Friendship And Hardship

[Chapter 2] - On Crumbling Ground

"So, few questions here. How did you guys see my ship? It's foggy outside, and I think it would be almost impossible to see it," Parker asked.
"Actually, I was the one who spotted it," Peso said. "And it wasn't through the fog, it was from under the water."
"That makes more sense, honestly. So um, I only know two of your names, and that's it," she added, looking down the small row that the crew had been sitting in. "I know your name, obviously, Featherpaws. I know Kwazii's name, I just said it, but I don't know the rest of the lot's names."

"To start, Peso is our medic, and he's the one who spotted your ship," Barnacles stated, motioning over towards him.
"Ah! Well props to you, Peso!" Parker exclaimed. "But, I do believe I know your name, shhh..." She looked over at Shellington.
"You're pretty close, but it's Shellington. That's my name," he said.
"I was close! You know what, I know why you looked so familiar. I know your sister!"
"You know my sister?" he asked.
"Yes! I've met her a few times during my explorations! Those explorations explain the box by the desk. It's my clunky diving suit." Parker tilted her head over to the end of the desk, and there sat a makeshift box, which was stacked with books and what seemed to be some metal items. "But enough about that, I've got two more names to guess... and I've got no idea what they could be," she said, laughing.
"Well, that's Tweak, and I'm Dashi!" she explained.
"I don't think I ever would have guessed those but that's cool! I feel like at this point I just know what your occupations are just based off energy, I can do that. So I already know some of them, such as how Peso is the medic and such, but I'm going to try and guess the others that I don't know," Parker explained.

"Okay so, Kwazii, you have extremely high 'second-in-command' vibes. The way you are also very cautious about your surroundings and the people and things you trust, that gives off some sort of cryptozoology energy. Shellington, I just know you're a biologist of some sort, it's obvious but in a good way."

Yikes?

"Based on the camera you are currently holding in your hands, Dashi, I can assume that you might be the photographer of the crew. I feel like you and Tweak both have some things in common, but Tweak is the one who acts out things, such as tech plans."

...

"Am I scarily accurate or really off? Detecting energy is a specialty of mine, it would be weird if some of them were far off," Parker began again, attempting to revive the conversation. Things got extremely awkward, and it felt like all eyes were on her.

"That was scary, how did you know all that?" Kwazii asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Physical evidence and energy, the way things get done, the way some people react and think, it's not as easy as you would think it is," she stated. "If you've been doing it as long as I have, it's easy."
"Yeah..."

"That went by a bit faster than I originally thought it would, so... what else is there to talk about?" Parker asked.
"Well, can I ask if you're the only one on the island?" Peso questioned.
"Aside from some of the animals, yes. The island is bigger than you might think, especially in width. Usually I see caribou almost every day, but they've moved to other sections of the island. Don't know why..." she answered.

"What about birds? It feels weird to just... not have any here," Kwazii asked.
"There's a few birds on here, not species, but just a few birds. Literally. But, there is a certain bird that seems to have taken a liking in me. I call him Elliott. I've got feeders in the back of the tree!"

...

"I had the feeling that would kill the conversation," she muttered.

Kwazii passed a disappointed look over to Barnacles. "When do we tell her?" he asked.
"Whenever you want, you were the one who planned."
"All right then, Parker. We don't think you're the only one on the island."

"What?"
"Believe what you want, matey, but this was outside the tree house, and it doesn't look like yours." He turned around in his seat to grab another arrow.

And it looked nothing like the ones Parker had.

"I've been on this island for years, there's no one else here," she stated.
"Sure, there might not have been anyone here a while ago, but they're here now," Kwazii insisted, handing over the arrow.

"Oh. This... it almost looks hand-crafted," Parker muttered.
"Aren't your arrows hand-crafted?" Barnacles asked.
"These are made all of the same material, mine aren't. I know a lot about these things, believe me. Where did you find these?"
"Right on the ground near the entrance of the tree house," he answered.
"So, what does this mean? For you and for the island?" Peso questioned.

...

"I'm not leaving. I'm sorry if it sounds ridiculous, but honestly I have nothing to really apologize for. This is my island. I've lived here for ages now, and I'm not giving up so easily. If it means getting hurt while protecting the island, I'm okay with that," she answered. "If I don't feel safe... then I guess that's a different story."
"What would you do then?" Kwazii looked up at her.
"I don't really know yet. I'll get some plan in place."

~

"The island looks weird at night," Barnacles said. They were just about to leave, but he said he wanted a last word really quick.
"I think it's the fog, usually it doesn't look like this," Parker stated.
"Ohh... Did you have any idea what you'd do if you weren't safe?"
"No. Not yet at least. I'd have to put out some protocol for some animals that might be threatened if I did have to leave."

"Well, I may or may not have snatched this from the HQ in case we needed it, but you need it more." He handed her what looked like some sort of watch.
"And this is supposed to be? You know I'm not the greatest with tech, Featherpaws," she said, laughing.
"When you hit this," he motioned towards one of the bigger buttons, "it'll send a line of communication to our HQ, and we'll be able to see and hear you. No matter how far away," Barnacles explained.
"Well, thanks for that. And thank God, it's not complicated or I would've had a major problem."

"Parker."
"Hm?"
"If anything goes wrong, we're right here."
"I know, you overgrown icicle," she replied, adjusting the watch on her wrist.
"We're- overgrown icicle?" He stared at her for a long minute, confusion plastered on his face.
"I get it, no worries, go to bed, you look like shit. Goodnight!"

...

"Goodnight, you melting snowman."
"What?!"

~

When the buzz came in from the island almost as soon as they got back, it was a bit concerning.
"Parker? What's wrong?" Barnacles asked, answering the signal.
"Are you going to bed?"
"Yes, we're going to bed," he answered calmly.
"Okay, goodnight you sock," Parker exclaimed. From the camera, you could only see her eyes and the top of her head.

It looked pretty weird.

"Goodnight, you ice cube," he responded before ending the conversation.
"I really hope those nicknames were forms of endearment because her calling you a sock just made my entire day," Kwazii said.
"She's called me worse."
"Like?"
"Like I'm telling you."

"Jeez."

Parker stood in the front of the tree house, waiting for maybe something to happen.

But nothing did.

So as she walked back in, she passed a quick glance at the chest in the corner of the house. She grabbed the keys, unlocked it, and stared inside of it. Her knees ached from kneeling on the wood for so long, since she usually had the rug in front of the chest, but she moved it due to the reorganizing.

The family pictures in the chest made her stomach flip upside down.

Some of the photos made her happier that night, while others brought back memories that were just a bit too blurry for Parker to remember. Maybe that was her fault. Maybe she was the one who blurred them out.

Friends.

Sometimes you had to work hard to find them, even if they didn't return any good feelings or thoughts.

Friends to her were just family now. No excuses or exceptions.

She needed the support from someone who actually treated her like family.

Words: 1450 Words
me? giving an OC trauma? of course, what monster do you guys take me for?
but yea we're gonna have some family issues here HAHAH LOVE THAT