Chapter 6: Ready for exploration?

It had been three weeks since they crashed in this coastal forest. They had no idea why they were here, how they were here or how they were going to get back, which had confused them all greatly.

Kai meanwhile was paying little attention to everyone else's efforts to survive, instead he was scouting around returning to the plane only to eat and sleep. He had set out little missions for himself each day occasional working n a project that would take three or four days. Like the one he was on at the moment.

Kai was doing some exploration around the crash site preparing maps and locations of various resources. It was something that the others could do but he did it just to stay out of the way. Also he was able to get some practise in. Finishing the map he was working on, he folded it away and put it into his pocket. Then he began using his twin bladed staff, learning how to use it. It was an odd weapon; if you touched any of it apart from its centre you could sever your fingers from your hand.

"Right then," Kai examined his weapon. Then he grabbed it with both hands and twisted before pulling apart. They came apart easily enough and he began to wield the separated staff as two swords. It was an amazing weapon; it could be used for both offence and defence. Attacking a tree, slicing it but not cutting it, he began to gain momentum and suddenly ran at the tree, up it and flipped backwards, landing two metres behind his previous standing position, slicing the previous standing position.

Quickly he ran the blades together, and they slipped together like pieces of a puzzle, and then into a sheath he had constructed for them. It was made by hollowing out a tree branch, drying it out and putting in some cloth that would protect the blade from rust. It was poorly crafted but since he had no experience in this he didn't know how to make it any better.

Present Time (Nathaniel's POV)

'Damn why'd he have to disappear now,' Nathaniel thought, thinking silently of Kai. Nathaniel needed to know where to get a few certain materials for supplies but Kai had disappeared again.

"Nathaniel, are you okay?" Mina asked. Nathaniel sighed.

"Yeah," Nathaniel said, "But we can't start the expedition until he gets back. There are material's we need. Do you know when he's going to get back?"

"Not exactly," Mina said, "Wait here." Mina disappeared.

'What had she meant by that?' Nathaniel thought, 'Does she know where Kai goes or something?' Nathaniel stared after her and pulled a small leather bound book from his pocket. It was a journal he was keeping for everyone's sake so they knew what was happening. He began to write in it with a piece of charcoal.

Present Time (Mina's POV)

'heh heh heh,' Mina thought, 'He has no idea but Kai always goes to the same place…' Mina had found this out while she was out collecting herbs for medicines. After going out for some herb that she knew only grew by fresh water, she had seen him.

He had been practising with the weapon and he hadn't spotted her, and she hadn't revealed herself. Getting frustrated every now and again Mina had been tempted to but in and help him, but she had seen him get back up, dust himself off and try again every time he failed. It wasn't because he wanted to all the time, but because it was instinct, things just seemed to come naturally to him after about the third try on whatever he was doing.

"You had better be there," Mina ran. Reaching the river she took a rocky path up to wear Kai was going to be…she hoped. Rounding a corner she stumbled over some loose rock, slipped on a tree root and began to fall. Backwards down the thirty foot drop down the crevasse and down to the rapid water below. Her eyes flew open as everything began to go in slow motion.

Mina was about to scream out when she felt an arm grip around her waist and suddenly pull her back up. 'What a stupid mistake to make,' Mina thought. Then she turned to see the person who had rescued her.

"You really shouldn't go running up this path," Kai said, as he sat down on a rock doing something with his back pack.

"I…uh…," Mina stumbled for words. Then he looked at her.

Ten minutes ago (Kai's POV)

'Right finished,' Kai thought to himself. He looked up at the sun in the sky and smiled, it was time to head back anyway, "I wonder if Nathaniel is cursing me yet?" Kai wondered aloud and began to head down the path that led to his secluded spot.

Kai walked slowly, he knew how dangerous this could be, he had had to use various skills to get himself out of sticky situations when he had been running up and down here, mainly grabbing on to something strong or even throwing his rope out which luckily enough he had managed to make a strong enough make shift hook that would hold his weight.

Suddenly he heard something from around the next bend. A quick scuffle of stones followed by the twang of a tree root. That only meant one thing as far as Kai could hear and he had his rope out already. He ran round the next bend and saw her about to fall. He threw the rope up, made sure it was safe with a swift tug and then jumped. His reactions lately had increased twice over which helped him greatly as he swung out. Catching her in one arm he swung up again and back onto the path. The branch snapped behind him as he landed letting go of her for a moment so that he could put his rope into his back pack.

The girl was stunned; her facial expression was that of shock. Kai decided to break up her thoughts, "You really shouldn't go running up this path."

"I…uh…," The girl stumbled. Kai looked up at the girl. It was Mina, why was she here? Then she looked directly at him, their eyes met. Kai blinked and suddenly she had turned her face, tinges of redness lighting up her cheeks.

"Hmm," Kai said slinging his back pack over his shoulder, "You want me to walk you back to the plane?" Mina looked back at him.

"Sure," she replied.

'What was with those eyes?' Kai thought as he began to walk ahead. Mina caught up with him a few moments later.

Present Time (Nathaniel's POV)

'The sun is starting to set now,' Nathaniel thought, 'Damn that means we'll have to start out tomorrow morning in stead' "Damn." Nathaniel said punching a punch bag that he had constructed. His hand tore right through the punch bag and severed it in half.

"Hey when are we going to leave," A boy said. Nathaniel turned to him. Leo, he had been the one that Cassy was helping when they were fetching water. He had long brown hair, which was tied back into a low pony tail. His mannerisms and politeness suggested he came from a wealthy back ground, but he'd be damned if the boy would show it blatantly.

"We're not," Nathaniel said. He waited for the boy to reply to this but he did not, "We're not leaving until tomorrow morning. Tell the others."

"Sure," The boy replied and walked off. Nathaniel stared at the doorway for a moment. He shrugged and then turned to repairing the punching bag.

A few hours later.

They had been talking all the way back about what they would be doing in the future, how they might be able to get home and other topics of discussion similar to that. They finally made it back to the plane, but as Mina noted, it was past dark, probably the middle of the night and decided to enter quietly. Nathaniel greeted them as they entered the main sector his arms folded, and tapping his foot like an annoyed adult.

"Do you have it?" Nathaniel asked roughly, he was no longer in the mood to speak. Kai took from his pocket a large piece of paper, and handed it over. Nathaniel took it, examined it, and then pocketed it, "You're late." He said at last.

"Sorry," Mina apologized. Kai didn't even give it a second thought, he didn't give a damn about being late at all, and it wasn't his concern.

"Head up to the kitchen, Zoee has something for you," Nathaniel said. The two of them headed up to the kitchen.

Present Time (Zoee's POV)

Zoee hummed to herself quietly as she prepared the fish, she was thankful that the kitchen was powered by electricity, and even more thankful that John had gone and made a way of getting electricity into the kitchen, because the batteries were apparently on low. Chopping the herbs up, Zoee dished up, turned and then smiled as the two she was preparing for appeared.

Zoee smiled for a moment, and then blinked. No that couldn't be, Mina had probably done that.

"What?" Kai said.

"Um nothing," Zoee said then smiled again, "Here's your dinner." Zoee handed them over. Kai took his plate, but was surprised to find that one hand was already occupied with another hand. Kai removed his hand and took his plate then he turned, walked to a table and sat down to eat.

Zoee meanwhile, watched Mina follow him and then smiled.

"She's fallen pretty hard," A voice said, "I'm surprised she hasn't bloodied her nose." It was Kat, being sarcastic as usual; she had been sitting on a counter just around the corner from the door. Zoee giggled bringing her hand to her mouth.

"I guess so," Zoee said quietly and then turned to the cleaning. Kat jumped down and began to help out with the washing up, "Thanks."

"No problem," Kat replied as she began washing the pots.

Present Time (Nathaniel's POV)

'Damn' Nathaniel said, 'So we've missed the time table now, we're behind schedule already. Damn it, we were supposed to go exploring today not tomorrow, how could we not be ready.' With that, Nathaniel turned over in his sleeping bag and went to sleep.