III.

The rush of the waterfall down below their second hideout helped to keep Cid from sleeping. The hefty drone and rush of the water would take some getting used to, if they were to decide to stay here. It would also take some deliberation to see if this cave was better than the one closer to the beach. It wasn't the time for that now, though.

That aside, his concern was the second thing preventing him from sleeping. On the other side of the smothered fire, Shera remained in a light slumber. From her tensed face, his eyes traveled to the bite at her ankle. It eased some of his worry to see that the multiple punctures had yet to become inflamed. Cid figured, if that bite had been venomous, it would have refused to clot like it was, and swelled up long before now.

The snake, that he had decided to keep, had a skinny, little head. It was mostly brown, and from what he could see from its crushed head, it had multiple thin teeth instead of mostly two big ones.

With all that information, and what much he could remember from field training, that should have been enough for him to sleep easy, but he wanted to be sure she was breathing in the morning. Cid hardly knew Shera, but the thought of losing her scared him half to death.

Day 38

I.

"How's this feelin'?" Cid held on to Shera's heel. He tried not to apply too much pressure around her bite in case it still hurt.

"It's sore, but it doesn't sting like yesterday." Shera had been just as anxious for her life last evening as he was, but seemed much calmer now. Either it was a non-venomous snake, or a dry bite. At any rate, she felt lucky and grateful.

Cid sighed, wishing they had bigger Band-Aids. "That's a good thing. Means it's healin'." He let her foot go so she could get her sock and shoe back on.

"Figure y'can walk on it?"

"I don't think it hurts enough for me to limp again. So, I'll give it a yes." Shera anchored herself on his shoulder while he was still kneeling. As she slipped her sock back on, Shera examined the interior of the new cave.

It smelled a little damp, but was spacious. If she focused long enough, she could hear the faint chirp of bats over the roar of the waterfall somewhere deeper down. She was surprised that they weren't disturbed by them, but then again, they might have been used to constant noise.

"Cid...You know there are bats here?"

"Bats…?"

II.

As soon as they had a chance to eat, drink, and boil another batch of water, they were both on the move again. After brief assessment, they concluded that the cave was already taken. Neither of them could imagine being there when the family of bats emerged for a wholesome outing. That, and neither of them wanted to see what a surge did to the waterfall after another hardy rain.

"We're almost there." Cid squinted ahead to the rock structure they had spotted days before. "Looks like whatever that is, it's gonna be a good hike up to it. Maybe it won't be all that bad. Kinda seems like there's a path."

Shera followed his line of sight, and then agreed with a nod. It didn't look recently paved, as plant life had grown over a considerable portion, but the rocks and stones seemed too 'placed' to have formed that way on their own. They almost appeared carved, or arranged like stair steps. The structure itself looked just as such, rock pieced together more than a naturally formed cave like the ones they had been sleeping in.

"I'm thinkin'," And Cid usually was the pioneer of their co-op "that we can head there, and have a good survey of this area. If it'll work for us, we can stay here. But if we're better back down on the grove, we'll stay around here for the night, and then head backn' that direction in the morn."

"And if this area seems more livable, we'll still have to go and retrieve some things, won't we?" Shera allowed her eyes to flow back downward to their immediate area. They weren't much removed from the parameter of the waterfall. It was beautiful. Lush, colorful, glistening, and melodic with the calls of birds and bugs. The constantly flowing water could be used for drinking, fishing, and bathing. From what else she could take note of, there was plenty that looked safe to eat here, too. She would have to have a closer look for safety, but she recognized guava and starfruit that was being eaten by something that lived around. Taking the time to transfer some of their haul, from closer to the beach, to here, would guarantee a notable upgrade in living. If only the space behind the waterfall was safer…

"Mm…I guess yer right. Or we could leave stuff there, and here so we have back up spots. Who knows if we're gonna have to make trips back n' forth." Cid scratched the irritating scruff of his chin while he thought that over.

Shera accepted his reasonable rebuttal with another nod. "That also makes sense. How long do you think it will take us to get up there and comb for resources?" She opened the bag she was carrying to monitor their remaining supply of food.

"Not more than a twenty-minute trot. After that, I dunno what's on the agenda. We'll just have to figure out when we get there. C'mon gal, let's get going before the sun starts bakin'."

III.

Cid had estimated under a half hour of walking, but needing to cut and clear away growth, turned their journey into two hours. They were eventually rewarded with a usable walkway, a partially cloudy sky that hid the sun's ugly yellow mug, a cooled late afternoon breeze, and a decent perch from which to eat, drink, and rest.

Shera was initially nervous at the height, but the island up here was just as beautiful as it was up close lower down. It made her think of the inhabited thickets on her own home island, and the wooden stairs and paths that zig-zagged between them. Sitting there next to Cid on one of the heavy stone steps (and indeed they were old stone steps) reminded her of sitting on her mother's porch.

Even here, she could feel the worn wooden rail of the deck beneath her chin while she looked out over the dip of cabana houses along the cove. The view of the sparkling curtain of the ocean; this too was similar, but not as familiar and inviting. The shore at home, she didn't know its sharp teeth. Shera heavily sighed, but was soon comforted by the Captain's hand slowly, knowingly rubbing her lower back.

"You tired, bud?" Cid asked her. He absentmindedly tongued remnants of lunch pestering a back tooth. Wincing, he found it somewhat sore from grinding in his sleep.

"I'm tired for right now." Shera lifted some water to her lips. After having her portion, she passed the half empty container to Cid, and then watched him sip. "There's still a lot to do."

Cid grunted, and then pulled himself up to his feet. "Y'ain't kiddin'." He twisted the top back onto their water container, bent down to stuff it back into Shera's bag, and then stood up straight again. Pulling out the map he had been updating next, Cid began to take note of the new area.

IV.

Her fingers, carrying a few old cuts and scrapes, traced the eroded notches of carvings left in the gritty stone surface of their potential hideaway. Their structure was actually a collection of structures; a miniature ruin. Of what kind? Neither of them were sure. What they were sure of, was that there was another source of clear, moving water nearby (an original aqueduct), and now at least three decent dwellings to choose from. No one was here, and they probably hadn't been there for hundreds of years.

Making smalls sounds, like a preschooler attempting their first book, Shera tried to read whatever the prior inhabitants left behind. She had no luck, but she knew she recognized a portion of what was considered decipherable. It wasn't English, that was also for sure, but English wasn't her first language anyway.

Figuring she wouldn't waste any more of her time or energy on it, Shera rejoined her partner in hashing out the rest of the day's details. The hours of sunlight they had left needed to be spent on securing more food, supplies, and making their new camp much more hospitable.

Day 39

I.

"Hey," This was becoming somewhat of a game between them now "what's the most mundane thing you miss today?" Cid whispered to Shera over the cackle and snicker of the current fire. The fresh leaves below him crinkled with the shifting of his weary body. With a stretch, and then exhale through his nose, Cid grew more comfortable in their new setting.

"Um…" Shera prodded their cooking dinner with the tip of her pocket knife. She paused her train of thought to check the pinkness of the meat, and then gave Cid her full eye contact. "I don't know. I feel like there's a lot I miss today."

Cid could see that. He still wondered what exactly, but knew better than to press her on it. "Plates." He eyed up all five quail with a growling stomach. He could eat all five, and then some, but he knew he was only getting three.

"Mm, yeah, I could use one of those. I don't really like getting um…substrate in my meals." Speaking of, Shera reached out to pick off a piece of bark from a roasting thigh. "Some gloves would be nice, too." Nice and sanitary.

He grunted at that, and then grunted again as he sat up. Licking dryness from his lips, Cid pushed down from the stone platform they were both using as a bed, and then seated himself on the floor next to Shera. While she was preoccupied with the fire, he peeled back the Band-Aid and had a look at her bite. It was scabbing quite nicely.

"Forks, napkins, pepper for some of that salt we've got…" Cid added on, and then gently patted the adhesive back in place.

Shera carefully pulled off the tree limb spit their food was speared on to. She didn't mind Cid's prodding or proximity, and found the pressure from his thigh pressing up against hers comforting. "Yes, all of those, too. I'm going to say sanitizer today. Though, I guess that counts as soap again, doesn't it? I think I miss…" She passed Cid his food. She could see he was eager for it.

"Blankets. I really wish there was a pillow and blanket." Shera smiled with amusement as Cid took his first few bites. He burned his tongue, she could tell by the noise he made. It sort of reminded her of an eager puppy. Maybe a starving old hound suited the Captain better? It wasn't as if he wasn't aware that the birds were hot.

The Captain licked his chops after swallowing another mouthful of food. "Yeah, feels like it's gettin' cool again. Saw those clouds, too. I reckon it fancies another rain."

From her knees, Shera sank down to her bottom, and then finally began to eat. She blew away wisps of steam in between her own bites. "I think…I also miss my cellphone actually functioning."

"Shit!" Cid stopped eating just so he could bark with laughter and shake his head. "What a fuckin' problem that simple thing would fix."

II.

Sometimes, he felt a little strange for doing so, creepy actually, but Cid liked to watch Shera's sleeping face. Slumber was evading him again. He had his eye and walk-full of the ruin. She was all he had to gaze upon now, and honestly, Cid found her just as, if not more interesting than this place.

He didn't know what it was. Maybe it was because she was beautiful. Or that she looked like a completely different person. Or that he couldn't figure out where her features were from. Or maybe it was because he knew she gazed at him the same way when she thought he wasn't looking.

III.

Just when he was starting to drift off, her voice brought him back again.

"Huh?" Cid woke with a jolt. "What's wrong?" She sounded hurt? No…vulnerable, like a child waking and crawling into their parent's room after a nightmare.

He couldn't sense what time it was, but the stone nook was still dark. The only light remaining was the moon that feathered in through the jagged, rectangular opening. The wind rustled the leaves covering the tall threshold, and howled over the hard floor. It was chilling and smelled of the threat of rain.

"I really miss having a blanket." Shera's voice was closer to him now. When he began to fall asleep, she was on the other, far end of the platform. Now, she was no more than a pace or so from him, and moving closer. Closer until he could feel the long tresses of her auburn hair trickle down and ghost his shoulder.

"Uh, hold on," He shrugged out of his jacket and opened his arms. Cid pretended the way he knew she needed him didn't make him considerably nervous. It hadn't taken them long at all to grow comfortable in the company of a stranger; the light touch and aid of hands. But this was different, in another one of those ways he somewhat didn't know how to describe.

His jacket was draped over them both. Shera shivered and shivered and chattered her pearly teeth until his body heat had a chance to seep from his chest to hers. The scent of her hair wafted from the top of her head, tucked somewhere beneath his god awfully bearded chin. Cid was afraid she could feel his heart pounding beneath the skin of his neck.

Fidgeting until their limbs mended like puzzle pieces, Shera finally stilled, mumbled something incoherent, and then drifted back to sleep. The pressure of her body weight reminded Cid that he was weary. He was asleep not too long after.

Day 43

I.

Just because they were out in the 'wilderness' so to speak, didn't mean they couldn't have a balanced diet. As thankful as Shera was for fresh protein and fresh fruit, she was really missing some sort of variety of greens. Now, this was something her horribly carnivorous partner wasn't going to complain about, and normally, Shera had the habit of over consuming on her own portions of protein.

Ahem, but, out here, there was no comfortable loo, they rationed their water intake, and she absolutely hated coconut husk. Unfortunate. Her bowels were trying to give her a hint before they would have to commence an outright protest. She got the hint just fine.

Today, of all hot humid days, she was absolutely thrilled to recognize a healthy-looking carpet of sweet potato leaves in the nearest open field from the ruins. One by one, she examined the plants for nesting spiders, and then dug up the soft, moist earth with her hands to reveal just as healthy-looking, plump tubers.

II.

"You can actually eat this?" Cid was surprised, but very pleased with Shera's discovery. He was supposed to be collecting logs for an eventual signal fire, but the sun was back at maximum wrath now that the rains had subsided, and her little greenery meadow was heavily shaded with palm trees.

The moment Cid kneeled down beside her, Shera delegated him the job of replanting what they took. She had a mind to keep some here, and then bring back some dirt so that she could plant closer to home…

Hideaway. They were always planning head, but she had to remind herself again that their stay was temporary.

"What? Sweet potato leaves?" Shera didn't want to insult his intelligence. She figured he knew that the tubers were edible."

"Yeah, ain't never had potato leaves in my life. Always thought they were poisonous like um…" Cid snapped his fingers, trying to recall what his mother used to tell him "Eggplant?"

"Eggplant, tomatoes, regular brown potatoes. Those leaves are poisonous, but these are just tasty." They moved down the row of hand tilled dirt, both finding it caked onto their palms and between their fingers. Just as Cid had stuffed one of the tubers down, Shera was there in his place to cover it. They went on like that for a while, until they had at least a week's worth.

Day 45

I.

Wind chimes, or the memory of, twinkled in Cid's ears. The grass was soft beneath his back. It tickled the relaxed skin of his arm and the pattern of hair that grew all the way down to his knuckles. He stared up at the sky until it wasn't the sky anymore, just a broadcast for his thoughts. Wimpy white clouds, if they could even call themselves clouds, drifted by under the scrutiny of the sun like tickertape.

"Yellow bastard." Cid squinted. The sun sneered back at him leaving an angry flash of its inverted colors behind his eyelids. If it wasn't so gooddamn hot, he would have been working like he'd promised. But nooo, the sun was show boating today, and very adamant about zapping Cid's energy.

"I think, Mr. Sun has the same nickname for you." Shera sank down next to him. Her body slumped like a sack of sand. She looked like she had been making and setting bird traps (she was covered in feathers), before the sun fancied draining her energy as well.

"What?!" The Captain pretended to be highly offended. He gave his blond mop a good run through with his fingers, and craned his head in her direction. "You got a problem up there, Blondie?"

Shera laughed, a little jingly one he really liked, and then laid down on her back in the same fashion. "I think there's a major problem up there. I'll rebaptize myself right here, right now, for some clouds."

Cid could hardly fight his smile to whistle in response. "Gal, you're gettin' real serious over there, aren't you?"

"This is some serious heat." She paused, rolling her eyes at no one in particular. Glasses lopsided on her nose, Shera continued. "I don't know why I'm acting like this is new. It gets just as ugly in the air at home. Every year we…I, complain like this isn't normal." Shera turned onto her side. The wind, nothing but hot humid air, whipped her hair in a brown halo around her head. She was awake, but Cid still thought her very beautiful.

"At least you have a reason to complain about this, right?" She asked him. "You come from somewhere cooler."

"Yeah, it gets hot some days, but nothin' like this."

After that came simple silence. He couldn't go back to staring at the so-called-clouds if he had Shera's eyes. If it wasn't so hot, he would have wanted her to move a little closer. Maybe come to his chest like they had been sharing their nights now. Cid wanted to reach out and beckon, so it surprised him when she reached out ahead of his thoughts, and touched his cheek.

His eyes were closed before he could process what was happening. Her sweaty palm on his sweaty cheek became her sweaty forehead on his sweaty forehead. And from breath to breath, lips to lips.

Everything was alright. They were going to be okay.

Day 50

I.

"A comb, or hairbrush. Shampoo…that's soap, again isn't it?" Shera whispered to Cid, though she didn't have to. They weren't commencing the game from opposite sides of a fire. They were puzzle pieced together on their bed of leaves again; listening to the nocturnal life thrive outside. Bats, though numerous and somewhat unnerving, had pleasant little voices.

"Y'done mentioned soap every damn time, Shera." Cid's voice rumbled up from his chest and tickled her ear. "I can't believe m' gonna say this, but…"

"But what?"

"I miss the dentist."

Shera lifted her head and rested her chin on his sternum. Her expression was puzzled and intrigued. That was outside the usual for his mundane suggestions. "The dentist? Or having a real toothbrush?"

"The dentist. I got this tooth back here that's been driving me crazy."

"Oh," Shera grimaced, empathizing with him "is it a cavity?"

"I sure as hell hope not. It don't sting. It aches like hell some days in my jaw like it's sinus pressure." Cid rubbed the small of her back.

"Cid…that sounds even worse." That was incredibly concerning. She wondered why he was just now saying something about it. It also made her wonder about his pain tolerance. Tooth pain was something Shera could, in no form or fashion, handle longer than a day.

"Must not be all that bad." He closed one eye.

"Why do you say that?"

"Ain't stopped you from kissin' me. If my breath was rancid, I bet you'd keep me at a distance."

Well…he wasn't wrong.

Day. 60

I.

There wasn't much for Shera to do for most of the week. Okay, there was, but not much that involved sitting in place. How foolish of her, to forget about some of the most basic (and antagonizing) of her body's natural functions. She had stirred in the morning to discover that she soaked through her clothing, and into his. Shera was initially embarrassed and guilty. She should have sensed it and been prepared days ahead of the mess, but for some reason, it had crept past her notice. She very understandably missed sanitary pads, but was lucky enough to have a thick packet of gauze in the first aid kit.

"It's alright, don't get all chicken henned up about it." Cid assured her that blood wasn't anything new. He was awkward about it seeping a finger sized puddle into his trousers, but was over it after a wash along with some of her stained bottoms.

Day 62

I.

Cid seemed like the sort of fellow to have irritable tendencies, but man, was he ever in a foul mood today. He hadn't said a word since he returned from collecting signal wood, but she could tell something had, or was ticking him off.

She wondered if it was from being out on his own the prior few days without her help, and grew anxious thinking that somehow, his mood was her fault.

He ate in the other corner without his usual enthusiasm for dinner.

II.

"Captain um…" Shera licked her finger "I'm sorry for—"

"Where's that repair kit?"

"Huh?"

"The repair kit? Where's it at?!" He stood up abruptly.

"The patch bag…? I mean, in the sweater bag." Shera was absolutely confused. Did he not want to talk?

All but ripping items out of the cloth container, Cid finally located the repair kit, and then the miniature pair of pliers on the inside.

It took her a moment to come out of her confusion, but the light finally went off when he shoved the instrument into the far back portion of his mouth. He let out a guttural racket, like a snarling wild animal, that scared Shera out of her skin.

III.

Blood wasn't anything new.

It was rolling down his cheek and oozing in gooey saliva strings to his shirt. Cid pulled out of his bad mood like someone had waved a magic wand, snapped their fingers, voila! The offending tooth, severely cracked from not being able to bear his anxiety in his sleep, was still in the metal grip. His jaw would be raw and sore for a while, but this felt oh-so-much-fucking-better in comparison to the pain he'd been dealing with for weeks. He'd finally had enough. Sweet sweet relief.

"Captain!" With hands clasped over her mouth, Shera was appalled. She stared at the removed tooth as if it were cursed, and then at Cid like he was still the wild animal he had sounded like.

"What if that gets infected?!"

"It was gonna get infected anyhow. I'd rather it the hell outta my mouth!"

Day 65

Even with the swelling, Cid did in no way regret his decision.

In the turn of events, Shera supposed now she had a reason to look after him, like he had looked after her. The snake bite felt like ages ago.

Diligent as always, she would pester Cid to flush out his mouth after a meal. Thankful again for the first aid kit, there was a little travel sized bottle of peroxide. She added an appropriate about of drops to the water set aside just for the hole in his gums, and then gave it to him. The swelling was going down gradually. A good sign.

"Let me see your mouth?" Shera was ready to stop moving about for the evening. She had spent most of the muggy day completing most his daily tasks while it was his turn to warm the bench.

"Ah~" He stuck out his tongue…he wasn't done chewing.

"What are you? Four? I mean after you eat and wash it out, you big silly."

Cid snickered. "Messin' with ya. It's fine. You ain't got to look at it."

"Hypocrite!" Shera set her hands on her hips. "You didn't have to look at my bite, but you did anyway. So, now I have to look at yours." She offered Cid a cheeky smile in their jousty argument.

"Ha. Ha. Funny." Cid finally finished eating what he considered baby food, and washed his mouth out as Shera had asked. He swished it once, twice, and then spat it into an already dirty clay container. "If I'm rememberin' that right, that coulda been a lethal bite. Did I lethally yank my tooth?"

"You do know you can get blood poisoning, right?"

"If I drop dead, it'll be my own damn fault. Don't worry about it."

"How can I not worry? Just for saying that, I'm not going to kiss you anymore."

"Aw…Shera…"

Day 66

I.

Let's see…what was next on Cid's list of evictions.

Tooth?

Check.

Goats?

Annoying as all get out, but they had big ass horns, and heads as hard as his, so out of the question.

The Sun?

Not possible, or wise.

The beard?

You bet your ass that had to go. Next on the blacklist.

Cid sharpened his blade on a decent river rock until it could have finessed a cutlet. Yep, it was time to feel like a man instead of a bog creature.

"Where are you going?" Shera, bless her heart, was on his heels the moment she saw him stuff a bag of supplies. He couldn't blame her, he was the same way when he saw she was getting ready to venture out on her own.

"Eh," Cid habitually tongued the vacant lot in his gums "M headn' down to the waterfall. I need a wash off ASAP. Won't be gone long."

"Take me with you."

He knew a command when he heard one.

II.

"I'm trustin' you…don't slice me up." Cid handed her the knife, and then pulled it away when she reached out for it.

"Um," She reached out again, only for him to do the same a second time "Are you sure? Because it kind of looks like you don't want to trust me at all." When the handle finally grazed her finger tips, she snatched it from him. Dropping the timid arm that had been covering her bare breasts, Shera tip toed toward him through the drag of the cool water.

Cid had to sink down to his knees so that he could soak his chin, and so that she could also reach him. The devil and angel on his shoulder bickered in both of his ears. He was eye level with Shera's chest.

To ogle, or not to ogle. She was such a pretty woman.

His own sense of integrity won that evening, and he directed his eyes somewhat up to the canopy while Shera banished the monster that had been growing from his face.

From what he could see, she had a cute, determined expression tensing her features. Shera's tongue was poked out of the corner of her full lips in concentration. Her warm almond eyes were squinting, and her brows furrowed in the same kind of fortitude. The devil on his left suggested he spook her, because he was a thirty-year-old man who hadn't grown out of pestering girls he liked. But you know what, she was doing a fine job of not cutting him, and he didn't want to ruin that.

"Hey," Shera collected water in her free palm, and trickled it over his cheek. The fact that he could finally feel the air on his face was a liberation.

"What?" He mimicked her tone.

"Stop making funny faces."

"You stop making funny faces." He nipped her arm when it passed over his mouth.

"I'm not making funny faces." Shera retorted. Cid grimaced as she thumped him on the forehead with the nail of her index finger. It didn't hurt (he was hardheaded, remember?), but he pretended that it did.

"You're not now, but you were." Once Cid could feel she was done, he stood to his full height and felt over his cheeks. Choppy in places, but that's the best they were gonna get with a suffering pocket knife. So much better. As relishing in having his face back was checked off the list of tasks, Cid reached beneath the water and reciprocated her thump to his forehead with a proper pinch to the fat of her thigh. That earned him a pleasing yelp, and a rapid succession of splashing, heavy handed smacks to his nearest upper arm.

"HEY, old man, you keep messing with me like you want to be my boyfriend. C'mon," Shera held up her fists. "put em' up. You want to fight." It surprised him entirely that they were in the right position to box.

The laugh that came out of him shook his shoulders. "Alright, knock it off, floatin' butterfly. I don't wanna fight." He jabbed his hand through her defensive forearms and pulled her into his chest where she couldn't escape. Shera wrapped her own arms around his waist, but was still protesting.

"No hugs, only fists. You started it."

"You're somethin' somethin', aren't you? Gettin' all henned up again." Cid cradled her waist up against his. Their forced hug loosened into a mutual sway. The roar of the waterfall and the songs of crickets made themselves known again.

"I resent that you're cooing at me. I'm not your baby." Shera's words were on the sharp side, but there was a warm smile in her voice, and on her face. Cid wasn't offended.

Cid grunted; the sound vibrating from his chest and filling the cheek that rested on it. Shera was suddenly acutely aware again, that they were both buck-naked in each other's presence. It was too late to gain some distance if that was even something they wanted. They were already skin to skin.

"You could be, y'know. I can take care of you if you want me to." Cid pressed his nose to the top of her head. "If we get off this island, it's a damn promise."

"I know you'd do that." Shera closed her eyes. It was surreal. It really, truly was. She felt like she'd been hustling with him for years. "I'm not your baby and you already take care of me. Can we…keep that a mutual promise, Captain?"

"Ain't got a problem with that." Cid lifted his head so he could look her in the eye as he said it. He tucked a portion of Shera's bangs behind her ear. "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine."

Shera smiled and placed her hands up on his broad shoulders. "You got a deal." She pursed her lips. Cid squinted, because by now he knew she was getting ready to say something reeaalll snarky.

"You know, we could wash each other's backs if we had soap."

The devil on his left was agreeable. "I get it babe. Soap. If we get this signal fire to work for us tomorrow night, and get off this island, you can have all the soap you want."

That concludes chapter 2! More to come, so please leave a review if you enjoyed!