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𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫
The Pogues had managed to create some sort of home on the island. They had made shelters, beds, a firepit and things to pass the time like board games. They harvested berries and coconuts and hunted for fish out in the water.
To the surprise of almost all of them, they were actually making this work. JJ had even done what he'd said and made a flag for the place just like he'd described - chicken, Crocs, J and all.
He had used a charred branch to draw on a sail that had washed ashore, tying it to a tree nearby camp. JJ was quite proud of his handiwork, grinning up at it with his hands on his hips.
"Wow, you actually did it. Poguelandia," Kiara laughed as she walked over. "It's perfect."
The two of them were on fishing duty that day, so they headed over to prep their spears. They had some premade, they just needed to sharpen the ends to make sure that they could stab the fish.
"I don't think I want rescue to come," Kiara voiced, thinking about the conversation that the Pogues had had around the fire the previous night as they prepared their spears.
The others were still hopeful for the most part that someone was going to come and save them soon. Kiara knew that there was a good chance her parents were still searching for her, but that didn't necessarily mean that she was ready to go home.
Here, she was free. Here, she didn't have to be worried about being shipped off if she misstepped.
"This place is paradise," she continued. "We've got everything we need right here. I'm not going back."
"What about Flo?" JJ asked as he finished tightening the strap around his spear, picking up a rock to sharpen the end.
This seemed to make her hesitate, the girl pursing her lips. "She's probably the only person I would go back there for," Kiara admitted.
"I'm glad that you found someone who makes you happy," JJ told her. "That first week I thought that I wanted to go home, too. I mean, who needs home when we have this place, right? But, I don't know. Maybe this can't last."
Kiara noticed the look on his face, setting down her spear. "How is Callie going?"
The boy glanced in the direction of the camp, a dismayed look on his face. "About as good as yesterday and the day before that."
They had all had their days where they were struggling since finding Poguelandia but it had hit Callie the hardest. She had never gone this long without seeing her parents or her brother and now she was worried that she might not see them again.
