"Serenity is a Latin name," Ami said, engrossed in her notes.
"Yes Sherlock, and Rei is a Japanese name," Maroru replied sarcastically. Rei was Serenity's current walking partner, with Alejandro still clearing a path up ahead. It was starting to get dark, but Alejandro had assured them only ten minutes ago that they were close to the end of the jungle. Considering the density and variety of vegetation was thinning, Mamoru believed it even though there was no end in sight. There were still birds cawing in the air, insects humming everywhere and thick wet noises of animals and plants like white noise in the background, but it was less frequent now.
Ami glanced at him, then back at her notes, unphased. "It suggests that she is a foreigner afterall, and not from a local tribe. It explains her coloration, but not much else."
"Are you joking? We don't even know what her real coloration is," he muttered. "This is fascinating and all but can we talk more about, Oh I don't know, maybe something important? Like what we're going to do once we get her back to the Leticia?"
"We'll find her relatives if we can, and if we can't, we'll at least get her back to her home country," she said matter of factly. "It bothers me though, that she is likely a foreigner. How did she get here and end up like this, and more importantly, why did no one report her missing?"
"Who says they didn't? Maybe she's been missing in some remote village in the middle of Africa or Asia for years, but nobody thought to look on the other side of the world for her. I mean, who would? But if she is a foreigner, chances she has relatives in the area are slim."
It hung unspoken in the air between them that if they didn't find a relative...
"What about medical attention?" He ventured.
Ami glanced ahead to see how far ahead Alejandro was, trying not to look Mamoru directly in the eye. "I don't think it will be necessary after all. My medical expertise proved effective enough, and I think with rest and time she'll be fine." She fiddled with the edge of the notebook in her hands.
Mamoru didn't push the subject.
A manmade bridge was the first sign of approaching civilization. Beneath it, a small river danced.
As they crossed the bridge, Mamoru and Ami both cast a glance back to make sure Rei was doing alright with Serenity. Ami busied herself with teaching new terms to Serenity for bridge and stream. The girl didn't seem uncomfortable on the bridge, and crossed without incident, even repeating the word "bridge" back to Ami correctly.
"Small miracle," Mamoru muttered.
Rei was humming softly and holding Serenity's hand, and had no doubt used the technique to steer her across the bridge.
"Careful Rei, she might get the wrong idea," Mamoru smiled as he wiped sweat off his face. It was useless to wipe the sweat off since it would be back in another few minutes, but the action was habit more than thought.
"Stuff it, Mamoru." Rei groused, kicking a rock at him. He cringed as it hit his bruised stomach.
"I think her culture must have frequent physical touch," Ami cut in before he could retaliate. Her voice softened, "Or she may have lost someone close to her. She's been very adamant about close physical interaction since the beginning."
"Something you want to share with the class?" Rei asked, a mischievious smirk on her face.
"No! I mean, I just-" Ami stopped when she saw Mamoru and Rei's lips both twitching into identical grins, holding in laughter. "Oh not again! You two really are incorrigable."
"Blame genetics," Mamoru said.
A gap in the treeline up ahead showed water, and the edges of a hut. "Finally!" Mamoru stepped up his pace, anxious to be out of the jungle. Alejandro was already disappearing down a hill, waving in greeting to someone.
It was thrilling to be part of a team sent to gather evidence for the potential archeological dig site, but in an environment as opressive and dangerous as the rainforest, it was sweet releif to be out.
Leticia was a large fishing village, sitting directly beside the Amazon river. It wasn't particularly advanced, with mostly huts for houses around the edges, but a few larger more modern buildings and houses towards its center. It was culturally diverse, a melting pot for indigenous tribes and nationalities in the area.
Mamoru gulped in an overdramatic breath of air upon exiting.
"I can't wait for real food," Rei said, stepping out of the treeline.
"Some tuna is crying in its grave," Mamoru said.
"Its grave is my stomach, and no it isn't. Give me some fish sancocho, anyday." She licked her lips in anticipation. Serenity was looking around at everything with wide, scared eyes.
"Better keep a good grip on her if you want that soup, she looks like she's ready to bolt," Mamoru tipped his head towards Serenity.
Ami and Rei glanced at the girl, who was rigid and frozen in place at the edge of trees.
"Food," Ami said, pointing to a shop not too far away. "Rest. Safe." She knew that Serenity hadn't been taught the word for safety yet, and she hadn't learned it in her language either, but she had to try.
Rei snaked her arm through the other girls, taking Serenity's hand in her own and humming softly.
Serenity tried to yank free, but Mamoru was faster, grabbing her wrist when she pulled loose from Rei. "Oh no you don't. We are NOT going back into that jungle to chase you."
She stared at him with naked terror, breathing fast and pulling hard on her caught arm. As she stared at him though, he saw something akin to recognition pass through her eyes, and her struggles slowed. "Yeah, I know you remember me...Its Mamoru. And you remember Rei, and Ami. We've only been travelling together for two days straight." Her brows pulled together in a frown as she stared at him. It felt like she was trying to see through him, but she wasn't pulling on her arm anymore, so he accepted it and stared right back.
Rei came over and re-ensnared herself around Serenity, this time using both hands like a brace to keep the girl from any more desperate attempts at escape.
"Food," Serenity repeated. "Bread," she said.
She glanced away from him at Ami when Ami nodded, reaching out to pet her blue hair.
"Yeah, I don't think she's not going to run anymore." Mamoru released her other wrist, turning back towards the village. "Let's eat, then we'll worry about finding her relatives."
When they headed towards a nearby restaurant with Serenity, Alejandro was no where in sight.
AN: So how many of you thought I was dead? 100%? Well I'm not. IRL stuff is ongoing (and a lot of it due to my forum/avatar/game website), but I have a feeling it won't be ending anytime soon. It is notably harder to write nowadays because of this, but I feel like I'm betraying you guys if I don't at least write at least a little bit more to this story.