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Course, following that particular bit of Papa's advice was what got me in my current predicament in the first place. I guess it came down to a matter of choices. And I didn't have much of any at the moment.
I stacked the driftwood up into a lean-to against one of the pine trees – those at least I recognized from the ice-islands. Then I wove the tree bark into a sort of roof, which I tied to the driftwood using some twists of old vine.
When I finished, I took a step back and admired my work. I almost forgot where I was. I almost convinced myself I was just on the ice-islands, having the sort of adventure I used to dream about.
But then a wind blew in from the forest, and it smelled like musty damp and magic. I had my sword out before my brain could even figure out if I was in danger or not.
The beach stayed as empty and desolate as always.
I crawled into the lean-to and peered out the opening and through the cracks in the branches I'd left in so we could keep look out. I figured there should be enough room for me and Naji to both stretch out and sleep, and it was high enough that when I was sitting down I could reach up and my fingers would just barely graze the underside of the tree bark ceiling.
Since I'd managed to take care of our shelter problem for the time being, I figured I should look into food. The truth was I didn't trust anything on this island enough to eat it. Even if the water had turned out fine.
But my stomach was grumbling and I figured Naji was go
When I came to the spring, the ferns were scattered across the ground, and Naji was gone.
All thoughts of food flew out of my head. I had my sword out, my body tense and alert, and I stalked around the spring, stepping as careful as I could.
"Ana
I froze, and then turned around slow and careful. Naji was leaning up against a tree, holding his shirt up like a basket.
"You left," he said. "And you took my sword."
I let the sword drop. "I thought you were dying. And we needed shelter. Real shelter, not leaves." I kicked at the ferns.
"I'm not dying. But the healing is taking a long time." He stumbled forward and I noticed his hands were shaking.
"Should you be wandering around the woods, then?"
"Probably not. But I was hungry." He knelt down in the remains of our tent and flattened out his shirt. A handful of dark red berries and little brown nuts spilled across the ground.
"I know these are safe to eat," he said. "They grow in the ice-islands, too."
I scowled, irritated that he'd been able to find something when I couldn't.
"Have some," he said. "I can show you where to collect more."
I picked up one of the berries and sniffed: It smelled sweet as rainwater. I was too hungry to be cautious. I tossed it into my mouth.
Best berry I'd ever tasted. After that first one didn't kill me, I took to shoving the rest of the pile into my mouth. It wasn't enough to satisfy me, but it took the pang away. When I finished, Naji was staring at me.
"I'm glad I ate some on the way back."
"Sorry."
His eyes brightened a little, and seeing it made me feel weirdly happy even though I was surrounded by gloom and magic.
"I made a lean-to," I said.
"Ah, so that's where you disappeared off to."
"I guess it didn't hurt you too bad."
Naji shrugged. "It wasn't as bad as yesterday, no."
"Well, I figured we needed shelter. And fire, too, although I don't know if I'll be able to start one in all this damp." I stood up and rubbed at my arms, trying to work out the chill. "Do you want me to show you? I don't… I don't much like staying in the woods."
Naji tilted his head a little and looked at me like he wanted to say something. But he only nodded.
It was slow going back to the beach. Naji stumbled over the underbrush and kept getting caught up in the woody vines that draped off the trees. Although he let me carry the sword, I was on edge the whole time, waiting for something to come creeping out of the shadows. It didn't help that every now and then I'd hear these weird chiming animal calls off in the distance, and the wind had a quality to it that sounded like a woman's whisper. At one point, Naji slumped against a tree, his forehead beaded with sweat. I only just caught him before he collapsed.
"Not safe," he whispered. His face twisted up and he pressed his hand into his forehead. "Not safe. For you."
"What's not safe? The woods?"
He cried out in pain and groped around my shoulders. His fingers were clammy and cold. I peeled the collar of my shirt away. The charm he made me was still there.
"Thank the darkness," he whispered, and he slumped up against me, as if all the air had been let out of him. "I'm sorry I can't protect you better."
The forest was rustling around us, dropping down feathery green leaves, and my breath was coming out fast and short. I knew we couldn't stay here – knew I couldn't stay here. But I wasn't leaving Naji behind.
"Here," I said, shoving the sword at him. "To protect me with."
His fingers fluttered around the handle. He straightened up a little, and his face no longer seemed so drawn and haggard. Stupid curse. It ain't like I don't know how to use a sword.
"Let's run," I said. "To keep me safe."
He stared at me like he didn't understand. But then he said, "Yes, I think that might work."
So we ran.
I ran faster than him, flying over the ferns and fallen tree trunks, but he kept up better than I might have expected, and I guess the ru