The next morning they got ready to move the monsters body out from beneath their tree, both girls were not particularly looking forward to the job that had to be done, they slowly made their way down the tree making the last jump to the ground.
"I don't want to cut it up here, this time." Said Silvia as she walked to where she was beside the dead beast. "Them what should we do?" Replied Lacey.
Suddenly Silvia's face lit up with an idea and she picked up the beast and flung it over her shoulder and began walking down towards the beach. "Hey! Wait up." Lacey said in surprise as she watched Silvia.
"Do you need any help?" She said as she stumbled over a stone in the path as she ran to catch up with Silvia. Silvia did not even brake a sweat as she carried twenty times bigger then her, they walked down towards the beach.
They stopped before reaching the beach and Silvia dropped the beast with a hard thud into the bushes, pulling out her knife Silvia started skinning the monster. "We should get Tim and let him have this one's hid, it will get colder soon, he will want something warmer then those rags he is waring."
She said, She watched Silvia made a small cut to start, she paused, and stuck the knife back into a lop at her waist and turned around, they headed back to the lagoon, to where Silvia could sense him. They walked around a tree, and saw him, he had his back to them. "Good Morning Tim!" She called out.
He spun around dropping the stick he had been holding. "Oh! It's you guys..." He said picking up he's stick again and walking over to them, Silvia sighed beside her. "We came to ask if you wanted the hid od the monster we killed last night, it would make some better clothes then those rugs that you have on."
Silvia said she turned around and started back to where they had left the monster's body. Lacey waited and walked beside Tim as they followed Silvia down the path that was now was well seen in the ground of the forest. "What's the stick for?" She asked looking down at the club he held it was a nice thick stick that looked a lot like the ones that were on the wall of the weapons room in her castle, but it did not have the metal sticking out of it.
"Well I don't have a knife and I can't make a spear so this will have to work for now." He said, where did she get them anyways?" He asked, Silvia turned and stopped right in front of them, "Who cares where I got them, we have work to do!" She said.
Lacey nodded, we moved it closer to the beach." She told Tim. "Why did you move it? And how it's so big!" He said looking from Lacey to Silvia. "Do you want the hid or not? You never told us if you did." She said. "Sure, I want it but I don't know how to tan it, or to make clothes." He said looking at the stick he held. "We can help you with that Tim, right Silvia?" She said, they looked at Silvia.
"Yeah. But last night he said (He could take care of himself) So why should we help?" Silvia said tossing her silver locks of her shoulder, he sighed. "Look thanks for the help so fare, but I don't know you girls and well how do I know I can trust you not to kill me??"
He said moving back a little. "We wouldn't kill you!" She said surprised that he might think that way. "I'm Lacey and I have been on here for about a year or so, after a storm hit my family's ship." She said sucking in a breath at the memory of the big wave that had crashed over her.
Silvia sighed. "I'm not an idiot I don't go killing people, unless you attack me first, or there is a need, I have been on this island for years so, someone new here and getting along with them is a little hard, and my name is Silvia." Silvia said.
"Now that you know our names lets get to work it will take all day." Silvia said, turning and heading down the path, Lacey looked at Tim, Smiling then headed after Silvia, they had not gone far before Tim caught up with them as they quickened their pace.
Two days had past, Silvia slammed her fist into the rock, the stone shattered, the pieces of rock and dirt rained down around her, she dusted her hair off then jumped over a couple rocks to the ledge of the mountain, then slammed her fist into it, she backed up then watched as a crack went up the rock then stopped, she sighed, she had been out here by the mountain for a good part of the morning smashing rock with her new found strength.
Lacey made her way up the side of the mountain toward where Silvia was working. "How's it going?" She called out as she climbed over the last few rocks to where Silvia stood looking around at the boulders she had made into smaller rocks. "What are you making here?" Asked Lacey.
"Just smashing rocks." Replied Silvia. "Isn't it awesome." She added as she walked over to another big boulder. "You may want to stand back a little so you don't get hit!" Silvia said as she got ready to hit the boulder. Lacey backed up a few feet and watched. Just as Silvia hit the boulder, she noticed the nest of sticks, leaves and feathers on top of the rock. It trembled and slid off and down the side to the ground as the boulder split into pieces.
"WAIT STOP!" Yelled Lacey as she as saw the nest fall. Silvia stopped with her hand in mid air ready to strike again. Turning around she looked at Lacey. "What is the matter?" Then she heard a loud squawking coming from a few feet away, turning back around she saw the nest and hurried over to it.
Lacey followed her as they peered over the edge that came up to their waists, into the nest that was meticulously lined with sleek black feathers. They saw sitting in the center a baby bird with white fluffy down tipped with silver with it's beak pointed to the sky Squawking as loud as it could.
The sound filled the air, ringing off the tops of the mountain, the girls coved their ears, but that didn't stop the baby bird's squawking. "WHAT DO WE DO!" Yelled Silvia over the noise. "Take cover, NOW!"
Yelled Silvia as she sensed the birds flying in their direction. "The parents are coming fast!" Silvia quickly started stacking rocks to build a makeshift shelter. "Quick, climb in!" She shouted to Lacey as she as set a large bolder on the top for a roof.
Lacey climbed inside Silvia grabbed a boulder and slid it into the last opening as she climbed in. They could hear the many wings flying above them, as the girls peered through the cracks in the rocks they watched the black birds circle around the still
squawking baby bird.
one broke off the circle of birds and landed beside the nest, the girls stiffened, it put it's beak into it, then lifted it's head and took off again, the soon dis appeared and the sound of wings was gone.
Silvia pushed the bolder aside and they climbed out, the baby bird was quit now, they investigated the nest again, it lay in a small ball and she could sense that it was scared. "Did they abandon it?" Lacey said looking at it's small shivering body. "Maybe." She said. "I will come back later and see if it's still here." She told Lacey the girls left, Leaving the baby bird behind and started for their tree.
Later that night Silvia headed back to check on the baby bird, when she got close she could sense it still there, she could also sense that no more adult birds had come by either. She peered into the nest to see the small white fluff ball laying still in the bottom of it, she reached in and picked it up cuddling it in the crook of her arm she went back to the tree.
Lacey sat up to the table in the small cabin neatly placing the fresh meat on the sharp thin sticks, her dress flashed yellow as the door opened and Silvia came in, she turned to see her, white caught her eye and she gasped, Silvia shut the door and walked to sit beside her at the table.
"Why did you bring it here?" she said staring at the small bird.
"It's helpless, they just abandoned it." Silvia said running her hand over It's small body to calm it it's ruffled feathers. "uhh... but you know what they grow up to be?" she said. "But I can train it to help us." Silvia said looking down at it, it let out small squawking noises, she sighed and stood up to place the meat on the fire. "But what will we feed it do you even know what it eats?"
She asked. "No...But I bet it will eat meat, but we must cook it first, we don't it eating someone." Silvia said placing it on the bed and heading back outside, her dress had already went back to blue she turned around to look at the small bird, to her surprise it's eyes were open, the red eyes stared at her in wonder, a shiver went up her spine.
The meat was soon done, but Silvia hadn't returned, she set it on the table and looked at the bird, who was watching her carefully, Silvia came back a moment later. "I made a small cage outside for it."
Silvia said going and picking it up and heading back outside, she sighed again and sat down to eat she was half done when Silvia returned. "Meats done." She said, Silvia nodded but went up the ladder, Lacey sat there still eating as Silvia made noise up above, she came back down in a rush and grabbed a stick other way out.
After she was finished eating and had cleaned up, she sighed again, Silvia was excited about this bird hopefully it didn't turn out to be a mistake later on.
She went out side the cabin to the porch, to see how it was going, Silvia sat by the cabin a good sized wooden box beside her with the small bird inside, she had a piece of meat in her hand, holding it out for it. "How's it going?". "Great! it loves this meat."
Silvia said as the bird took it carefully from her hand, her dress faded yellow, again Lacey sighed. "Be carefully.". "Well I'm going to go for a walk before it's dark." She said, Silvia nodded but was to busy to look at her, she left the tree walking towards the beach.
She walked on light feet down the beach, the breeze felt good as it lifted her hair, she didn't even notice her dresses skirt growing longer, it's when the sleeves lengthened that she noticed
And looked down, smiling at the big skirt that touched the sand, she spun around a couple times.
Laughing to herself before she started walking again. When she heard Tim calling her name, she stopped her dress shortened in a flash she stood in the knee-high skirt and short sleeves, He came up to her breathless.
"Hey! Can you help me? I was wondering if you girls had an ax I could barrow?" then stopped where is Silvia?" He asked, Lacey smiled "At our house." She answered with a sigh. "Oh." Was all he said, "I would be glad to help you, but could it wait tell tomorrow?" she said, looking out at the ocean the light was fast fading. "Well I wasn't saying tonight."
He said with a light laugh. "Okay, I'm gonna go." He said before turning and leaving her alone, the smell of salt in the air had always be soothing to her. Her dress turned pastel green, she sat down burring her feet in the sand, reflecting that it had not turned green since she had come to the Island.
Where was she though, an Island yes, but where? It had be a day or two from her home land, but this was the only island that had monsters? She stopped jumping up and looked around, "Claws Island?"
She was now placing back and forth Claws island she had only heard stories about how scary it was and stuff, but here she was living a pretty peaceful life, on one of the most feared islands in the great sea. No wonder no one had stopped by many advancers and pirates went from island to island, but everyone stayed away from Claws island, because of the monsters and yet two young girls had made it save enough to live on.
She laughed at that, she again wondered if her family were okay and if they missed her as much as she missed them. The moon rose the yellow light of the sun turned to a soft blue and shadows moved as a the breeze got a little stronger and ruffled the leaves of the forest.
She looked down her dress still was pastel green, she smiled as she headed back to the tree. Silvia was nowhere to be seen and the hut was silent, she climbed the ladder to see the bed empty Silvia was probably in her hide out She climbed back down and layed down and soon was fast asleep.
The next morning Lacey headed out to help Tim, She had went up to Silvia's hideout that morning to barrow an ax, and had found Silvia asleep at her table and the bird cage beside her, an asked her an ax Silvia had handed her one without a question, then grabbed the cage and headed outside.
She had seen that the bird now have a beaded collar now. She laughed a little and came on to a small clearing that Tim had made, a way's from the lagoon. "Tim!" She called out. "I brought the ax." He came out of a small tent made from leaves and sticks. "So what's the ax for?" she asked.
"This would not last the winter." He said pointing to the tent. "Here." She handed him the ax he took it bouncing it a couple times. "Nice" she said. "this will defiantly help me build a better home. So, what do you guys eat besides the fruit near the lagoon?
Do you fish? Is there and good meat besides fish on this island?..." Lacey rolled her eyes as he rambled on question after question not waiting for any answer. "Look" Lacey said somewhat annoyed at all the questions. Tim stopped talking and looked at Lacey swinging the ax back and forth by his side.
"No, we have not done any fishing because we do not have anything to fish with."
"Oh, Ok." Tim replied. "So, do you only eat fruit then?"
"No, we meat. Silvia catches crabs and we have rabbits quite often." Lacey said. "Oooh, I could kill for meat right now. I have been about to starve just eating fruit." Tim said licking he's lips and closing he's eyes imagining eating something besides the fruits he had found which he really had been getting sick of.
"I could show you where we find most of the rabbits." She said. "really!?" He said. "Yeah, but I would have to grab a spear on the way." She said. "Ok." He said and walked into the tent and come back without the ax, they made their way to the meadow going the long way.
When they were getting close, she stopped and jumped up a big root and pressed her hand to the trunk of the tree that was smaller around in size then the bigger ones, then pulled open the hidden shelf in the trunk of the tree. "What! How!"
Tim said behind her, she giggled pulling out two spears. "It's one of Silvia's hidden places, she has them all over this forest." She said then regretted it, she probably shouldn't go around telling Tim about Silvia's secret places. She shut the hidden shelf and jumped back down, handing him one of the spears.
"Do you know how to use one?" She asked as he weighted it in he's hand. "No, not really but I have used a sword." He said moving into a clumsy attack position, she laughed and put hers into the attack position.
They continued to the meadow, Tim trying to stab a couple of leaves for practice, they walked into the tall grass, she tensed ready for anything to move, Tim followed trying to follower her movements. He stepped on a stick as he tried to get into position.
"Quiet!" Lacey snapped in a whisper. "Sorry." Tim whispered in a sarcastic tone. Lacey turned towards him with a vicious glare. "Do you want some meat or not?" She whispered in a harsh voice. Tim gulped his face changing to a shameful frown and went totally quiet and she turned back to watching for rabbits.
She saw the movement and acted, almost as fast as Silvia the first time they had went hunting when she turned Tim Stared in shook, she took the rabbit of the end of her spear. "Now it's your turn," She said, Tim nodded and took the led as they continued on, it took a couple tries of Tim scrambling after one, before he was exhausted but still hadn't got any rabbits.
Lacey giggled Tim lay on the ground in the tall grass. "Here have this one." She said handing him the rabbit. "Thanks." He said talking it from her, she left him there on the ground and went to catch another one.
After she had caught two more rabbits, she headed back to Tim and found him still laying on the ground. "Okay, I'm done here." She said, he looked up and saw the rabbits in her hand, "How?" he said. "It took me so long and I didn't even get anything." He sighed. "Don't be hard on yourself it takes practice but if you would like I could hunt for you." She said.
"You wouldn't think it, but this whole survival thing is way harder than it looks." He said standing up. "I know that's why I will help you." Lacey said, balancing her spear in her hand.
"Well you can try again another time, Silvia shouldn't be to mad if you use one of the spears out of the hidden shelf." She said as they started walking for it. "Thanks, but I'm so bad with the spears, I much prefer a sword, so if it's not too much trouble could you do so, until a figure something out." He said. "it's no trouble, I'm getting pretty good, I'm glad to help."
Lacey said, they had reached the hidden shelf, she put the spears back in place and they headed back for he's tent, When they got there, she left him, without a word and headed for their tree.
One week had past, Lacey watched Tim tie some small vines onto a basket, they had weaved of pieces of leaves. "So that well caught rabbits?" Lacey asked.
"Yeah, it kind of like one of the fish nest I have seen the guys making." Tim said, when he was done he layed it in the bushes and covered it with grass. "That's it?" She said, he nodded. "Now we just leave it and check on it later." Tim said, they left the meadow and headed back for his clearing.
He had made a nice little place for himself, with Lacey's help they had made a small cabin in the corner aside the tent, and covered it with mud and leaves to keep it warm in the winter.
Lucky Tim had read many books on house making or they would have done a terrible job. They walked into the tent where the ax lay on a make shift table, there was lots of other things that lay around that he had collected, he set the stuff he had been holding down on the table. She then left the tent and he followed.
"Where is Silvia? I haven't seen her in. What has it been a week or so." He said, Lacey sighed. "She has been busy, I guess." She said. "She found a baby bird abandoned the another day, and has been taking care of it." Lacey said sitting down on the ground and putting her hands in her lap. Tim shrugged as he turned back towards his tent.
"Oh, Ok." He replied. "Want to go catch some crabs?" Lacey asked getting up and dusted of her dress, he stopped. "Sure." He said, they headed down the path, when he stopped "Look!" Tim said grabbing Lacey's arm, she looked where he was pointed in the bushes light glinted off metal, they walked over and parted the leaves, there stabbed into the ground was a sword.
"It must have been dropped by one of the pirates!" Lacey said, looking at it intently the sword was metal with it's hilt bound in leather, Tim grabbed the hilt and pulled it up out of the ground, the sword was straight but at the tip it was slightly curved.
"This is great!" Tim exclaimed, swinging it around a couple times, which made Lacey have to step back. "Hey watch it!" She said, he smiled. "I can do so much more with this, maybe even hunt and help you girls kill those monsters." Tim said bring the sword to his side he turned. "Bye. I wanna go do some stuff." He said running off. She sighed and chuckled a little and walked towards the beach to hunt some crabs.