Shayera stared at him with wide eyes, words failing her. Finally she closed them and breathed deep. "I'm fine, just a little tired," she lied, trying to smile reassuringly but probably failing. Last thing she needed was someone worrying about her. Jessica was the one hurt! Before Jason could pry further, she walked unsteadily back to the beach where the Jessica and the other girl were talking. Watching the waves roll gently onto the beach helped to calm her nerves a little. Now what should she do? She looked around at everyone as they started to gather together, looking as if they were going to start a sort of meeting. They all looked to be in shape and everyone had already proven themselves for survival here. All she had done was be scared stiff and cry her eyes dry. She felt so useless as she walked over to join the others gathered around Jessica, standing off to the side as to listen and not gain attentioni to herself.

Jack followed the others with the bananas that Miranda had given him. He looked back. She was washing her arms off and splashing water on her face. He smiled and kept going. Reaching the campsite, he offered, "Breakfast anyone?" Everyone was so incredibly tense. He hoped this would help dispel that. Also, then maybe with some food in their stomachs, they would start feeling better. He was pretty certain stress was not good for health and Jessica was in bad enough shape as it was.

Miranda finished washing up and looked up into the clear sky. This was paradise. She felt the sea breeze lifting her hair as the water droplets on her skin dried up. It felt good to her. She looked back where everyone else had headed. Why follow them? Everyone was angry or hurt. She turned and looked around. Out here on the sand with the sun rising, she felt at peace. Unwrapping the bandage around her leg, she washed it out. The corral had cut cleanly and the salt water had more than disinfected it. So it was healing well. Washing off the part of shirt and rewrapping her leg, she stood and started exploring along the beach. There were some rocks ahead where shallow pools and tide pools could be. She wanted to check them out.

Jason grinned. Sounds good to me, he said, his stomach rumbling. He grabbed a banana and began to peel it. He grabbed a couple more, tossing one to Jessie and one to Shayera. Eat up. We need our strength, just don't eat to fast and make yourself sick. He took a bite of banana and smiled.

Jack laughed with Jason, "Of course if you really enjoy the taste, a second time with it coming back up isn't so bad. Not recommended though. "So islands are known for their short, daily showers from the skies above. We should probably look into building some sort of shelter. Any ideas?" He asked while peeling a banana himself.

Miranda reached the wade pools and walked around their edges enjoying the beauty. There were a variety of fish as well. Some of them she recognized. She wasn't very good but spearing a few would be a tasty way to spend the afternoon. Her friends in Hawaii attended a boarding school sponsored by their church. Scarily the church was a vegetarian place. Often tired of the cafeteria meals, her friends would go to the beach to spear and roast their own meals. When she had visited them last summer, they had taught her a little of the practice. Now Miranda wondered how much she remembered and turned to head up to the tree line for a suitable stick.

Jessie listened quietly to the guys, eating her banana. She waited for one of the guys to spit out an idea, but when no one did she finally volunteered an idea. We should check the island for any natural shelter that we can expand on. Like a cave, a cluster of trees or something. She went back to leisurely eating her banana and watching the waves.

Jack nodded in agreement. "We'll we could follow the creek inland. That will keep us close to a source of water. We just have to make sure we don't build anything in any gullies. Don't want anything washed away during high precipitation moments. And no, not referring to crying." He joked.

Jessie laughed at his joke, shaking her head. And it would be good to stay near the water. That would make it easier to find the stallion until he was used to her and then in time he would relish her company. She finished her banana and laid the peel down next to her in the sand. Where's Miranda? She wondered aloud, looking around.

Jack shrugged, "She stayed behind at the creek, or at least that was the last I saw of her. I'm sure she won't wonder far. Do you want to go find her first?" He looked at Jessica with some concern. He didn't want to upset her too much since she was the one with the shoulder wound. Of course, Miranda had a gash in her leg. So maybe leaving her alone had been a bad idea.

Miranda found a good long stick that kinda had a pointed end already. It would just have to do. She turned and headed back towards the wade pools. She was going to have to have a little patience for once today if she was going to pull this off.

Jessie thought about Jack's question for a moment. It would give her a chance to get away from the others and maybe see the stallion again. Plus there was the fact that, logically, she could be to much help lifting without risking opening the wound again. And she had noticed that Miranda had a wound on her leg. I'll go check on her and then meet back up with you guys, she answered. Besides, until we better no what is on this island, it is safer to stay in pairs or groups.

Shayera sat outside the circle, slowing eating her banana that Jason had tossed to her. Her stomach had done summersolts when he had smiled at her, almost making her show her deep red blush. Hopefully, she had hid it from him or she'd never hear the end of it from everyone. She listened silently as everyone gave ideas on survival. They all sounded very good but she was wondering if they were even thinking of getting off this island! Should she speak up? She almost got her nerve up as Jessica started to stand. Shayera sighed. If they hadn't brought it up, then it probably wasn't possible. She turned away and looked at the crashing waves to keep anyone from seeing her tears, blinking them away as she heard someone say her name.

Shayera, you going to be fine with the guys or do you want to come with me? Jessie asked, stopping by the other girl. She wanted to go look for the stallion, but she also didn't want to leave her friend in a situation she wasn't comfortable with. She stared out over the water and found herself wondering if anyone would even miss them. No one would come looking for her, but what about the others? Did they have family missing them? Friends? Girlfriends or boyfriends?

Wiping away the tears as inconspicously as she could, she stood up. "Uh, I can go with them." She rubbed her arms, even though she wasn't cold, realizing she didn't have a jacket. The breeze had started to pick up a bit off the ocean, making the air a bit chillier. She looked up as the sun disappeared behind the low clouds now moving slowly towards them. Suddenly she was glad she'd worn clothes instead of a swimming suit. "Aren't you going to partner with someone?" she asked her friend suspiously. Jessica was hurt after all and they didn't know where Miranda was.

Miranda speared the 5th fish and turned to start wading out. Looking up, she saw the clouds moving across the ocean. Part of it would hit them for sure. Signing, she resigned herself to an open air shower. At least it was during the day instead of last night. However, it meant the roasted fish couldn't be placed on a fire until after the storm. If they could keep a fire going. Watching the storms, she gave them 30 minutes minimum before soaking time.

Jack grimaced as the shadows fell across them. Rain was not a bad thing, except he wanted to stay dry. At least he wouldn't have to worry about wearing a wet white shirt since it was wrapped around Miranda's leg. "Ladies, if you are going after Miranda, I would go get her and bring her back before the rain hits. It is just rain, but might as well stay together." He turned and ran into the edge of the treeline. Just enough inside that there was a partial windbreak. He looked at a circular area in the sand surrounded by trees. Not his first pick but the large roots would provide a semblance of cover for the fire. Gathering palm branches, he began twisting them together. Restarting a fire was not something he wanted to do. A small shelter here for the fire would just have to work.

Jessie smiled at her friend. I'll be fine, she promised shooting Jason a look that said, take care of her. Jessie whirled and jogged off down the beach, leaping across the stream as she reached it. She wanted to look for the stallion like she had planned, but she knew it would be wiser to find Miranda first. She finally spotted Miranda ahead of her with a bunch of fish. Hey girl, she called, sliding to a stop near the other girl. Jack wants us back together and out of the rain. Until we know this whole island and what we are living with it would be best to stay in groups or pairs. She smiled, hoping the other girl wouldn't get mad at her words.

Miranda shrugged. "If that is what you all want. I caught us lunch, but at this rate it will be supper. Look at those clouds coming." She looked back over at the clouds. Still coming. Not sure if islands having daily rain was a blessing or a curse. Turning, she began walking with Jessie back towards the make shift camp.

Jessie shrugged. I just figured it might be safer until we know that there aren't any pirates or man eating tigers. She answered, eying the clouds. She wasn't sure if they should be concerned or not. Sometimes tropical storms were known to get nasty.

Raising an eyebrow, Miranda replied, "Wow. You have the active imagination. True though, we don't know what is here. Hope rain doesn't melt you. Tropical islands are know for the daily showers. 5 - 10 minutes of getting wet and then 2 minutes of sea breezes to dry you off. Still, not eager to try to restart the fire." She really didn't like that idea. No fire wasn't the end of the world but as Jessie pointed out, until they know what was here and not here then it was kinda nice to be safer than sorry. At night, fire kept away those scary animals and she rather it stayed that way.

Jack finished getting the palm leaves together and set it aside. Picking up four forked branches, he pushed them into the sand creating the corner posts of his small 'shelter'. Twisting the individual leaves of palm branches into a rope, he lashed the palm branch covering to those effectively making a small makeshift shelter box. A yard in all directions. Not big enough for a human but perfect for storing, say, a fire. Using his hands, he dug down into the sand. Creating a pit and using the spare sand to mound up on three sides, he prepared a good space. This could work as an oven. If everyone wasn't against it, this could be the kitchen area. Also, that way, the food wouldn't be near where they were sleeping. That would be helpful towards not attracting unwanted attention at night.

Shayera looked to Jason. "What should we do?" she asked him as she knelt down and picked up some sand, dropping it into the breeze. The wind hadn't picked up too much but since it was off the ocean, the rainstorm would only increase the tide and make the air colder. They couldn't stay on the beach for the tide and no fire. Maybe that's what Jack's doing, she thought. Standing up, she rubbed her hands free of sand. "We probably have 20 or so minutes but I think all we'll get is some rain," she said to no one in particular. She wasn't very knowledgeable with tropical weather patterns other than they got a lot of rain but it wouldn't take her long to learn. She wished she had her weather book from the ship with her....

Jack sat back satisfied. Being back here without the sea breeze, it was rather humid in a way. Eager for the refreshing wind, he stood up and dusted off the sand. Now the next problem. They wouldn't be able to move all the fire embers here. Perhaps just one log that was only partially burned? And more wood on top that in this space? It would have to work. He went back to the beach and saw Miranda and Jessie returning. Giving them a wave and winking at the three by the fire, he took the largest log that he could without burning himself and carried it back into the tree line. Shifting it down into the center, he smiled at his genius plan. Turning, he grabbed some sticks and another thick, but small, branch and settled them on top. Confident there was enough airflow to catch the wood on top on fire, he went to get more palm branches to create more protection on the three sides facing the ocean.

Seeing the came and Jack wave, she started to wave back when he reached down and took a log that was not completely on fire. Watching him head into the treeline, she guessed that he had found a way to save the fire. Looking back at the fire and then at the beach, she wondered briefly if they could cover the coals and have them still be there later. Shaking her head at that, she just kept walking. Glancing sideways at Jessie, she saw the girl's mind was elsewhere. If the glances back towards the creek were any indication, then the horse incident was still on her mind.

Let's grab the stuff we have and move it over to where Jack started the fire, Jason said as Jack reappeared from the trees. He turned to grab his stuff and saw Miranda and Jessie returning. Grab your stuff, he called to them. I think Jack has got a fire going. He grabbed the deck chair that he, Shayera and Jessie had come in on.

Jessie nodded to Jack and ran to grab her backpack, which she had forgotten about. She saw Jack coming out of the trees and waving to them. He sure was a handsome guy, she thought glancing at him. Would he understand her compulsion with the stallion if she explained it? In fact would any of them? Jason might as he knew her the best, but she had no clue on the others.

Miranda glanced around. Just her and her fish hanging from the stick she had used. Shrugging, she went to help Kaeori carry her medical stuff she had brought along.

Jack took the palm branches he had collected and began weaving the stems into the top of the small structure. It would have to do. They at least would have fire for later that they wouldn't have to worry about restarting.

---------- Post added 11-20-2012 at 10:49 AM ----------

(side note - I'm basing the palms off of how the ones I saw were... they were large with raised bases. So you could crouch down and not be seen on one side if you chose. Here is a pic ^_^)

Shayera looked around her. The only thing left lying on the beach was the sheet they had used to wrap Jessica's shoulder on the ship. Timidly, she picked it up and brought it with her. It would need to be washed and sterilized if possible but it could be useful. She turned to follow the others into the trees before the rains came. The cloulds had gotten quite a bit closer and the tide had risen, the waves creeping closer to their previous campsite.

Jason put the chair near the fire and turned back to make sure Shayera was coming and didn't need any help. He smiled at her, hoping it was a comforting and reassuring smile. He was sure the storm wouldn't be bad, probably just heavy rain for 5-10 minutes.

Jessie looked out at the rough water and the crashing waves before looking up at the dark sky. She hope that the stallion would be okay. Rain wouldn't hurt him, but for all she knew it could brew into something worse. She wanted to leave the others and go looking for him, but it wouldn't do any good. He didn't trust her yet. She murmured a soft prayer, both for the safety of the stallion and for them as rain drops began to fall from the sky and hit her skin. She couldn't help herself and turned her face up into the rain, enjoying the feel of it on her skin as the wind kicked up. She felt alive standing there in the storm.

Shayera smiled back at Jason, hoping her face wasn't too red. Having him nearby made her feel safe for some reason, not so scared. As it began to rain, she sighed contently. At least she could still have this during this horrible situation. Seeing Jessica standing in the rain with her eyes closed, Shayera gasped. She moved toward Jessica, taking her arm. "You really shouldn't be in the rain while you have that wound!" She pulled, hoping the girl would come. Shayera herself loved storms but it would do no good to be out in the cold rain and get sick. Better to watch from under cover, even if that cover was comprised of trees.

Jessie's eyes snapped open at the feel of a hand on her arm. She blinked into the eyes of Shayera and smiled. You're right, she said, following the girl into the trees. She smiled to herself, noting her friend's reaction to Jason. She would be a good one for Jason. Her thoughts and eyes strayed to Jack standing close to the fire.