Hey there everybody. Another chapter wouldn't you know it? I feel like my writing style is all over the place.
Daniel sits under a tree. Its rustling canopy shielding him and the egg from the midday sun. Wilson remains standing. His eyes fixate on his trainer's left foot. It's still bleeding, covered in sand, and if it were not for the blood, you could distinguish muscle from bone. Daniel gently places the egg on the dirt, removes the improvised egg harness, and begins disassembling it. He manages to salvage some fiber cordage and his yellow t-shirt. With the shirt in hand, he takes a look at his wound and cringes. After steeling himself, he wraps the shirt tightly around his wound. The makeshift bandage agitates sand into the wound. Daniel grits his teeth and releases the tension on his shirt. He scans the area for something.
"Wilson. Can you get that stick for me?"
Wilson retrieves the item his trainer pointed out. It's a large, somewhat straight branch that Wilson struggles to drag along. Daniel stuffs the shirt into his cargo shorts, grasps the branch with two hands, and props himself up. Keeping his left foot off the ground, he limps his way to the sea whose waves gently crash in the distance. Wilson starts to follow.
"Actually, can you watch the egg?"
Wilson gives a frustrated look. His concern lies chiefly on the wounded man.
"I'll be fine. I can defend myself. The egg can't" Daniel stomps the ground with his stick.
Wilson turns around and sits next to the egg. He pouts the whole time.
"Thank you, Wilson." Daniel smiles and resumes towards the sea.
As he turns away from Wilson, his smile melts into a frown. Staring at the ground, he slowly limps along keeping his wounded foot off the ground the entire time. Blood drips out of the wound, to his toes, then falls onto the sand,
Just stay positive. You'll get through this. Wash off the wound, wrap it up, find some oran berries. Keep going.
Crystal-clear water glides up the sand. Daniel's crutch splashes as the sea breeze blows past. Once ankle-deep, he slowly dips his wounded foot into the water. The cool saltwater feels like rubbing alcohol. He sharply inhales at the stinging sensation, hunching over and tightly gripping his crutch. The stinging fades away and Daniel relaxes. Blood mixes with water as he stirs his foot. He sits on the sand once he is done and places his wounded foot on his right thigh. He takes the shirt, tightly wraps his foot, and ties a knot. There is no gritty feeling this time. In fact, the wound feels cold and numb. Daniel limps back to the tree and falls under its shade. Daniel lies on the ground and turns to face the canopy. Wilson rushes to his side. His face is absolutely terrified. Daniel's breath is shallow and rapid. The bandage is visibly red.
"The... egg. I need... oran..." Daniel grabs the blue egg.
"Oran... behr..." he sputters.
Wilson springs into action. He sprints into the forest in search of those miraculous berries. Surely they can save him? Wilson masterfully weaves through the brush and twigs of the forest. His intuitive plant sense guides him from clearing to clearing. Each bush he checks is devoid of any fruit. Frustrated, Wilson runs to the camp.
He finds an uninvited guest waiting for him. There is a wingull gorging itself on the contents of a basket. The avian form gives Wilson some pause. It scares him on a primal level. He wants to run into the grass and hide. Burrow into the dirt and hide. Hide, run, hide. Wilson remains petrified, then realizes what exactly the wingull is eating. Its the berries, Daniel's salvation. Anger boils over within Wilson. He unleashes a torrent of acid on the unsuspecting wingull. Its wings trail behind it as the purple liquid launches it into the forest. Wilson rushes to the basket, only to find it empty and half melted by acid. Despair clutches his stomach until a gust of energy erupts from the woods and grazes past Wilson. Its the thieving wingull! Despair evaporates into anger once more as Wilson squares up for battle. The thief kicks up a gust of flying-type energy and throws it at Wilson who deftly dodges and fires a stream of acid in a single tempo. The attack strikes the thief's wing despite it's attempt to dodge. The thief remains aloft but begins evading erratically. Wilson stops, aims, and fires another stream of acid. The thief smirks, dodges the attack, and dive-bombs Wilson in two swift motions. A sharp beak tears out a piece of Wilson's cheek. Wilson falls back and winces and the wingull smiles and spits out the chunk. Wilson quickly collects himself and stares down the thief. Both are wounded, and either one could collapse at any moment. The thief takes the initiative and begins erratically flying toward Wilson. Wilson responds with a halfhearted acid attack. The thief dodges and begins its dive bomb with wrathful speed. Wilson takes this opportunity to redirect his aim and unleash an attack with true intention! A torrent of purple acid strikes the wingull mere inches from Wilson's face. The acid launches the wingull into the woods once more. Wilson remains tense for a moment, then a moment longer until he finally relaxes and holds his head high. But he can't forget the task at hand. He resumes his search for oran berries.
Daniel lies on the ground, staring at the canopy. The egg rest on his chest as he embraces it. His mind is cloudy, and the passage of time doesn't seem to matter.
Where are those berries? And Wilson? Where is Wilson? That volleyball better have those berries. No wait aren't I holding it? No that's the egg. Just concentrate on breathing normally.
He breathes in through his nose and out through his mouth several times.
Concentrate on staying conscious. Conch us, cons, awake. Stay awake.
He crawls to the tree and rests on its trunk.
I need to change the bandage. Oh, wait what am I gonna change it with? I could check it.
Daniel places the egg on the ground and stretches toward his toes. It makes him a little dizzy.
It's fine. Just rest. But don't fall asleep. Think about something nice.
He begins sobbing. He closes his eyes in an attempt to stop.
Daniel finds himself atop a sand dune. The wind gently blows the scent of the sea towards him. The sun sets on the horizon, casting a path of light on the water. He stares into the sun, then looks over his shoulder. Behind him is the forest. It is dark and still. The canopy remains motionless as the wind fails to reach it.
I refuse to move.
The sun sets over the horizon. The wind stops, the waves halt, and darkness envelops the area. Fatigue creeps up on Daniel, his eyes blinking slower and slower. The night is cold, and so is his wound. Someone grabs his hand. He looks up. It's a child. He can't make out her face, but she is wearing a blue dress. Her hand is warm and she tugs him towards the sea. Once there they sit in the still water. It's warm and pleasant. The stars shine bright in the sky and reflect clearly in the crystalline water. Daniel looks at the girl who smiles back. The sun rises.
Daniel wakes with the egg in his embrace.
When did that happen?
His wound begins stinging and his arms feel sore.
Definitely feel alive right now. How long was I out?
Daniel searches for the sun. It is about three hands above the horizon.
Okay, I've been out for a few hours. It was midday. Wait... where's Wilson?
As if on queue, Wilson appears in the distance. He's balancing a vine basket, or what's left of one, on his head. In it are some blue berries on twigs.
Oh, thank god.
"Hey, Wilson! How was the trip?" Daniel's energy surprises Wilson, who presents the basket to Daniel.
"Yeah I was just dying to eat these." Wilson frowns.
An oran berry passes his lips. The juice invigorates him and the stinging subsides. A second berry goes down and he can move his left foot painlessly. Daniel rises to his feet as if nothing had happened. He unwraps his left foot and finds a large scar on his foot underneath a layer of dried blood. There's a matching scar on his sole too.
"Wow. That's big. I really can't thank you enough, Wilson." Wilson beams with confidence.
"Wilson, how would you like to travel the world with me once this is over? I think I floated the idea before, but now I really want you to come along." Wilson nods yes without hesitation.
"Thanks, buddy."