then." Kae smiled and outstretched her medicine filled hand. "Here, take these. Im Kaeori, by the way." She sinched the medical bag back up and took a look at the group that safely made it ashore. They seemed fit, and completely capable of surviving on an island if they tried hard enough.

Jessie took the medicine and swallowed it. Names Jessica, but call me Jessie. She figure their group should have a good chance of surviving.

"Hey Jessie. It's nice to meet you. I think I may have seen you earlier... in the pool on the boat? Maybe?" Kaeori shrugged. "Either way, its nice to see a possible familiar face."

Jack watched her leave and then looked at Shayera, "Is she always like this?" Miranda sighed, dumping the bananas into Jack's arms and walking to the creek to clean up.

Jessie smiled at the girl. Probably was me. I love the water, she said, staring out at the liquid in question. There was something about water that soothed and relaxed her.

"Um, I don't know....." Shayera stuttered at Jack, not knowing what to say. Her heart was still pounding in her ears from Jessica's encounter with the huge beast. Her fear of horses really didn't help things, hence why she couldn't move toward her friend to stop her. She followed the others silently back to the beach, looking for Jason without even thinking...

Jason saw how frightened Shayera was an moved closer. You okay? He asked softly so the others wouldn't overhear. He didn't know what was up with Jessie but he would deal with that later. He knew that she had some reason for what she was doing. He would find out her side before judging.