Friendship And Hardship

[Chapter 11] - Spirit Escape

The river rushed underneath the log that had tumbled and fallen over it, the water looked so strong it could carry away anything.

"Spirits, we're hunting spirits!" Kwazii exclaimed, balancing on the slightly broken log.
"Not just hunting spirits, Kwazii! We're on a supernatural adventure!" Parker replied, following behind. "So now, we're on the eastern most section of the island! We can travel up north to reach one of the outside parts of the fork in the river!"

"So what do ya think we're gonna find up here, matey?"
"Nothing more than a few cliffs and whatnot. But, I actually haven't been under the fork in the river!" She pointed a finger at his face. "And that is an adventure that's just awaiting us!"

As they continued their journey up the river, Kwazii froze in his spot, muttered something, and looked up. "It's the captain," he mouthed.
"Are you serious?"
"Yep."

"Can I ask-"
"What do ya want?" Parker called out, sauntering over.
"Hi Parker, I was just checking in on you two, how's it going?" Barnacles questioned, glancing back at where the team had left them, even though they were already far ahead.
"It's fine, no problems yet. What do you think?"
"Nothing wrong or weird here, Cap'n!" Kwazii added.

The two heard a sigh emit from the other end.

"That's good to hear. If you need anything-" he started.
"We know, believe me," Parker pinched the bridge of her nose.

She could almost visualize his disappointment, and it made her laugh. "We've got this under control, we aren't kids. We know what we're doing."
"I know that."
"Act like it, please," she spat. Kwazii glanced up at her, a concerned look plastered on his face. He was beginning to wonder how this conversation would turn out.

But he didn't want to figure out either.

"I think we can take it from here, Captain. We got this," he cut in before sending Barnacles into static.

"Are you guys always like that?"
"He starts it, don't blame me," she shot back.
"You make it sound like you two are bickering children," he said, laughing.
"At this point we are! He's the strangest person I think I've met so far in my life, and that's saying something."
"That's saying something, that's for sure!"

Barnacles stood there, completely defeated.

Was what he heard really making its way into his mind?

Was that really going to get to him and eat him alive like a parasite?

"Captain? Did you see something?" Peso asked, noticing his absence from the still traveling team.
"No, just had a thought. Nothing important," he answered.

It really was important.

It was for him, at least.

He had thought that this whole idea that Parker had proposed was stupid, yet people followed along?

People probably wasn't the best word, maybe the better word was just simply Kwazii. Barnacles knew that if Parker had put out any idea or theory that even mentioned some old legend, or whatever, Kwazii would follow right behind like a lamb to slaughter. He didn't hate that thought, the thought of them actually getting along when compared to how they were with each other when they first met made him feel a bit better.

The only problem that had remained in his head was the fact that no one had really been to the other side of the island. Sure, Parker had mentioned placing protocol within the inhabitants of the island when she had to leave for a while, she always did that. But that also meant that she only went to the places that the animals resided, right?