Page 15 of Stranded

Finding them is relatively easy since they stomp through the trees, making enough noise to let the entire island know they’re here. I suppose that didn’t matter though, when you were as big as they were, and you weren’t alone, you could afford to be as loud as you pleased.

I climb up higher and move in front of them, trying to figure out where they’re heading. We’re in a part of the island I don’t often visit. When I move a little lower to the ground, I remember part of the reason why I never come here. This area is riddled with strychnine trees. Since the little orange berries are deadly, this area gives me a creepy feeling. Andsince the other animals know to stay away, this area feels much quieter than the rest of the island.

Realizing those men are headed straight towards this spot, I start to panic. Will they know what they are? I certainly didn’t, but luckily my dad remembered his boy scout training and knew what they were straight away. I’ve stayed clear of this place ever since, just to be safe.

I need something to steer them away from this area. A distraction, perhaps?

Looking around, I try to think. I could build a fire back at camp, but they wouldn’t see or smell the smoke from here, definitely not before they reach the trees. What if I made a noise in a different direction, would they go investigate it?

I hear them getting closer and realize I only have a couple of minutes before they stumble on the first tree.

Deciding I have no other choice than an obvious warning, I quickly jump down to the ground and use my feet to try to clear some debris from the ground in front of the first tree. It needs to be a large enough spot that they will notice it.

I pull a large leaf from a nearby bush and use it to pull a couple berries from the tree, not wanting to risk even touching them with my fingers, then I drop them onto the cleared spot on the ground. I pull out McStabby and carve a large X in the dirt in front of them.

I wish I could carve the mark in the tree itself, but I knew I didn’t have enough time for that. A branch snaps under someone’s foot close by and I jump up to the closest branch, quickly climbing out of view.

I try to stay above the spot I marked, afraid that if I’m too far away, and they don’t see my warning, that I’ll be too late to stop them. But that would mean showing myself to them.

I hold my breath as they come into view.

“Oh wow, look at all those berries!” Bower exclaims.

Damn it, Bower! Look down!I grumble internally.

“Every tree around here is full of them,” King says as he steps right past my warning between a couple of trees and looks around.

“Hmm…” West says, making the other two turn to him in question.

“What?” King asks, but West stays silent, his eyes scanning the trees before turning in a circle.

“It’s pretty quiet here.”

The other two frown at West, but then they seem to tilt their heads, as if listening.

“You’re right, too quiet. I can’t hear any birds. Why?” King asks as he starts scanning the area, too.

Thank goodness for West, he must be able to feel what I do in this grove. It feels almost unnatural compared to the rest of the island.

“Well, would ya look at that,” Bower says. I have to move my head to see him better. He has his hands on his hips and is staring at the ground, at my warning.

Yes! Bower for the win!

“What do you think it means?”

“I think it’s obvious, don’t eat the berries,” King says, moving over to look at my message.

“Maybe they just want them for themselves?”

West shakes his head. “No, there aren’t any berries missing from these branches. It looks like everyone on this island knows to stay away from them… even the birds.”

“You think they’re poisonous?”

West slowly nods. “Yeah, I do.”

“Let’s go back, this place gives me the creeps,” King says, heading back the way they came.

“Yeah, now you’ve said it, I can feel it, too.” Bower follows him and West takes a second to scan the area. When his head swivels up in my direction, I pull my head back and freeze, hoping he can’t see me from where he stands.

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