Disclaimer: I dont own anything?
Whatever lets do this thing...
Ocean's Tide
Rustling. Furoius foosteps. An irritated voice. "Lex, did you tell everyone?" Daley asked her younger, dark haired brother again. And again, he nodded.
"I did, Daley, but I can't find Eric anywhere!" he insisted. His sister let out a frustrated "Ughh!" And took off again in pursuit of the missing castaway, Eric.
"I bet he's sitting under a tree, sleeping or something," she muttered angrily, beads of sweat rolling down her face. All morning she had been running around, gathering up the group. It was to discuss a very important topic she had already agreed on with Nathan: the food shortage. She wanted to adress the issue as soon as possible, so it wouldn't scare anybody when it became increasingly obvious. However admittedly, she had to admit the very words scared her, too. It had been put in the back of her mind all this time; the fact that they couldn't live off this island forever.
"What is this about?" Group meeting always included the whining narration of Taylor. Just about everyone was gathered in a circle in the middle of the surrounding tents, waiting. Melissa just shook her head solemly, while Nathan tapped his foot.
"Where is Daley?" he said, a bit unpatiently. Everyone was there, Lex, Jackson, Melissa, Taylor, and himself, and the only two missing where Daley and Eric. Before long, an agitated Daley entered from the surrounding trees, and behind her, Eric. "Where have you been?" Nathan asked the two lightly, fearing getting on Daley's bad side. Daley glared.
"Sorry, it took me a while to find the missing link over here," she motioned to Eric, who shrugged and took a seat near Taylor. Daley still stood and looked at them all.
"Uh...so?" Taylor spoke up, glancing at the others, but they too wore the same puzzled expression.
"Okay, listen," Daley began, staring at them all, "Nathan and I-and Lex, have discovered something. We used to think getting food wasn't a problem, with all the food around here-" she motioned to all the trees, and the lapping ocean-" but Lex noticed something. When we first got here there was plenty off food. Now, for food, we have to search deeper and climb higher than before-and bluntly, there's just not as much food as there should be-" She paused and winced after Taylor's high pitched voice interrupted her.
"-What? Oh no, we're going to starve!"
"Taylor, don't say that!" Daley chided, trying to maintain control despite the looks of horror on her friends faces.
"But that's what you said!" Taylor cried.
"No, she didn't! Let her finish," Lex said, and they turned their attention back to Daley. Daley seemed lost and out of breath, so Nathan decided to help her.
"Look, this really isn't a huge deal. We'll just have to ration our food until more food grows," he said. "And besides, remember that garden Lex planted? Well, we have that, too." At this, Lex nodded proudly.
"So... rationing?" Daley said slowly. "Like a diet, right?"
"Kind of," Melisa said, a sardonic tone creeping into her voice. "Just like not eating enough." Nathan turned to Melissa, a little surprised. She seemed uncharacteristically melancholy today. In fact, over the last span of days her usual 'cheer' had waned and gone unnoticed.
"Guys, we'll be fine," Nathan assured them.
"And we can still fish," Jackson added helpfully.
"Well, that's what this was about. Lex, Nathan, and I are going to figure out the ration, okay? Then we'll have another meeting after we've finished. So, for now you can just eat normally." The group began to dissemble. Eric wandered off to another solitary place where he could tilt foward his hat and have a nap without being nagged by the other. Nathan went to the beach to do some thinking. Lex went to work on another convention, and Daley headed who knows where.
Taylor, Jackson, and Melissa were left lingering near the site. Taylor growned.
"Ugh. I have water duty." The blond place a hand on the log she was sitting on and pushed herself up. She yawned and stretched, and went to work. Well, at least look like she was doing something. Jackson followed suit.
"Yeah, I'm going to go, too, get something done," he told Melissa. She didn't respond. She didn't even seem to hear him. Melissa never turned a deaf ear on Jackson. "Melissa? ...Is there something wrong?" He tilted his head and drew closer to her. after a few seconds the Melissa picked up her head and swept back a curtain of dark hair.
"No, nothing," she said coldly. Jackson frowned.
"Okay," he shrugged. He tore his eyes off her and followed, as Melissa suspected, Taylor. The campsite was empty, except for her. She sighed and got up, deciding she wouldn't burden the site with her presence any longer. She headed for the warm sands of the beach...
to be continued...