Chapter 4

Claire walked uncertainly up towards the tree. The girl's eyes snapped up when she saw her and the malice in them dimmed slightly. Claire smiled, and lowered herself to the ground with a groan, placing a hand on her stomach. The plate of boar rested close to her lap.

Claire had decided to try a new approach, and started talking, about nothing really, just what ever came to her mind.

"So..." She started, still smiling, her sunflower hair swept back in a loose ponytail. "I heard you cut your hair. In Sayid's tent, huh?"

Silence.

Claire nodded, and continued to talk. "Well, short hair does look good on you, you've got the face for it. They said some of the strands were over two feet long. You must have been growing that for a while. How old are you, anyway?"

Silence.

"Hmm, well, I'd say you're about nineteen or twenty. A good age to be sure." Claire sighed. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm hungry." She took a strip of boar meat and chewed it, then another.

She looked around calmly, chewing, with her hand on her stomach. Then she turned back to the girl. "Would you like some? It's very good. If you close your eyes and picture it, it could be roast beef."

Silence.

Claire shrugged, and began talking again. "I'm not new to the silent treatment you know. The others...they avoid me like the plague most of the time. The only ones who talk to me are Charlie, and Jack. Sometimes Sayid or Kate, but I can tell I make them nervous."

Silence.

"Not much of a talker, are you? I don't know why. I would have killed for someone to just sit and talk with about a week ago. Can't you at least tell me your name? Or say you're hungry? I know you are, and all you have to do is say it, and I'll give you something."

Silence. Then, one earth shattering word... "Itraya."

Claire looked up expectantly. "Your name is...Itraya?" She asked, smiling. "That's a pretty name. Did...um, your parents name you that?"

At the word 'parents', she started but Itraya wouldn't say anything else. Claire held a piece of boar by her mouth, but she wouldn't eat it. She refused to look at Claire anymore, and just sat there, legs still bent beneath her, face turned away and eyes closed. Claire nodded, thanked her, and walked away in defeat.

XXX

"Her name is Itraya." Claire told Jack as she came to rest on a rock beside him. She set down the half-eaten plate of food.

"She told you that? That, that was her name?" Jack asked.

"Well, yes, and no. I asked her what her name was, and also kind of asked her to tell me she was hungry, so I'd give her some boar. But all she answered with, was the word 'Itraya.' Weird, no? Perhaps she was just speaking in a different language or something. I don't think she speaks English." Claire answered.

"She speaks English perfectly." Sayid told them, "She talked to me briefly in the tent, when she had the knife to my throat. Yes, her English is fine."

'Well then, Itraya it is." Commented Sawyer, bringing back a dirty airplane plate. "Uh, how do I get her off a that tree, Doc?"

Jack looked at Sawyer with disgust. "Sayid and I will help you. AND here are the rules, if you can't abide by these, no deal."

Sawyer nodded, eyebrow raised.

Jack continued, "You keep her wrists tied, and her knees. Sayid found some more rope, so you will tether her to your own wrist, not anything else. You must not hit, slap, or kick her. And..."

"And no hanky-panky. Yeah, I know that one." Sawyer finished.

"Good. Sayid will come and get her in the morning. We are assuming you will still be alive, and she will still be there. But if not...what would you want us to do with your body? Burial, or cremation?" Jack asked, smirking.

"Very funny, Jackass just gimme the damn rope, and lets get this thing over with..."

OOO