“Morning sleepy-head,” Rachel teased. “Or is it afternoon?”
“One or the other,” Jo grinned.
“Where are we?”
“We were hoping you could tell us,” Rachel replied.
“Carla was the one who brought us in.”
“No, I mean after you turn into a bird and look around.”
“I just got up and you’re immediately expect me to go around shape shifting?”
“Umm, yep,” Jo answered.
Isaac shook his head in annoyance, but he turned into a bird nonetheless and flew above the tree tops to get a good view of the place. A few minutes later he flew back down. Carla was now awake and watching him sleepily. He changed back.
“It’s an island. I can see a couple of other islands, but nothing that looks like it’s connected with the mainland,” he told them.
“Hmm, in that case we need to find some fresh water,” Jo said. “Preferably near somewhere we can find food. And we need shelter too.”
“What we need is to go home,” Rachel objected.
“Yeah? And how do you propose we do that?”
“Well, the same way we got here. Isaac and Carla can take turns being a boat and -”
“What direction will we go? How long will it take? What will we do for food and water?” Jo asked.
“Ahh…” Rachel bit her lip, stumped.
“See? We’ve got to think about these things.”
“I saw a stream two beaches over,” Isaac cut in. “That would have fresh water.”
Jo nodded.
“It would probably be a bit salty where it meets with the sea, but if we follow it inland a bit it should be fine. Well then, let’s get going. Fresh water is our first priority.”
“Hey, Taylor!” Isaac called.
There was no acknowledgement. Isaac walked over and tapped his shoulder. Gordon jerked violently away, one hand clutched around the rock and his eyes whirring with insane distrust.
“Taylor, we’re going,” Isaac said, pointing, a little confused at this reaction.
They all started walking, Gordon a good few paces behind them. Isaac glanced at him and, after kissing Carla on her cheek wandered over to Jo.
“Jo?” he asked quietly.
“Yeah?”
“Do you… do you have any idea what’s wrong with him?”
“No,” she shook her head. “But I tell you one thing, I have becoming inspired to read a few medical text books. Not to mention books about flora and fauna. When you look at all these plants here, any number of them might be edible, or poisonous.”
“Hmm. So, you have no idea what we should do with him?”
“Not at this point. Sorry Ike.”
Isaac sighed unhappily and he wandered back to Carla and held her hand. He wondered what was wrong with Taylor, and where could Zac be? He hoped he was all right.
TO BE CONTINUED…