Time on the New Island (Open)

[Mistriss_Isis]

Waves crash upon the white sand beach, a beach that no one would think would lead to a hell. Wreckage lay scattered on the beach, a boat perhaps it used to be but now it was unrecognizable. People lay scattered on the shores of paradise and the locals well they are freindly, but in a way that no one would think.

Women and men alike dwell within the shores of paradise, preying on the innocent people who become stranded on her shores. Controlling and demanding they take prisoners and use them as they please. Without the pressures of laws they have nothing to fear, not even their prisoners who grow eventually complacent in their new caged world.

OOc: well we need some rather dominating men or women for the island and some survivors. Feel free to play two characters, I will start as soon as I have two other characters.

 

[Vikingboy]

Lonnie Warneke - survivor

.....

 

[Elayne]

Survivor

The cruise ship was magnificient. Long and pearl white, with decks of luxurious apartments, a pool, tennis courts and restaurants.

Christina loved every minute of it. She had just completed her master's degree in Pyschology and after six years grinding away in university, she needed a vacation, a chance to feel the sun again. When her sister had smiled and shown her the package for the cruise, she'd been delighted.

Christina and her sister had been on their way to the tennis courts, both wearing sharp looking white tennis skirts and strappy summer tank tops. Christina had her midnight dark hair pulled back in a soft ponytail that fell along her spine to just below her shoulderbladesl.

As they sat waiting for a court to open up, it began to rain lightly. The pair had run to the covered restaurant to wait out the storm. But the rain didn't stop. It began to hammer at the roof of the restaurant, almost violently. The wind began to howl, till the entire ship, huge as it was, began to buck and toss like a maddened beast.

Then there had been a brilliant flash, so pure white that it left a residue of purple trailing across Christina's vision. She could still hear the crackle and shattered boom of thunder as the lightning strike hit the ship.

She didn't remember being thrown overboard. She did remember choking on water, realizing she was under and frantically swimming, not able to tell up from down as she compared the darkened sky to the darkened depths. By luck only had she go to the surface, gasping for air. She couldn't see the ship, nor anyone else.

Three days had passed.

Christina groaned lightly, woozy. She felt sand under her face, and warm sun on her back. I should go put on some sun screen before I burn, she thought groggily, blinking. Water lapped up around her bare legs, tickling her.

Christina struggled to lift her head.. A beach? The ship!

She crawled forward, pulling herself out of the water. Somewhere in her frantic swim she had lost her tennis shoes and sporty socks. Her tank top had a nasty rip in the side and the band of her skirt was loose, the elasticity of it ruined. Her hair was matted and wild as it spilled down her shoulders and the pale skin of her back. Her light blue eyes peeked about frantically.

Where was she?

 

[JBang]

After starting a new skateboard company with his friend last year, Joey was in need of a vacation, so his friend had gotten him a cruise ticket. It was the least he could do for making him go on buisness meetings in japan which made him stay in some stuffy airplane for hours upon hours with annoying kids crying and running around... except for that one crazy air ride with that hot stewardis... but most of the flights he went on sucked!

So when he finally took his 2 week vacation he couldn't help but be excited. However the cruise had crashed, and he had swam for his very life. His athletic and muscular build had helped him but by no means made the swim easy. He eventually passed out and found himself on a beach, his arm bleeding, a deep cut across it, the sand stinging his wound.

As he made his way up, and brushed the sand from his wavy brown hair, his golden eyes scanned the beach around him for anyone. With a sigh he made his way up beach, taking off his ripped shirt, wrapping his wound with it as he sat on the beach, in disbelief of what was going on.

OOC:

NAME: Joey Cire
AGE: 21
HEIGHT: 5'11"
BUILD: Athletically Muscular
HAIR: Brown and wavy
EYES: Golden

 

[Vikingboy]

Other survivors

Lon struggled to his feet, looking around. On the beach he saw two others, a man & a woman. He tried to shout, but his voice barely croaked out, "Hey, over here!"

He waved his arms feebly, then sat down. He looked around and found some fruit, maybe? He sniffed it, then, tentatively, bit into it. sweet, juicy, throat not constricting He ate more. And, as he got moisture into his throat, he managed a bit more volume and called the others again, "Hey, over here!"

 

[Hush Silenstar]

Mia

She hurt, she hurt all over, places she didn't know she had hurt. She stretched on the sand, her skin felt crinkly, salt water coated and sun dried. She winced and put her hand over her eyes to give her some darkness. The waves were warm but lapping up to the middle of her back. She sat up and struggled to stand.

She was barefoot, in something that used to be a white skirt. Her long, wavy dark hair was caked with sand, bits of debris littered the beautiful beach. It was peaceful here, though some shade would be nice.

Christina! Christina fell into the water! The memories came rushing back, the ship, the storm, her sister falling overboard. Mia had struggled to a lifeboat, but in the end it hadn't mattered much. It was supposed to be a graduation present for both girls, before she went to law school in the fall. She looked around for other survivors, praying to see her sister's familiar frame.

"Hey, over here!"

It was faint, but alive. And male. Mia headed toward the sound anyway, ashamed that her first thought upon seeing the hottie who'd yelled was "I must look a mess." When she had made her way across the beach to the man she collapsed near him, her head pounding. "Hiya, Gilligan. Is that fruit any good?"

 

[Elayne]

Christina

At the first glance, Christina's stretch of beach seemed empty. Am I the only one here, she thought to herself in a brief moment of panic. But she would not allow herself to give in to her rising tremulous statement in the pit of her belly. The ship probably knows I'm missing and is sending out help.. There might even be peope on the island on one of the other beachs.

Christina shivered slightly. Still dripping water, the air was making her definitely cool. Christina drew herself up to her feet, then brushed off some of the sand on her knees. A few grains of the beach still clung to her feet and ankles.

A distinct rumble in her tummy reminded Christina that she hadn't eaten in days while she'd been in the water. Her tongue felt nearly glued to the roof of her mouth with thirst.

I have to find food and water while I wait for help, she thought.

Christina began to walk slowly, legs still wobbly from her frantic swim, towards the treeline, heading into the dark jungle in search of food and water.

 

[Wolk]

OOC:

Name: Kaj "Giant Snake"
Age: 24
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 260lb
Build: Muscular
Hair: Dark brown, cut(or shaved) extremely short
Eyes: Brown, slightly narrow eyeslits

More:
Kaj is a brutish-looking warrior of the native tribe, which populates the island our survivors found rescue on. He is huge, sturdy and amazingly strong, even by the standards of modern civilized societies where people recieved ample food for generations. Among other tribesmen, he is a true giant. In spite of his size, Kaj is not slow. He can't be, or he would have no luck on hunts.

Like the rest of his folk, Kaj seems to be Asian, though his Asian features aren't as distinguished as they could be. The eyeslits are only slightly narrower than Europens' and hair is abundant on the chest, the arms and legs. Their skin is also darker than that of a European or a Japanese native, almost the hue of some Central and South American peoples.

Kaj also posesses an insatiable hunger for sex and a penis so large, it might be considered too big even for his giant body. A combination that made many washed ashore women captives scream in agonizing pain and pleasure as he ravaged them. The long, thick cock may be better fit for a horse than for a human being, while big, heavy balls built up so much cum, Kaj had yet to see a woman who could swallow it all as he came, even if her life depended on it.

Like all warriors, Kaj wore only a cloth about his hips and soft shoes that went up all the way to his knee, supported with soft leather belts wrapped about the leg up to the knee. He had belts of leather around his waist and across his torso, which supported various items and weapons: a big knife, a bow and arrows, some rope, a small leather bag.

Thanks to his size and skill, Kaj ascended through the ranks of the tribe quickly. Though he had no intention to challenge the Chief's authority, Kaj answered to no one but the Chief himself. And he liked it this way. It gave him great privileges, like being the first after the Chief to take his pick of captives, while letting him do what he did best without the need to worry of headaches that came with the Chief's position. Besides, the Chief was Kaj's brother, and to challenge him would be an insult to the whole family.

IC:
With a small pack of hunters, Kaj was prowling the forest for game. They had already killed numerous smaller animals - rabbits, parrots, and the like were tied to their belts. It was almost time to turn back, as they nearly reached the edge of the jungle and the beach beyond it.

But then, Kaj's sensitive ear caught sounds of human voices from afar.

"Shuh!" He hissed, lifting his fist up to stop everyone. "Rethe, by de cheab." He listened again, and everybody else in the hunting group did as well. Then Kaj heard those voices again.

"Og! Og, og, no sione."

The troop moved out quietly and soon they arrived at the very edge of the jungle and found the small group of pale survivors that once in a while washed up on their shores. It was considered a gift from Gods when that happened. Now, Kaj smiled, delighted. He sent one of the hunters to run back to the village and report of their find, then turned to others.

"Tel's og. Ees tahw Dogs vige su."

The small group of hunters moved out from the jungle and walked towards the castaways. They moved briskly through the sands, at home, and the distance was shrinking quickly.

OOC:

OK, as you guys saw, I tried to make up something of a 'native language'. It is a rather simple garbling of English words, actually, so you as writers can actually understand what he is saying, while there's still this 'savage talk' aura around it. It just seemed to me like it'd be sexier if this savage native of mine pulled a lovely little woman's head down towards his giant cock and utteres something like "kus it!", rather than be able to express in Oxford English.

But I'm not sure how well what I did works in practice, though. So, please let me know what you think in OOC or through PMs. Is it easy enough to read? Should I keep doing this or just move to normal English?

 

[Hush Silenstar]

Mia

She looked back to the dark jungle, her china blue eyes sweeping over the foliage. Had she heard something, an animal, or civilization? Or was it just the wind, moving the leaves around?

She got unsteadily to her feet and called into the darkness "Hello? Anyone there? Christina?" The last held a volume of unspoken hope.

She'd swear she saw something moving back there - she took a few steps into the trees, letting her eyes get used to the shadow.

 

[Wolk]

Kaj stopped as he heard a cry from the jungles. It was a little ways to the side of where the party came from, but still behind them. He turned to his group and pointed out two hunters.

"Ooy owt, og ees it. Dnif meth, gnirb 'em to llevage."

The pair nodded and quickly jogged in the direction of the cries. They would round up whoever they found and lead them to the village. Meanwhile, Kaj and the remaining men carried on towards the other survivors.

 

[Tanuki]

Kalia was a native of the island, but an outsider since she left her village a few years ago at the age of 18. A headstrong and beautiful young girl, she had never accepted her village's treatment of the frequent castaways that washed up on their pristine shores. Unable to fight the men from within, she had left to live on her own in the jungle, and help the strange visitors as best she could. As the youngest daughter of a former chief, her rebellion had been tolerated, that is until recently, when she had been forced to kill a young warrior with a well placed arrow. Now she was a hunted creature, like the pale-skinned strangers.

Like most natives, Kalia was dark skinned with raven-black hair, which she left straight and flowing to the middle of her back. Her skin was dark from a lifetime of exposure to the intense sun, yet her large green eyes and warm smile disarmed the castaways alarmed at the sight of the bow and arrows on her back. Her narrow waist and full hips were adorned in a short skirt, while her ample breasts were covered in two triangular patches of yellow and brown spotted animal skin, kept in place by thin leather cords. On her feet were leather mocassins which allowed her to move silently through the jungle trees.

Kalia was stalking a new visitor, a dark haired female dressed in a blindingly white skirt and tight-fitting top, as she moved through the jungle a bit clumsily. The pretty female was going to be caught if she kept on like this, Kalia told herself. She looked about nervously, listening for the sounds of others, but they were alone, for the moment.

Kalia stepped out from the jungle in plain sight of the woman, and held her finger up to her lips, as she'd seen the other outsiders do. It was a gesture to stay silent. Luckily for the new castaway, Kalia had been trying to learn her language from former castaways. English, they called it.

"Quiet!" she hissed in a whisper. "You are in danger! Men are coming."

 

[Elayne]

Christina

Christina stumbled off the beach, thirsty and hungry, bruised and battered. Her arms trembled slightly as she moved and she rubbed her hands on her slender, pale upper arms as she walked, drying her skin slightly.

The jungle was shockingly dark, the oppressive looming trees hanging over in a leafy ceiling that was scarely penetrated by a shaft a sunlight. The dampness of the jungle in the post storm only reminded Christina of her thirst.

There were no paths in the jungle. The ground beneath her feet was moist and muddy loam and every other step she tripped over a coiling root or stubbed her toe on some scarely visible patch. She stumbled through a low bush, which scratched at her knees greedily and her skirt caught on the branch, tearing with a harsh whisper.

Christina stopped as the skirt caught, the ruined band being pulled half off, revealing a flash of her thong and curve of pale flesh before she quickly pulled it back up, resettling the skirt over her round hips, then turning and tugging the hem off the bush. The fabric had split from thigh to hip and Christina almost cried in frustration as her pale thigh was bared. She turned and stormed off from the offending bush, scarcely noticing the pale bits of fabric still clinging to it.

A few steps later, a large, flat leaf tipped, splashing water just along side her, making her jump. Water, she thought. Rain water, that's drinkable. Christina reached up, taking another heavily laden leaf, cupping it into a small funnel and tilting it down. The cool water splashed down into her waiting mouth as she raised her chin, eyes closed as the cool water trickled down her chin. It taste like mint leaves, but refreshed her flagging spirits enormously.

Christina wiped her soft lips with the back of her hand, then brushed a few droplets off her tank top. Suddenly, a harsh hiss from behind her made her spin about.

It was a woman, dark and wild looking, with untamed clothing like in a bad tribal movie. Christina gave a small yelp of surprise at the woman's sudden appearance, but the woman hissed again, lifting her finger to her lips, gesturing for silence.

The woman didn't seem to mean her harm, so Christina paused, forcing herself to calm, fighting the increased beating of her heart. "Hello?" she murmured politely.

The woman made a reply. She spoke more rapidly than Christina was used to, with an odd, rolling accent. "Quiet..danger...men!"

Christina tilted her head curiously. Danger? Men? Did she mean there were wild animals about and that they should wait for the men? Were there others about?

Christina paused for a moment, keeping quiet, then opened her mouth to ask a quiet question, trying to keep her voice down. "Who are you? Where am I?"

 

[Tanuki]

Kalia smiled as the woman's words brought back memories. A year ago she had rescued a man from the beaches before the others could catch him. Together they had spent months together, hiding in the jungle, she teaching him to hunt and to live off the land, and he teaching her his language and . . . other things. Kalia blushed at the intense memories, then realizing the woman was looking at her strangely, she pushed her thoughts aside.

Kalia moved closer and then knelt, motioning the other woman to do the same. "My name is Kalia," she said, the words so clear in her memory sounding awkward as they rolled off her tongue. "Men are coming . . . to take you, and the others. They want to . . . take your youth. Take your use." She frowned, the words not sounding right, her memory failing her. "We must hide!"

Then they both turned sharply at the sound of a crack - a twig or branch crushed underfoot, then silence. Kalia felt her heart pounding and wondered if the stranger could hear it.

 

[Hush Silenstar]

Mia

Now she knew she wasn't making it up, there was someone in the jungle. She had heard voices, distinctly male, though she couldn't make out what they were saying.

She walked toward them, finding a path through the trees.

"Hello! Help! We washed up on shore! Can you hear me?"

The man that stepped out of the shadows took her breath away - dark, muscled, huge. She stepped back, seeing the feral glint in the man's eye. He was a predator, and she had never felt more like prey.

He raised a long tube to his mouth and she felt a terrible pain in her breast, clod spread through her as she looked down and saw a feathered dart sticking out of her flesh. Then her sight dimmed and from somewhere, far awa, she heard the thump as her body fell to the ground, unconsious.

 

[Elayne]

Christina

Christina still studied the wild woman with cautious eyes, feeling tension through her spine. The other woman smiled at her warmly, a remarkable comforting smile with her full lips and bright green eyes.

Christina felt a bit wary as the other woman crept forward, towards her, then knelt. The tribeswoman motioned Christina with downward swings of her hand, and Christina hunkered down in front of the woman, so close their knees almost brushed. For a moment, her white skirt began to slide up, but Christina arrested the motion with her hand.

"My name is Kalia," the woman said quiet clearly, placing her hand on her impressive breast to make herself clear. Christina nodded, but before she could speak, the woman launched into another torrent of quick words. "Men rr come..take oo an ootrs...teywanna... take oo.. take oou oout, take oo oous. Wemus hide!"

Christina cocked her head, thinking it over quickly in her head. Men coming, that was clear. The other woman's obvious fear meant the men coming weren't friendly. Take, take, take. That sounded ominous, the woman's emphasize on that obvious. Hide? Well, that was clear enough too.

A soft crack and rustle sounded nearby, though Christina couldn't judge distances in the jungle, but the surprising sound made her start slightly. Christina instinctively flung her hand out to the other woman, beginning to sidle away from the noise.

"Let's go.." she whispered back sharply. A sharp sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach told her hiding would be a very good idea.

 

[Wolk]

Kaj

Quiet and far away it may have been, but Kaj heard it. THAT sound he always heard and recognized from a long way off, for it was his business. The sucking in of air in through the nose, the pressure buildup, the distinctive pneumatic "pop" as a dart left the baboo tube and sped through the air towards its aim with a distinctive sound. It was among many sounds associated with battle or ambush, and it got his whole being worked up for a fight.

Hastily, he barked orders to the remaining hunters in the group, leaving the next most senior one in charge of talking to people on the beach and rounding them up to the village. Kaj himself, and one other hunter, ran quickly towards the jungle.

There they found their warriors and a knocked out washed up woman. She was put to a deep slumber by the dart, but wouldn't die. Still, it was a bad way to get them. It killed her trust already and now every bit of talk from her would have to be dragged out painfully. A waste, when they could have just invited her to come along to the village. Why wouldn't she agree, when she had nothing on this island? He hoped the other warriors on the beach wouldn't make the same mistake.

Kaj gave the shooter a firm smack on the back of the head and shot an angry glance of his eyes at the overzealous man. He ordered two hunters to carry the woman, at least for the first part of the long treck. Yet one more reason why they should've had her walk herself. Kaj himself and another warrior walked in front and behind the procession, acting as guards.

In several hours they were back at the village and the woman they carried began to slowly come around. Kaj ordered her carried to one of the shacks. There he sat her up against a large wooden column that stood in the center of the shack, supporting the roof and tied her hands firmly to it behind her back. He wanted to talk to her for a little bit before throwing her in with the other captives in the deep pits, their walls laid with big rocks so that those confined within could not dig their way out. A firm cage was fixed at teh top of the pit to keep them in.

Seeing her open her eyes slowly, Kaj smiled.

"Hello, woman." He said. He learned quite a bit of this "English" all the captives seemed to understand and speak. He put a lot of effort into it, since captives were gifts from the Gods, and so their language just might be what the Gods wanted people to speak. So, Kaj was fairly good at it. Good enough to be understood and to understand, surely.

 

[Hush Silenstar]

Mia

The world was blurry. And smelled funny. She tried to rub her eyes, but found that she couldn't pull her hands from around her back. She was tied to a pole!
Adrenaline cleared her vision and she found it filled with a huge native, even larger than the one who had shot her. She bit back a scream of surprise as he smiled at her.

"Hello, woman."

"Hello. What are you going to do with me?" Her voice was small with fear. She tested the bods and found that she couldn't escape them, and was suddenly very, very aware of her exposed skin. The feeling of being prey returned, strengthened.

 

[Wolk]

Kaj

"Hello. What are you going to do with me?"

Kaj smiled. She came around OK and she seemed undamaged, aside from the dart wound. But that will heal quickly. The dart was only ment to make a small, though deep, hole to deliver the poison. For raw wounds the warriors used arrows with nasty, wide arrowheads.

She also seemed semi-friendly, not crying and struggling aimlessly. That was good.

"I talk you now." Kaj said in imperfect but definitely understandable English. "I ask, you say. You ask too, if you want. But after. First I ask."

He paused for a moment to make sure she followed, then continued. It was hard for a huge warrior like Kaj to look friendly, but he tried. Interrogations always took longer and were more work. If possible, it was better to get them to just tell you.

"I Kaj." He hit himself in the broad, muscular chest with force that would've sent a lesser man rolling on the ground in pain. He did it nonchalantly, feeling no discomfort at all. "What you name?"

There was no reason for her not to answer this simple question, and when she did, Kaj moved onto the next one.

"You saw more friends at beach? More come shore, yes? You say who else you saw come. Say how many. Say their hair, their tall, they fat or skinny, they man or woman. Say all you have here." He touched the side of her head gently with his finger. "You say, I send to find them, to have them to village. They die in jungle if you not say. Jungle dangerous. Kill by snake, kill by no food, kill by fall and break leg. Lot of kill. Need bring them to village."

 

[Hush Silenstar]

Mia

He seemed nice enough, for all the ability to snap her like a twig.

"What you name?"

"Mia. I'm Mia." she said softly, confusedly. "Why am I tied up..Kaj?"

"You saw more friends at beach? More come shore, yes? You say who else you saw come. Say how many. Say their hair, their tall, they fat or skinny, they man or woman. Say all you have here. You say, I send to find them, to have them to village. They die in jungle if you not say. Jungle dangerous. Kill by snake, kill by no food, kill by fall and break leg. Lot of kill. Need bring them to village."

She shied away from his touch, but it was gentle, for all his stength. If he was so concerned, why had she been shot? Why was she bound now? She tried to think, come up for an answer for the man, he didn't look like one to try the diplomatic approach for long.

"Um... I only saw one other, man, he was eating fruit. Not as tall as you. does that help?"

She thought about asking Kaj to help look for her sister, but decided that her sister didn't need to be tied up in a hut.

 

[Wolk]

Kaj nodded his head, listening.

"You tied up for you not run away." He answered the obvious truth and moved on.

"Man you say, what his look? You say saw he, then you know his look." Kaj coaxed the details of the guy's appearance out of her.

"You know man name?" Naturally, she didn't. A glimpse of suspicion sparked in his eye as she denied it.

"Who 'Christina'? You call 'Christina', look 'Christina' in jungle. Man Christina? You lose him? Why you lie?"

 

[Hush Silenstar]

She grudingly described Lon, less and less cooperative after the "not run away" comment.

"Who 'Christina'? You call 'Christina', look 'Christina' in jungle. Man Christina? You lose him? Why you lie?"

"No wait, you have it wrong. I was with a girl, on the ship that broke. Her name is Christina, I did lose her. I don't know if she..." Mia started to face teh fact that her sister may very well be dead, drowned, or that at the very least, she may never see her again, tears started to roll from between her dark lashes and over her perfect cheekbones. "I don't knwo is she's here or not."

"Please untie me, Kaj." She turned her sky blue eyes to his, pleading. "I won't run away. I'm just very scared."

 

[Wolk]

Kaj

Seeing distress in her eyes, Kaj softened. She was trying to cooperate, it seemed. At least somewhat. And now she seemed very sad and distressed. He pet her shoulder carefully, trying not to overpush with his big muscles.

"Not cry, Mia." He smiled and caressed her hair lightly.

At her next request, Kaj shook his head.

"No. No untie. Scared very bad. Fear why I tie you. Fear makes run away. Run away to jungle, jungle kill. I not want you die."

Before she could protest, he lifted his finger, signaling her to be quiet and listen.

"We only village on island. Ocean around island, jungle around village. Ocean, jungle cannot live. We have you. You our. You stay, live in village by us. You do all we say, all 'washed up' do all we say. Then you OK. OK?"

"Mia, you hungry? Want food, water?" He got up onto his feet. "I bring soon. You wait."

Kaj got out of the hut and went to the communal kitchen where plentiful food was being made. He would find something nice.

 

[Hush Silenstar]

Mia

"Not cry, Mia."

He stroked her like a pet, trying to calm her like she would her cat. There was so much strength in his hands, he frightened her, but he spoke English and was better than the beach.

"No. No untie. Scared very bad. Fear why I tie you. Fear makes run away. Run away to jungle, jungle kill. I not want you die. We only village on island. Ocean around island, jungle around village. Ocean, jungle cannot live. We have you. You our. You stay, live in village by us. You do all we say, all 'washed up' do all we say. Then you OK. OK?""

He had to untie her, he couldn't. And what did he mean by "have her"? He turned to leave and she began to struggle and beg with sincerity. He couldn't treat her like this, like some animal, a pet to be leashed so it wouldn't run out of the yard. The walls felt like they were closing in, the terror and shock too ovrwhelming. "Kaj, no! please, I won't run! Please don't leave me tied up, please!"

After he left it occured to her that he had said nothing about trying to reach her people. Nothing about getting her home. Afterthat dawned on her she fell silent, and started working on escaping her bonds in seriousness.

 

[Wolk]

Kaj

The kitchen had a surprisingly wide choice, for the island had pelntiful game and fertile soil. Kaj looked through it and loaded a large plate of steamed and fried meat with some potatoes for himself and a nice bowl of tasty soup for Mia. He also fetched a pair of cups and a jug of beer and fixed them on his belt.

Coming back into the hut, he placed the plates onto a small table-shaped mat on the floor and smiled at Mia.

"Good food today. Soup for you. You not eat long time, not have hard food yet. But soup good!"

He moved behind her and started fumbling with her bonds.

"I untie you to eat, OK, Mia? Be good, not run, or I not untie you more. We go walk by village after if you want. Then I tie you back."

He finished untying her hands and went to seat at the end of the table-mat closer to the door. If she tried to bold, she wouldn't make it even to the enterance.

"You keep tie a few days, maybe a few month. Until you learn your life in village, learn to do what we tell you. Then you OK. But learn hard, learn scary. We keep you tied while scary, fear not make you run away."

"Eat, eat. Soup good."

He filled their cups with beer and started on his meat.

 

[Hush Silenstar]

Mia

She rubbed circulation painfully back into her numb fingers and reached for the soup - too hungry to protest the lack of spoons.

"You keep tie a few days, maybe a few month. Until you learn your life in village, learn to do what we tell you. Then you OK. But learn hard, learn scary. We keep you tied while scary, fear not make you run away."

She covered her indignant confusion by eating. She wasn't beginning to feel none to eager to discover what they expected her to do. And she didn't liek teh sound of learning hard and scary. The soup tasted like heaven and she discovered she was completely ravenous, trying to remind herself to not eat too much or she would get sick. She drank some of the beer, but it made her head spin quickly.

"Kaj? What do you mean 'learn scary'? I don't want to learn scary. Why can't I just go home?"