Chapter 26

When the girls awoke, they had a quick breakfast of fruit and gathered their equipment that would be needed for the raft.

Thick vines were cut to use as additions to the small collection of various ropes that were found on the aircraft. Laborious was the task ahead of them.

With hatchets fashioned from jagged pieces of the aircraft metal attached to a piece of driftwood and an actual axe from the plane, the trio worked away to fell trees to tie together for the base of the raft.

Rikki wiped the sweat off her brow before delivering the final blow to the last tree they'd need.

"It's coming down! Look out below!" There was a large crack and it fell in a heap. They worked together to chop all the branches off and then hacked the log in half. Together they rolled the logs one by one onto the sand. This was a strenuous activity, and the ex-mermaids were finding every part of their task difficult without their powers.

After a decent break consisting of a swim, snack and drink, they returned to their work. Using the vines, limited ropes and braided flax, they tied the logs together firmly. The raft's base was about three metres in width, and five metres in length; this meant that there was plenty of space for the threesome.

They collapsed on the sand exhausted.

"This better be worth it," Rikki said. The others nodded in silent agreement.

After a lunch break, Cleo and Anna whittled away, making their oars – two each. Rikki was carving the tiller. The still weren't finished when the sun set. Rikki lit the fire. They knew that they wouldn't get much done in the dark, besides they had been working hard all day; they turned in for the night.

They fell asleep almost as soon as they had laid down, exhaustion taking control of their bodies.

OoOoO

In the morning, their muscles ached; a result of the hard labour of the day before. Unfortunately, they knew that they would be working hard again that day. They could have a few days off, but the trio were eager to get going so they decided to work through the day. After breakfast, they continued their carving of the paddles and tiller. A few hours of carving later, they had finished the oars.

They decided to go back to the plane site and see if there was anything that could be of use. A parachute and a large empty crate were brought back. They decided to use the parachute as a sail and so Rikki jacked that up so there was a rigging, it would make them be able to tighten and loosen the sail as they pleased, they would just have to watch the boom when turning. A mast was erected and stood firmly in place. The girls were definitely pleased with their handiwork so far. They then made a small wall around the base so that nothing would fall off, and to secure the oars – to make it easier to row.

After lunch, they pulled their raft out into the shallows. It floated perfectly; they had used the right timber. They jumped on experimentally, and still it was good. They tested out the sail, tiller and oars and deducted that they would get them away from the island. After they were satisfied, they dragged their work out of the water, away from the tides reach and took down the sail.

"Ah," Anna sighed as she plonked herself down on the sand. "We did it,"

"Yeah." Cleo replied with a smile, coming to sit with her.

Rikki was standing, looking at their raft frowning.

"Rikki? What's wrong?" Cleo asked puzzled.

She didn't reply, instead Rikki's mouth morphed into a half smile. She turned to her friends.

"I have an idea."

OoOoO

"...so simply, it will keep us sheltered from natures impediments and trials."

"Wow, Rikki those are big words coming from your mouth." Cleo said, surprised at her friends choice in words.

"Yeah," Anna agreed also surprised.

"So, no comments on my plan - just my choice of words?" Rikki asked, unimpressed.

Cleo laughed at her expression, "Sorry. Your plan is great, let's do it!"

"Okay," Rikki's mood changed quickly.

"Good. So we grab the crate and carve a door in the side before tying it to the base of our raft..."

OoOoO

Soon they had done just that. They now had a kind of sleep house, big enough for two people lying side by side at a time. Filling up the extra space, they had placed their metal food box and a couple of smaller crates as storage compartments. These would hold their waterproof bags, water bottles, food supply, blankets, and extra equipment for the journey. Lucky for them, these additions weren't heavy enough to stop their raft floating.

That night everything except for food and water was ready. They fell asleep extremely excited for what was in store for them the next day.

OoOoO

The next morning, they got up bright and early and set about packing the final things.

They put their bed moss, along with some fresh stuff on the floor of their shelter. They refilled their water bottles, and a canteen they found in the survival kit with water from the stream. They returned to the plane and grabbed a couple of large food tins. With displeasure, they cleaned the 'off' food out and rinsed it thoroughly. Once ridded of the substances, they refilled the tins with fresh water. They did not know how long they would be at sea for. Coconuts, papayas, guavas, mangos and bananas were loaded on board and they hoped it would be enough. They decided they would trawl for fish once on the move. Anna and Rikki (the strongest of the three) pushed their raft through the waves before jumping on board while Cleo steered. Once in the clear, Cleo, Rikki and Anna turned to look back at the island one last time. Though it may seem strange, the three of them had formed some attachment to that place, and they knew they probably wouldn't see it again. It had been their home for one month, two weeks and four days. They turned away after taking a good one last look at the island and their not-so-temporary shelter, to focus on their tasks. Cleo stayed at the helm while Anna and Rikki used the long oars to pull the raft over the water. The sail was down as they knew it wouldn't make a difference to the magical current encircling the island, this was added to the fact that that day, there was no wind.

"We're approaching the start, time to did in deep!" Cleo exclaimed.

Sweat appeared on the women's brows as Anna and Rikki pulled furiously through the sea.

"Come on, dig in," Cleo encouraged, steering.

"Easy...for you to say...Cleo," Rikki gasped in between strokes.

"Okay, sorry."

There was a slight pull under the raft which caused Anna and Rikki to have to struggle harder. Cleo's hand slipped from the rudder into the water, for some reason instantly the water tension gave way instantly, Anna and Rikki looked at each other confused and paddled through easily. Cleo was still looking at her hand.

"I'm sure the water just gave me an electric shock," she said quietly.

"Electric shock?" Rikki asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, it felt like it was scanning me or something..." she replied

"Maybe the water read in its scan that you were human and shut off the mystical, magically weird current designed for trapping mermaids," Anna joked.

Cleo's frown turned upside down. "You know, I think you're right,"

"But I was just joking...never mind."

There was silence for a moment.

Anna turned looked up to behind Cleo.

"Guys..." she questioned.

"What?" Rikki asked.

"The island was there a second ago, yeah?" Anna asked.

"Yeah, it should be right there," Cleo said turned around and looked back shocked.

"I'm sure it disappeared as soon as you drew your hand back from the water," Anna said.

It dawned on them- It must be hidden from human sight.

"Talk about weird magic..." Rikki muttered.

The three women were on a raft with no land in sight. They picked a direction and hoped that it would take them where they wanted to go.

Rikki was now on the tiller while Cleo and Anna were paddling. They would be rotating constantly during the trip and they would have sleeping shifts when the sun set.

They were off the island but who knew what sort of things would happen to them out on the open seas...

"Everyone will think we are dead." Cleo said with a sigh.

"Well, it's time we prove them wrong...as soon as we find civilisation that is..." Rikki replied.

A/N:Sorry about all the detail, I really thought it was necessary. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please, please review! I seem to not have overly many reviewers anymore :( But the ones who do review, you know who you are – thank you very much.

I am now officially a Year 12! (or 11th Grade for those who are used to American school terminology) It was my first day back of the new school year! (Yes, again to the Americans, we start school in February (and finish in December)) The senior uniform is freaking me out! Lol.

I hope you don't mind my monologue, anyway. Keep on reading and reviewing :D