June 2021 - A New Arrival?

[staymods]

A New Arrival?

For the last two months, arrivals in the settlement have all been the same. First an Otherworlder is picked up by the Finnish government, then they are quarantined and questioned, and finally they are brought to the island. There has been no variance to the pattern, and the familiarity of it gives life in the settlement a kind of rhythm to live by.

Or at least, it did. Up until today.

Because at some point in the early afternoon, the air around the settlement shifts. For a few seconds, anyone outside will feel the hairs stand up on their skin, not unlike a static charge. Then there is a, audible snap, the feeling abruptly disappears, and all returns back to normal.

Except for one important detail: there is now another person in the settlement, standing on the sandy, treeless banks of Snake Island.

Comments

[ghoulserrand]

[He holds up his hands, pointing his index fingers up on each.]

Wait.

[Let him get this straight. Let him use... the word.]

Zombie... dead? With living...? And... [this is so stupid.] really tall zombies?

[He hates this. He hates himself.]

[suddenlybees]

[ Zombies... are dead... yes. Would it kill this man to ask his question in complete sentences? ]

Are you asking about some real specific very tall zombie I should be worried about? That might've maybe zapped here with you?? Or is this all hypothetical still?

[ghoulserrand]

[Yes. It would.

He makes a noise, like a puff air though it's hard to tell with the gaiter.]

I am trying... to ask... if there are undead... living... with living people... and also... if the tall monsters... are also... undead.

[suddenlybees]

[ Oh, hm. Considering what he is... ]

I dunno! Can you tell undead from living by sight? Unless you mean if there's people walkin' around with eyeballs hanging out of their sockets and their brains spilling out of their skull and skin all green and wrinkly, then nope! No undead here.

[ghoulserrand]

[He wants to complain. He wants to say, for one, that's gross, for two, that's not fair.

But.]

That... clears things. Thank you.

And... the monster? What is that?

[suddenlybees]

[ It's fair when the only zombies you know are from scary movies you watch mostly with your hands over your eyes, okok ]

No clue! Haven't seen one yet, and don't plan on it! If you see anything over ten feet tall, just shoot it on sight and we'll take a closer look at it later.

[ghoulserrand]

[Again, he wants to protest. Just shoot on sight is probably what people would do to him. But, over ten feet and actively eating people is pretty damning. Hopefully arrows work.

He nods his head.]

Okay... will do.

Are there... a lot of living people... here?

[suddenlybees]

Mmm... Sorta!

[ That seems like his go-to answer for the day, and there's the offer to show the man where the settlement is, but if he turns out to be bad news and Kano's the one who led him there? Ehh...

There's always the voice in the back of his mind telling him not to judge people by first appearances like what was always done to him, but a little stalling never hurt anybody. ]

Are you, like, super hungry or tired or something? Zapping must've taken a lot out of you! I'm sure some of this grass is edible... I pulled some out once and this guy said it's okay to eat as long as you don't eat too much, and then it'll kill you.

[ghoulserrand]

[He stares at the boy for a very, very long moment. Then, flatly;]

I'm not eating grass.

[He's eaten some terrible things, yes, but that's not happening. Besides, he'd have to take his gaiter off.]

I am fine... I don't need anything.

[suddenlybees]

It's edible grass...

[ Sort of. If Kano manages to pick the right ones, which is still a hit-or-miss even after so long foraging on the island. ]

Water, then? There's, like... water, everywhere, if you're thirsty. It's an island. Can you swim?

[ghoulserrand]

[He shakes his head.]

I'm not thirsty.

[Can he swim? He's actually not sure.]

Don't want to swim. Gets everything... soggy. [He gestures to his clothing.]

[suddenlybees]

[ Kano looks down at his clothes, and then up at his face— what little he can see of it, at least. ]

...Okay, so, like, do you want the good news first or the bad news?

[ghoulserrand]

[He groans unhappily.]

... Do I have to swim? ...is that... the bad news?

[suddenlybees]

I mean... It's not like you have to, if you're okay staying here forever until you're able to zap away.

[ But barring that? yeah ]

[ghoulserrand]

[He makes another unhappy noise and contemplates sinking down and hugging his knees.

...Not in front of the kid.]

What is the... good news?

[suddenlybees]

[ He wouldn't judge; he's not one for swimming either, evidenced by the fact that he's on this barren island himself. ]

If we scream and yell loud enough, somebody's gotta notice us sooner or later and send help. Bonus points if you know smoke signals.

[ghoulserrand]

...I can't shout... very loud.

[He says, in his still raspy voice. He looks at his hands.]

... I should've looked for matches...

[Shoulda, coulda.]

[suddenlybees]

Hm, well, I guess it's up to me, then! But you should pitch in what you can too! C'mon, what d'you got in your pockets? There's gotta be something useful in there we can use!

[ What does he have on him, Kano's nosy ]

[ghoulserrand]

[He reaches into the pocket of his hoodie. From there, he pulls out a rope.]

Just this... and a piece of paper. Important to me. But the rope... maybe?

[He doesn't know how a rope would help in this situation but he's willing to hear Kano out.]

[suddenlybees]

Ooh, a rope is probably the most useful thing we can have!

[ A rope is something he can definitely use; he holds both hands out for it. How long is it? how thick? ]

And I guess we can burn the paper for our smoke signal. Hope it's not anything important— our survival's important too, though, you know?

[ghoulserrand]

[The rope is tied up with itself to fit in the hoodie pocket but it's decently long when unraveled. Thinner than the rope for a boat but thick enough to be sturdy. It was useful for trapping. He hands it over.

The other suggests gets a shake of his head.]

Too important. Can't ruin it. Too small... anyway.

[suddenlybees]

[ He holds it out from end to end as much as he can, like a skipping rope, to see its length before winding it back around one hand to place inside his own hoodie pocket. Good. ]

Something written on it? You're better of just memorizing it, then, 'cause of all the water and sheep and whatever. I can help! What's it say...

[ghoulserrand]

No.

[He says it firmly, shaking his head. He tilts it then.]

What are you doing... with the rope?

[suddenlybees]

[ Fine... Plan B is to wait until the guy falls asleep and steal that piece of paper and rise getting his eye poked out with an arrowhead. ]

Hm? Safekeeping. In case you, like, zap away in the middle of our project or something. 'sides, you're going to need your pockets empty to gather up as many dry branches and twigs as possible— Meet you back here in ten!

[ghoulserrand]

What? [Hang on.] No... I need that...! For hunting...! I need it back home... I need it here...! It should be... kept safe with me.

[Double hang on. He steps back a moment with the realization, then gestures.]

You have pockets...!