Chapter 4 - Making Use of the Available Debris

Despite all his efforts to obtain enough materials to put together a crude raft, Colton knew he was coming up short. Not only that, but whoever watched him was taking it to extremes, and he was becoming irritated.

It took Colton a few hours of wandering around to determine his next move. He also realized that if he took judicious breaks, he wouldn't lose his energy that easily. I must've gotten a concussion earlier when someone hit me in the back of the head.

Honestly, Colton was surprised that he was still alive. "I guess there really is an old saying, 'Only the good die young,' and I certainly don't qualify as good," he muttered ruefully as he looked around.

Colton knew how to gauge a somewhat accurate distance even from where he stood on the highest vantage point. "I'm probably about twenty to thirty miles from an inhabitable island." His goal was to avoid the critter-infested islands.

Colton sighed because he found doing all this work by himself rather enervating. "At least I have a goal to work toward." It was somewhat dispiriting to know that he was the only one busting his ass to get something done.

He had to make it to one of the bigger islands without being eaten by the critters on several bigger islands. Colton had already figured out what he wasn't about to do. "I'm not a good swimmer anyway. I'm better with other things, but swimming isn't one of my better skills." A sigh escaped him.

"Time to take another break." Colton knew he would have to quit for the night soon. "I just don't want my work to disappear or get trashed." He would rely on something other than merely swimming, which drained him of stamina he didn't have in huge supply.

Colton reflected on what he could and couldn't do and shook his head. "I guess it's a good thing that I began working on this a few hours ago." He set about using branches to make a small raft.

"I don't want this to become a useless venture if I forget something as basic as a set of oars." He also created some oars in the process.

"Meh, they survived, dammit." While doing that, Colton became aware of others watching him from a nearby cavern. "No doubt some creep is among those old farts." Just the idea of being ogled was enough to make him gag. "Geh, I'd better just not think about what they're doing in there."

Colton sighed. Even while unconscious, his brain had registered some of the earlier suggestions that entailed dumping him into rough waters. Fortunately, someone had been looking after his welfare. "I hope I can thank him at some point in time. "As for the others, they can just go to hell." He ignored them because he focused more on surviving than making lifelong companions.

At last, one of the men came out and joined him. Colton had noticed him peering out a couple of times. He had green hair and scarlet eyes. Wow, that's weird, but at least Colton wasn't getting that ick vibe from this dude, which relieved him quite a bit. That meant he wasn't the odd-ass stalker who stared at him earlier.

Therefore, Colton was fine with him approaching. It just meant they would have something in common to talk about later once they escaped from the island. Colton just hoped that the dude wouldn't require him to save the other peoples' asses along with theirs.

It took Kellen some time to gather the courage to approach Colton. He judged the best moment would be when Colton stopped to rest for the third time after tying several lengths of wood together to form some kind of crude craft.

Kellen studied what was in rough shape before he finally identified the concept behind the odd shape. His eyebrows rose with interest as he considered the implications before smiling in admiration.

So, it appeared Colton was trying to make a raft. Kellen mused about what it would take to accomplish it thoroughly and sighed.

That is interesting, but Colton was missing a few key elements. Kellen realized that he might need to walk around as well. He would go in a different direction and perhaps meet him somewhere halfway.

Then again, when he considered it, Kellen could have been a better scavenger. His luck was different from what one would call great; rather, it was abysmal when finding anything useful.

In whatever Colton scrounged, he could devise a sail and something else to steer the raft with. With that realization in mind, Kellen decided it was time to approach Colton before the day drew close.

"Hi, Colton Malta. It has been quite a long time." Kellen walked toward him, arms out in plain view at his sides. He didn't want Colton using him as target practice.

Now, all Kellen could do was wait and see how Colton would react to him speaking so casually and informally. It didn't take him long to get a reaction from Colton.

Colton paused to turn and regard Kellen warily. "I thought I recognized your voice." At last, a genuine smile crossed his face. "However, I didn't expect you to resemble some kind of reptile either." He extended his hand to Kellen. "How have you been doing?"

Kellen didn't take the reptile remark as an insult. "Hmm, I could be doing a lot better." He understood Colton's apparent confusion and regarded Colton curiously. You've also changed quite a bit." He almost hadn't recognized Colton because he'd become much skinnier and yet way more muscular than before.

Colton sighed. "I did find some stuff, but I'm at a loss for the trickier parts of making a usable raft." He hesitated. "You don't expect me to help those crazy pervs in there?" He gestured to the cavern.

Kellen immediately shook his head. "No, I don't." Just the very thought horrified him. "Not after when they tried to make me dump you overboard."

He was still instead pissed over that and their other suggestions.

Colton shrugged. "Well, in that case, I'm more than willing to share the raft with you when it's seaworthy."

Kellen relaxed when hearing that. "I'm glad to hear it." He sighed with relief.

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