Wild Desperation

Chapter 30

"Alright guys keep the net tight, step on the bottom if you have to because when we jump in there those fish are going to try getting out." I call over as I hop into the shallow and small netted area with North and Silas following my lead. From there its a free for all to grab the fish and throw them on the bank for Sean and Luke to deal a death blow, or cut with their blades. I start throwing fish as quickly as I can grab them but it takes a few tries for the two boys to figure out how it's done, the others shouting encouragement and strategy as we work. "North, you're supposed to catch the fish not become the fish!" I laugh out as he missed a particularly large carp and took a nose dive into the water. 

"Tip boys, don't worry so much about holding onto them, it's more scooping them in your hands and using their own momentum to toss them out of the water." I chuckle as I demonstrate with the fish North missed, Luke quickly dispatches it on the bank. The technique seems to help them a bit as they start tossing fish a lot easier, once we've got enough I tell the guys to let the rest of the smaller fish go and to come on out of the water. "Well that was certainly entertainment Cupcake." Luke beams as we get to work gutting our catch and I'm glad of it. "Yeah it's fun too, when you know what you're doing." I grin back, sending a glance to a grumbly North and chuckling Silas. 

Once the fish are gutted we stuff some lemongrass and herbs into them and close it in tightly before handing it over to Kota and Gabe to cook as I let Arrow have his share of the spoils. The herbs help season the meat while it cooks and once it's done the flavour is easily better than plain fish, and it shows how much by how the guys are gobbling down their shares. I wait untill everyone is finished eating before rinsing off in the shallow water and changing back into my shirt and jeans. The next couple of hours are passed with story telling and silly little games until it was dark enough for me to head up in my tree with Arrow to snuggle me in sleep, it was easy to get used to this kind of company.

                                           Kota

The moment we knew Sang was asleep was when we decided to hold a hushed meeting around our campfire. I had greatly enjoyed spending time with her and learning to collect edible plants to help provide for my brothers, however I still was worried her fever would burn to life again any second. I had been so afraid of losing the bird in those tense hours but she had pulled through and by the looks of it wasn't having any lasting side effects from whatever had brought her fever on. The little bikini show today had been making it difficult to focus on anything other than her, and watching her dive in and out of a shallow pool for fish in said bikini didn't help.

I was just glad that I was tasked with helping keep the net tight rather than diving alongside her, North and Silas didn't seem to mind staring when they weren't tossing our food on the bank. "So anything new to report?" Mr. B asked lowly. "Outside of the fact that Pookie is back to perfect health and sleeping in our camp, I can report, she looks better in her bikini from any angle when she isn't burning alive with fever." Sean was grinning like crazy as Mr. B reprimanded him shortly. "She sings pretty amazingly for never taking lessons." Victor added in eagerly. 

"She told Silas about a kid she tried to rescue years ago but the girl didn't make it." Nate murmurs sadly and I can only imagine her pain. Silas had given us an idea of what had happened from what Sang told him, knowing how caring she was she probably felt a great loss at the girls death even if they weren't related. "The very fact that she's opening up to us at all is a major improvement to the bird who didn't trust us and was willing to kill us if we posed a threat." North muffs. "I'd say she's still willing to kill us if she has to, but she'd at least feel bad about it... if she did." Luke sighs. I have to admit he's not wrong with how vigilant she's been when they're target practicing, ready to defend herself and her pets if necessary. 

"I told her a bit about the base too, how birds take multiple husbands, and are treated decently unlike most places." Silas stated, I can't help but be curious and worried on her response. "Well what the f*** did she say?!" Gabe is quick to miss out as we await an answer. "She didn't seem to be bothered about the multiple husbands thing but she said she has no intention of giving up her freedom in the forest to become a breeder." Silas mutters and I find myself fiddling with my glasses at that term. "Well, that's one way of looking at it, but she would have her freedom, no one is forced to have kids if they are not ready to go so." Sean defended softly. 

"So being honest who likes the bird or at least has some form of attraction towards her?" I ask somewhat curtly as my thoughts are confirmed by everyone admitting to my question. "So we all like Cupcake, but no one can be sure how she feels about all of us, or even if she might have the slightest interest in a relationship with our team?" Luke voiced on a groan. "Pretty much yeah, and she's still planning on splitting off when we get to Charleston." Nate huffs as he tosses a stick into the fire. 

"We can't force her to stay with us but if she is so intent on carrying out her own tasks perhaps we can convince her to let us tag along and help." Mr. B brings his own idea to light and it is quick to be agreed upon. "Whatever happens after that we'll have to wait and see." I state solumnly to our group. "Take it all one day at a time, Aggele will come around when she's ready." Silas is the one to offer soothing comfort to our worries as we get ready for bed. "Sean and I have first watch, get as much sleep as you can, we're all on foot again tomorrow." Mr. B states as I settle down on my mat to rest, drifting off to the thoughts of special birds and edible berries.