AFTER THE CRASH

[ataraxites]

CHARACTERS: Any and all.
LOCATION: The wreck site and the jungle beyond.
WARNINGS: Will update as needed.
SUMMARY: Characters recover after the crash and begin to establish means of survival in the new environment.
NOTES: Open log for general play for the rest of the month. Prompts are included for inspiration, but do not need to be strictly adhered to!

T H E   J U N G L E The dense vegetation of the jungle surrounds you in every direction, the green of thousands of trees and plants vibrant and lush under the bright sun. Life buzzes and calls through the branches, leaves stirring in a long, fluid shift as brief cuts of wind flow up over the cliff. Stood alone facing it, it almost seems as though it breathes, one giant force of life looming over you, overwhelming and awesome. Tangles of trees and roots stand in your way as you venture in, every step needing careful navigation to avoid standing on some strange plant or another. A blade may be necessary to cut a path through the areas where sunlight breaks through the canopy high over your head, allowing thick growth on the soil below; other areas are clear, a natural pathway developed but for low growth and fungi. Either way, it's only a matter of meters before you can't see back which way you came, the jungle setting behind you, covering the signs of your passing as if you'd never been. Something lets out a cry, high in a tree above you, a warning shriek before it and another tumble and climb through interlocking branches, fleeing your presence. Whether you came out here to hunt, forage or simply explore, proceeding quietly and carefully may offer more success - and some way to mark your path back, least the jungle manage to swallow you whole. T H E   W R E C K   S I T E The long tail left in the ship's crash path has destroyed a huge swath of jungle, trees, upturned soil. A ready-made clearing, some shelters already built out of the remains of the fallen trees, the small amount of supplies salvaged from inside the ship, more being worked on. Without the thick canopy of the jungle, the sun beats down relentlessly, shelter and shade the only respite. Dehydration threatens and food is scarce, making work slow but all the more necessary. You may have remembered enough to know your skills are best used towards the building efforts, or picking through the debris for salvage, or putting together improvized power systems; no matter which, you'd better pace yourself properly to prevent the heat catching up with you. M E D I C A L The hole up on the crest of the crashed ship still yawns open, leading down directly into the medical area you woke up in - the only readily accessible point you can see. Inside, the alarms and looping audio have stopped, leaving the space eerily quiet but for the drip of water and fluid, the creak and groan of strained, damaged metal. You may be here to assist in the medical efforts outside, to find usable equipment or supplies, or maybe you're looking for more personal answers. The elevator shafts the voice recording had previously directed you towards still stand empty, dark tunnels leading deeper into the unknown, evoking some flicker of memory of miles of corridors and rooms. Did you live here before? What happened? Whether you're here with a purpose or following curiosity, watch your step - bodies still litter the space, half buried under debris or floating in pools of collected rainwater from the storm, likely to cause a smell if left any longer. N I G H T F A L L The days are long and night, when it comes, falls quickly. The temperature drops, perhaps offering relief from the heat of the day or bringing a new threat of cold. The jungle quiets, then seems to stir to life again, the sounds of insects changing, the cries of any animals falling silent. With the only light offered by the two moons high in the sky and any small generators scattered around the makeshift camp, it may be best to stay close to shelter or find your way up off the ground. The darkness can hide any manner of new threats, and they are not so new and unsure of this terrain as you...

Comments

[tadashiwashere]

"If you have the time, I would really appreciate it."

Usually he wouldn't want to impose on anyone, but this is Hiro they're talking about. Normal circumstances dictate that Tadashi helps everyone else without asking anything in return, but the normal motions he goes through in life are turned on their head where Hiro is concerned.

He takes a deep breath and drags one hand down his face before offering a weak smile. "I don't know if it's obvious, but I'm kind of a mess where that knucklehead is concerned. Do you mind starting out right now?"

It's probably smarter to wait until morning, but even knowing that himself, Tadashi isn't going to listen to warnings from anyone telling him to hold off. The faster he can find Hiro, the faster he can put his mind at ease knowing that his kid brother is safe. He's lost too many family members to lose even one more.

[circumitus]

She shrugs. "Have nothing but time anymore."

Without the same means of passing time like they had on the ship, one had to find new means to keep themselves busy. And Rey was no exception to this.

"Not at all." She can actually sympathize with doing stupid things for someone else. At least this way, she won't have Tadashi becoming a rhinobear snack because of something she told him on her conscience. Which begged to question-- "You have been out there before, yes?"

It's better if he knows what to expect, and for her to know what he knows. It's no picnic in a jungle.

[tadashiwashere]

"Yeah."

Though it's probably dumb luck that has spared him from any adverse encounters in the jungle so far. Maybe a combination of making a lot of noise and shouting for Hiro melded together to scare away the local wildlife. Regardless of that, Tadashi nods like he fully knows what to expect. The reality is that he's willing to face anything -- even unknown dangers in a dark jungle -- if it means a chance at finding his brother before anything can happen to him.

"I spent most of today out there." He sounds a little distracted as he glances around, searching vaguely for an idea of what supplies might be best to bring. Just because he intends to be reckless doesn't mean he needs to be a complete idiot about this.

"You've been out there a lot, haven't you?" It's a question, but one he thinks he knows the answer to. "What do you recommend we do first?"

[circumitus]

Relying on dumb luck isn't exactly Rey's way of doing things, because everyone's tends to run out eventually. Hence why she's so willing to go along with this. The kid's already said that he spent most of the day out there, so chances are no amount of discouragement would deter him.

Might as well keep an eye on him instead.

"Haven't exactly scoured the whole perimeter yet. The uncharted parts neither of us have gone to may be a good start."

There have been others missing since the crash, so it could be worth trekking out to see if they could find any of them as well.

[tadashiwashere]

Tadashi takes a deep breath and allows certainty to creep back in, spiked through with a fresh supply of determination. Despite some of the thing that have taken place in his life, he's always been an optimist at heart -- someone who thought that there is always something that someone can do to make things turn out right.

"I've mostly been looking north," Tadashi offers, pointing in a direction that he's only vaguely certain to be the cardinal direction he's giving.

He turns away from that slab of jungle in the distance to face the opposite way, stopping only long enough to pick up his shoulder bag and sling it back into place before he starts off. Tadashi feels anxious -- uncomfortable with sitting still a moment longer now that a plan is in place. Even if it's a vague one. It's another hope. Another disappointment waiting to hit him at the end of the search.

But he's not thinking like that just yet.

"I heard the river is this way. Maybe... maybe Hiro ended up on the other side?"

It's an explanation. Hiro manages to get into all kinds of trouble. It serves reason that he might end up trapped somehow across the way.

[circumitus]

North, south, east, west... On a planet with a new sun and two moons, it's difficult to say if any of those directions apply here. But Rey stays focused.

"Wouldn't rule it out. Wouldn't place any bets on it, either." She's been to that river. Even if the water wasn't acidic, the rapid currents and sheer length of it would rule out being able to swim across. Not to mention the eight thousand foot drop off the waterfall.

Unless the kid managed to concoct a very strong boat, but even then...

That isn't what Tadashi needs to hear about, though. She knows that this is more about hope than it is realistic, and she'd rather he not go running off doing things by himself.

She shrugs and starts walking, leading the way to the river regardless of her thoughts and words. "It's a few hours hike from here, so be sure to bring anything you need."

In this case, water and rations and such would be most prudent.

[tadashiwashere]

Tadashi doesn't have much in the way of supplies. What he does have, he has with him. He nods at the suggestion while he absorbs and puts away that the river can't be ruled out at a reason for Hiro's lack of return, but can't be seen as The Explanation, either.

"Hiro is a smart kid. He might be trapped by something, but he'll be somewhere."

He believes that. For right now.

He has to, in the end. If he accepts that something awful has actually happened, putting one foot in front of the other is going to turn into an impossibility far too quickly. Until he find some evidence to shake his carefully kept optimism, Tadashi will search everywhere -- no matter how unlikely. Checking places again. Combing the camp after every trip to make certain Hiro hasn't just wandered back on his own.

Whatever it takes.

As long as he pushes himself, Tadashi will find him. The knucklehead will roll his eyes at all of the unnecessary worry, try to blow off the seriousness of the situation, and life will move on.

It has to.

Please.

Tadashi shifts his bag higher on his shoulder and takes a deep breath. And he presses on.