NUMBER THREE.

Finding Smoke

"We can't be out in the open like this, I—" One briefly takes in what he built, standing "—How many were there?" He looks to me exasperated for answers.

I explain to One briefly about what we came across in the forest and how there was an alarm, casting looks behind me ever so often in uneasiness. "We can't separate again." I demand, One begins to collect the materials from the structure he built, carrying them closer to the tree line for more seclusion. I follow suit, Seven taking note and helping also.

We build in silence, making good time in building a half decent structure to warm us for the night. It was small, but the tight space will curate a lot more heat. One gets to work on a fire, it seems he made a contraption of sorts, allowing him ignite the fire in a pile of sawdust scrapings.

"What is that?" I look at the bow like object in his hand as he sits back, "It's a bow drill, it makes it so I can spin it faster into the chimney notch, creating friction." He points towards a wood plank that had a hole in the middle of it, black around the edges.

"Where did you learn this?" I ask again, picking up the chimney notch and inspecting it. "I don't know," He shrugs disappointed, "Ive tried to remember, I know someone taught me how, but it's blocked out, blank." He stretches, showing how strong his upper body is, a sunburn along his collarbone and neck. My stomach grumbles in complaint, the smell of the fire reminding me how hungry I am, Sevens stomach follows suit, "I'm hungry!" He announces, a pout protruding as he holds his stomach.

"I am too, kid." He pauses, a look of pity on his face, "We'll have to wait for the morning to get food, it's getting dark." He was right, the sun was setting creating a soft hue of orange along the shore, the sand becoming cold on my toes from where we sat. "You should go to bed Seven, morning will come faster that way.." I suggested. Seven looked so much smaller when sitting next to One in comparison to Four, a sleepy yawn leaves his lips, and he nods, making his way into the shelter, bidding us goodnight.

One began to sharpen a branch with a jagged rock, a look of contentment and focus on his features as I watched awkwardly. "You should make one too," He mutters without even looking upward, I feel my face warm with red and look away. "I collected sharp rocks, they're by the wood pile." I get up hastily, finding a rock amongst the pile and a similar stick in the wood pile to follow suit.

We sit in silence as we work diligently, the night darkening until the only light is the fire, dancing across my bare feet and hands. I feel my fingers cramping inwardly as I finish making my stick pointy, "Is this good?" I ask, One looking up in my direction, he grabs it from my hands, and pokes the tip. "Yeah, we don't have knives so it will need a good amount of force to do damage, but this is as sharp as you're going to get it with a rock." He hands it back in my direction, and seems to be done with his. We sit in silence briefly, "when are we going to find Three?" He casts me a look of annoyance, and shrugs, "It's really not a priority, theres bigger things we need to focus on."

I chew on the insides of my cheeks, "Not your priority. I think it's important we stick together, we're better in numbers." He scoffs at me, standing up from his seat, "We're not looking for her anytime soon, not when random people with traps are around." I look upwards at him, a frown etching my features, "You're not in charge One." I raise my voice slightly, trying to keep my tone from wavering, and not too loud to wake Seven, "And who is? You?" I feel anger burning in my chest as he looks down towards me, a look of distaste a cockiness presented in a half smile.

"It should be a group decision, not a self assigned leadership role." The smile from his face drops and a glare replaces it, "Goodnight Three." He grabs his pointy stick firmly and withdraws into the shelter. I stay up a bit longer, watching the moon get a bit higher in the sky, admiring the view before getting chilly and following suit. There is little to no wiggle room in the shelter, and it's dark, so I do my best to not step on anyones limbs before crawling next to Sevens sleeping frame, he curls inward towards me and I find myself falling into darkness quickly.