Not expecting much due to the high humidity but not ready to climb back into the wet clothing, Ana decided this would be a good time to check on her wounds. Checking on the cut made by the goat first, she soaked the bandage off and was relieved to see the swelling had gone down even more. When she pinched the area, no pus and only a little blood oozed out. Opening the pack, Ana removed a soap sliver and carefully washed the entire area, rinsing thoroughly to remove any remaining lather. Leaving it open to the air for now, Ana reluctantly turned her attention to the rash.
The blisters were larger, and the worms were showing signs of being more active. Fighting her gorge, Ana awkwardly slipped the knife out of its sheath and rinsed it off, having to use her non-dominant hand. Leaning over, she cut a small branch and stripped it of its bark. Placing the piece of wood between her teeth, Ana cleaned the knife again, this time using a small amount of soap. Closing her eyes for just a moment, she reopened them, focused on the arm, and rapidly sliced the knife across the top of the blisters.
The pain caused her to bite down so hard on the branch it almost snapped. Tears sprang to her eyes and Ana had to fight to keep from toppling over. Leaning forward, she placed the entire arm in the water, using the edge of the knife to scrape the worms away. Lifting the arm, Ana wiped the knife down on a clean piece of gauze, then repeated the process, slicing off the tops of any missed blisters.
Ana had to repeat the process several times, having trouble maintaining an even slice, and ended up having to individually pop the remaining blisters. When she was sure they had all been opened and the worms removed, Ana lay back, dropping the now cleared arm into the water, and removed the stick from between her teeth. Placing the knife on the ground, she rolled sideways and used the other hand to cup water into her mouth, rinsing the splinters left behind from the damaged branch. Letting herself roll back, Ana closed her eyes and let the water wash over the open sores.
The pain when she had sliced the blisters had been almost unbearable. It lessened once the water started washing over them, but now the entire area burned, and a ferocious itch was taking hold. Removing her arm from the water, Ana sat up and looked at the rash. The skin was riddled with open sores, pink skin showing in the center of each. The entire area need a thorough cleaning and Ana fleetingly wished she had brought first aid ointments also. She pushed the regret aside, realizing it served no purpose to obsess over something she couldn’t control. Returning her concentration to the task at hand, Ana took the soap sliver and, using the last of it, made a thick lather. Carefully washing the area, she rinsed it clean and immediately covered it with a new piece of gauze, fighting tears of pain during the entire process. Ana fervently hoped there would be no need to use any more of the cotton squares, having only a limited supply to begin with and using them much faster than expected.
Binding the bandage with one of the strips, Ana shakily stood and stepped into the stream. Only wide enough for one foot at a time, she did her best to bathe using a second sliver of soap. When she felt unable to get any cleaner, Ana reluctantly climbed back into the wet clothes, then knelt at the stream’s edge. Hanging her head close to the water as possible, she proceeded to wash her hair, letting most of it dangle in the water to help rinse it clean. Once finished, Ana set about detangling the knots, re-braiding it when she could run her fingers through it unimpeded. Sitting back, she looked at Jax.
Jax had waited until Ana was done, then also climbed into the stream. Ana had been surprised the first time Jax had bathed. On the last trip here, she had never seen Jax enter the water and Jax had looked positively miserable when it rained. But on the first night in her new home, Ana had wanted to relax and decided to take a bubble bath. Jax had watched the entire process with interest, suddenly plopping in as Ana sunk to her neck in the lather. Jax had set about playing with the bubbles, ducking under the water after shaping the towering soap mounds into fantastical shapes. Ana had watched with amusement, then started flicking water at Jax, which Jax returned in kind, making Ana laugh hysterically. The entire bathroom had been flooded when the two finally finished and it had taken almost an hour to mop it up, but Ana didn’t complain, feeling happier than she had in a long time. From that point forward, she made it a point to make sure her companion bathed every week. Unfortunately for Jax, Ana often locked the little creature out when she wanted to soak in peace, needing the time alone to relax and think without any distractions.
Handing Jax a new soap sliver, Ana cautioned her friend to use it sparingly. Jax nodded, then washed completely, handing the soap back when she was done. The little creature then squatted at Ana’s side and set about grooming the wet fur.
“Feel better, furball?” Ana asked her companion when it was clear Jax had finished. Jax nodded happily, and Ana reached over and ruffled her friend’s little head.
“Good,” she continued. “Now it’s time for food. Is there anything edible around here?”
Jax looked around, then pointed back at the swamp.
“Thanks. I’d prefer something different than what we had last night,” Ana said. “Can you get it yourself or do you need my help?”
Jax’s reply was to tug on Ana’s leg, which encouraged Ana to follow her furry friend back to the larger body of water.
Jax set about pacing along the water’s edge, looking at something in the scum, but Ana couldn’t see anything other than algae and large lily pads with beautiful blooms in the center. It was obvious Jax didn’t want to enter the water, but unless Ana could figure out what the little creature was trying to retrieve, there was no way to help her.
Jax moved a little further down the swamp’s edge. Reaching out, the small creature attempted to reach one of the lily pads, almost falling in in the process. Ana grabbed her companion just in time and pointed to the lily pad, asking if that was what Jax was after. Jax nodded and mimed pulling the lily pad up and out. Ana nodded slightly and smiled in acknowledgment, then turned her head and gazed at the pad Jax had indicated.
Ana wasn’t too happy reaching into the water but if it was any sort of food, it had to be better than the brussels sprout things currently in the pack. Kneeling at the water’s edge, she glumly realized the pants were going to need another washing. Digging her toes in to anchor herself, Ana reached and grabbed hold of the lily pad, jerking it up and falling over in the process.
The pad pulled out much more easily than Ana expected, trailing several thick vines that ended in round nodules behind it. Setting the pad on the ground, she looked at Jax and asked if they needed more. Jax nodded, so Ana moved a little further down the bank, scanning the water until she found another pad close enough to grab. Planting her knees a little further apart to help maintain balance, Ana snagged another pad, using her arms instead of her entire body to haul it out when started to come loose. She continued this way, pulling out four more pads, sometimes having to wait for a snake to swim away.
When Jax indicated they had enough, Ana wiped her hands on her thighs and asked Jax what to do next. Jax tried to pick up one of the pads but it was almost as big as the small animal, causing Jax to stagger under the weight. Ana gently moved her companion out of the way and picked up all the pads, stacking them on top of each other and wincing when it put pressure on her shoulder.
Following Jax back to the little stream, she stumbled slightly under the weight, dropping the pads when they reached their previous spot. Ana flexed her shoulder to work out the cramp, wincing again when she reached overhead. The shoulder was healing but it was still weak and stiff. Ana was glad the injury wasn’t worse and flexed it again, settling on the ground besides Jax once her arm moved a little more easily.
Jax was methodically separating the sections of the pads. The little creature first removed the vines, which Ana assumed were roots, from the base of the pad. Next, Jax mimed having Ana cut the nodules off the bottom, laying them along the stream’s bank as they were handed back. The small animal then took each pad and removed any flower growing on it, discarding it befor
e tearing the pad itself into strips, which were placed next to the nodules. Finally, Jax peeled the vines, revealing a firm white flesh under the green outer skin, and those were placed next to the stream also.
Turning to face the water, Jax washed everything thoroughly, inspecting each piece to make sure no algae remained. Sitting back, the small creature turned back around and took a slice of pad, rolling it around the root like a burrito. Biting into it, Jax indicated Ana should do the same.
Following Jax’s lead, Ana made every attempt not to hesitate before biting into the wrap. When she finally worked up the courage to sample the makeshift wrap, Ana found that while the texture left a lot to be desired, the taste was worlds better than the berries. With a taste somewhat like spinach stuffed with potatoes, Ana greedily ate several before finally feeling full. Jax had also eaten quite a few, expertly rolling each one before consuming it. Ana sat back, fully intending to clean her pants again, when Jax handed her a nodule.
Jax’s eyes were alight with amusement. She looked at Jax warily, then at the nodule, and then back at Jax.
“Just so you know, furball,” Ana told her companion. “if this thing tastes like those brussels sprout berries, you are going for a swim. And not here, but there” Ana pointed at the swamp, a stern look on her face. Jax gazed back at Ana innocently, but her eyes danced merrily as she bit down on the nodule.
Ana steeled herself, not knowing what to expect. Jax’s sense of humor had been a surprise, giving a good indication as to how intelligent the little creature was. While Jax took direction literally, her companion had shown she could be mischievous when she wanted. It had delighted Niall and her father but irritated her mother no end. Ana wouldn’t have traded it for the world. Jax’s antics had bought some life back to both Niall and the household, which Ana had not realized had been missing until Jax made them all laugh on an almost daily basis.
Ana closed her eyes and took a tentative bite.
“Oh ho!” Ana’s eyes flew open and she scolded Jax, laughing to show she wasn’t serious. “Brat! You think you’re funny, don’t you? Just remember, furball. I don’t get mad, I get even!”
Ana was surprised at the taste, finding the nodule didn’t taste like a vegetable at all. It tasted more like spiced citrus and it was one of the most delicious things she had ever had. She would have eaten all of it, but Ana knew some of it should be saved some for their continuing trek. She also wanted to replace the berries currently residing in the pack, not sure she was ever going to be able to eat them again.
“Jax, hang on,” Ana said, reaching out to keep her friend from eating more than two of the nodules. “We’re staying the night but leaving first thing in the morning and I want to take as many of the lily pads with us as possible. I have no idea how far away the beach is and if we hit it tomorrow, it might be quite a while before we find food again.”
Jax nodded, pointing at the root and the nodules but pushing the pad itself away. Ana immediately understood that the pad would be no good after tonight.
Standing once more, Ana again removed her pants. She cleaned the muck off, vigorously scrubbing the stubborn areas, then put them back on, not liking the clingy wet feeling but not wanting to sleep on the ground in only her underwear. She cleaned up the remains of their meal, digging yet another hole and burying it all, including the berries. Jax looked a little forlorn at that, but Ana explained she wasn’t going to eat any more of them so if Jax wanted them, Jax had to figure out how to carry them. Jax looked sadly in the hole again, took two and popped them in her mouth, then helped Ana fill it.
Opening the pack, Ana removed the tally stick, notched it, and stored it away. Taking a short length of floss, she used two fingers to brush her teeth, then cleaned them thoroughly, disposing of the tape in another small hole she dug. Laying down, Ana tried to rest on the opposite side of the one with the rash, wincing at the slight pain it caused her shoulder. Curling into a ball with Jax nestled between her chest and legs, Ana did her best to get comfortable, knowing she needed to get some sleep. Unfortunately, it was a long time coming, causing Ana to spend most of the night staring into the darkness as she worried over her current situation.
5
Chapter 5
Week 1
Day 7
Ana contemplated the wall of green in front of her, trying to figure out how to get around it. She was currently looking at a curtain of vines that stretched as far to the left as she could see, hanging from the topmost tree branches and draping all the way to the jungle floor. The vines themselves varied in width, ranging from as thick as her thigh all the way down to as thin as her finger. They ran up to the water’s edge, continuing into the water itself, but only extending as far out as the overhang of the longest branch. Ana could see that the swamp itself soon became a forest of mangroves before emptying into the sea, although the vines did not seem to grow on the mangroves themselves. She had finally reached the beach and now had to figure out how to get to it.
Ana and Jax had followed the edge of the swamp for the last day and a half. The decision to follow this route had not been difficult since their only other choice was to head back into the jungle, something she was extremely reluctant to do. Ana hoped the swamp would eventually lead them to the shore, or at least further away from the dread that could still be felt whenever they had to skirt an obstacle and ended up re-entering the trees. The chosen path had also provided them with fresh water anytime they came across a stream, as well as a continuous supply of food, provided Ana could reach the lily pads to pull them out. She had thrown the tubers away when she discovered they were getting soft and mushy, not liking the way they smelled. When the roots had been held out to Jax, the little creature had pushed them away, disgust clearly written on her face. Ana took Jax’s actions as confirmation that they were no longer edible and disposed of the rotted tubers immediately. She had buried them along with the remains of last night’s meal and now only carried the roots and nodules from the lily pads they harvested.
The walk had been uneventful, with only the occasional snake or large centipede to cause them a delay. The only exception to the monotony occurred the night before last, when a giant turtle had launched itself out of the muck, heading straight at Ana when she approached the water’s edge. She had been trying to reach a lily pad and missed the slight lump in the mud, concentrating on grasping the pad without falling in the water. The turtle, which had shot out of the mud as if being jet propelled, was at least a foot and a half across and almost a foot tall. It resembled the turtles Ana had seen swimming in the canals back in Flaga, except for the fangs that hung down when it snarled. And the color, again, was not normal. This turtle sported a snow-white shell, but its body was neon yellow which glowed where the muck had slid off. Ana had hurriedly backed up, worried the turtle was going to give chase, but it had slipped back under the mud as soon as she was out of reach. From then on, Ana made sure to check the water’s edge before approaching, poking it with a long stick if one was available or passing it by if she was unsure of the way the ground looked.
Yesterday afternoon, the swamp’s edge appeared to begin a gentle turn to the right. Ana wasn’t exactly sure why she felt the waterline was curving, just an odd feeling that it no longer appeared to run relatively straight. She was not particularly good with directions, having never had to try and find anyplace without any sort of assistance, whether it be electronic of human. Unable to see the sun rise or set, Ana had no idea which direction was which, making it impossible to accurately tell if she was moving straight or travelling in circles. She hoped the assumption about the possible change in direction was correct, and that continuing along the edge would lead them if not to the beach, at least much closer to it.
The two of them had camped last night on the banks of another stream, Jax seeming content with the chosen location. The pair made two trips to the swamp, gathering as many lily pads as possible. Ana’s intuition was telling her they would reach the beach today and she wasn’t sure i
f they would be able to easily find food or water once they arrived. She wanted to make sure there were enough supplies to tide them over, allowing them to avoid entering the jungle unless absolutely necessary. Ana had stopped again this morning, pulling more lily pads, and making sure they both had eaten their fill before continuing on their way. She took the time to clean her sores thoroughly, finishing off a second sliver of soap in the process. The cut from the goat seemed to be healing nicely but the rash on her arm was not. It was weeping copious amounts of fluid and the itch, which was no longer ferocious but still intense, was proving to be a constant distraction. Ana had eventually removed her shirt and taken off the gauze since the fluid kept leaking through, forcing periodic stops to clean both the rash and the shirt, as well as eating into the dwindling supply of pads. The open air helped with the itching, but the weeping continued unabated. Ana had learned while back home that salt water could often help with sores and rashes, so she planned on bathing in the sea the minute she could.
The vines had appeared immediately after Ana had glimpsed the beach. She had not thought twice about them as vines were a normal feature of a jungle. Ana assumed she could just work her way through them, either by pushing them aside or slicing the smaller ones down. But like everything else here, these vines were unlike anything she had ever encountered. As Ana soon discovered.
When she had first glanced the beach, Ana had whooped for joy, scaring the snakes off their little islands, and causing the frogs to plop back in the water. Despite the urge to make a mad dash towards the sand, Ana had continued at a steady pace, the possible consequences of running full tilt towards the shore a constant reminder to take it slow. But there was a definite bounce in her step and her spirits had lifted considerably. She never hesitated, walking right up to them, and attempted to push them out of the way. The vines responded by becoming rigid, turning into an impenetrable wall. When Ana pushed harder, the vines seemed to push back. Not willing to allow something so easily overcome to keep her from her goal, Ana unsheathed the knife and attempted to slice one of the thicker ones. And that’s when things got interesting.
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