Laurel, Dakota, Imogen and Ningan each work at different heights, plucking a variety of fruits from the branches of the trees. Meanwhile, Ezra examines a collection of fungi growing at the base of the trees, and Dhilta picks leaves from the surrounding shrubs.
Imogen fills her basket with giant green pears, counting them as she goes, when a cold gust of wind disrupts her thoughts. She turns her head north and squints her eyes. From her vantage point atop the tree, she spots the towering spires of a crumbling stone structure.
"What's that building over there?" she calls down to the others below.
Instead of a reply, she hears the crack of a branch, then a hard thud. Imogen glances down to see Laurel flat on his back.
"Laurel!" Dakota cries. "Are you okay?"
Ningan scurries down the tree trunk and lands on the forest floor beside his friend. Laurel sits up and rubs his backbone. "I think I'm alright…just the shock of the fall, that's all…"
His basket lies nearby, overturned. Ningan picks it up and starts to collect the spilled plums scattered around the base of the tree.
"No, no, no!" Ezra stops him. "Those are Petrificus Prunum; a fruit which can render you paralysed and unable to move!"
"Guess I'm not good at fruit-picking either…" Laurel sighs with dejection.
The sun is at its highest point, shining brightly enough to pierce the canopy of leaves. Imogen and Dakota return to the base of the trees, their wicker baskets filled to the brim with yellow and orange fruit. Dhilta admires their work and nods approvingly.
"The villagers will be most pleased with our collection. Let us return to the beach."
They collect their baskets and march back together along the trail. Ningan catches up to Laurel as places his hand on his back.
"Hey, I hope you're alright. Don't worry about fishing or fruit-picking. You were born to be a soldier, not a scavenger."
Laurel smiles warmly. "Thanks. I needed to hear that."
His boot squelches on the ground. Laurel looks down and sees a patch of black sticky substance smeared on his shoe.
"What on earth is that?" Ningan's face crumples in disgust.
"It doesn't look like fruit…" Laurel lifts his foot to his face for closer inspection. "More like oil…"
"Stop lagging behind, you two!" Dakota yells from the front. "We want to get back before sunset!"
Laurel quickly wipes his boot on a nearby shrub and obediently runs to catch up with the others. Ningan moves into a sprint and joins the team of fruit-pickers as they emerge from the shadows of the jungle.