The Phoenix Colony

Britney wakes up in Chad's cave. Its pretty dark. She walks over to where the fire was burning, to see that nothing but embers remained.

"I wonder." think Britney. She puts her hands over the embers and concentrates on them. They get hotter and eventually reignite into fire. When the cave lights up again, she looks over to see Reva standing at the entrance.

She walks over and says 'We should probably be getting home. It would probably be best if we waited until after sunrise, though."

 

The cave brightened and Reva turned to see Britney somehow bring the fire up again. It burned merrily for a few minutes before subsiding back to embers again for lack of new fuel.

'We should probably be getting home. It would probably be best if we waited until after sunrise, though."

"Don't know if I'm going back," Reva didn't want to upset the girl and she went back to looking out at the snow, "I think I like it here."

 

Fox wakes up to the sound of Raylene asking her to look for Brit and Reva. "Alright, fine me and you will go looking. Hey, Juliano, keep an eye on the place while we're gone." says Fox.

The puts on the cloak that she had been using as a blanket. "Man am I glad that I took this thing with me while I went out." thinks Fox.

Fox goes to the entrance and says "Well come on Raylene. Britney went to the left of the entrance, so we should search in that direction first."

 

Britney was stunned to hear her answer. "But you've been with us ever since the crash, you can't just abandon us know. Look I know things got a little crazy, but that doesn't mean that you should just leave." says Britney.

She stops for a few seconds and then says "Well if that is what you really want I can't stop you, but you should atleast tell Fox, Raylene and the others that you're leaving the tribe."

 

The snow is thick and there is a brisk breeze that cuts to the bone. The cloaks didn't help much, at all. Walking through the snow takes quite a bit of effort and Raylene tires quickly. The only thing that keeps her going is the thought of Reva frozen in a snow bank. She has to save her. She climbs a snow drift and trips going down the other side. The ends up going down face first and is stopped by a deep furrow through the snow. Clawed foot prints join the furrow.

"These look like the tracks we saw when Reva found Allen."

 

Fox looks at the tracks. "You're right. If Raylene was quick enough to get away from a ceader, then this thing probably didn't get her. Britney should have stayed close to the mountain so she would have went into a cave if something this big was out here at the time. So they should be safe." says Fox as she helps Raylene stand back up, "We shouldn't stay still while out in a snow storm."

 

Fox helps Raylene to her feet and they stumble through the snow. The only sound is the crunch under their feet. Raylene loses track of how far they have walked, but is thankful for the white trail back to their cave, should they wind up lost. They finally come through a clearing and see a mesh of green, shrouded in white, covering the entrance to a cave.

Raylene cautiously stands near the doorway and whispers. "Reva, Britney, are you in there?" She's shaking from the cold and fear of who might be on the other side.

 

Britney hears Raylene say "Reva, Britney, are you there." She opens to door to see Fox and Raylene standing there. "Get inside before you guys end up getting sick. What are you two thinking coming out into a snow storm at this time of morning?" says Britney.

 

"You didn't come home. We were worried." Raylene's teeth chatter. The cold consumes her. She pulls the cloak around her shoulders tighter around her body.

"Britney, someone destroyed our camp. They ruined everything and polluted our water source. It's unlivable. All of our belongings are gone. Cull, Juliano and Cody are still there. We had to come find you."

 

"What! I can't believe someone would attack our cave. Damn it. Hey wait a second, what about Viva and Pasha. Aren't they still at the cave." says Britney.

"No. They left. Its partially my fault that the cave was attacked, I should have put someone on guard duty." says Fox.

"Fox it isn't your fault. Oh and we might end up with another person leaving the tribe." says Britney as she points to Reva, "Reva is thinking about leaving us. Maybe you guys can help me to convince her to stay."

 

"I think we all have to leave that cave. We can't stay there anymore. We have to find another one. Besides, someone is out there trying to destroy everything, I think we are safer in numbers. Who did you find here? Can we stay with them?"

 

"Well there's Chad, who was one of the other guards. Also there's Kat, Derek, Ben, and Allen." says Britney.

"I'm suprised that one of the other guards managed to survive. Also I'm glad you found Allen, there is something I wanted to talk to him about. I'm not sure we should stay with this group. It will be a good idea to work with them, but between both groups, it would be a lot of people staying inside of one cave. We should look for a cave that is very close by and stay there." says Fox.

 

Viva had spent the majority of her time from leaving the cave to meeting those men in utter silence. It was totally against anything about her - she was a chatterbox, mainly because she couldn't stay without being friendly, even if it's just an act. She loved to express some part of her - at times she adored silence, at other times she respected conversation. She couldn't hold her mouth shut easily, but she had to. For one, she couldn't concentrate on what the men said or even what Pasha said. Her head was cluttered. She had almost learned ten songs in one night, a record for her.

"I wanna rock with you (all night), dance you into day (sunlight), I wanna rock with you (all night), we're gonna rock the night away..."
"'Cause this is thriller, thriller night, and no one's gonna save you from the beast about to strike, you know it's thriller, thriller night, you're fighting for life inside a killer, thriller..."
"Speechless, speechless, that's how you make me feel, though I'm with you I am far away and nothing is for real..."

Other reasons came along when she started getting a headache and decided not to strain herself by talking. Plus, she wasn't done deciding whether she should be the drug addict with her new group, or the singer, or something new. She wanted to be a drug addict, but with Michael in her head she would probably be considered a hallucinogen addict. By morning she had hardly caught any sleep, even the soothing songs Michael sang gave her shivers. And so, she decided to confront him. Around dawn, she got up and walked out of the protection of her cave-like abode. Outside, there was a thick layer of snow. She loved snow and rain, and she quickly climbed out despite her inadequate clothing. She started to enjoying the shivers and numbness down her spine, when suddenly her mind became cluttered once again.

"But you are not alone, for I am here with you, though we're far apart, you're always in my heart..."
Viva slammed her head against the snow, screaming:
"Come out you idiotic singer!"
"You know, they respect me for my singing from where I come."
Michael Jackson came out, grooving as he stepped in. Viva blinked twice, and then decided to draw a pact.
"Look, I have many parts of my brain telling me what to do. It's not being crazy, it's just having a lot of imaginary voices in my head. But they shut up after a while. You - you are the most insolent imagination I've ever had!"
Michael Jackson giggled, and then said with a jerk on his neck:
"Look babes, you are the totally doggone singer ever!"
"Uhh, what?!"
Viva's jaw dropped down, and then she slapped her face.
"Could you speak normal for once?"
"Normalcy is just a name for boring insanity, honey!"
Viva sighed, and then said pleadingly:
"Just...don't sing all the time. Please, you give me an headache. Look who just walked in the place, dead and stuffy in the face...gah, I'm singing your songs!"
Michael Jackson started some salsa, saying:
"You got some voice babes. We should sing once in a while."
Viva pointed in midair, ordering:
"When I'd like to, I'll give you a call. Now leave."
"I can do that lovely. Though, if your boyfriend doesn't mind, you owe me a kiss for singing to you all night."
Viva made an angrier face, and Michael disappeared.
"Great...now he's singing to me. Thanks for nothing Viva."
He is one flirt.

 

Smith sat up. He had been listening quietly to the talking. "It will be cramped but you can stay as long as you want as long as no one else minds." He invited them, a kind smile on his face. "I want to exspand from here, a good strong wall, and maybe some crude huts, just because we're stuck here doesn't mean we shouldn't live comfortably." He said and smiled at the strangers. Joey woke up, he had been curled at his side. Smith tried to remember who had been on the last gaurd shift as he looked at the fire. He glanced to a small pile of wood, not much left. He got up and threw a few small logs onto the fire, they'd need to gather more today. He blew on the embers and the dry wood caught fairly easily.

 

A cold breeze woke Owen up. As he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, he looked around the cavern. Cevin and Pasha were still sleeping. Pasha’s friend … what was her name? Viva, yes that was it. Viva had already left. Owen wrapped his fur tightly around his body and slowly stood up. His left knee popped painfully. “Damn, I’m getting old,” he said. His voice echoed across the cavern. Vision blurred for a moment and the dark shadows in the back of the cavern were no longer there. “Is that another opening?” He smiled at the thought he’d discovered something Cevin the great tattooed hunter had missed.

Owen grabbed a thick stick and began scrapping the animal fat from around the fire, just as Cevin had taught him. He dropped the shavings into a hollowed out ape skull. He looked over at the sleeping hunter. “Where the heck did you get all these skulls? We haven’t been here that long?

“I found where they leave their dead,” said Cevin without opening his eyes. “If you get up and out just when the sun is about to break, you can pick through the bodies without being bothered. If you want to be a hunter, you need to get up a lot earlier.”

“Oh really, then why am I up and you are still lying down? Huh smart guy?”

Cevin rolled on his side. “Cause I was already up and out while the rest of you were still dreaming of life on Earth. Do you know you talk in your sleep?”

“I do not.”

“Whatever.”

Owen nodded toward the back of the cavern. “You know there’s another opening?”

“Where?” said Cevin suddenly interested.

“In the back of the cavern. My eyes changed again and suddenly it was right there.”

The hunter nodded. “So you are useful. Yup, glad I saved you,” said Cevin as he rolled over and went back to sleep. He knew about the other opening and had blocked it up a while back, but let the newbie feel special for a while.

 

Allen woke up to the sound of voices.

"It will be cramped but you can stay as long as you want as long as no one else minds."

He was about to open his mouth and say that he minded, he minded a lot, but then he changed his mind. This would be a good oportunity to...wait, the other one could read minds. He instantly started humming a tune in his mind, "Fifty seven days: Yorktown." Hopefully she could only hear the thoughts you were thinking, not what's behind them.
"For seven long days did the battle rage on

From the setting of the sun to the light of dawn,

And smoke and fire did fill the sky.

In the rules of war, good soldiers die!


Would he be able to get a chance to get back at Xare?


And the battle goes on from shore to shore,

And a thousand cannons flare and roar.

They shake the earth and sear the sky.

At the end of day, more soldiers die.



For seventeen days did the battle rage on...

For twenty-seven days did the battle rage on...


At least he wasn't tied down this time, he could fight back if anything happened.

Soldiers live by rules of war,

As soldiers always have before.

Drums and trumpets sound the call.

At the end of day, more soldiers fall.



They fall on the left and they fall on the right.

They fall in the day and they fall at night.

They fall alike, both young and old,

Till friend and foe lie still and cold.



For thirty-seven days did the battle rage on...

For forty-seven days did the battle rage on...



Fifty-seven days! fifty-seven days!

Good soldiers die."



He just sat there and watched, hoping to see an opportunity.

 

Viva walked back into the cave of a thing, watching her steps. She could feel movement, therefore tried not to act suspicious.
"I think drug addict will do nicely."
Okies. But Pasha will notice it.
"You can tell him that you're just being careful."
Fine.
She made a sulking face and walked to the two awake men.
"Mornin'."
Her voice was bland and disconcerting.

 

Cevin waved and pulled the furs back over his head.

Owen smiled brightly. "Good morning Viva, did you sleep well? Your buddy is still asleep." He extended his hand. "Welcome to our little group. SO how is it outside?"

 

Pasha’s mind woke up before his body even attempted to move. The argument had stopped just before he had finally fell into a slumber, but he couldn’t stop thinking that there had been other voices. Was he hearing things now? He really hoped so. More voices would mean the death of him. Though, he was almost positive telling the others the truth would kill him first. He probably looked crazy now.

“You—“ Yuri started, but he was quickly stopped with a cough from his mother.

His body finally nudged him to get up, as he became restless. His eyes fluttered open, and he lifted himself from the hard ground. His back for once was feeling better, the aching no longer there. He looked over at Viva, and gave her a smile. His eyes fell on the other two men.

“Morning.” He muttered. He stood up, and stretched out, his back gave a pop. He quickly grabbed some of the firewood, as his body took a jump. It was rather cold. He sat it in the dead fire, and took a match from his pocket. He quickly striked it, tossing the flame down on the wood. He bent low, and blew gently until it came into a steady flame.

He grabbed his stick from the ground and held the horn in his hand. He had never thanked the man.

“Thanks for the horn, it might come in handy.” He said.

 

Cevin mumbled something from beneath the furs.

Owen knelt by the fire and warmed his hands. He put some skulls packed with snow near the fire. "It's not tea, but it'll do. We need something to warm our bones. If only Mr. Magicfingers over there could make some whiskey appear, then we'd be in business."

The hunter stuck a hand out from the blanket. "How about this finger, is it magic enough for you? Now shhh, I'm sleeping."

 

It was too early in the morning for an argument. Reva let Britney's question go by, wondering how Fox and Raylene had gotten here so quickly through knee-deep snow when they didn't know where they were going and the cave mouth had to be somewhat camoflauged by snow. It was still before dawn and they had no tracks to follow.

"I want to expand from here, a good strong wall, and maybe some crude huts, just because we're stuck here doesn't mean we shouldn't live comfortably." Chad mentioned casually as he invited them to stay and poked life back into the fire.

Reva went back and sat cross-legged at the fire, wishing her stomach would settle.

"Huts might be dangerous in one of those storms we had," Reva replied, "remember how it smashed things before blowing them straight into the air? Whatever you build had better be strong."

 

Pasha gave a laugh, as he thought hard. He needed to make those spears, he knew he needed a better tool for hunting. He looked at the horn in his hand, his finger going to the sharp end. It was pretty sharp, which gave him his idea.

“I can make spears, for all of us.” He said, “We could even use these horns instead of a pointed stone.” He crept closer to the fire, looking at the makeshift cups. Skulls, it gave him a smile. He’d never thought of that when he had been on the run.

“I’d just need to go get the other supplies… I just hope this snow doesn’t last too long. We’re not really dressed for this weather. I think I can handle it for maybe an hour though, I was born in much worse temperatures then this.”

 

"Huts might be dangerous in one of those storms we had," Reva replied, "remember how it smashed things before blowing them straight into the air? Whatever you build had better be strong."

Allen looked at Reva, and then back at Chad.

"You won't be able to build anything that can take one of those. I was in the canyon when the storm hit, and took shelter underneath an overhanging cliff. One of those things hit the top of it and made the whole side of the canyon collapse. I don't think that kind of thing happens very often though, or there wouldn't be any standing cliffs or caves at all. This is probably the safest place around."

With that he went back to watching Xare, her puppet, and the other woman.

 

"Good morning Viva, did you sleep well? Your buddy is still asleep." He extended his hand. "Welcome to our little group. SO how is it outside?"
"Terribly cold. I almost got frostbite. Sick cold."
She said and the yawned, looking over to Pasha with a wink.
"Ya two gonna do something constructive or must we all sulk? I mean, I know we're gonna die, but it might as well be clarified."
She groaned, sitting down with another yawn.

 

Cevin sat up and looked around. "Yea I guess we'd better get going. OK, so we have wood, some bugs and some edible roots. How should we divie up the tasks? Who wants to get what?"