THE ISLAND WOLF - EPISODE 55

They reached the top of the hill and began to walk faster in order to get as far away from the van as they could. The ground was covered with leaves from the trees, twigs and sticks, stones and pebbles. This was to the girl’s advantage, because they was no way another person could follow their tracks. Their footprints didn’t even show a little sign.

The girls continued to walk in silence until they got very tired. They had covered more than five kilometers and it was very late into the night. Only the moonlight guided their feet.
“Is there anywhere we can get water? I’m so thirsty,” Nana whined and sat on a large log of fallen wood.
“There’s water in this bag. But it can only last us tonight,” Chidi stated and opened the driver’s bag that she had taken. Five bottles of water were in it, with a bar of chocolate.
“You only live once,” Nana said in relief and took a bottle from Chidi.
“It’s cold. I didn’t notice because we were walking and sweating,” Xiào Wéi mumbled and hugged herself.
“We need somewhere to keep us warm, or we’re going to freeze overnight,” Avril opined and looked around.
“I’m quite sure we wouldn’t see any blankets flying around,” Nana joked as Avril kept looking around.
“Haha, you never know. What we actually need is a fire. And something to cover us from dew,” Avril said. She got on her feet and began to pick twigs and sticks from the ground. Chidi stood up and joined Avril.

“You do all the work, I’m going to rest my feet a bit,” said Nana.
“Lazy arse,” Xiào Wéi joked and went to join the rest. They gathered enough wood and leaves to make a fire. Avril chose a spot that was directly under a short tree. Autumn was around the corner, so trees were begining to shed their leaves. But that particular short tree was still green and full. It would serve as a perfect shade against morning dew. Avril gathered a few big branches that had broken off from their respective trees. She and Chidi used it to push off leaves from under the tree, making the ground bare and smooth. Then they used it to form a thick maze around the spot they had swept, so animals would not run around or over them while they slept. Only a small opening was left at the front, for them to pass inside. All was Avril’s idea.
“Jungle girl, did your island wolf guy teach you this one?” Nana chirped as she yawned and walked drowsily towards the tree.
“Kinda. He thought me survival skills, even though we never experimented all of it,” Avril answered.
“You got some balls, you know. Living with such a being and even falling in love with him?” Xiào Wéi asked.
“Dakar was… He was totally lovable. I sometimes forgot he looked different from me, and saw the inner him. Plus, he loved me,” Avril cooed and stood straight to tie up her hair which kept falling over as she tried to make a fire.
She had only confided in her friends a year ago, one year after she arrived Tijuana. She felt Dakar should be kept only in her heart, without letting others know. But then, Nana remembered she was with a man on the island, and kept asking. She had to tell them. They were bewildered when they heard about what he was. In fact, Nana refused to believe at first. But with time, they all were cool with it.

Avril bent down after her hair was already in place. She arranged the wood then poured dry leaves, and barks at the top. She lit it up with Alejandro’s cigar lighter that was in her pocket throughout, and continued to put leaves to make the fire stay. Finally, the wood caught fire and Avril sat down.

“So, we’re fasting tonight?” Nana asked as she ripped the pack of chocolate open.
“That’s your definition of fasting?” Xiào Wéi asked. Nana broke chocolate and stuck it into her mouth.
“Wha..h’am hungry,” she muffled out amidst munches.
“Avril, what are you doing?” Chidi asked Avril who was sharpening the end of a long stick.
“Trying to find something for us to eat,” she answered.
“How is that finding something for us to eat?” Nana asked and gulped down a little water.
“I’m going hunting. Wild hares usually burrow around this sort of habitat. They taste good,” she replied.
“Did your island wolf teach you that too?”
“No,” she replied and paused. She looked at the ring on her finger, shining against the fire.
“Alejandro taught me. When we went to Australia for a little deal,” she added.
“So, you’re going hunting? How?” Chidi asked.
“I’ll just look around. Some plants here are really edible for them, so their burrows won’t be far from them. I’ll search till I find.”
“And if you don’t find?”
“I’ll find nuts. And if I don’t find nuts, I’ll find a place to sleep between y’all.”

Nana chuckled and threw the chocolate bar to Xiào Wéi, who broke off it and handed it to Chidi. Chidi took her portion and gave Avril the last one.
Avril collected it and continued to sharpen the wood until it became very sharp and pointed. She then left with the chocolate in her pocket.
“I could really use a man right now,” muttered Nana. Both Chidi and Xiào Wéi glared at her.
“What? It’s cold!” she retorted.
“How did we end up with something like you?” Xiào Wéi asked.
“I’m the vibe of this gang. Can you beat that?”