JET'S POV
"Guys, I have officially announced us the best wilderness survivalists in the world."
It had been three hours since we entered the forest, and we still hadn't found a safe place to reside. Every hideout that we found that could qualify for decent was either inhabited by a vicious animal, or wasn't very close to a water source, or wasn't a safe place to sleep at night, or had poison mushrooms that caused instant death if they made contact to human flesh.
"Thanks Jet", Echo said. "It's about time someone recognized how skilled we were with the outdoors."
I laughed. "Glad to see you're quite back to your normal self, Echo."
She grinned. "I kinda just found out that we're gonna go search for my brother that was reported dead or missing a half day ago. It tends to lift the spirit."
I shook my head. "That it does, that it does..."
Ahead of us, Uncle Ricky stopped walking. "Hey kids, I have an idea. How about we take a rest for awhile for no apparent reason?", he said, out of breath.
I walked up to him and patted his shoulder. "Admit it. You're not the man you used to be ten years ago."
"I'm haven't been that man for a long time!", he said through deep breaths.
He sat down on a moss covered stone and rested his head in his hands.
Everyone else followed in his order, finding a log or boulder to resign on.
Echo stayed upright. "Guys, we don't have time to rest! Its starting to get dark, and we can't just sit here and let the mountain lions get us!", she said.
Uncle Ricky jumped to his feet. "I suddenly feel very energized. I say we keep moving. Anyone else?", he asked.
Hailey sighed. "I guess I can use my second wind. But you'll have to carry me."
"And drop you, more likely", Uncle Ricky replied.
Hailey huffed. "Glad to see I can trust you. What if my leg gets pricked by a poisonous thorn and I can't walk?", she asked.
Uncle Ricky thought for a moment. "Then I guess you'll crawl", he said, hiding a smile.
"Wow, what a gentleman!", Hailey shot back.
"Guys!", I cut in, "we don't have time for both of you to get nominated for best arguer over nothing! We need to get moving. Like Echo said , it'll get dark soon, and I'd rather be at a camp with a fire once light fades. Anyone else?"
Brenne slowly raised her hand. Everyone stared at her.
"Oh, was that a rhetorical question?", she asked, lowering her hand.
"Um, it was meant to be, but I'm glad to see you have enthusiasm!", I replied.
Uncle Ricky stood up. "She has enough to get me moving again. Everyone ready?"
Serene sighed. "Sure, lets keep the train moving. Uh-Woo-Woo!"
"Very passionate pep talk Serene, thank you very much", Echo said.
Serene bowed. "I try hard!", she replied.
Everyone else stood up, grabbing what supplies they had.
"Ok, lets get I move on!", Echo said. But before she could start walking, the ring in her finger lit up and shot a ray of blue light high into the sky.
