Survival Island

Max

NAOMI'S POV:

Sage had me keep my hand at the faces of the jaguars for a couple of minutes so they could memorize my scent as their new leader. My mom saw and tried to stop us as though scared for my safety but I was still not on speaking terms with her until she would learn that we all have rules on this island and that she's not in charge anymore. I put my hair up in a ponytail to keep it from getting in the way and to say that the animals were giving me a hard time was not an exaggeration. They wouldn't listen to me or Sage at this point and tried to nip at us here and there.

Sage and I were being circled but at this point we had brought the lessons into the woods so there was no way we could run for help. They looked at us like we were prey and I was shocked to see fear in Sage's eyes. She quickly stood by my side in proof of loyalty and we tried to watch the animals but one pounced at her, leaving most of me open for attack. One tackled me from behind and sliced at my back but then I heard nothing more and though I felt a burning sensation in my back, I knew something had happened.

I slowly got up and turned to see Sage with a bleeding shoulder and one jaguar was communicating somehow amoung the others, all I knew was that the attacking stopped. For once, Sage looked her age and it was sad to see a frightened and bleeding girl in the woods. Something inside of me told me that the jaguars were done attacking us. I wasn't going to rip my hoodie because it provided the most warmth but it felt wet so I took it off in confusion.

I would check it in a second, first I had to get Sage's wounds fixed. I pulled out my knife and she looked scared but I ripped the bottom of my tank top and then tied it around her shoulder to slow the bleeding to a stop. "Why are you helping me after everything I've done?" She asked and I had no exact answer to that. She had been on the island a lot longer than I have and she's still younger than me but we were the same species, gender, I had so many reasons why I shouldn't let her die though she gave me no major ones. Instead I found myself speaking and was surprised I had put that all together myself.

"You are one of my members, you have proven to try and make amends for the tension between the two of us and you are just a girl who was put on this island for selfish purposes. I don't let my people die, I fight with them until the end and make sure they are okay before myself, you have the same traits which makes you a good second in command." I said and her eyes brightened at the thought of having some authority and the words I said truely meant something to her.

Once I finished bandaging her up, I felt a lick on my back which burnt and I quickly spun around. Sage gasped and I was tackled by the jaguars who kept licking me. I laughed at first but realized that maybe they thought I was tasety and shot up, they all jumped back and sat down, waiting for me to move which was confusing. I realized I didn't hear Sage and turned to see her looking at me like she had seen a ghost. "Sage stop looking at me like that, what?" I asked and she shook her head before looking around the woods quickly.

"Hurry back to base, I'll explain when everyone's gathered." She seemed happy, excited, and scared all at once so I nodded and we all ran back to the group. The others were only just finishing their food but seemed terrified when they saw us running and the jaguars in tail. People began to back away from us in fear until we stopped, though I was tackled once again by the jaguars but when I heard the aiming of guns I quickly shot up. "Wait! They won't hurt me." I said and Jason gave me the 'do I look stupid face' which I found confusing until I felt the wet part of my hoodie and realized that it was blood.

Huh? My hand found its way to my back and I winced in pain at the contact. My mom looked worried and so did everyone else when my hand came back and it was covered in blood. Jason sprinted over along with Liz, Ricky, Matt, my mom, and pretty much everyone else. Jason aimed the gun at the jaguars again and this time Sage spoke up. "Wait!" All eyes shot to her as she stood between them and the jaguars alongside me. "They won't hurt her, not anymore I swear. If you'd just let me explain." Jason looked like he was going to decline but I spoke before him.