Academy Island

Earned

The canopy above kept the sun from baking shoulders, even if the trapped humidity cloyed our senses. We'd gathered the fish and equipment, started back once the heat of day began to swelter ambition for beach fishing. A sharp trill hooted back and forth from several trees above, startling me into cringing. North threw suspicious glances around him as we trudged through, eye wary at whatever animal we'd outraged. He huffed when all was finally calm again, hiked me higher up on his back, glancing back at me before turning a distrustful eye back at the unrevealing jungle.

"Monkeys and birds all sound so much alike that it's hard to tell the difference. It's unnerving. You're never sure if it's a bird with an eye on your dinner or a monkey about to throw it's own shit."

I had a hard time smothering the giggle into his shoulder as he resumed his gait. Luke caught on to my amusement, eyes brightening as he nabbed a handful of oblong nuts from his pack, handing everyone a few before eating some himself. I rolled a nut around in my mouth, smooth and tasting of tannin, before biting down on the creamy meat and munching as the men bantered back and forth on what still needed to be gathered our way back to camp. I hadn't done much in the way of helping so far. It was infuriating, waiting for my feet to heal while they did all the work and carried me everywhere. I could just smell hints of campfire, letting me know we were almost back at camp when Luke shouted excitedly, getting the troup to halt so he could point out two large palms just off the path. They were tall, thick trunks reaching up to fronds that tucked away large, green fruits. They looked unripe to me. Luke grinned, edging up on toes.

"They look just right. Come on, we're getting thirsty anyway, and you know coconuts taste best when they're fresh.

Noth sighed, sharing a look with Silas. The giant shrugged and lifted the chain of colorful fish he carried.

"I can take these and start gutting them. See you back at camp Aggelle."

He ruffled my hair, raising a hand in departure and nodding at North's warnings to stay aware. I stared after him, wondering why the others were letting him go off on his own, bit at my lip, worrying as Luke and North ploughed into wild growth, shearing away impeding plants from the base of the two trunks. I got sat down on a fallen trunk, gazed up at the plumage spouting out at the tops. Giant grass skirts quivering at the slightest breeze, filling the air with gentle shushes. Luke backed up, surveying the palm tops with his hands on his hips, his brother finishing up clearing a circle around each. He hacked away the last chunky leaf and threw it into a large pile just under the tree, wiped perspiration away as he surveyed his work.

"Okay, it's ready. Be careful."

Luke nodded and approached one of the trunks, putting a foot up on it, pausing before grabbing hold to hoist himself up. I glanced at the other palm base they'd cleared, remembering the first I'd managed to climb back when I'd first landed on the island. It would be quicker if two climbed and harvested at the same time. I tugged at North's pant leg. He gave the barest of glances back from Luke, now creeping lithely up towards the nuts.

"He'll be done in a minute. Just rest for now until he's finished."

He folded his arms, giving me a hard stare. I wasn't going to give up like this. Not when I knew I could help. I sat compliantly, gazing up at him, my hands folded in my lap, until he turned to watch Luke scramble up the long coconut trunk.

There was a moment of uneasy hesitation I endured at the expense of time, then just when his attention sharpened as Luke got to a worrying height I shimmied up, using my inner thighs and my arms to creep up the trunk. I kept darting nervous glances down at North as I tried to get high enough that I was out of his reach. Luke slowed his ascent to look back down at his brother mid-nag and saw me, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. I shot him a look,