stranded (closed for asetikish)

[asetikish]

Jesse shook her head. "Purifying water takes too long. Hours upon hours for a few drops. The sooner we find bamboo, the better. We can either get water from the shoot itself or trace a nearby water source through it."

A crutch? The last thing she needed was to be reminded she was invalid. Taking the parachute over her good shoulder, she reached an arm up. "Get a large dried out branch and help me up. I'll take the fire with me and start making camp. Just help me up. I don't need crutches. No offense, but I'm not about to trust you in making me one when you've never made one before."

 

[MrGoatee]

He smiled, she had enough fight for them both. "sounds good"he made a quick search for Dr wood and passed it over, "I'm going to have to trust your judgement here, so lead on and I'll follow" he gathered some if their supplies, leaving the rest in a shaded part of the treeline and turned to help her up, offering both hands - giving her the option to use one or both

 

[asetikish]

She took his hand and lifted herself up with a wince. Her back was still painful, but at least her spine was still intact. With her injuries, she had no choice but to lean on him. Thankfully, he was rock solid and strong. He needed to be strong for the both of them since she was proving to be a burden on that end.

"Over there." Jesse pointed to a clearing. "I'll try to make the fire larger while you carry the stuff here. Don't exert too much effort, you're going to need protein and I'm not sure we can get any wild chickens or boars around here. You can try spear fishing, but that takes a lot of effort and practice too. Worse comes to worst, we'll be reduced to eating bugs. So save your strength."

"And John? Thank you." She didn't like to acknowledge how big of a help he was, but she had to. He deserved it.

 

[MrGoatee]

He smiled, "its ok, you'll be holding me up before long I think" he smiled and helped her over to the slightly raised area she had indicated, letting her use him as needed, but not imposing the help. He felt she needed to be her own strength in many ways and respected that she wanted to do as much as able.

He carried her bag to her, making sure she saw him all the way and placed it beside her, the liferaft came next with the tools and water. Finally he began gathering more if the wood to help with the fire. "I picked up some rubber from the plane, I'll start preparing a signal fire if were here more than a few hours" it wasn't necessary yet, the smoke from the plane was still rising, but Mason knew they had to do something, just in case.

Once he had finished he knelt by the fire, "ok ma'am, I guess its better if you tell me what we need to do to make this spot comfy" he grinned

 

[asetikish]

Jesse did what she could to make camp, gathering enough wood nearby to make the flames bigger and cutting up the chute and some of the rope from it. She saved some of the rope and used the rest of the material to make two hammocks with enough slack for a blanket.

By the time he came back, she had just finished tying their hammocks.

"I picked up some rubber from the plane, I'll start preparing a signal fire if were here more than a few hours"

Jesse scrunched up her face. "Well that's definitely going to stink, but sure. The smoke's great. If that's not enough, there are a lot of fresh foliage here we can use."

"ok ma'am, I guess its better if you tell me what we need to do to make this spot comfy"

She didn't know if he was being forcefully jovial or he really was that way, but she was a little glad for the lightheartedness he brought.

"Try to get a roof over our heads. You can use some of the remaining chute, but I'm thinking that isn't going to be enough. You could probably use duct tape and extend the material with the raft."

So far, she was doing well pretending not to need so much help. Though in reality, she was tired of doing things on her own and being strong for herself. All her life, that's all she'd ever done. But with this unknown man, she couldn't let down her guard. Besides, the more she put on the face, the higher their chances of survival. Being weak was too contagious and dangerous in their situation.

 

[MrGoatee]

He smiled "ok, but can you help? I've never even tried anything like this" he looked sheepish, "I'll do if you sit there and tell me what I need to do" he didn't want to appear weak but knew his lack of experience was going to let him down, plus he could see Jesse's pain and how she moved gingerly, maybe having her concentrate on making sure he didn't mess up would make her suit still and rest her back.

He lifted the parachute and placed it beach side of the area, placing the life raft toward the back, over as much of the hammock as possible. He figured that this would keep rain off better if needed, but also would catch rain inside if that happened.

 

[asetikish]

Jesse directed him every step of the way forgetting her pain for a while as she focused on the task. Sometimes, she didn't even need to say anything as he did his work. It wasn't long before the raft and the chute were connected and were over their heads.

As for whatever else, they could do..."Do you think you could climb the coconut trees to get the coconuts? I really don't want using up all our water rations...No. Never mind. That's too dangerous. What we have to do next is find food. I could forage with you, but dragging me along with you will only make you lose more energy and we need to conserve that more than water."

 

[MrGoatee]

He nodded, "I'll take a sensible walk see if I can find anything - please don't do anything silly, you need rest."

Walking away Mason glanced back making sure Jesse was keeping off her feet. Satisfied he walked the treeline, searching for ways to scavenge food or see the suggested bamboo. He kept glancing back as he lost sight of their camp, using the smoke plumes as markers. After an hour, he turned back having found nothing useful except the several coconut trees he had passed.

As he walked he decided the need was to great not to chance a climb. Carefully he inched his way up a medium tree, it sloped, giving him the minimum fall if all did go wrong, and there were 4 decent sized nuts up there.

He beamed when finally he arrived back at camp with all 4 and no broken bones

 

[asetikish]

Jesse didn't like to be left alone, feeling useless, but what could she do? Going with him was not an option and there wasn't anything else she could do in the camp. Grudgingly, she stayed put thinking about anything she could do.

Moments ticked by excruciatingly slow, but the more she waited, the more she felt tired. She planned on just resting her eyes as she lay on the ground, but her tiredness washed over her and soon she was sleeping under the uncomfortable woods filled with stone and twigs and other things. She continuously dozed off even as Mason returned back to camp.

 

[MrGoatee]

Mason saw Jesse sleeping as he stepped back into the camp, he tried to quietly move round and feed the fire. He sat, watching her for a moment, then shhok his head. Where she was lying must have been uncomfortable.

Gingerly he stepped over to her and tried to wake her, 'you should be in a hammock' he whispered as his hand touched her arm

 

[asetikish]

Jesse had always taught herself to be alert ever since she was s child, so the moment he touched her, she was instantly wide awake, jerking upright as he held his wrist in a grip. Her body cried out in protest, but she didn't let go until she realized who he was.

Breathing hard from surprise and pain, she let go of him. "Sorry. You startled me."

She looked over to him and saw him with four coconuts. "How...?" Frankly, she was amazed. And somewhere in her, she had a newfound respect for his tenacity. "Are you hurt?"

 

[MrGoatee]

He nodded to the coconuts " no other choice ' he shrugged, 'I'm ok, was sensible' he smiled.

"you should be off the floor" he nodded to a hammock and was aware of her still gripping his wrist "I'll go pull a couple of seats from the plane while you sleep'

 

[asetikish]

Jesse nodded, yawning as she let go of his wrist. "Alright. Just wake me up when you see or hear any sign of rescue."

She got to her feet anchoring herself on his shoulder and hobbled toward the nearest hammock. She wrapped herself in it dozed off as soon as she settled in.

 

[MrGoatee]

Mason sat quietly and watched. Looking for signs but also glancing at Jesse. She looked strong in body and mind yet there was an element of fragility, particularly with her injury.

He lowered his head a little, he remembered her telling him that she had done the damage saving his life. Dragging him from the plane. He knew she would be the rock that kept them alive if this was going to go on, but he also knew he had to use his own harness to help.

The sun began to dip, diminishing the visibility and the chances of rescue for the short term. Mason topped up the fire a little and searched for a suitable log to keep himself on the right side of fitness. A normal stickler for his daily routine, he felt the need for exercise, so began a few curls using the log

 

[asetikish]

The sun had set when Jesse woke. Already, the fire was blazing just outside their roofing and she could see the silhouette of Mason as he did his workout.

She peered through the fire and saw his form under the flickering flames. He seemed as fit as the soldiers she was always with, but unlike their functional muscles bulging, he was trimmed and sculpted in a way that gave his body a better shape than the soldiers.

Alice shook her head and sighed. Why was she thinking of those things. She had seen so many male bodies, she had no reason to be ogling at this one.

Sighing she got out of her hammock. The pain was still there, but the one at her back was almost negligible and her shoulder was faring better. Her sprain, though, was still a problem. Hobbling along the area, she found two huge branches and cut them off bringing them and a couple of lengths of rope and duct tape near the fire beside Mason.

"Had dinner?" she asked as she began sculpting the branches in the form of spears. "I know I wasn't much help, but I'll make up for it."

She hated owing anyone anything and she felt like at the rate they were going, she was starting to owe him more and more.

 

[MrGoatee]

Mason worked slowly, making sure not to build up too much of an effort so as to conserve energy and most importantly water. The night darkened as he worked, and he made sure to keep the fire alive.

He saw her wake and smiled" "no, not yet. You hungry?" He lowered the log and picked up his shirt, putting his arms in the sleeves

 

[asetikish]

When he put back his shirt on, Jesse couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. But then again, she didn't want to be caught gawking at him, so it was just as well.

She nodded and put down the spear she was making to reach for 2 of the coconuts. She hacked of the top of each of them and gave one to Mason. "You've never had anything like this to deal with before, have you? How are you faring?"

 

[MrGoatee]

Mason sat to watch her work and picked up a coconut to open, 'never,' he smiled " this is a first for me. Closest I've come to anything like this is camping in the woods back home.' He shook his head and finished opening the coconut. "I'm bearing up, better when I'm busy. When I stop to think....." He stood and walked to pass the coconut, his open shirt flapping. "what about you?"

 

[asetikish]

"Aside from the sprain and the bruises, I'm fine. Even the bruises aren't that bad anymore."

Wind picked up and sent the flames flickering...and so did his shirt. Jesse couldn't help but look, but caught herself staring for too long and concentrated on her coconut, drinking its contents.

"Maybe we should make something to distract us," Jesse said as much to herself as to him. "I heard that boredom is a killer of the mind, which will also mean we die in the process. Maybe we can have a makeshift chess set or something."

 

[MrGoatee]

Mason sat next to her "sounds interesting" he watched the flames a little "will be interesting finding things we can use and I suppose we can combine with foraging and the like." He lifted the coconut to his mouth and sipped the contents.

He turned to her " so what put you on that plane?"

 

[asetikish]

"I was supposed to go home. If that place is what you call home..." Jesse sighed and downed the contents of the coconut. "Maybe visit my brother if I'm not too pissed off."

"What about you? You're supposed to be a contractor. Isn't your company going to go ballistic with you missing?" She had a envious grin despite herself. "Maybe your family's looking for you too right now, huh? Worried sick because they couldn't find you."

She looked at his finger. No ring. Well, at least there were no children crying over their father.

 

[MrGoatee]

He nodded, 'company will be looking, but only because I'm the boss. We build roads and runways. Ironic huh?" He laughed ' I guess they'll be looking in a day or 2, I was supposed to check in in a couple of days time. But there's no family, I've been too busy and my parents passed.'

He looked at her, We 'll be ok, the military is probably looking for us already'

He stood again and stretched. Looking at her'is there anything I can do for your bruises or ankle?'

 

[asetikish]

"...But there's no family, I've been too busy and my parents passed."

"Oh, I'm sorry." She didn't know he had no family waiting for him back home. In a way, they were in the same boat. Only, he was more successful in his life, whereas she was constantly dodging the bullets life was dealing her. "I wonder if they'll ever find us."

"We'll be ok, the military is probably looking for us already."

"They'll be resting for the night, though. We should probably be doing the same soon." She opened her coconut, now devoid of water and made a makeshift spoon out of the husk to get the flesh.

"Is there anything I can do for your bruises or ankle?"

She looked up at him, her earlier hostilities forgotten. In truth, she had no idea what to do about bruises. Everyone in the military usually left them alone. And her ankle needed ice that they couldn't get anywhere. "I don't know if we can do anything about them, but thank you for the thought." She smiled.

 

[MrGoatee]

Mason fed the fire, hoping to make sure it kept alight into the morning. "sleep sounds sensible" he said, turning to offer her a hand. "I didn't bring my alarm clock though" he grinned

 

[asetikish]

Jesse took his hand and threw her coconut in the fire.

"You know what? For once, I think I'd be happy waking up without anything or anyone waking me. Unless of course, that's our rescue."

She walked over to the hammock with his help and climbed in, sleeping almost immediately once again as if she hadn't slept at all.

Dawn came and old habits were hard to break. She was up before the sun. Annoyed, she looked up at their makeshift roof, knowing that she had to prepare for both being rescued and being stranded another day. Her ankle was a bit better, but it still hurt, so she attached ropes to the spears she made so she could take them back quickly after she threw it.

All the while, she watched Mason sleep. Interestingly, he looked at home sleeping in the outdoors. At least at the moment. Whether he slept well throughout the night or not, she had no clue. But he should, especially if they were going to be stuck for much longer.