Stranded

Chapter 6 ~ Selene

I slowly walk through the forest tracking a group of pigs when suddenly I hear a commotion in the usually silent forest. I turn to see four boys, one is the 'Chief,' Ralph, another is the fatter one that all the boys call Piggy, a third is Simon, and I don't know who the fourth is. Piggy is far behind the others. They are all in a hurry, not minding the undergrowth despite the fact that they are all completely naked. I watch as they go off and follow. If they're running like that, there's probably is a good reason. I put my spear into my quiver to give myself less to catch on.

At one point Ralph pauses shouting, "Piggy's specs! If the fire's out we'll need them—" Then he looks as if he's about to faint before crying, "Oh God, oh God!" He starts on again. If they lost our chance at leaving this island, I know several girls who will want to murder them in their sleep. We have better hunting technology, out spear points are made up of bone and have barbs caved into them, same with our arrows. Not to mention we are in way better shape, one of the girl's father used to be in the army and she's been taking us through what her father used to have to go through every morning. Used to be impossible, but now we have to double it to even begin to give us a challenge. Except for Rachel, she hates all work and is the only one who doesn't do it, even the three girls that tag along with her do it.

"Come back! Come back! Come back! Come back!!" I hear Ralph yelling louder and louder each time at the top of the cliff.

I duck behind rocks as I make it up to where they are, not wanting to be seen and not wanting to see too much. Just because we hunt in a bra and undies does not mean that we want the boys to see us in that, no matter how okay they are about running around the island naked.

"They let the bloody fire go out," Ralph says. Piggy whimpers like a baby. "There they are."

I see the procession of a group of boys, who are not completely naked, thank God, carrying something and chanting something as they start to climb the mountain. I can already tell that they are in big trouble with Ralph. I'm not looking forward to Cassie's reaction. This is bad. As the procession comes closer, you can start to understand the words in their chant.

"Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood."

So they gave up on the fire just to get a pig? Congratulations boys, if you just accepted our help, you wouldn't have lost our chance if there was a boat, like I think there may have been. I really hope we aren't stuck here because of some boy's stupidness. Cassie's going to have a riot on her hands. Thank goodness she has more respect than Ralph. He got elected because of a shell. She's leader because she saved us all.

Once the procession reaches the top, it becomes apparent that the boys have finally learned how to use mud to blend into the forest. Honestly. Then again, it looks more like indian war paint then anything else, they aren't covered head to toe like me. The redhead leader, Jack I think, hails Ralph with a wooden stick that has a point on it. Their excuse of a spear.

"Look! We've killed a pig—we stole up on them—we got in a circle—" Jack says before he's interrupted.

"We got in a circle—"

"We crept up—"

"The pig squealed—"

They all have silly grins on their faces. Jack has blood on his hands and tries to wipe it off on his pants after dancing a couple exited steps and laughing. I have half a mind to draw an arrow and shoot it at him right here and now.

"You let the fire go out," Ralph says.

"We can light the fire again," Jack replies. "You should have been with us, Ralph. We had a smashing time. The twins got knocked over—" The hunters break in again.

"We hit the pig—"

"—I fell on top—"

"I cut the pig's throat," Jack says proudly, but twitches as if he's not completely over with taking it's life. Oh grow up, we weren't either, but we have to live. "Can I borrow yours, Ralph, to make a nick in the hilt?" Lots of the hunters start to dance. "There was lashings of blood," Jack laughs and shudders, "you should have seen it!" The hunters start again.

"We'll go hunting every day—"

"You let the fire go out," Ralph says again, his voice hoarse. He hasn't even moved from his previous position. This seems to catch Jack's attention at the repetition of Ralph's last statement, but he continues his story after a moment. Well, someone doesn't know when to quit.

"We had to have them in the hunt, or there wouldn't have been enough for the ring," Jack says blushing. "The fire's only been out an hour or two. We can light it up again—" He pauses taking in, I suppose for the first time, the other four's scratches and nakedness, but doesn't really pay that much mind. The hunters are silent uncertain, he spreads his arms wide. "You should have seen the blood!" The buzz of excitement starts again.

Ralph points at the horizon, his voice angry, "There was a ship." Jack turns away from them and starts towards the dead pig knife drawn. Ralph continues bring his arm down voice shaking, "There was a ship. Out there. You said you'd keep the fire going and you let it out!" He takes a step towards Jack who turns to face him. "They might have seen us. We might have gone home—"

Piggy starts crying out, "You and your blood Jack Merrow! You and your hunting! We might have gone home—"

"I was chief, and you were going to do what I said. You talk. But you can't even build huts—then you go off hunting and let out the fire—" Ralph turns away and then with deep emotion says, "There was a ship." One of the hunters begin to whale as the truth sinks into everybody. Anger boils up in me with this fact revealed. I knew the boys weren't to be trusted. We all did. They can forget being in control of the signal fire.

"The job was to much. We needed everyone," Jack says.

"You could have had everyone when the shelters were finished. But you had to hunt—"

"We need meat and it's not my fault the girls won't do the work—"

"Oh, yeah?!" I yell coming out from my hiding place, spear drawn. "We aren't doing work? We are taking care of all the younger kids, hunting, building our own shelters, all so you're free to keep the signal fire going and build your shelters. We hunt ourselves and we have killed several pigs. And you just laugh at us not thinking we could do it and not believing us when we say we did. Cassie is going to come down so hard on y'all, and that's just hoping that you aren't already dead by the time she get's there." They stare at me shocked taking in my appearance. "You let the fire out. You may have doomed us all. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm informing everyone else." I flip around, my braids flying onto my shoulder and start down the mountain as I send out the wolf like howl signal. We're having our twilight meeting early. I hear others pick up the call, spreading it across the island.