The paradise Island (open, players need)

[Jay_P]

I worked with my knife to split the end of haft after stripping the bark from the sapling. Then I forced the base of the spearpoint into the split and set to Wrapping thin braided strips of bark around the haft and base of the point anchoring it firmly.. Once it dried out and shrank the strips would hold it fast. The balance was different but I felt better with some defense.
"Rom, I was looking up at the rock face you mentioned. I think there is a cave up there. If so, we will probably have to evict the current residents. Caves are too good as shelter to stay unused unless there is a good reason.. Which means if there is nothing there we have to be extremely careful. But we do need something sturdy before the storm season hits "

 

[Initiate_me]

I slowly uncurl. I've been awake for an hour, waiting until the moment I must confront the day. The island is scary again. I resolve to wander down to the beach and try to abworb some sunshine, to feel better.

 

[landiek]

Aiya worked on making a pen for the birds while the guys talked about the cave and Steph is really quiet. Aiya noticed Steph getting and turning towards the beach so Aiya walked with Steph leaving the cage for later.

"Steph, I never asked but you seem distressed. Have been camping or roughed it before? I mean, ... are you scared? Cause sometimes I am too. Kinda silly being raised with six brothers that like hunting and using their hands... and my dad was a scout leader who thrived on bare nature camping for a month. If you wanna vent or cry.. its okay... I don't mind." Aiya grimaced as her words weren't coming out right.

 

[Initiate_me]

I restrain the tears that fight to escape. I don't need to be seen as pathetic. But.... I can be honest.

"Yes, I'm finding it.... tough. I think I repressed it pretty well until.... that incident yesterday. But that broug it all back. I don't normally do sex spontaneously, I think I just went for it yesterday to keep myself distracted from the situation.But we're stuck here, we could die here. I.... don't want to die here."

 

[landiek]

Aiya nodded. " I don't see us being here forever. Just for a while. It will take some time for the reports of the ship sinking go through. Then the rescue planes and ships that will do the searching. ."

Aiya then paused." Steph, Have you ever had a lover before last night? I don't mean to be nosy and if you say I am I won't ask again. It's just,... I just got married and we were about to...."

Aiya couldn't finish. It would be admitting that Anthony was truly gone. And she really didn't want to do that yet.

 

[Jay_P]

I watched Aiya go off with Steph, that was good, Steph had seemed to withdraw into her shell, maybe Aiya could get her out of it, and work through somethings herself. I turned back to the pen that she had been building, I could see how she had been going about it and it looked solid. While it did need finishing I sat and worked on chipping out more knife blades so everyone could have a knife at the ready. Steph had the multi-tool she had found, but I worked on making one for her anyway. I found after practice I was getting much better at just how much force was needed to chip out the blade with small and nicely defined serrations along the edge.

 

[Hard_Rom]

I watch Aiya and Steph. I sure hope Aiya can help her. If I had to take a guess, I would say Steph is suffering from shock. PTSD may be kicking in. Poor girl!

The side of pig is cooking nicely. Fat and drippings sizzle and flare in the fire. I take the rib rack off the fire and place on fronds. It must weigh fifteen pounds. A hind quarter at twenty-five pounds takes two good sized green saplings to hold it up. I spread out the coals a bit to get a more even heat to roast the thick hunk of pork.

Watching Jay make his spear and other blades I realize I forgot some of the things I found on the beach. In the pile is a string of patio lanterns complete with wiring.

"Jay, the copper wire inside will hold spear points on far better than bark. Make it look a bit flash too." I say.

"So what I was thinking was, we cook up and eat as much pig as we can. In the morning we disassemble the sleeping quarters. We can reuse the bindings. That suitcase will hold most of our possessions. We can make straps for it and turn it into a backpack. The two liter pop bottle can hopefully hold the last of the bad water we will have to drink."

 

[Initiate_me]

I look at Aiya. I feel a strong blossoming connection with her. We could understand each other. She seems very competent, very strong, but like everyone, she's vulnerable too.

"I have had lovers before. A few boyfriends, it's not new to me. But I've never done it with someone I didn't really know.... until yesterday."
I sigh, staring around at the beautiful scenery.
"I can't imagine how you must feel..... your husbad..... I'm so sorry. How.... are you..... okay?"

 

[landiek]

Aiya listened in admiration. "You are soo young. I onlu dated two guys but one became my husband. Being the girl among boys was non existant and my brothers treated me like the runt of the litter."

Aiya looked out to the ocean. " I know that he drowned. But sometimes I wish he would just come back."

 

[Jay_P]

I nodded at Rom, it might work, the only thing I have noticed is that the wire for things like lights is really fairly weak, its like high-gauge speaker wire, carries the low voltage electricity fine, but not really any structural strength, but I will give it a try. Enough turns for the binding and it should work. I begin stripping the lights off to find it does have a good sturdy grounding wire along the whole length. That should work great. As I work, I look over to Rom again. "That pig is going to be delicious, and You are right we can re-use a lot of the shelter parts." "By the way, what is going on with you and steph? She seems to have, withdrawn since you two took off. I know what happened here, did you guys have trouble too? Or what happened?"

 

[Hard_Rom]

"No idea. At least I don't think I did anything wrong." I reply to Jay, "My guess is it was an impulsive move on her part and now she feels bad. Plus I think she is still in shock. PTSD can set in pretty quick too. We'll just have to watch her without actually babying her. The last thing she, or we for that matter, needs is to sink into depression. Next thing you know she stays in bed all day and we end up supporting her. I had hoped a good fuck would relieve some tensions and be a source of fun and companionship. For both of us! Not that I was trying to treat her like a one night stand."

 

[Jay_P]

"I don't think it is a one night stand.. But we do have to be careful.. She needs to be engaged in the camp, ensuring that she feels needed and an essential part of our survival. "
I hand over a knife, the handle is a length of bamboo just a little longer than your hand is wide. The blade is considerably wider than any steel blade would be but the edge is razor sharp." here you go, a knife is essential gear. ".
" I am hoping Aiya doesn't sink into depression either... I am starting to be really attracted to her. I don't think she knows or feels likewise. To be honest I was feeling a little jealous of you and Steph. "

 

[Hard_Rom]

"I wouldn't worry about Aiya. There is a difference between sad and depressed. Even all out crying may not mean depression. She's our most active person. Likely to walk and work our asses into the sand. Even with losing someone on the ship. She's doing amazing.

Steph and me just happened. Out in the bush, happy to see her alive. Again just fun and companionship. Only known her a week or so, a little quick to form a long term relationship. Without any survival skills she does need someone. To coach and mentor if anything. That was before Aiya. She might do a better job. No sexual tension and shit." replying to Jay

"Try your hand at a heavier tool. An axe that can be fixed to a handle would be nice. The chert has more weight. Edge needs an axe edge not too sharp. I watched a show where a surgeon used obsidian surgical knives. I guess the edge stays smooth no matter how high you magnify it. He had fifty percent better healing times and less infection. Quite amazing! Keep your chips. I can make bows and arrows. But I think I might need Aiya's help with a bow string. I always bought strings. The thinner wire will do okay on small arrow heads.

You would have to dead not to be attracted to Aiya. She's cute as hell and capable. Don't forget though, technically she is a grieving widow. Coming on too eager would be a mistake." I continue.

 

[Jay_P]

"I know that, I am trying to go slow with it, I don't want to come on too strong." The chert will not be quite as easy to shape, but I will give it a go. I am going to need an axe." The other thing I realized i am going to need, is some kind of shoe. I wont be able to walk up on those volcanic ledges without slicing my feet to ribbons." I take a few minutes to look for a suitable piece of Chert and begin working it trying to get a feel for exactly how it chips and breaks down to make the needed edge. Too sharp and it will shatter when it hits the wood, too wide and it will be a hammer.
"I think she has a good head for survival, her family evidently was a farm family and went camping a lot. maybe not quite as extreme a mode as we are in, but she has a good read on handling animals and how to get around in a primitive environment."

 

[Initiate_me]

I place a comforting arm around Aiaya, feeling a surge of emotion at the story of her loss.
"I'm so sorry, that's terrible. You can always talk to me. We'lll support each other."
I brush away a tear and take a deep breath. "Right, lets get back to the guys. There's things to do, we need to make sure none of us are attacked again".

 

[Jay_P]

When should we try to move up to the rocks do you think?

 

[landiek]

Aiya agreed so they turn back for camp." I promise never to tackle a pig on my own again
I never want to see that look on your face again. I'm sorry for scaring you that way."

Aiya picked a few flowers on the way back for each of them to wear.

 

[Jay_P]

I have made good progress on the axe head, but need to break as I am still working out muscles that don't get used a great deal. I look up watching as Aiya and steph come back in to the clearing with flowers in their hair. "Our beautiful ladies return!" I stand as you come into the camp brushing dust and stone chips off my body. "Here Aiya, I made knives for each of us to keep on hand. I have one for you Steph, unless you would rather keep the multi-tool, but a ready blade could still be useful."

 

[Initiate_me]

I take the knife Jay offers, gripping it tightly, resolving to be a super-steel warrior with flowers in her hair. I will exorcise myself of weakness.... or something. I definitely feel better after my conversation with Aiya- not so alone, ready to face it all.
"Thanks Jay. Nice work there. So, do we have a plan for moving the camp yet?"

 

[Jay_P]

I think the first thing we should do is make sure the new site is not currently inhabited and then evict any current residents if necessary. Caves are rarely unoccupied without a very good reason, and if this one is, we need to be very careful before moving in. I would guess then we put up a screen to keep anything else from trying to move in and get the supplies up there. We will probably need a ladder or something, as those cliffs aren't easy to scale, to say nothing of trying to carry supplies up.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Steph and Aiya both look better. Quite the stunning pair actually with flowers in their hair.

"A bit of girl talk to fix what ails you?" I laugh.

"There's about ten pounds of pork ribs here that need eating up. Next two days or so are going to be a bit of hard work, so we should eat as much as we can and store up some energy. Plus none of this meat will last long," I continue, "Give Jay's knives a try out."

I give the pig's hind leg a turn as it roasts over the fire. Then I dump out the suitcase contents on to one of the torn garbage bags I found. Shaving kit, cigars, cutter, soap, two polo shirts, two pairs of jeans and a pair of size 9 leather dress shoes. I add the patio lantern wiring, two liter pop bottle, twine and the other torn bag to the pile of salvaged treasures.

"I just had a thought Jay and Aiya. Some of the thinner wire from the patio lanterns could hang those boar tusk trophies nicely from a necklace."

 

[Jay_P]

I grin..."A fine trophy for the kill." I take one of the tusks, one for each of us Aiya, to commemorate our victory." I also grab the shoes, as I was needing protection for my feet. THey were just a hair large, but should service for now. I work on twisting the wire tightly around the base of the tusk and forming a loop at he end that some braided twine can go through for the necklace. Then digging into the pork I sit back. "Victory never tasted so good. The knife does a good job of slicing the roasted meat from the bone, cutting cleanly.

 

[landiek]

Aiya took the make shift knife and noticed it fit well to her hand and would be extremely helpful with building a cage for the birds. "Thank you, Jay."

When Rom suggestes eating Aiya's belly rumbled causing her to turn bright red in the face. "I guess eating sounds good after all."

Aiya notices the assortment and adds the first aide kit, scissors, parts of a blanket and small shells. It wasn't much but it was what she used and the scissors would need some serious cleaning.

While eating Aiya thought about things she did during those vacations when they went to Arkansas. Catching those feral pigs paled to her recent hog kill. Mainly she wanted to remember what main staples looked like in the wild.

" You know we could make drying racks. So we could make jerky out of the rest of this meat so it lasts a bit longer." Aiya suggested between bites

 

[Initiate_me]

Eating with the group, I start to feel better. We can do this, we can survive here.

 

[Jay_P]

"Racks would be good, but not sure if we can dry the meat out in the open. I think there is just too much humidity. I was figuring we would need to smoke the meat. " I take a few more bites and twist more wire around the tusk and then make a loop of braided twine to complete the necklace. "Here you go Aiya, our first kill." I place the loop over y our head and around your neck. The tusk lays against your skin hanging down just between the upper curves of your breasts. "Looks beautiful on you Aiya."