A/N: SO SORRY, it took me, what, a week to update? Eh, it's up now…at least. And, plus plus, the story picks up now! Mmhhmm. Introduce plot…now.
Disclaimer: I SWEAR I don't own Lost! How many times do I have to explain, it will take a few more years before my plans take action! Jeez.
Ardren and Charlie left Jack and Kate to deal with the crowd; actually, they had been pushed away by the others, who seemed desperate for news. Grumbling, they glowered at the crowd, who seemed to gasp at Jack's bravery and Kate's news. They sat down by the shore line, were Charlie took to drawing in the sand, and Ardren to throwing stones into the water. He saved the biggest stone for last, which didn't go very far and left him soaking. Sputtering, Ardren looked over at what Charlie was drawing. It was a house, drawn very basically. Standing outside were three stick figures, grinning very broadly; a man, a woman, and a smaller girl. Up in the air, a plane with three windows was taking off. The first and last window was occupied by plain, happy faces. In the middle window was a sullen-looking face. Ardren studied the picture as Charlie added clouds, trees, and other details.
"What were you doing in Australia, Charlie?" Ardren asked. Charlie looked up from a half-finished tire swing.
"Er...just seeing family. Actually, I wanted to know if my brother was going to come back an' be our singer again." Charlie had already told Ardren about Driveshaft, after he found out that Ardren had their CD. "I didn't end like I wanted it. We had a fight…bet he regrets that one." He smiled grimly. He crossed out the drawing, and had stood up, when suddenly he bolted towards the line where the jungle met the beach.
"Ardren! Oy, Ardren! Come quick! There's…there's a person!" He shouted over his shoulder. Ardren fumbled with crutch, and staggered to where Charlie was pointing, though he didn't see anyone. He was getting used to the crutch, and it didn't take long for him to reach the spot where Charlie knelt. He had stuffed his sweatshirt under the girl's head. Arden recognized her as the girl from the clearing, because of the incredibly long dark hair fanned around her, and she was wearing the clothes.
"She's breathing." Charlie whispered, relieved. Resting his hands on his knees, he said, almost to himself "Wait, I don't know what I'm doing." Ardren shook his head.
"Well, I don't know what to do. I mean…she's alive, but I don't think she's sleeping." Ardren noticed the girl had no cuts, except scratches on her hands and legs. When he finally looked back at Charlie he was gone.
"Charlie?" Ardren shouted, filled with dread as he wildly looked around him. He saw him running towards him, Jack in tow. Jack examined the girl, while Charlie and Ardren hovered. Kate joined them, looking concerned. After a while, Jack stood up and faced them, looking immensely relieved.
"She was dehydrated, that's all. She'll be fine."
"Ironic, if there was more. To survive a plane crash, but die of some disease." Charlie commented.
"That's not funny." Kate scowled.
"I didn't say it was funny! I said it was ironic! Jeez." Charlie said defensively. He threw his hands in the air and walked away. Kate rolled her eyes.
"I wonder if any of the others know her. She can't be older then sixteen! Wonder who she was with." Kate speculated. Ardren wondered if he should tell them that she hadn't been on the plane. But, he didn't even know where she was from, and it didn't seem to matter either way. He didn't say anything. He noticed Kate and Jack had been talking, and looked up in time to see Kate leave to go find out if anyone knew anything about the girl.
Jack watched her go, and then picked the girl up. It looked easier then it should have been. Ardren followed him back to the camp, where Jack laid her in one of the tents, on a wall opposite from a man who was bleeding through his chest bandages. Ardren tentatively trickled water in the girl's mouth, which Jack was holding gently open. Jack stopped him after a while, and assured him she would be fine. Ardren nodded, and heard him leave the tent. He stared at the girl's face, willing her to wake up. After a few minuets, he too left the tent. He just wanted to sleep, so instead of heading over to the fire, he curled up in his own tent. Alone in the night, he stared up at the blue-tarp ceiling, thinking of his own reasons for going to Australia.