Who is She?

Two days pass, and the attackers didn't break any term, so far. Things were looking up for the tribe. Maybe we can actually pull this off.

Alina was running, running, running as fast as she could, aiming at self-made targets and hitting them all. Chan was behind her, not as fast, but he was close. "You'll have to try harder if you're going to catch me," laughed Alina.

"We both know I would have already caught you if it weren't for that Mirakuru!"

She raced up a tree and called to him, "Is that an attempt to insult me?"

"Maybe, Lina. Maybe!"

She laughed from a high branch and said, "I'll make a deal with you: if you can climb up here, you win."

"Up there? But I..."

"Do you accept?"

He sighed, "Fine. If I win you have to call me 'Chief' for the week!"

"Deal, Chief," she giggled, "And if I win, you let me braid your hair." She sat herself on the branch and started swinging her legs, watching Chan wrap his arms around the tree trunk. He was almost there but had a small situation, "Come on, Lina! I can't jump like that! It's too far!"

"Chan can't jump that far!? Didn't your mother call you monkey boy?"

"Yes, but I've I never done this!"

She stopped swinging her legs and stood up on the thick branch, "Okay then, if you can reach my hand," she bent down, "I'll count it as you win."

He thought a bit and nodded, "Deal. You better catch me."

He gripped the next branch to propel himself up. Taking deep breaths, he flung himself towards Alina's outstretched arm.

Heart beat...

She barely caught him as he yelped, and he was dangling from her hand. She heaved him up beside her. They sat down on the branch and caught their breaths. Finally, Chan smiled, breath still heavy, "I win."

Alina laughed, "Alright, Chief Chan."

"You can still braid my hair if you want."

She beamed, "Really?"

"Really. I mean, you did most of the work, anyway."

They laughed. Alina put her head on his shoulder as they watched the waves from afar. She lifted her head suddenly. What's that? A... a boat?

"Chan. There's something there," she pointed to the small raft that slowly drifted closer to the shore.

They climbed down swiftly, pulled up their hoods and tightened their quivers around their backs. They stuck to the trees and kept low to the ground. Chan stopped ahead of Alina and looked closer at the seemingly empty raft. Alina saw it before he did and readied her bow as she passed the tree line silently. Something moved.

"Lina," he hastily whispered. He followed her cautiously, readying his bow as well.

A hand shakily grasped the edge of the raft. Such a small hand. A dark mess of hair rose above the edge, coming into view of the archers. Cough cough.

The castaway struggled to get up and still hadn't seen the two. She dropped and coughed, too weak to even sit up. Alina stood over her, hood masking her eyes. The castaway's eyes were closed as she breathed heavily. Her eyes then slid open slightly, and she started at the mysterious figure standing over her.

Alina pulled back her bowstring, watching closely the sudden movement of the castaway. She stated with a firm tone, "Do not try anything, stranger. I can end your life as quickly as you picked up that stone in your hand."

She dropped the stone. Alina asked, "Who are you? And how did you come here?"

"My ship went down... a long way from here. I don't... I don't know if... anyone surv...survived other than me."

Alina bent down to her level, angling her head to show her eyes slightly, "What is your name?"

The stranger kept her head down, looking up only with her eyes, still unsure of her captors, "Raven. Raven Hayley."

"Do you know where you are, Raven Hayley?"

"Um... somewhere near China? We went down in the China Sea..."

"Near China... yes. But this island is the furthest from civilization you could ever be."

Alina dropped her bow on the sand and pulled back her hood. Chan stayed her hand, but she simply looked at him. He let go. Alina tilted her head, looking at the girl, "I am Alina Chen. My father is the chief here. Perhaps I can help you, Raven Hayley."

"Help? How?"

"One came here 6 years ago. One lost and alone like you. I helped him, so I will help you. As long as you keep the stone throwing to a minimum."

"How should I know you aren't tricking me?"

Chan answered, hood still up, "Trust me. If she wanted to kill you, she would have already."

"Come, Raven Hayley. Can you walk?"

"Hopefully."

Alina dragged Raven to her feet and swung an arm around her shoulder. She whispered to Chan, "Zhēng dà nǐ de yǎnjīng (keep your eyes open)."

He nodded.

They began the return to camp. They were on the other side of the island. This trip would usually take only a day, but with their new traveller who could barely walk, they were looking at at least three days out there. By nightfall, they reached a small cave that was used in case of travelers getting caught in a storm. Alina let Raven down against the wall of the cave. Chen tightened his quiver and said as he exited, "I'll go hunt. Get a fire going."

Alina gathered dried leaves and sticks and made a small fire in the center of the cave. The cave was small enough for Raven to feel the heat on her skin. The archer sat across from her on the other side of the fire. Her hood was still up as she fiddled with a knife. Raven wondered why do they where hoods all the time? There isn't anyone here.

"We hunt, so we need to cover our bodies with the colors of nature. Also, there are, in fact, people here... just not the best kind of people," Alina smiled after she pulled back her hood, revealing long, blonde braids. Raven's eyes widened, "I... I didn't say..."

"No, you didn't... not out loud."

"Yes... but then how..."

"It's a long story," she mused, "One for another time."

"I've read books with telepaths and mind-readers, but I didn't think they were real! I've learned much these past 5 years."

"5 years? What happened to you in the past 5 years?"

"A story for another time," Raven laughed.

Alina smiled and shook her head, "How are you feeling?"

"I'll be better tomorrow."

"Yes, but, mentally."

Raven looked down, remembering something that Alina couldn't see... she only felt fear, anger and regret.

"You shouldn't bury negativity, Raven. You don't have to share with me whatever reasons for your pain but don't keep it inside."

Alina stood up and sat closer to Raven who drew her knees towards her chest. Raven kept her eyes at the fire and said, "Let's just say that I have bad experiences with other archers."

Chen returned with three fish, each with arrows through them, "Dinner."