The Field

Who: Jasper and OPEN
Where: Wandering (very slowly) around the beach
When: Morning
Rating: TBD

Jasper, extremely glad that the pink pollen was gone and, in fact, embracing the general wetness of the weather that day, was limping slowly along the beach, trying to get used to the feeling of walking again.  Because with walking came running, and running was, of course, what she loved to do.  Her little tiff with Alex had been embarrassing but fruitful - if it weren't for that, she wouldn't have bothered even trying to walk.  As it was, the angry stomping hurt but it did give her the realization that she could walk... or, rather, limp... around on her own again.

She picked a few blades of grass and tossed them into the water just to see which way they went - though they didn't go in any particular direction, and kind of scattered, like you'd usually see in a lake.  That kind of annoyed her.  And she wanted to see that big eastern river that was on the map.  And she suspected, only a little bit, that one of those indecipherable squiggles on there meant a camp site - maybe even other people!  That would be exciting.  And extremely useful. 

Hm.  Maybe she should invest some time in making some rain gear, actually.  Jasper eyed the sky irritably.  If it was fall, there was going to be worse weather to come.

Who: Adnan and Bazzer
When: early morning
Where: away from camp

Adnan woke up with the desire -- no, need -- to go for a walk. A long one, before the day heated up, and alone. The day before was vivid in his mind, though it felt more like a dream than anything else. It wasn't; Coop's bare limbs tangled with his when he'd woke up had been evidence enough to that. Not to mention the dull soreness in most every muscle he had. But what he remembered ... he wasn't unhappy with what had happened, he was just ... surprised at himself. After he'd lost count of how many times they'd made love, he knew there was something else at work -- the pollen was pretty obvious when one thought about it for a minute or two -- but hadn't cared.

Now, he wondered. Had the impulses been genuine? What did it all mean now? It was all so fast, and he needed some time to clear his head. Or make the attempt, anyway. He'd disentangled himself from his newfound lover, put his jeans and boots on, and headed out for a shirtless walk, hoping the cooler air would do him some good. Tripper had accompanied him, the hound making sure his mistress was soundly asleep before bounding after Adnan.

With a soft grunt, the man lobbed a stick for the dog, legs swishing through the purple grass, his mind all over the place.

Who: Kenneth and Bazzer
What: Pollen affected
Where: a bit away from the tannery
When: Immediately after Helena and Kenneth
Rating: NC-17

( Bazzer is not exactly himself. )

Who: Alex, Kenneth, Helena, Bazzer, anyone else that would like to jump in with an opinion
When: Day 31, morning
What: Discussing what to do with Bazzer's tanned skins
Where: The center of "town" the campfire!

( Decisions, decisions )

Who: Bazzer and Coop
When: Day 30, morning
Where: near the campfire
What: early morning philosophizing

( No, I don't think this place could possibly be hell. )

Who: Bazzer & Analiese
When: Day 29, afternoon
What: checking on Analiese, who knows?
Where: camp

( I get by with a little help from my friends )

Who: Bazzer & Nefertiti
When: Day 28, late-morning
Where: Bazzer's tannery
What: dogs invade the tannery! Violence ensues!

( I got soul, but I'm not a soldier )

Who: Aaron and Bazzer
Where: The tannery
What: Surveying the damage from the storm and cleaning up
When: Mid-morning

( Brains. Need braaaaains )

Who: Bazzer & Kenneth
Where: their sleepingbag
When: the night after the funeral
What: Bazzer REALLY dislikes funerals
Rating: PG-13-some serious snogging occurs.

( Kenneth's not so fond of funerals either )

Who: Alex & OPEN
When: Day 25, morning
What: Graveside funeral for Quinn
Where: at the newly created cemetery

( Requiéscat in pace )

Who: Bazzer & Kenenth
Where: away from the camps near(ish) to the water
When: day 24, midday
What: gun safety and discreet male bonding

( Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands? - Ernest Gaines )

Who: Kenneth and Bazzer
When: Day 22-night, post Jasper rescue
Where: Lookout Ledge
Rating: PG-13

( Inch by painfully slow inch )

Who: Jasper, the npc babies, Kenneth, and then open to everyone!
Where: The lake
What: Badness
Rating: Oh, let's say somewhere between PG and R for profanity

Jasper had made a severe error. One she hadn't made in, oh, years and she was definitely regretting it now because this could very possibly cost three people their lives - her's included. But she wasn't used to being weighed down by two children and a bunch of things left at the prime camp; she was used to running for herself, with the things she was used to running with. But right now she was going much slower than she'd thought she'd been, there was a large tract of land that didn't have any trees, just open field, and on the other end of said tract of land was the lake. It was also sunset. Jasper could hear the laughers in the distance, but she knew how fast those could run and if she made it to the lake it would be by the skin of her teeth, and there were still the shallows that the laughers would undoubtedly be able to get through before it became too deep for them.

( Laughers Are Not Friendly )

Who: Analiese and Bazzer
When: late morning
Where: near the spring and rock waterfall on the far side of the island

The experience was still like a surreal sort of dream to Analiese. She'd walked all day in her socked feet, trailing near the end of the group of twelve or fifteen people who were making their way to an island camp, then once darkness had come, they'd had to swim across a lake while pushing their belongings on hollowed-out wooden things that floated. Somebody had said they were tree branches, but Analiese couldn't imagine a tree branch ever looking like that. She'd been so footsore and exhausted by then that she hadn't spared it much thought. There'd been a huge fire and other people, and she'd spread out her comforter and pillow right along with them, slipping off out of sight to take off her wet pajamas and put on Luke's huge sweater, which hit mid-thigh on her and would be good enough to sleep in.

She'd wondered if she'd awaken in her bed at home, but she hadn't. Analiese had found herself still on the island, still wrapped in her comforter with her blonde hair a mess, still surrounded by strangers. She'd rolled up her bedding and placed it off to the side where people seemed to be putting their bedrolls once they'd gotten up, and she'd ventured off to put her still damp camisole and leggings back on. She couldn't just wear a low-necked cardigan sweater around all day; that was even more indecent than the pajamas.

( oh, my god, he's taking his clothes off! )

It was closer to dusk than Kenneth liked when the shore of the lake came into view, but the sight and burgeoning darkness sped the feet of the travelers as their destination appeared. So far there was no sound of laughers behind them, which Kenneth was thankful for.

At the beach, it was organized chaos, but the planning that had been done en route was invaluable as they got the heavier things out of the carts. Kenneth was pleased to see they did in fact float, better even than he'd thought. In groups of two and three people, one stronger swimmer to one or two weaker, they held onto the makeshift rafts and made their way slowly across the fifty or so yards that separated them from the mainland.

Kenneth watched nervously, but some of that disappeared as he made out the form of Helena on the opposite shore. She was alive.

By the time the last raft made it across, which left only the heavier clay pots full of resin, collected food, medicine and Bazzer's skins, the laughers were hot on their trail. On Kenneth's orders, the pots were moved into the shallows and he stood guard over them as their strongest swimmers made a second trip across, this time manhandling the heavy clay pots in groups of two, with longer lengths of braided grass they had thanks to Rowan, tied around them to form a sort of sling like carrier. They took the medicines first, then the resin and skins. Food was easier to replace.

Sooner than he wanted, Kenneth saw the glowing eyes of the laughers. He took one shot then grabbed one of the remaining pots and dove into the water with the laughters splashing in the shallows along the bank. He was surprised to see Aaron, Alex and Thorne make a final dash for the remaining pots and swore softly as he saw the laughers lunge forward.

In a blink, he realized that the four of them had gotten away. They'd sacrificed some of the food they'd gathered, but Kenneth would take that. Given the other possibilities? He'd totally take that.

Who: Kenneth and Bazzer
Where: Sweetgrind fields
When: night of the 20th day
Rating: PG
Warnings: may be added, but none yet


Kenneth was on edge, not that there was any help for it. The expected full out attack of laughers hadn't yet come and Kenneth had gotten everyone into a small circle. The carts had been emptied and turned on their sides, the stuff in them forming another layer of protection between the things in the dark and the people he was protecting. Sharpened climber sticks were pushed into the ground pointing outward and torches ringed the entire thing. They'd pulled up the grass for about three feet all the way around so nothing could sneak out of the grass. It was the best he could do...he just hoped it was enough.

Kenneth himself was patrolling the edge of the camp, carefully avoiding looking at the torches so he wouldn't ruin his night vision as he scanned the field around them, his weapons ready. It was a familiar feeling, the being on edge, senses alert to every sound and he found it somewhat comforting. At least this was something he knew. When he heard someone walking up, he didn't turn to see who it was because it would mean looking at the light. "Who is it?"

Who: Kenneth and anyone/everyone leaving on the 20th
When: Mid morning
Where: Heading east
What: Taking a break


There was no way to keep up the grueling pace all day, at least not for most. Kenneth made sure to call plenty of halts, at least as many as he possibly could, but they still weren't making the speed they'd need to get to the safe camp. Fortunately, he'd sort of planned on that, his worst case scenario. If they didn't make it, he'd circle the carts, build a fire and people would just have to stay awake. The Laughers were smart, he hoped if he took down enough of them, they'd just back off. Did Laughers have a concept for unacceptable losses?

Kenneth didn't know, but he did know that would burn through his ammunition, something he'd already decided was worth it to protect those coming with him. He looked around and squinted up at the sun. Sacrificing a blanket, he tore strips of it with his knife then handed them to the closest person. "Soak these with some water and get people to put them on the back of their necks and heads. It might help."

Who: Sophie and Baz
What: Sophie likes books, Baz likes books. They like books?
When: Morningish Day 19
Where: Around the camp
Rated:PG Sophie's a sweetie

( It disappeared when he did....where was it....he had to have it! )

Who: Aaron and Bazzer
When: Dawn on Day 18
Where: The Field
What: A New Arrival
Rating: PG? Maybe?

( Disappointment And Dawn )

Who: Baz and Quinn
What: Finding something
When: Morning
Where: North woods
Rating: PG (dead bodies and drugs?)

( Being Eaten Fast And Messy Or Being Eaten Slow While Dreaming? )