Journey into the weird

Misanthropy

"So what do you think it is Alex?"

"I read about flowers, not small creatures."

They had been stranded on the island for what felt like months now but if the scribbled tally marks that were in the far corner of their camp meant anything they had been living there for just a week. The first day after the crash had been interesting to say the least. Carlos had found Hannah and Alex a few miles from the plane as he walked without purpose, not knowing what to do. From there the three tried to find a way to move Alex from his now crushed leg braces. Once that had been settled Carlos and Hannah had found some logs before using one of their phones battery's to start a fire after an hour of watching Hannah rub two sticks together. It had been a few days before they had started walking through the woods and encountered Luis, the red head had been stuck in a tree and trying to use a pocket knife to cut his way down the ten foot drop. All in all when Victoria had found them running towards the oversized shack she had made in the side of a rocky hill they had been an odd bunch. Soon introductions had been made, food had been shared, and rules had been established. And no, absolutely no one had asked whether Victoria had wanted companionship at all. And she hadn't, not at all. She supposed it could be worse though Carlos had easily fixed her loose and unhelpful knots on the shacks door, Hannah was able to find a use for the plastic bags lying around the tent from when they had found abandoned luggage by collecting water from branches. They now had an assortment of hunting spears and edible food thanks to Alex's skills with a knife and expansive knowledge of wild plants. Victoria thought that Luis was somewhat of a balancing act. Jumping between jobs and keeping the optimism up. Today Victoria had been paired with Alex to go collect wood for the fire. And on their way back her companion had spotted something from his spot on the makeshift sled. Leading to the latest of the teams arguments.

"No way, were not taking it with us. We don't even know what it is!" Victoria crouched next to the small bundle of quills among the falling leaves and placed it gently onto the sled.

"Get it off, get it off, get it off!" okay so maybe she didn't put it exactly on the sled.

"Calm down it's just a tiny helpless, sleeping mammal. We've seen worse."

That shut him up. To be honest she really didn't get why all of her new companions had such an issue with the fact that they had crashed on an island and were now alone while their loved ones rotted somewhere in the ocean, maybe it's just her but overall it just felt like a way to start over. Dragging the sled towards the unlit fire Alex began passing her dry logs to place on the ashes. As he held the bundle in his hands, questioning how on earth things led to this, Luis ran towards them, shirt soaking wet.

"Hey guys would you mind if I started the fire up this time? Hannah pushed me into a stream again and, wait is that a hedgehog?" looking up from his spot next to the remaining logs Alex replied, confusion lacing his voice.

"Well I guess it kind of looks like one but are their teeth supposed to be this sharp? I thought they were herbivores."

"I wouldn't know. Oh dude it could be our mascot!"

"Our mascot?" Victoria asked, pulling the sled and its occupants towards the shack.

"Yeah we could name it and feed it and make it a cute bed. I'm going to go tell Hannah!" he replied and quickly ran towards the makeshift farm to the far right of the fireplace, just out of view besides a few drying fish skins.

It had been a week since William the hedgehog had been added to the mix and Carlos had more than a few issues with the little beast.

"Victoria make your pet stop screeching, it's keeping everyone awake." Victoria reached up to Williams's bed by the wooden table and began to pet him while glaring at Carlos's back.