Survival Island (reality show)

20. Slightly lost

Waking up well rested and feeling fed, brings a new reality for Sebastian. He has no idea where they are! He is aware of the things that happened yesterday, but was not paying attention to where they were going. Finding food was his priority and he trusted Magnus to keep up with the direction they were supposed to be going in. Now he is stranding on the river bank, looking around and trying to find anything to orient himself by.

Map in hand and finger on the waterfall, he traces the path they made. But which of the million small streams that are on the map is the right one? Can he take a wild guess and pick one? Was being separate from his wolf so bad that he lost his inner compass? Is his wolf the compass he always trusts? Damn everything to hell! Putain de bordel de merde! Son of a b***h got me lost! Fils de pute! Where the hell are we? Tonto del culo! How was I so stupid to not even look where we’re going?

Que te folle un pez! The damn fish! Why did I get myself in this stupid mess? Anda a Cagar, Pendejo! i***t! i***t! Getting lost in the jungle. Cazzo. E ora che faccio? He spins in a circle and shakes his head. Good thing Magnus is still asleep and the cursing is quiet enough that nobody heard him. Non mi va mai bene un cazzo di niente! Che bella giornata di merda!

‘Sebastian?’ The wolf calls to him carefully.

‘What?!’ He growls back and sighs. ‘Sorry. I’m not taking my anger out on you.’

‘What’s wrong? I haven’t heard you curse so much since that time in Morocco.’ His wolf asks him.

‘We’re lost. I have no idea where we are.’ Sebastian tells him.

‘So what? It’s an island. Find a beach and follow it home.’ The wolf shrugs.

‘That’s not a bad idea.’ He smiles. Maybe he was being overly dramatic for nothing?

“Good morning!” Magnus calls to him. “Feeling better now?”

“How much did you hear?” Sebastian looks a bit sheepish at his friend.

“Enough to know that my cursing needs an upgrade. And you called me out for Bollocks?” Magnus laughs.

“Sorry for that.” He tells his friend. “It was a wonder that I lasted eleven days on this blasted island without getting lost. It just came as a surprise to wake up and not know where we are.”

“I see. What is there to worry about? The killer is gone. All we have to do is go West, Southwest is fine, too.” Magnus shrugs.

“You are right. I have no idea why I panicked.” Sebastian says. 

“As long as you feel better, I don’t care.” Magnus laughs.

“Yeah. Sometimes all it takes is a little bitching to let the steam out.” He chuckles. “Where are we going? Pick a direction.”

“I think I saw a nice path going in the right direction about a hundred meters upstream.” Magnus tells him.

Following Magnus into the jungle, he is thinking of home all of a sudden. He misses the homey feel of the woods around the lake and the small cabin he used to call home. Is the humid heat of the jungle getting to him? Or the vivid green? Whatever it is, he needs to shake it off. The terrain is changing. The trees are still the same, but the ground is not. There are no leaves or bushes, just rocks. 

Is West the wrong direction? Why does it feel like they are on a cliff? He can hear water far off, but there is not supposed to be another river. At least not according to the map. Did he miss something? West is where the extraction point is, so just by that deduction they are going in the right direction. Why does it suddenly seem wrong?

“Magnus! Hold up.” He calls out. His thinking slowed him down and there is a large gap between them.

“Do you need a break?” Magnus asks him as he catches up to him.

“No. I was just thinking. I hear water, but there is not another river on the map.” He tells him.

“Let me see.” Magnus pulls a map from his pocket and spreads it out. “Where could we be to hear water? We didn’t accidentally double back? Could it be the waterfall?”

“It doesn’t sound right for a waterfall.” Sebastian scoffs. “I’m all off. I have no idea what it is.” 

“Do we continue West?” Magnus inquires.

“At this point? Let’s see where we are. The water I keep hearing is straight ahead.” He nods.

“Stay close and walk carefully.” Magnus nudges him in the shoulder.

“I have to get out of my head and watch where we’re going. This stopped looking like a jungle.” Sebastian remarks and gazes around. This part of the island is weird.

They walk on for a few minutes and the sounds of the water are getting louder. It’s definitely not a river. It sounds like waves breaking on rocks. The shore? How far North did they wander yesterday? If they come out on a beach, they are truly lost.

‘It’s not a beach. The water is far below. A cliff maybe?’ The wolf asks him.

‘I don’t remember a cliff from the map.’ Sebastian answers.

‘I wasn’t paying attention to the map. Maybe you should check?’ The wolf shrugs.

“Magnus? Do you remember seeing a cliff on the map?” Sebastian asks out loud.

“No. Could we miss that?” The guy answers with his map in hand.

“There is more light up ahead. The forest ends there.” Sebastian points to the trail.

“Let’s see where we are. If it’s a cliff, I owe you dinner when we get off of this bloody island.” Magnus scoffs. 

Standing at the end of a forest, because they just can’t call it a jungle at this point with no underbrush or anything that would look like a jungle. They gape at a cliff. Disbelief written on their faces. Are they truly lost? The sea is mercilessly battering the sides of the cliff on either side and the gorge is too wide to jump across. It goes a few kilometers inland, so they have to decide what to do.

“It’s a freaking cliff!” Sebastian exclaims. 

“Could this be it?” Magnus points to a spot on the map. “Did we somehow wander onto this peninsula?”

“I think so. But when? The plan was to go West to Southwest.” Sebastian answers. “We should be up here. We are about 20 kilometers off course.”

“I don’t understand it.” Magnus sighs. “Now what? Do we follow the gorge or try an alternative?”

“It might be the best idea. I don’t want to get lost here.” He nods. “We have some water left. Are you feeling hungry?”

“No. I can go on.” Magnus tells him.

They follow the gorge for a few hours of steady walking and it seems to be getting a little narrower. They are lucky to still be in the shade, because the sun is hot and there is not a cloud in sight. This island is dishing up one surprise after another and he doesn’t like any of them. He just wants to get off.

‘You’re not a quitter. We will finish this thing. f**k the island. You’re here to win.’ His wolf scolds him.

‘I wasn’t talking about quitting. I just want this thing to be over already.’ Sebastian retorts. 

‘Snappy, are we? I’m not the enemy here. I can only tell you what I feel.’ The wolf brushes up to him. The feel of fur under his skin is a welcomed thing after the scare of losing his wolf.

‘You’re not getting rid of me that easily.’ They say at the same time and laugh in private. Best friends for life.

‘Always.’ The wolf smirks at him.

“We need to make a camp. The sun is getting low.” He tells Magnus.

“Are you sure? I can walk a few kilometers more.” The guy answers.

“For what? We missed the first boat. We have nine days to get there.” Sebastian winks. “Let’s call it vacation.”

“I like that.” Magnus laughs. “I like the way you think, but you know what I’m missing here?”

“Booze?” Sebastian wonders. He could use a nice cold beer or a shot of his favourite whisky.

“No. Fruit.” Magnus chuckles. “Haven’t you wondered why the fruit trees are missing on this side of the island? At least we had bananas for the first few days.” 

“I haven’t thought about it, but you’re right. This part of the island doesn’t look like a jungle at all.” He answers. Looking around, he can see a few tropical plants here and there and the trees are not your typical forest variety, but there are no fruit trees of any kind. Another mysterious thing about this weird island.

“We’re back to worms and bugs, if we can find them.” Magnus sighs. “I miss the fish.”

“I know. I used to hate them as a kid, but right now I could eat fish five times a day just to avoid the bugs.” Sebastian chuckles.

“How is your wolf?” Magnus asks him later.

“Better. His paw is completely healed, he groomed himself clean and he says he’s sorry that he put you in danger.” Sebastian answers with a smile. “He’s fond of you.”

“I like him, too. Does he have a name?” Magnus inquires. It seems they are back to shifter questions.

“No. He answers to Sebastian, just like me. It’s not common for our animal half to have a different name. “ He explains.

“Oh.” Magnus nods. “What about the white fur? I thought wolves are more black and gray to brown. Does it mean anything?”

“In some native tribes, a white wolf means a spiritual animal. I know that most of the wolf packs perceive a white wolf as special, but not ours. We have a lot of white wolves in our pack.” Sebastian chuckles. “Maybe because of where we live and all that damn snow we have? I don’t know, really.”

“Where do you come from? Or is that a secret?” Magnus asks.

“Port Elizabeth, Michigan.” Sebastian chuckles. “It’s a tiny village by the Rush Lake.”

“Hm. I know where Michigan is. What’s the first big city?” Magnus inquires.

“Caseville, but that won’t tell you much. Let’s say Lake Huron. Does that ring a bell?” Sebastian laughs.

“Better. At least I know where to search on a map.” Magnus scoffs.

“And where do you live, if I may ask?” Sebastian looks over at Magnus.

“Officially in Albuquerque, but my sister and her family took over my house, because I was never home. My lease on the work related apartment in Oklahoma City will end in a few months. I have to find myself a place to stay.” Magnus frowns. “I hate apartment searching.”

“Well, what do you like? Do you want to go back to Albuquerque? Would you rather stay in Oklahoma City? Do you fancy any other place?” Sebastian asks him. “Think about that for a while. You said you have some time left. Don’t make hasty decisions.”

“You mean, like this one? The Survival Island reality show that turned out to be one huge scam?” Magnus laughs. 

“Yeah. You can come live with me, but I have to warn you, my cabin only has the basics and it will be winter soon.” Sebastian joins in on the laughter.