Stranded

Matt sighed, opening his mouth to reply when some kind of shadow sailed overhead, right above them. He looked up but it was gone.

 

"Don't get so easily spooked! I think we have a few wild neighbours." Clarisse checked the area for the best site. "Lets go get the others then."

 

"Few neighbors huh? Hope they don't mind we stay the night."

 

"You haven't done much camping have you? The wildlife joins you and you get used to it."

 

"Camping? Heard of it on board. Didn't know people actually did it. Thought they were pulling my leg when they said they were going to sleep in the woods for fun."

 

"We camped a lot as children. My parents thought it built strength. I soon lost my fear of the outside. The sounds are unfamiliar but most animals are more scared of you than you are of them and they are all scared of fire."

 

Matt took note of that in his head, making sure to make a huge fire once they got back to the falls. "I'm not used to any of these sounds. They're all so...strange to me. It's a good thing we have you and the captain around."

 

"So I'm not such a pampered , spoilt rich kid any more then? It's alright, I know what you thought as most people do when I'm working. I appear cold as I would rather be honestly horrible than be charming and then make a cruel decision. At least you hated me from the start, that's what happens when you have to make hard choices."

 

"Rich? Yeah...youre rich. Pampered? Not quite..." He pushed a branch aside. "And you do have a rough job, I must say so myself."

 

ooc: recap please

 

ooc Matt and Clarisse have found a place to find water and are back at camp I think.

Matt pushed through the edge of trees to see the sun that had been mostly hidden in the forest up in the sky. He guessed it was about noon but couldn't be sure.

 

Clarisse walked into the camp and cleared her throat.

"We have found a much better place to camp with clean water and better shelter.I suggest we move to this new site which is not a long walk away. Gather your things and follow us."

 

The captain looked up at them, rolling up a paper he'd been leaning over. He stood tall as he approached Clarisse. "Quite a discovery, Mademoiselle."

 

"Please call me Clarisse. I am just another person here. There is no chance that I will keep myself in that aloof position when the best strategy is to work together. Lets get everyone moved. Actually it was Matt that first discovered it anyway. That boy will go far."

 

The captain nodded thoughtfully, scratching his chin. "True. There is a greatness in the boy, but he doesn't seem to have his landlegs quite yet. Can't take a fish out of water and tell it to walk, I always say.

Now Clarisse, since you do know the way, I will be up in front of the group with you. Mr. Cruise and the rest of the crew will be positioned around the group, help stragglers if necessary. Whenever you are ready."

 

"I will be happy to lead this group. The wounded should be helped in the centre of the group. There will be a lot more comfort there and it is sheltered so it won't get so cold. There is a beautiful waterfall as well. I think they will like it."

Clarisse held out her hand. "Lets go and set an example to the others. We must remain strong and confident. What were you looking at by the way?"

 

The captain cast a sideways glance at her. "A chart of course. It shows the routes every boat in the area will take in the next week or so. I was searching if one would be so lucky to draw near enough to see us."

 

"Don't forget we will be searched for. There hasn't been any communication from the ship since yesterday and they alarm will have been raised. The only advantage of having a father that owns the company is that he isn't going to let his 'darling' daughter stay lost for too long. I do too much work and I have a clause in my will that if I die or am declared dead then everything goes to charity. Father is greedy enough not to want that and he is fully aware of the will. I own a lot of shares in my own right and it will hit him hard. Let's just say it's my insurance policy to make sure he doesn't 'lose' me like he did my brother. You see he taught his daughter well."