Chapter 2: Survive
Part 1
It was just like any other day on the island until I was rescued. After years of surviving alone, and praying only to wake up the next moment from nightmares and disappointment, I haven't had a good night sleep ever since I've arrived. I was repeatedly having nightmares of Sarah's gruesome death, or my father's death, although instead of dying the way he did, he either shot himself with the pistol that I found in his jacket, or the same way Sarah died.
The few good dreams I do have are memories of my life before I was washed up on the shore, along with thoughts of what-if's, like what-if I had never went on the boat, or what-if it never crashed? Almost every time, I end up waking up with a pit in my stomach from the almost crushing despair and keenness loneliness, I realize that all alone with little to no chance of returning home. I don't exactly know which is worse; my nightmares or my good dreams?
I was walking along the shore to visit my father's grave after a long day of hunting and reinforcing my hut for the coming storm. I've learned how to tell when a storm was creeping in by the smell in the air and the feel of the breeze. After much trial and error, I trained myself to sharpen my instincts and sharpen my mind. With countless ways, I've sharpened my mind by strategizing in how to build weapons and tools to survive, having nothing but rocks, wood, plants, and twines. I had to prioritize of what to build first, with only limited crafting knowledge and limited skills. Though I had trouble in the beginning; especially when I wasn't as strong as I needed to be; I needed to be able to build handy things.
I went days with no food until I made my first weapon, a spear. It took me three tries before I built a sturdy-enough spear. From then on, I used it to fish so I could fill my empty stomach with fuel. I needed my strength to build and survive.
The next thing I needed to craft was a place to sleep other than my tree, where I've gotten soaked to the bone when it rained. I claimed this tree mine, which stands south of the island's shore. I had to pile up dry leaves to make myself a makeshift bed. Between the weather and the many bugs and snakes, I had no other choice but to share.
Luckily for me, my father taught me how to build a hut when I was little. It was more of a fort on a tree, but it was sort of the same concept. After thinking about the pros and cons, I decided to build not one, but two forts. One on a tree, but unfortunately, I had no axe or anything strong and hardy enough to cut a tree trunk. It took me about three days and nights to come up with a solution, but I ended up in another dilemma. I needed more traps and weapons to complete it.
First, I needed to build myself a bow, which could also go along with my spear. That way I shouldn't need to use up all the five bullets inside my father's pistol anytime soon, and use this time this time being to teach myself. I still have that knife from inside my father's jacket, as well as a pocket knife, a windup pocket watch, the captain's flask, and a filled bag, which I found on the raft. My father must have just thrown it on at the time.
The bag held a lighter, a bunch of documents in a lightweight lockbox, and a pile of pictures of those people back home. I discovered of what seemed like a blank notebook, until I held it under my lit fire pit. The pages that seemed blank were now exposed lists of random names that filled the entire small book.
Having no clue of who those names were or meant, but I've decided to ignore it for the time being, until I can investigate it if I ever get home.
Anyways, I found a bunch of thick branches, though they weren't strong enough for a bow shaft, but the arrows were decent, which I was looking for to make my traps. As I collected the wood for my trap, I picked up the ones that were suitable for a bow shaft. Problem was, I only found about twenty that were just about perfect. Finally, I spotted a significant piece of wood that would be great for my trap.
I was set on hunting for a specific plant, which I ended up finding on the island. I graduated from Starling City University for business, science, and botany. Having the affinity for plants and science has helped me greatly, as I knew how to make oxygen, if I ever run out. I could tell which plants are poisonous, which plants are edible, and which plants can heal. Many plants here have helped save my life and just as many has either killed me or nearly drove me mad.
The one plant I'm seeking for is one that can paralyze an animal for roughly an hour, but would kill a human if ingested into their bloodstream. I need it to paralyze this wolf, whose cave I aim to steal. I discovered that cave a week into my arrival, but the only reason why I haven't returned was because I was too scared and unprepared to take down a wolf, whether it was a wolf, or not. Though it's been a year since then, here I am.
After carefully plucking the dangerous plant from its original place against a moss-covered rock; south of my tree, I headed back to the underbrush near the wolf's cave. As quickly as I could, I sharpened the bottom of the sturdy branch before I stuck it into the soil. Once it was secured, I grabbed this long vine and wrapped it around the tip of the stick, before attaching a rabbit. I tainted the rabbit with the plant and masked the smell with a stash of regular leaves. This was so it would seem like the rabbit's habitat, instead of the plant that any animal would avoid. I lit up a quick fire in front of the cave to attract the wolf, and then I lay to wait.
It took awhile since the wolf emerged. This wolf was such a beautiful creature. Its fur was a mixture tone between grey and sandy brown. It stood as tall as its way to my hip. Cautiously walking its way to my trap, it sniffed it before deeming it safe. Fooled by the scents I covered the plant with, the wolf ate it. Not even five minutes after it finished, the wolf dropped to the ground; eyes frantic with fear. I ran up to the helpless creature and tried to sooth it by gently petting its fur. Remembering the timing of the effect, I realized I had to find a way to move the wolf away from the cave, so I could claim the cave to be mine. Problem was, with the little strength I have, how can I move this heavy animal in barely an hour before the effect wears off? In conclusion, I had no other choice but to kill the poor animal.
Reluctantly, as I took out my father's knife, I apologized to the poor thing before stabbing in through the heart, giving the beast a quick death. Planning to skin the lifeless animal for its pelt, and take what meat I can eat before leaving it for the other animals, I headed inside the cave to ensure it was clear and safe.
Finding nothing inside the cave, I rushed to my tree and dragged my belongings back to the cave. Once everything was inside, I grabbed stacks of wood and some kindle, piled it all up, and lit it with my handy lighter so I can see the rest of the cave's interior. Once the fire successfully spread bigger, I headed back outside to skin the wolf.
After I finished, I left the remaining of the wolf for the other predators. Planning to use the pelt as my bedding, I set up a makeshift bed right beside the fire and collapsed on it exhausted from this long day of hard work.
Just as I closed my eyes to sleep, I heard a sharp pitched yip that seemed like it came from the shadows of the cave. I sprung up in alert and shifted into a crouch, knife in my hands. Scanning the walls of the cave, I spotted something move, until suddenly, a wolf pup stumbled out into the light of fire. I was stunned for a moment as I took in such a cute, small grey-sandy brown pawed pup. It took me a second to realize this adorable pup belonged to the wolf I killed. I murdered this pup's mother!
I was so ashamed of myself now, but I keep trying to reassure myself that I did what I had to do to survive, though it didn't make me feel any less guilty. A light whimper brought me back out of my guilty thoughts. As the pup blinked its precious blue eyes at the meat on the fire, I realized that this poor pup is watching its mother being cooked.
I felt like throwing up after the realization. I would never let myself feed the pup his mother! I crawled over to my slash of leftover rabbit meat, and gently passed it towards the wolf pup for it to meal on instead. The pup let out a startled yelp, echoing through the cave and skittered back as I went back to my bed beside the fire.
As I watched the little one devour the rabbit, I thought about this little predicament. I killed its mother, although the pup seems old enough to live on its own now, I feel as though I should take this pup in my care. I'm lonely even if this creature isn't the exact company I'd prefer, I decided to make the pup my new companion.
Resolving to name to pup and determine its gender for tomorrow, I rolled onto my side facing the warmth of the fire and dozed off. Just before I felt like I was beginning to sleep, I felt a small furry body nestle under my arms and beside my breast. Peeking out from one eye, I saw the pup curled up against me, tucked under my arm and its head against my breast, staring at me with its innocent blue eyes. I smiled softly to the pup, closed my eyes and mumbled "goodnight" to my furry companion. Feeling less alone for the first time since I ended up here on this island a year or so ago.