Julian was already half a kilometer from camp, and so far, he'd found nothing.
No coconuts. No edible plants.
Even birds seemed scarce on this remote island, their absence gnawing at him like a slow-growing panic.
He trudged toward the shoreline, hoping for fish — but the churning waves made it impossible to spot anything beneath the surface.
Nothing but endless blue.
Frustrated but stubborn, he turned back inland, slipping under the shade of the trees to continue his search.
Water, he reminded himself, we need water.
He pushed forward, scanning desperately for any sign of a stream or creek.
Anything.
Minutes dragged into what felt like hours.
After fifteen more minutes, his hope dimmed.
He glanced at his watch — time was almost up.
Defeated, he started walking back towards the makeshift camp.
Nearly an hour gone — and nothing to show for it.
When he finally emerged from the treeline, he saw the others hard at work.
Michael and Charlie were finishing a rough shelter, while Geo crouched nearby, stacking wood for a fire while pounding at his back, showing his inexperience.
Julian approached, slumping down into the sand to rest his aching legs.
"I've got bad news," he said, loud enough for everyone to hear.
"I walked nearly a full kilometer. No fruit, no water. Nothing useful.
If we're going to find anything, we'll have to go deeper inland."
Michael straightened up, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Well, at least we've almost got shelter finished. It'll protect us from the sun, maybe even light rain... unless a storm hits."
He glanced at the sky.
"Good news is, I don't remember any major storms expected in this zone. We should have a few days before weather becomes a threat."
Charlie let out a dramatic groan, clutching his stomach.
"No food? I'm already starving! What do we do if we can't find anything?"
Julian exhaled slowly, trying to hide his own growing fear.
They needed a plan — and fast.
"Relax, kid," Michael said, his tone shifting — the gentle demeanor gone, replaced by a harder edge.
"Let's explore the rest of this island before jumping to conclusions.
If we don't find nothing, we'll start building a raft — while we still have the energy to do it."
He tied off the last string holding up their makeshift tent and hammock, then straightened, giving everyone a hard look.
"Now move. No time to waste. Once we're sure it's safe, we'll split into two groups to cover more ground."
Without another word, Michael turned and led the way into the forest.
The group followed in tense silence, broken only by Charlie's occasional grunts as he stumbled over roots and uneven ground.
Every so often, they all paused, listening — ears straining for any hint of running water.
Suddenly, Michael veered off the path and rushed toward a patch of low greenery.
"Here! This!"
He knelt down, gripping a squat shrub and yanking it free, revealing a tuberous root with brown skin.
Breaking it in half, he revealed a pale yellow interior.
Michael's eyes gleamed with a rare flicker of hope.
"We might just have a chance if we can find more of these."
He tossed the root to Julian and pointed to two more nearby plants.
"You — grab that shrub, and that one," he barked at Charlie, who hurried to obey, stooping awkwardly to gather the plants.
Michael shook the dirt off his hands.
"It's not much, but it'll keep us alive today."
He turned to Julian and Geo, voice low but urgent.
"Now we need water. Fast. These roots'll need boiling before they're safe to eat."
He nodded toward the dense interior of the island.
"Julian, Geo — keep moving inland. Find water.
Charlie and I'll stay here and gather whatever we can."
Julian adjusted the cords tied at his waist, feeling the makeshift spear he'd fashioned from a sharpened stick pressing against his back.
He gave a curt nod.
"On it."
Giving it little thought, Julian and Geo pressed on, each step cautious, ears tuned to any sound that might signal danger.
"Say... it's really quiet," Geo muttered after a while, almost tripping over a thick root.
"I don't even see signs of life besides the plants. No birds, no insects.
If you ask me, that's worse than hearing predators.
Means nothing survives here for long."
Julian didn't answer, but the unease settled heavier in his chest.
Then — a sound.
The faint trickle of running water.
"Hey, we're in luck!" Julian said, moving quickly toward it.
The stream was thin — barely wide enough for his finger to pass through — but it was moving, clean, and fresh.
Julian pulled out a scrap of parachute fabric he'd folded into a rough jug, dipping it into the stream with care.
"Not much for a bath," he said with a dry smile, "but enough to keep us alive."
Charlie said while he knelt down beside him, cupping water in his hands for a quick drink.
"Kid, just be happy we can drink at all," Geo said, his usual good humor flickering back into place.
"We'll need real containers, though. No way we're hauling water in parachute scraps forever."
Charlie added as he stood, stretching his aching legs.
"Tell you what. Julian and Geo keep scouting around once we get back. I'll stay behind and have the other boy help me get a fire started."
"Whatever needs doing," Julian said, adjusting the makeshift water bundle against his side.
"I just want off this damned island." Julian muttered softly.
They turned and headed back, moving slower now, the weight of exhaustion settling in.
Soon, the trees thinned, everyone knew they were getting closer to camp.
Michael and Charlie quickly made plans to begin doing as soon as they entered camp, they needed to work before the sun settled.
"Just leave the exploring for tomorrow. We need to keep our strength. I doubt we will find more even if we explore every inch of the island. I have given it thought and we need to make rafts soon. That is the only way out of here. Even if that large beast is out there, it's either that or die," Michael said sternly.
Everyone gulped, hearing the elder of the group but said nothing as they returned to their base.
"Now then, we will need to find a good rock to carve into a pot, or hope something washed up to shore…" the old man said, looking around for something they could use.
"If it's about that, then I did see some especially worn down rocks near the edge of a particular part of the ocean. We will need to chip them off a little so I'm not sure we will be able to use them immediately," Geo said.
As they were about to reach the base, they spotted a few humans. Each one looked geared and dangerous. One of them was equipped with a bow that did not match his high-tech goggles.
"Survivors? How many of you are there? We need to speak, and fast!" a female voice demanded standing next to five others who wore suits suitable for being on water.