The Phoenix Colony

ahh damn, someone get rid of this post please

 

Pasha growled under his breath. His irritability rising from the pounding of his head. He wasn’t in the mood for this. He stopped.

“I just got here. I haven’t done a thing, Viva. Maybe you’re hallucinating? Did you eat any of that blue, strawberry fruit?” he asked, his eyes concerned, “Does it look like I’m in any condition to attack someone right now, and even if I had. When I attack, I don’t go little. You’d all be hurt.”

“You sure I didn’t have another attack?” he asked in the back of his mind.

“Pretty sure…”

 

Viva grabbed her head. It hurt all of the sudden, and she wanted nothing more than to go violent.
"I ate no berries. This happened."
"Calm down. You didn't hallucinate. Everyone else saw this too, right?"
I think so.
"I think something's going wrong with you. Like with Raylene. Say, try to imagine something else."
Like?
"Michael Jackson jumps into the cave!"
Like that's gonna happen!
"If it does, then you'll know what's causing this."
Viva closed her eyes, and then thought about it. Michael Jackson in the cave, in his white suit. Glittery collar and red lips. She opened her eyes, and gasped.
"I am definitely going crazy!"
She screamed, finding Michael Jackson dancing his break dance steps in the cave. She tugged Pasha, asking frantically:
"Can you, can you see that?"

 

Pasha couldn’t help but laugh, as he gave a wave to the figure in the cave. His shoulders lost their tention, and his anger became reluctant.

“I don’t even know what to say to that.” He said. He looked down at her as he remembered that night they had sat by the fire, skinning the rabbit. He remembered the Restaurant and the lamb dinner. Most of all he remembered the gown she had been in.

“You should dress up more.” He repeated to himself. He shook it off, and let himself fall to the ground. He definitely wasn’t in the shape to really care anymore.

 

Michael Jackson's face disappeared, but she could hear his song in her head - a song she had probably never heard in consciousness. She shrugged it off, looking at everyone in embarrassment.
"I think he has a point. Something...something is weird about this place."
She then fell down to her knees, tugging Pasha.
"Sorry. I was confused."

 

Pasha bent closer to her, giving her a wink.

“We all get that way sometimes. No matter.” He lifted himself up, his back cracking on it’s way. He winced, but quickly let it go.

He then looked at the others, his eyes looking them over.

“It was… good times.” He lied. He knew he wouldn’t care what happened to them when he left, that was just his nature. It had been a miracle that he had become so close with his love. He smiled at her, and looked back at the group.

“I’m leaving…” he said, “There is no reason for me to stay anymore.” He turned to Viva, wrapping his large hand around her small one.

“You’ll come with me, right?”

 

“You’ll come with me, right?”
"I know she'll tell you I'm the one for her, 'cause she said I blow her mind..."
Like I have a choice.
Viva nodded, and looked back at her fellow cave-people.
"It was nice knowing you all!"
She smiled, and then giggled. Her head ached very badly, but she needed to get her mind off the singer in her head. She went forward and hugged all of them, and then looked back at Pasha.
"I guess we should get started, otherwise it'll be dark."
"Heal the world, make it a better place, for you and for me and the - "
GAH!

 

The stranger jumped. “Who … who are you?”

Cevin sighed. “By the looks of you, I’m the only thing keeping you from a quick death. I gotta ask, why are you a sandwich for the horn apes yet?”

A steady stream of blood ran from the stranger’s nose. He mumbled something.

“Here,” said Cevin while digging in a pouch, “stuff these roots up your nose. It’ll burn like hell, but it should stop the bleeding. Now mind telling me why you are still standing upright?”


The stranger looked straigt at Cevin. His eyes were almost completely black. “Sometimes they look normal. Sometimes like this. Lately they stay all black at night. I can see as well in the dark as you can in the day. It’s kinda easy to see the things coming and just get out of there way. I’m a bit small for a full meal, so they usually take off after something else. As for the rest,” he shrugged, “I’ve been lucky.”

“So what’re you going to do about the snow?” Asked Cevin.

“What snow?”

“Can’t you smell it in the air?”

The stranger shook his head.

“Come on, my camp is just past that crop of trees.”

The stranger shook his head. “Can’t be, I just came that way and there’s nothing but overgrown bushes and thorn branches.”

Cevin smiled. “Can you think of a better disguise? Come on, you made it this long, I bet with some help you could actually be a halfway decent hunter. ” He shook the stranger’s hand. “Cevin.”

“Owen.”

 

Fox stands and says "Hey Pasha wait for second. Look I know you probably just think of me as a bossy b****, but I want you to know that I am really greatful for all you have done for us. Thank you Pasha, I really mean that." She then goes over to Raylene and hugs her, "Raylene, it'll be okay, we'll get through this."

Britney opens her eyes to see the reaction of the flame. She takes a couple of deep breaths to calm down as the flame returns to its original shape. "I'm sorry. For like the last day or so, fire just seems to react to me."

 

Pasha managed a smile but said nothing as he backed away from the group. He didn’t know if he’d miss it. Though, he knew he’d miss the safety of numbers, but he couldn’t take the instability anymore. It was time to move on. He tossed the bird back over his shoulder, the feathers brushing past his face. He grasped Viva’s hand, and looked down at her with an unsure smile. He gave a shiver, as he noticed a small snowflake fall onto his hand. It instantly melted from the warmth of his body. He frowned, knowing they wouldn’t be able to make jackets for a while, they would probably have to rely on fire until they could.

They took off, headed towards the mountains, staying pretty near to the forest. They would need the firewood, and they would need to hunt. Furs and food were a must.

 

Cevin and Owen walked out from the tree line.

"Home sweet home," said Cevin.

"DOn't think I'm not grateful, but it's just a mess of leaves and stuff. There's nothing here."

Cevin pushed a few heavy rocks away revealing several thick strips of animal hide. He wrapped the strips around his hands and began slowly moving back. Most of the branches and leaves moved with him.

Owen stared. "What the ...."

"I found a few dead apes when the ship crashed. Pretty big ones too. Skinned them, dried the skins, and began sowing leaves and branches to them. It makes a pretty good cameoflage. Home is down there," Cevin said while pointing to a big crack in the bedrock. There is a small cavern down there. The opening is big enough for a man to squeeze through. If we make a fire and put it right over the opening, the smoke won't be too bad. Rain water tends to gather in a few depressions down there. I've been saving it."

"But how do you cover up the hole?"

"Just grab all the edges of the hide as you go down. It pretty much hides the hole without blocking it. Come on, I'll give you the grand tour."

 

They continued forward for a while, silence between then both as they seemed caught in their thoughts. The cold hadn’t started getting to Pasha just yet, he knew it would soon enough. He knew he’d have to find a shelter soon, before the snow really started. He frowned, wrapping his hand tighter around Viva’s hand. He gently swung their hands back and forth, as he playfully nudged her with his hip. She nudged back, and he laughed, but it quickly ended.

He almost wished he had stayed now, but he knew mentally, he couldn’t do it anymore. Maybe even if they did freeze tonight, it would all be worth it in the end. It would be much easier taking care of two, then it would be 8. There would be less argument, and he could start planning for the furture, and maybe making better weapons. He knew spears would—

He stopped mid-thought, as he realized there was the echo of voices not far off. He slowed his breathing, and crouched low as he walked slowly, getting closer to the sound. He stopped when he hit the dead end, the voice almost sounded like it was coming in from under some brush. He looked at Viva puzzled when he started to call out.

“Anyone in there?” he yelled. He kind of laughed to himself, wondering if he was having one of his attacks again. Reality never made sense anymore.

 

"You hear that?" said Owen. "What do we do?"

"Oy! Down here!" screamed Cevin while reaching for a long horn he kept on his belt. "Watch your step on the rocks they're kinda slippery."

"Are you crazy? WHat if they try and kill us?"

"I don't think killers would ask if anyone was home. If if looks like something bad is about to go down ill the fire. It'll be pitch black in here, you should be able to sneak out."

"WHat about you?"

"I can take care of myself kid."

 

Pasha heard the voices, and bent lower feeling around at the brush. He soon realized it wasn’t just brush, but a skin. He moved it to the side, and looked down at what appeared to be an underground cave. He kind of smiled at his stupidity, it made sense now. He hauled himself through the small crack, the painful talon marks on his back touching the bottom. He grimaced, his feet trying to keep stable as he managed his way down the slippery rocks. He looked up as Viva came down after him. He grabbed her hand, and helped her down.

He looked at both of the men with an awkward glance.

“Thanks, it was getting pretty cold out there.” He muttered. He sat down next to the fire, with Viva on his arm. He warmed his cold hand, placing his stick just inches from his side. The bird was placed in front of him as he glanced at the men again.

“I’m Pasha, and this is Viva… who are you?”

 

Frank waved up three of his men, peering through the bushes. They came to his side and saw what he was watching. A big guy and a girl standing in front of a bunch of rocks. His eyes gleamed as one of them called, "Anyone in there."

"Sir, what do we do?" asked one, already brandishing his axe.

"We wait, that's what you dumb bastard now keep your voice down," he whispered. "There's a camp somewhere in those rocks, I mean it's too perfect, surrounded by brush, appearing unlivable, there clever alright."

Another of the men looked at him and said, "So we just let them close up, huh? That aint like you sir."

"Speak proper English jackass, you have a brain and a tongue don't you?" scowled Frank. "Besides, where are they going to go?"

 

THe hunter stepped foward. "The name's Cevin. My friend's Owen." Cevin put the horn back into his belt.

Owen lifted up a hand in a half hearted wave.

Cevin swept a hand across the cavern. "This is home. Not much to look at but, there is frsh water in those hollowed out skulls, a stack of fire wood, and a couple of furs for blankets. They won't be the most comfortable, but they should help keep you warm. A little bit of advise - heat up a few of the larger stones and put them under your shirts, you'll stay warmer that way."

Owen stood next to the hunter. "So how do we know you guys aren't going to cut our throats in he middle of the night?"

 

Pasha couldn’t help but laugh at such a straightforward.

“I suppose taking my word won’t help you sleep comfortably?” he asked.

“Of course not dear, you’re a mass murderer.” He heard his mother voice say. He let out a shiver, still not use to her presence.

“No worries there, I don’t kill anyone that isn’t an enemy.” His hands went to the bird in front of him, as he pulled on the tail. He took out two of the largest feathers, atleast 24 inches long. He tossed them and let them land with a gentle glide not far from the two men.

“It’s odd, almost like a metallic green. I’m sure this bird will taste just fine, but the feathers might be useful for something. I’d be willing to share it with everyone.”

He slowly began to pull of all the feathers, and place them in a pile next to himself.

 

Cevin looked at Owen. "You can't argue with food. Hell, he brought us an entire dinner, that's good enough for me."

Owen shifted some rocks with his foot. "I guess so."

The hunter clapped him on the shoulder. "That's the spirit. Hell, if people were less trusting Owen, you'd still be bleeding in a field. Pasha, you can put those feathers anywhere you want. I think there are a couple of empty sacks in the corner. I have some grubs we can eat also. They don't look to good but kinda taste like lemons. Either way, good protein.

"So what brought you guys out on a day like this?"

 

Fox looks out of the cave and sees some snow falling. She stands and says "Hey guys, I'll go get us some fire wood. It looks like we'll be needing it shortly."

She stands and starts to leave the cave, thinking "I'm glad I grabbed one of the cloaks earlier."

She goes into the woods and begins to collect some sticks and twigs. She thinks "Whoever trashed our cave, will pay dearly for it."

She comes back into the cave and places the wood in the circle of rocks. She takes two of the rocks and hits them together to create sparks. The sparks create a small fire in the wood.

 

Derek and Reva didn't talk much, mostly taking time to be calmed by the stream. Snowflakes had begun to drift down and then Reva remembered her spear. She talked Derek into going back for it with her, thinking that she had dropped it near the bodies.

After retrieving it, they came back through the woods quietly, the snow thicker now, and Reva thanked him.

It was time to re-enter the cave. She was being rude by not enjoying Chad's tribe's hospitality.

She went in, the firelight making the space glow after the cold gray of evening, and stepped over Ben's sprawled legs. He seemed to be fine, breathing deeply, dead to the world.

 

Pasha nodded, getting up slowly as his back gave another painful crack. He grabbed one of the sacks, sitting back next to the fire. He lifted the pile of feathers he had already plucked and put them in. He went back to work the bird which was still only half-way done.

“Our camp wasn’t doing so well… a lot of us didn’t get along.” He started, “Then, while I was getting attacked by our dinner, our camp got destroyed. So… I thought it would be best to part ways with the others.”

He finished cleaning off the bird, he began to section it off. He placed it in various areas around the hot rocks, the smell of the cooking bird all ready coming in wafts to his nose.

“So, I must ask… what do you think the likelihood of us surviving on this planet is?”

 

Britney sits there, making sure not to get emotional again, so that the fire doesn't react to her. She looks over and sees Reva entering the cave.

"Hey Reva, I hope you're feeling better. Please, come and sit down. Some good food will help all of us to relax a little." says Britney.

 

Cevin sat by the fire and thought long and hard. His fingers were beginning to itch again. He could have to change something soon. "We have food, water, shelter, and air. As long as there aren't too many curve balls, I think we could do it. But the planet is ... it's changing me - Owen too. He can see in the dark and I can ... how can I put this ... change things. I can't control when it happens and I'm learning to control what they change into. SO we have some advantages so yea, I think we can make it.

"Sorry to sound like a fart in church, but what about you two? How have you changed?"

 

When Derek returned to the cave with Reva, he was exhausted. It had been a long day, and all he wanted was to get some rest. He walked through the woven door to feel a blasting of heat, stored up in the cave and very pleasant after standing in the cold with only his wifebeater. He walked over to where he had forgotten his cloak, went to a private corner of the cave, and went to sleep, hoping no more arguments popped up.

 

Ben awoke with a nasty headache and two small burns on his chest. He could feel them, they felt bad, but at least he felt his mind clearing up a bit. "Christ, what's wrong with me," he muttered as he sat up. "I need to calm down, I need to chill." Thats when the idea struck him.

He pulled off his shoelaces, noting the bloody hole in the top of one of them, and tangled them up into a little ball. Setting it on the ground he got to his knees and grabbed a little stick from the fire. Bringing the tiny flame to the little ball of lace he set it on fire and tossed the twig back. "Ya, this is pretty bad, but it's all I have." he whispered, cupping his hands over his mouth and bringing it down to the tiny fire. Sucking in and lifting up his head a tiny bit of black smoke escaped his mouth.

He felt his mind relax. He went in for another hit and all his problems seemed smaller. He hit it for all it was worth until the flame died and the laces stopped smoking and sat back, laughing a little. "You know, I haven't smoked up since High School, well, if you don't count a couple of "special" Cuban fatties I like to have every now and then"