Stranded

Chapter 12 ~ Selene

We run across the beach to the boy's camp, my quiver holding arrows, a bow, and a spear. Cassie's quiver holds the same. Once we arrive at the boy's camp, there is already a mass of boys gathered.

"What's going on?" Cassie asks.

"We're going up to find the beast!" someone says.

"Where's Ralph?"

"Here," he says coming to meet us. He already has a wooden spear and takes in our appearance. I suddenly feel a little revealed. "You got word to?"

"Yes, what's going on?"

"We're going to where the beast may be."

"Can we come?"

"Yeah, right. Let us deal with the beast!" Jack yells at us.

"I wasn't asking you," Cassie says even tone, her voice strong. Loud enough for Jack to hear her authority, but not yelling.

"No, you should wait at your camp until the shell is blown or wait here," Ralph says.

"I want to come. If there is a beast, you might want more help, this isn't just your island you know," I say.

"Fine, just don't get in the way."

We apparently made it to the boys just in time because we leave immediately.

Eventually, we make it to where Jack thinks the beast must be. There is a narrow pink rock made bridge that goes between the lagoon the boys camp is around and the ocean right at the edge of a cliff. It goes out to this large platform that almost looks like old ruins, and if you think about it right, it looks like a castle.

"There's nothing here," I mutter to Cassie as we peek through the grass. "I've heard about it from Allie."

"We might as well check though," she mutters back.

"You're a hunter," Ralph says to Jack.

"I know. All right," Jack replies. Honestly, Cassie and I can go.

"I'm chief. I'll go. Don't argue. You. Hide here. Wait for me.... Do you—think?"

"I've been all over. It must be here."

"I see."

"I don't believe in the beast," Simon says.

"No. I suppose not," Ralph agrees pulling back his hair. "Well, so long."

Ralph walks across carefully. Cassie stands to go.

"No!" Jack whispers harshly grabbing her. "Stay here."

"I'm the leader of my group and I'm going," Cassie states jerking her arm away before continuing, drawing an arrow as she goes. "Selene, stay here."

I don't protest but get back down into the grass.

The two are starting to walk up the ledge to the top before Jack goes after them as well.

It takes all of my self control to not follow.

                                                         ***

I arrived at the main part behind Ralph with Jack right behind me. There is an old bird's nest with eggs that have expired a while ago. There is half cave and a small trickle of water at one part.

"What a place for a fort!" Jack says excitedly. Very true, not bad if there is an actual war between girls and boys, we just would have to claim it first. Ocean spray flies up onto us.

"No freshwater," Ralph says.

"What's that then?" Jack asks pointing to the trickle of water. They taste it while I study the area more for weaknesses as a fort and put my weapons away "You could keep a coconut shell there, filling all the time."