The Lost World

[Wendy Ann Beckett-Jolina]

Sam glowered at Gabriel, immediately not liking him at all. "Look, Jordan is fine. I don't need you telling me what's best for my wife, got it?" Jordan decided to pipe in then, grabbing the sleeve of his shirt.

"Sam, you're really not getting the whole story behind it..." Her eyes were wide, and seemed a little hesitant. "I-I think it's best I told you now, I'm-"

At that moment, Harley tossed a couple torches at Sam, and she completely lost him, as he was more focused on what was being chucked at him off the plane. Annoyed, she grabbed what her husband had been fiddling with, tossing it aside as she muttered, "Now isn't the time to go off doing your own thing... I'm-"

"Hang on, Sam, I won't be much longer. Hey, man, remind me what your last name is, again?" Harley returned, handing off a couple more things to her husband.

"Uh, Sorenson." He answered, scratching the back of his head in confusion, before turning back to Jordan. "Y'know, that guy's pretty cool, doing all this stuff for all of us. We should probably-"

"Sam!" She hissed lowly, grabbing him by the shoulders, this is important!"

"...Are you coming onto me, babe?" Sam asked dumbly, grinning at her slightly, "Because you know, I'd love to do that right now and all, but all this debris would make it kinda-"

"No!" She seemed a little flustered, blushing slightly, "Sam, I'm-"

"Here, this is yours." Harley shoved a suitcase into Sam's hands, looking somewhat distracted as he yelled for everyone else to get their stuff."

"Hey, we should probably sort through th-"

"DAMMIT, SAM! I'M PREGNANT!" Jordan cupped her hands over her mouth as she realized what she'd just said and that everyone had just heard her.

"P-p-pregnant...?" Sam looked blank, eyes wide in horror and face pale. His hands dropped from the suitcase and it tumbled a few feet away. But after that small bump, all was silent...

[gingertree]

Denali was hobbling through the airplane. She grabbed the purse/huge bag of a dead lady and started filling it up with the food she could find and salvage. Denali was trying her hardest to stay away from the bodies. She was grabbing whatever she thought they could use. She could hear Harley rummaging through the cargo part of the plane.

Denali decided to go back once she was having trouble holding the bag. She had saved what food she could, which was a pretty big amount. She finally had to start dragging the back across the sand. Denali set the bag next to Harley and Erik.

"This is the food that I found." Denali was panting. "I need to go back and get my back... So...I'll be back....shortly." She turned and headed back to the bag pile that harley had made.

Denali had come upon a scene of a wife and husband. The wife had just told the husband that she was pregnant. Awkward Denali thought to herself. She picked up her bag and made her was back. She didn't want to get into anyone else business. Denali made her way back to Erik and Harley. Denali set her bag down and then looked at Harley and Erik.

"We have a pregnant lady here. " She sat down to catch her breath and looked at her ankle. IT was swollen and sore. "And I tried to get eveything I thought we could use. I have stuff to make a supplies list on in my bag."

[melaniejane]

Gabriel shook his head. Sam had seemed nice enough earlier but now he just seemed short tempered and a hot head. His request had nothing to do with Jordan but of his concern for Marie.

However, when Jordan announced just a few moments later that she was pregnant, he suspected there might be more trouble than before.

He thought it best to let them work out their relationship woes on their own and went to work scavenging the inside of the plane. He checked the stewardesses quarters and went about throwing all the water he could find back out on the beach.
_________________________________

Marie slowly got up and went over to the large pile of luggage Harley had pulled out from the cargo bay and searched for her belongings. As people started arguing and drama ensued, a voice in the back of her head nagged at her.

So was this trip really worth risking your life for....

[Rose]

Erik sucked in his breath through his teeth when he finally took notice of the glass shards. He grabbed Harley’s wrist and yanked it over, seizing the tweezers from him. He leaned down so close his breath was over the tender cuts. With a curse he lifted his head again to glare at his friend.

“Fucking shit, Harley?!” He put it together that the cuts were beneath the gloves, so he must have had them for a while. “When did you do this? What happened? Why didn’t you say anything??”

Erik bombarded his friend with questions, but he didn’t give him much of a chance to answer. He immediately began yanking glass shards free, shivering at their crunch beneath the metal as he gripped at them. He hated broken glass, he really did. Using his already bloody and torn shirt, Erik started to dab at the blood to clean it off so he could see and keep working. Around them people were screaming about a vast number of things, a notable example being pregnancy, but Erik had lost a bit of blood as well as fainted within a short period of time and his light head just wasn’t up to comprehending much of any of it. Swallowing back a bit of nausea, Erik plucked out another shard and buried it beneath the sand.

“Dammit Harley, you have to keep your hands and feet safe. With how much use they get, they are most likely to get infected. And who knows how long we’ll be out here? You are going to need that damn hand. Be more careful from now on, ok?” His voice was stern, but Harley knew him enough to know he wasn’t mad, just worried. Erik shook his head at him, patting his hand to let him know it was done. He buried the last pieces and nodded.

“You should clean it off. And….Hey, alright, sorry I yelled. You need to calm down, dude.” Erik eyed the still-shaking hands and figured Harley was still really stressed out. He sighed. “You need to get some food in you. You’re such a small guy and all…I know how not eating makes your body shake. And all this stress…We’re gonna be alright. I’ll watch you, and you’ll watch me.”

Erik slowly smirked, nudging his friend with a cocky expression. He looked him over dramatically and licked his lips.

“Some of us will be…watching really intently, huh?” he chuckled and threw an arm obnoxiously around Harley’s shoulders. “I just can’t get enough of those pale cheeks….those bony limbs….Oh Harley. You are just too much.”

Erik ducked away before Harley could maul him. At least it meant he was feeling slight better than before and still up to flirting uncomfortably. He held up a hand to keep Harley from attacking and laughed as he leaned back into the sand, noting in the back of his mind that the sun was going to start falling in its arc soon. He dug around in his pocket, pushing their troubles out of his mind for the moment, and withdrew the bundled crimson tie he’d taken from the suitcase.

“Close your eyes….fuck, just do it, Harley. Trust me for once.” With that, Erik leaned over and awkwardly fastened the tie, having worn them rarely in his life. He pat Harley’s chest before lying in the sand, his arms behind his head.
“There. Merry fucking Christmas. Happy Birthday.”

[GnomesAteMyCake]

"Uh, maybe because you had a hole in your side? That seemed like a big- SHIT!" Harley yelped as Erik began pulling the shards out of his fingers, and he was damn certain it didn't hurt as much going as it did have the fuckers pulled back out. "Jesus, Erik, you feel like being a little gentler?!"

All Harley got in response was a snort. Grumbling, he fell into a moody silence, wincing every now and again as Erik began telling him how important it was that he keep his hands clean, not to get any more injured, that they might be here a while and the risks were just too high...Harley sighed and nodded in all the right places until Erik tapped his palms to show he was finished. Blowing on his fingertips, Harley watched Erik as he watched Harley's still trembling fingers. Wishing he could ball his hands up, Harley simply placed them in his lap, giving a small smile to Erik, hoping that his friend would stop looking.

“You should clean it off. And….Hey, alright, sorry I yelled. You need to calm down, dude. You need to get some food in you. You’re such a small guy and all…I know how not eating makes your body shake. And all this stress…We’re gonna be alright. I’ll watch you, and you’ll watch me.”

"Dude, you know it! You don't have to worry about a thing, I'll-" Harley began earnestly, hoping that if he engaged his friend enough in conversation, then he'd soon forget about his hands. As usual, Erik didn't give him much of a chance to respond, as the younger man jumped to a completely different topic whilst slinging his arm around Harley's narrow shoulders.

“Some of us will be…watching really intently, huh? I just can’t get enough of those pale cheeks….those bony limbs….Oh Harley. You are just too much.”

Growling, he went to shove Erik, but past experience had already taught him to move before Harley could even register that he was being made fun of. Shooting a glare at his friend, Harley ran his uninjured hand through his hair and sighed. "And you say I'm the asshole," he muttered, leaning back on the sand with his cut hand resting lightly on his stomach. Everyone else was still organising...maybe he'd be able to have a quick nap... just five minutes would do...

Harley felt Erik tap him on the shoulder. Groaning, the man cracked an eye open to see his friend motioning for him to sit up, which he did (despite complaining.) "Close your eyes," Erik commanded, receiving a confused look in return.

"Dude, my eyes were just-"

“Fuck, just do it, Harley. Trust me for once.” Rolling his eyes, Harley did as he was told, his senses telling him that Erik had put something around his neck and was fastening it, the mans hands slightly clumsy as they brushed against his shirt, pulling whatever it was tighter.

“There. Merry fucking Christmas. Happy Birthday.”

Opening his eyes, Harley firstly saw Erik lying back in the sand, a self-satisfying smile on his face. Confused, he looked down at himself before he gasped almost silently, his hands coming up to touch the tie around his neck. A dark red, silk, and not that cheap imitation stuff either... it was a shame Erik had his eyes closed; he missed one of those rare smiles of Harley's that showed when he was truely pleased. It was a small, soft little thing that many people overlooked, but it carried everything that Harley wanted to say. Flopping onto the sand, Harley stretched.

"Thanks, man," he muttered, hearing Erik grunt to show he'd heard him. The two men lay quietly for a while, Harley fiddling with the tie. "Hey Erik? You remember that old tie I had? It was the same colour as this one."

"Which one?"

"The one I was wearing the first time we really spoke, you remember? I think you stained that one too, but that was after I lent it to you for some party or some other thing."

"Heh. I remember now. You were a real dick that day, you know that?"

"I was no different than any other day...you just didn't know any better back then..."

~~

It always amazed Harley at the number of people that could be found in a museum. As a kid, he hadn't seen the attraction of them at all; they were quiet. They were musty. They were boring. Of course, he'd never set foot in one until he was twenty-two, his college degree wedged firmly under his arm. God it felt like the world was his oyster back then...

Sighing, hands shoved into his pockets, Harley meandered through the Egyptian exhibit past a group of asian tourists, answered a few questions that were shot his way, and finally entered the employee lounge. Rubbing his eyes with the heel of his hand, he stumbled over the coffee machine in the corner and proceeded to fire the old thing up, pouring himself a mug.

Inhaling the rich smell, he lent against the counter and drank quietly for a few minutes. It wasn't often that he found the lounge empty; with all the various employees, there was usually always someone else here. Still, getting a little time to himself in the middle of the day was always a plus, and he was going to enjoy it to the fullest.

The snap of the door closing pulled him out of his self-induced coffee stupor, and he looked up to see the New Kid. Just as he had done, New Kid had gone straight into work after leaving college, so he imagined that New Kid was about twenty two. Smirking to himself, Harley moved aside, allowing New Kid to the coffee machine, if he so wished.

There was nothing Harley enjoyed more than tormenting those younger than him.

"So...New Kid..." he started, his smirk growing in satisfaction as the young man jumped at being addressed before regathering his cool and looking up at Harley.

"It's Erik. I've not spoken to you have I?"

"Nope. Name's Harley," he said, taking another sip of his coffee. Erik smiled up at him before leaning in the place Harley had moments before. "So, how you finding work?"

"Harder than I thought. I mean, I knew the work would be hard, if I had to do a uni course to get this far, but working with people day in, day out sucks."

Raising an eyebrow, Harley assumed that Erik found this to be a confirmation that he could continue, and the young man began to go on and on about how he hated the tourists, how his boss in whatever-the-kid-was-doing was a complete asshole, how his hours were too long...

Harley listening to the boys spiel for a while before sighing and putting his mug down. This was why he hated interns; everything was supposed to be sunshine and rainbows, the job was supposed to be easy, everyone was supposed to kiss the ground you walked on and think you farted rose-petals or some such shit. He knew it wasn't the kid's fault that he didn't know how tough the real world was like Harley did, but dammit was this kid naive!

"You know, for a guy you sure bitch like a woman," Harley said suddenly, hooking his thumbs in his trouser-pockets and looking down at Erik. He stopped in mid-sentance, looked confused for a moment, before looking back up at the man.

"Excuse me?" he said in a low voice, eyes flashing dangerously. Harley, being the arrogant bastard that he was, continued regardless.

"You're just outta college, kid; did you really think it would be smooth sailing from start to finish? You're in the grown-ups world now; better get used to it." Tipping a wink at the younger man, Harley headed for the door, his ego inflated and more than ready to combat the tourists outside.

Too bad Erik wasn't done.

"Who the fuck do you think you are! You don't know a fucking thing about me, how dare you fucking assume I don't know anything! Just because I'm not some skinny-assed pathetic bastard like you doesn't mean I don't know how the world works!" Erik shouted, his hands balled at his sides and a look that could burn through sheet-metal targeted on the back of Harleys head.

Chuckling, Harley looked back over his shoulder as he eyed Erik up and down. Shorter than he was, and about the same body-type, but whereas Harley's limbs were the thickness of that of a healthy person, Erik was packing some serious muscle. Better not to mess with him anymore today.

"Quit being such a Bitchtits, Bitchtits," Harley stated clearly, taking in the flush of Erik's face as he smirked lazily before turning his back him and exiting the staff room.

Maybe Erik had potential after all.

[Rose]

Erik chuckled softly and shook his head, covering the buzzed hair in a thin layer of powder-white sand. Some of it had gotten into the little patch of brown hair on his chin as well, somehow. He lifted a hand and fiddled with his gauges, glad they’d stayed in his ears through the turmoil of the plane crash. This pair happened to be his favorite, with their swirl of neon green and bright purple. He reached up and checked the spike through his eyebrow next, nodding in satisfaction.

“Dammit Harley, you were almost too much dick for me back then.” He shook his head with a huge smile, letting himself close his eyes and enjoy the moment, with its warm sun and the sound of crashing waves and his friend relaxed for once beside him. Closing himself off to the rest of the world, he could almost forget they had crashed a plane, that people had died, that they were in some serious trouble. Folding his hands over his chest, he smiled fondly at the old memories. Even the bad ones. It all came together to make them who they were now.

“I really couldn’t stand you. You were such a prick. And I didn’t hate you because you teased me….well, maybe a little. But fuck, I was used to that. I hated you because it worked….Damn I was so young and stupid back then.” Erik laughed really loud at that, shaking his head and nudging Harley, though his eyes remained closed.

After Harley had found out about Erik he’d taunted him endlessly. Not in a malicious way, like the kids back in high school. It was in a cocky, arrogant sonofabitch kind of way that made Erik want to hit him and kiss him at the same time. But that had been so long ago, when Erik was fresh out of college, naive, and a bit arrogant himself. It was all really hilarious to look back on now and it was a topic they often reminisced over after they’d had a few drinks. Surviving a plane crash was having similar effects.

“Heh, but you really did save me that day. So I guess that makes up for everything. Even though you are still too much dick to handle now, and not in any good sort of way.”

It wasn’t so long after they met that Harley saved Erik, and not in any philosophical or metaphorical way. The two had both worked until closing time, getting the unpleasant nightshift of a Saturday night. While the museum had been virtually empty, the streets were busy and a lot of people were out roaming the town, many on their way to parties or already smashed from one.

Erik pulled his thick hoodie on as he slipped through the museum doors, his breath showing white in the cool air. Harley was the last inside, finishing closing up before handing the keys over to the night guard. Erik had made sure to finish his work a few minutes early just to avoid having to leave with the guy. They really didn’t mesh well together for any amount of time. Trying to forget the jerk who wanted to make his life hell, he looked around for the one person who really knew how to cheer him up.

“Erik!” He looked over sharply at his name and smiled wide at the sight of a younger man with golden hair spiked up in a fauxhawk and a thick army-green jacket hanging off his shoulders. He was waving eagerly and got up from the bench he was waiting at to meet Erik.

“Ben, hey! I didn’t know you’d be waiting right here for m-” Erik was cut off as the two met in the middle of their stride and kissed each other quickly, smiling warmly though it. He pulled back with a chuckle, putting his arm around the shoulders of the other man. “Well, I miss you too.”

The couple started walking toward the parking lot, arms locked and heads bent closely together as they laughed over the story of how Ben’s day went, and then Erik’s reenactment of some confused tourist stumbling into the wrong bathroom because some punk had switched the signs of the properly-gendered dinosaurs indicating where to go. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn’t notice the footsteps approaching quickly behind them until it was too later.

“Hey faggots!” A snide voice called from just behind them, making them both cringe. They’d dealt with drunk punks before and knew where this was likely to go. Not wanting the trouble, they both kept walking, Ben’s hand latched down on Erik’s to keep him from doing anything stupid.

“Don’t you know your fucking names? I said hey faggots!” The voice was right behind them now, and a hand flew forward, shoving Ben hard in the back of the head. Erik whirled around with a growl, meeting the eyes of five thug kids who were barely over the legal age but obviously smashed and looking for a fight. Well, they were definitely going to get one.

“Back the fuck off,” Erik hissed through clenched teeth, puffing up with bravado. Ben frowned, taking Erik’s hand again and pulling him back timidly.

“Come on, Erik. Its not worth it-” He started. But Erik shrugged him off.

“No, fuck this! Someone has to stick up to them.” He stepped up to the thug in front, looking him up and down. The guy just laughed and looked to his friends.

“Come on, you heard your bitch. Its not worth it. Don’t make me have to do a public service by getting rid of one more fagg-” The thug was silenced by a fist against the side of his face as Erik flung himself at the group. The kid dropped, out like a light, and before anyone knew what was going on Erik had tackled a second guy to the ground. The two rolled, grappling, and Erik got the better of his opponent. He grabbed him by the neck and punched him in the mouth, feeling teeth break open his knuckled.

He felt rough hands grab him around his shoulders and he was yanked back against the concrete. Looking up, he saw three silhouettes looming above him. A few feet away Ben was sitting on the ground, rubbing a busted lip. Erik’s lips pulled back in a snarl as he gazed up at the fight he knew he couldn’t win, but it was far too late to back out of now. A fist slammed against his mouth, knocking him back and to the side where a foot collided with his ribcage, tossing him again. He felt the blows hit his back, his chest, his face, his legs, but after a while he couldn’t tell what was being hit or how hard anymore. Everything just hurt.

Erik found himself lying face down on the sidewalk when there was a break in the beating. He struggled up with shaking arms onto his knees and looked around. One held Ben back while the three remaining guys had Erik surrounded, and just behind them the fifth had climbed wearily to his feet, his right eye nearly swollen shut. Erik chuckled at the sight, blood dripping down his chest from some cuts and a gash in his lip.

“You should learn your place, bitch” The thug said, slinking forward, his hands in his pockets. Erik just smiled wickedly. He collected all the blood in his mouth and spat at the guy, flecking him with crimson.

“…Now you’ve got AIDS.” Erik laughed weakly, but even he had to shut up as the thug cursed and drew his hand from his pocket, revealing a switchblade that caught the city lights and reflected them back with mock beauty. The blade rose, Ben cried out from somewhere, and Erik closed his eyes, expecting nothing less than a good stab in the throat. It never came, but he heard a shout of pain and someone yelling out a string of profanities. Blinking open his eyes, surprised even being able to, Erik saw a familiar dark figured beating the bloody hell out of the thug. He really wasn’t holding back, nor was he fighting fair. There was definitely some groin kicking and maybe even a pull of hair. Harley was doing what he had to in order to get that knife away, apparently.

It was like watching a superhero save the day, but with the superhero dressed in a museum uniform and stomping a guy in the stomach. Foggy from being his so much, Erik just swayed on his knees, not able to comprehend all that was happening at the time. Later, he would be impressed. For now, he was just relieved.

A few moments later strong arms hooked under Erik’s and drew him up. He heard a hiss, no, a wince, and blinked away the stars in his eyes, Harley was supporting all of his weight and looking into his face, eyebrow raised, with Ben picking himself up and cursing a foot away.

“Damn, dude….” Harley said, cringing. He shook his head, not seeming to mind the blood on his own face. Erik nodded and smiled, barely conscious, and waved a hand like it didn’t matter.

“Heh…you…saved me….See? You don’t…hate me that much….” It was probably nearly impossible to even understand what Erik was saying. He wasn’t exactly lucid. “You want….to go out….go out for a beer…sometime…or something?”

The next thing he knew, he was in a hospital bed with a note from Ben saying they were over and Harley standing over him with two beers in his hands, shaking his head as he passed one over. They’d been best friends ever since.

[gingertree]

Denali looked around and shook her head. She blinked a few times just to make sure she really was awake. Denali looked at the sky and then at the other survivors.

"We should leave soon." Denali said and wrote down the last item she needed to record. "I've written everything we have down and put it in bags. It's getting darker and we should build shelter."

She stood up and wobbled a little. Her ankle was still sore. Denali picked up a couple bags.

"You guys ready to go?" Denali asked looking around.

If there were other people here, that were dangerous, then she figured it wouldn't be to smart or safe to stay in the open. IT left them to vulnerable. If they were able to make shelter, get some food in them, and rest she figured they would be in better shape. Denali cracked her knuckles, a nervous habit she couldn't kick. Denali didn't really know anyone here, she was on her own in her mind. Denali could only think it was better this way, she wasn't goign to let emotions get in her way of survival, at least she didn't want it to be that way. Denali knew that if it was called for, she would probably let herself die before seeing someone else die. She had the least to lose. One lady was pregnant, then there were the two guys who were best friends, the boyfriend and girlfriend, and lastly Gabriel and Marie they were the reason they were all here. She was the only one who was completely on their own.

[melaniejane]

Gabriel tossed the last bit of food he could find onto the beach and all the extra pillows and blankets as well. He had also taken the liberty of throwing all the amenities used to restock the bathroom into a plastic bag and a large box of trash bags. Denali had just emerged from the other side of the plane suggesting that they move on.

"I'm ready," Gabriel replied, "I just have to move the food into one of the trash bags. Unfortunately, most of it is perishable within a couple of days time, but it's better than nothing at all."

[Aubs]

OOC: I'm working on a post for this! :]

-Aubrey

[GnomesAteMyCake]

Wishing he could have just five more minutes of peace with his best friend, Harley cracked an eye open with a groan and looked up at Denali, all the bags she'd deemed useful at her feet, stuffed to bursting with anything and everything that would keep them alive. Gabriel was close behind her, voicing his readiness to leave while Sam and Jordan were having a heated discussion over by the plane. Not that Harley blamed them; Jordan couldn't have picked a worse time to be growing a Samspawn in her stomach.

Sitting up, Harley pressed his hands to his lower back, his vertebre cracking loudly as he sighed, shaking his arms loose and looking up at Gabriel and Denali, his dark eyes squinting slightly in the setting sun.

"I guess there's no reason to stay," Harley muttered darkly, pushing himself to his feet before offering Erik a hand and pulling him up as well. Looking at his friend, Harley snickered before rubbing some of the sand out of Erik's short hair. "I swear, 'Erie,' you're such a dork," he muttered, smiling slightly as Erik pouted. Patting him on the head and egnoring the growl that followed from his younger friend, Harley grabbed two bags from the floor and slung them over his shoulder.

"We should get moving then. Sam, Jordan, wrap it up, we're moving out!" Harley called over to the couple. "Go get Marie, Gabriel. German girl-" Harley waved in the girls general direction, to which he recieved a look of fear and a jump. "-Look, princess, I ain't gunna hurt you. We're leaving the beach now. You might want to look alive and grab some gear."

"Harley, don't be such a wanker," Erik snapped, stomping past him and smiling warmly at the girl. "Her name's Adalia, right sweetie? We've all got to stick together, so as much of a douche as he is, Harley's only trying to look out for you."

"...Thanks for the comment, Miss America, but I'm not. I just wanna get off this beach, find somewhere safe as possible, and sleep for a few days," Harley grumbled back monotonously, grabbing a handful of bags and holding them out to them. Stuffing his hands into his pockets, Harley started off down the beach, listening for the sounds of everyone following him and then subconsiously slowing down so Erik could fall into step with him. "We've got about 4 hours till sundown, maybe? I know nothing about outdoor survival, so I'm running on logic. Surely your mom and dad took you camping as a kid? I can't see Mrs. Chay not wanting to do something like that with you and your pop, Erie," Harley commented, smirking at his friend as he watched the tell-tale tick in Erik's head throb that was a clear sign that he was seconds away from breaking point.

Sure, Harley cared more for Erik than anyone (especially his own foster-parents. I should call them if we survive this, Harley thought, making a mental note to do so) but that didn't mean he didn't enjoy agrivating him. He always had, and more than likely always would. Taunting Erik was like dangling a red scarf in front of a bull; you're asking for trouble, and it's not a matter of if it's going to kill you, it's a matter of when. You still did it because it was funny as all hell.

[gingertree]

Denali smiled as others started to respond to her. she picked up the rest of the bags that she had sorted through and headed off with the rest of them. Denali tried to keep herself from wincing as she walked on her swollen and unhealed ankle. She was hobbling along as they transitioned from the beach to the thick, jungle like forest. Denali for one was getting annoyed with all the foliage. She kept her eyes on the ground and every so often she looked up at the rest of the group. Denali was worried about tripping or stepping on an animal.
"We should set up camp near some water and then try to start a fire right away. Also work on some type of shelter. " Denali said as they walked. "We don't know how long we will be here. Staying by water gives us a good location. One we have water and two if there are animals, they need water too." She smiled and went back to being quiet and walking. Her ankle was throbbing and she was sure if she aggrivated it enough it would snap in half.

[melaniejane]

Marie saw the others start to move so she stood up as well, waiting to be led to wherever they decided to camp. The shock from the crash and the all the death was fading away and all she felt now was tired. Her entire body ached and she desperately wanted nothing more than to lay down and close her eyes.

Gabriel scouted what he could see of the island. "Over there," he shouted, pointing to rocky cavern on right side of them, a few ways up, "As long as nothing is already living in it, it should be good enough for at least tonight. We can worry about water once we've rested because finding a clean spring could require a lot more traveling than we're able to do right now."

There wasn't exactly a paved pathway to the cavern but there was definitely means to reach it. As long as the rock remained solid and nothing gave way, he believed they could reach it unscathed within half an hour. He turned to the others for confirmation on whether they were willing to make the trek.

[Aubs]

Brenden along with Kagan and a few of the other surviving passengers followed behind Gabriel and the emerging leaders of the group as they searched for the proper place to set up camp. During this point in time, Brenden would have preferred to have taken some type of leadership role, but he was one who knew when it was and wasn’t his place. He could see that there were already a few people who were making the commands. He was going to stay in his place and respect that until the time came when he would need to lend a hand. Right now, there were more important things to worry about for now; Kagan and her injuries for one.

As the two walked side-by-side, Brenden shifted his eyes over at her every so often to make sure she was still in it for the long haul. He himself could feel most of his vision blurring in and out time after time, but for the most part he was more than well. He was alive for now and that was all that mattered.

“Let me know if you need anything,” Brenden acknowledged as he held a firm grip onto some of the supply luggage from the plane. “I don’t want anything we might have done prior to the flight to affect anything you may have thought of me. I want to be there for you.” He could feel the moment getting more awkward, but he meant his words. Kagan was someone he always knew he could spend the rest of his life with. Even when they were apart, she was on his mind no matter how many girls he’d been with after they’d broken up.
_______________________________________________________________________________________

“We’re almost there.”
“Where are you taking me?” Kagan questioned, as she walked blindfolded down what seemed like a long pathway. She initially wanted to try to sneak a peek, but a quick realization proved that this was not a cheap blindfold.
Brenden held on to the both of Kagan’s hands with a tight grasp. He continued to lead her to their destination that only he knew of. Inside of his head, he was terrified that somehow he’d manage to screw up his weeks of planning with something as minor as fumbling his words or ruining the surprise by having her blindfolded behind some cheap slip cover from a dollar store party section. This had to be perfect. “I can’t tell you.”
“What do you mean you can’t tell me?”
“Because-” Brenden began, squeezing Kagan’s hand with a little force. “It’s a secret. Why would I want to give the secret away?”
“You love me don’t you?” Kagan laughed, causing Brenden to let out a chuckle as well.
“Of course I do! But I don’t want to give away anything yet. Just hold on for a few seconds we’re almost there, okay?” Although she couldn’t see it, Brenden had been smiling as hard as he could in that moment. He was as happy as ever. After a few moment of walking down a long path, Brenden stopped Kagan from walking forward. “Alright, we’re here.” He lifted up her blindfold. “So, what do you think?”

[Rose]

Erik decided the best plan of action for the moment would be to completely ignore Harley. He not only had the ability to care for the other man more than most people, but also hate him much, much more as well. Harley really knew how to push his buttons, and Erik sure did have a lot of them. As kind of a person as he was, Erik really needed to work on his temper. Even under the best of circumstances he had a short fuse. This was not the best of circumstances.

Walking ahead of Harley, Erik trotted instead to the side of the German girl. Her gaze was distant once more and she stumbled as she walked every once in a while. Most of the people around were in pairs, Erik had noticed, but Adalia and one other girl seemed to be on their own. He could only hope they didn’t have anyone on the plane with them.

“Hey, Adalia,” Erik said in his voice reserved for being nice to strangers. It was the same voice he used to answer the phone when he didn’t recognize the number, or talk to customers wherever he worked. He didn’t think he had to worry about coming off as overly nice with this girl; she seemed like she could use all the kindness she could get.

“Hm?” She looked up at him, blinking into focus. She smiled, but her eyes quickly darted behind him toward Harley, unsure. Erik grunted, hooking his arm through hers and making her look straight as the two made their way up the beach together.

“Ignore him. He’s an asshole to absolutely everyone. I’ll look out for you- oh, and I’m not coming on to you, trust me- I’ll look out for you out here. A lady doesn’t need to be on her own, ok?” Erik smiled reassuringly, not looking back at Harley for the German girl’s sake. “I’m sure we’ll be out of here in no ti-”

Before Erik could assure her and everyone else that they’d be alright, a deep roar tore through the silent jungle, louder than anything he’d ever heard from an animal before, and unlike any large cat he knew of. Before, Erik had noticed the lack of noise from the surrounding jungle and had attributed it to the disturbance of the crash. It was eerie, being near such silent wilderness without so much as a bird in the sky. Now he wished it had stayed that way. Everyone froze in their tracks, looking around. Erik felt his blood run cold and shivered. Adalia started to tremble beneath his touch. The group was silent as they glanced to each other, fear in the eyes of some of them.

“I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about,” Erik spoke up. He had studied animals, extinct as well as extant, though his knowledge in the latter was lacking a bit. “A roar like that is designed to travel far distances. The jaguar or whatever could be miles away. If we just stick close and get to the cave, we’ll be fine.”

Erik finally looked back at Harley, pausing in his step just as the other had done for him. However much Harley was irking him, Erik didn’t want him far away if some monstrous forest cat was lurking nearby.

“Come on, Harley. Get over here. You know jungle monsters prey on the frail, sickly-looking members of a herd first.” The group started walking a bit faster then before, and he tried to keep up. He noticed a woman limping and hoped she'd set the pace. Feigning strength, he tried not to lean on Adalia and muttered comforting words to her.

[gingertree]

Denali listened to everyone talking. The murmurs were kinda calming to her. She was watching her steps and trying hard not to trip. Denali was startled by the roar and tripped. Her ankle throbbed. Denali looked at everyone. They were close to the cave and she would feel a lot better if they were in the cave and safe.
Denali let out a scream. She bit her lip and looked at the rest of them. Denali tried moving her ankle and tried putting pressure on it,, but it hurt too much.

"What was that?" Denali asked in a shaky voice.

She was okay with being out here, but freaky animalize and other things weren't her kinda thing.