Stranded

Real Questions

Dick winced as Wally gingerly prodded the injury. The boys had done their best, but it had gotten infected. Dick never told the others, but it hurt worse than it did the morning of the argument. They had gotten past it, and were ok with sitting by each other.

Wally sighed. "If I remember correctly, salt water helps. It's going to sting, though." It had stung the night of the crash, which had been eight days ago. Dick just nodded. He had been through this before. Still didn't make it better.

Wally led Dick to the ocean, where they got on their knees. Wally held Dick by the wrists, because Wally knew him, and plunged them in. Dick held in a scream. The salt stung, and the water just kept pushing it in. He knew his face was probably white.

Finally, after what felt like forever(actually fifteen minutes), Wally pulled out his hands are wrapped them up again. Dick cradled his hand. It really did sting. And he was going to get sick soon, he just knew it.

Tasha sniffed at his hand. She knew it was injured. But the fast one kept it wrapped, and she never got to cleanse it. She didn't understand their culture. And she never understood why they only had fur on their heads and legs. Or walked on their hind legs. They were awfully confusing. Except her cub. She understood him. Kind of.

Dick sat and looked at his mother's old ring. He had refused to take it off from day one. It had memories attached to it. He didn't know how it had ended up here. She always said it had been stolen. Could this island be a base for a jewelry thief?

Whatever the case, he knew it was special. She had said it had been in the family since people believed in the gods, that it had been the first ring to supposedly be infused with magic. They never believed it, but he knew not to mess with magic. So he never pushed.

Wally watched the younger man. He whispered to Roy, "How long do you think he can last before infection sets in?" Roy shrugged. "A week, two, tops. Nothing more. We need to get off this island fast. I don't mean the raft, and a rowboat would take too long. We need a motor boat, and we need it immediately. Besides, I have a feeling he's in more pain than he's letting on."

Wally let the words settle. He watched as Tasha walked over and layed down beside Dick. She put her head in his lap. He pet her, looking unfocused and confused. "It may already be setting in." Roy almost looked depressed.

Dick didn't tell Wally about the fact that he had already thrown up twice. He couldn't burden his brothers with the info. Besides they want to know? They probably didn't care for him much anyway. Why was he thinking that? Of course they cared. Didn't they?