4: Wounded Pride

     "So what do you think?"

     I stand here and debate my answer. On the one hand, I'm fecking livid with the other two members of the 'family' and want to tell Yadira exactly what I think, but on the other, I don't want to hurt her feelings when she's obviously so proud of herself.
     "What is it?" She watches me, her smile sinking. "It's... kinda like what you did at the beach, isn't it?"
     "What I did at the beach is supposed to be temporary."
     She swallows, probably trying to hide the hurt. "Well, uh, like I said, it, um, works for the warmer months."
     She deserves better than this! She deserves to live in a fucking palace, not this shithole. I walk over to inspect some of the items in her assembled little hovel.

     "Is there a reason you've held on to this crap?" I gesture to the broken TVs, the rotting mattresses, the broken chairs and table, and the worthless what-was-once-a-microwave.
     "I thought I might turn them into something useful. Sama wanted to throw them in a garbage pile, but I hoped there might be something that could be used." Fuck. She's definitely hurt.
     "Maybe. But that doesn't mean you keep them in your... 'house.'"
     She lets out a puff of air. "Look, I know I'm not a builder, but I thought you might at least appreciate my efforts because I did it all ON MY OWN." She gestures to a random assortment of wooden planks. "I was going to try and build a wall, but I don't know how." She folds her arms and turns away from me.
     "Yadira, I'm sorry. I just can't believe--"
     "Just go."
     "But you've done a great job with the lean-tos."
     "The part I care the least about. You didn't even notice the canopy right over your head."
     I look up, my heart sinking. "Uh, yeah. That would be really nice in a garden."
     She walks over and blows out her candle. "Goodnight, Rohan. See you tomorrow." She climbs under her covers, effectively dismissing me.
     Fuck.

**********************************

Asa

     After supper, Yadira walks out with the blond barbarian, and I take that opportunity to tell Sama exactly what I think.

     "I can't STAND him!" He's going to ruin everything! I had it all planned out, and it included Yadira and I spending our lives together AS A COUPLE. I was just waiting for some tiny hint she might be ready for that. I was gonna play it cool, maybe even having a kind of fling-thing with Sama. After all I WAS the only dude. As far as we knew at the time, the continuation of the human race was up to us. This Rohan bastard has blown that notion away like an ash sculpture in a strong wind.

     She gives me a look like she knows exactly what I'm also not saying. "I'm sorry if he ruined your little fantasy of being the last surviving man in the world."

     She thinks she's so smart. "No, you're NOT sorry. I think you LIKE him."

     Deliberately mistaking my meaning, she replies, "Yes. I believe he's a nice addition to the family, and I think he'll help us a lot. In MANY areas."

     I glare at her and get the leftovers, intending to put them away.

     Of course, the refrigerator doesn't work like it was meant to, but we compressed blocks of snow to pack it with ice. It's like a huge cooler. The ice won't last forever, but it'll get through spring unless we have a particularly warm temperature spike.

     Sama keeps going, "And he seems QUITE TAKEN with Yadira, don't you think?"

     That's fine, Sama. Just pour salt in my wounded pride. "Fuck off."

     She laughs while I leave her house.

     As I walk to my house, I see the blond brute walking back toward the beach with his shoulders slumped and his gait more loping than anything. To put it mildly, he looks down. I happily ponder what could've caused that.

*************************************

Rohan

     The next day, I assemble another garment, being sure to have something come up between my legs so that I don't flash everyone again.

    The morning is a bit chillier than it was yesterday, so I find a sort of upright fire pit and light it. No one else is up yet. I take this time to think now that my head is a little clearer.

    I'm not going to build near the beach. No, I'm going to build RIGHT HERE. Right here where I stand. There are even more building materials, bricks, here since it looks like this was a bigger settlement. And this is right next to Yadira.

    It takes almost a month to build my one-room house. During the building, I teach the other three what to do to get the best from the bricks, how to mix mortar, and how to lay them for maximum durability. Pretty early on, Sama abandons our work to fix some holes in the walls of her first floor.

    The biggest surprise is how I develop an almost-friendship with the man-child Asa. I say that, but the friendship would only exist if Yadira wasn't in the nearby vicinity.

     "Hey, Yadira, wake up." She's taken to sleeping some during the day, especially since we finished the house. I'm glad it's finished before the heat of summer. "I got all my furniture moved in and then some. Wanna see?" Please?
     She makes a kind of mumble/groaning noise before saying, "Okay."

     I'm practically bouncing in my excitement, and she giggles at me.

    I consider my biggest accomplishment being the inclusion of the windows. I managed to get together enough glass to fix some broken ones I'd found at the other homestead.
    "This is really amazing!" She walks in and looks at everything. She hadn't seen it with all the furniture, especially the heavier pieces which Asa helped me with this morning--as I vowed to work on his house next. It should be that I work on Yadira's next, but I have other hopes.

     "You really like it?" I want to touch her face, her hair, everything. Over the last month, I've had opportunities, especially when teaching her to lay bricks, but sometimes, she's so childlike that it feels wrong. So instead, I just continue to admire the young goddess... and fantasize entirely too much.
     "Yes! Of course I do. Is there anything you can't do?"
     Yes. Plenty. Gods, I should just grab her face and plant one on her. Does she even realize?
     I take a deep breath. This glorified loincloth isn't the best at hiding when something comes up. To reply to her question, I merely chuckle. "Let's have a seat." I quickly make my way over to the couch. It'd be best to remain seated for now.

     I have a small fire lit (using the same fire pit I'd used when I decided to build here), and the light from it makes her skin glow just like it did the night I met her, when I was convinced she was a goddess.
     Ask her to move in. Just do it. No, I have to build up to it. I should kiss her first. "I'm glad you like it." Because I really did it for you. If it were just me, I wouldn't have made it this big. It's still an incredibly simple building. It has no kitchen, no bathroom, not even a sink. I keep a bucket of water on the wall--mostly in case the fireplace gets out of hand. Sama still cooks for everyone, even though she's moved her cookstove outside. It had no exhaust, and she'd covered the hole in the wall she'd once used for that purpose. So I don't need a kitchen.
    "It's so real." She giggles. "That sounds funny." Another giggle. "It's just you turned a bunch of bricks into this, with a roof and everything."
    I'm not thinking clearly. That has to be the reason I scoot over and start speaking quietly into her ear.

     "There's room for two... if you want." WHAT THE FUCK, ROHAN?! Just jump right into it? My hands start sweating like a pre-teen's.
     She giggles.

     "That tickles."
     I don't know whether I should scream or collapse with relief. Sure, I don't have THAT much experience with women. With the tribe it was typically 'get with this one' if there wasn't a love match, just to further the next generation. I'm not a virgin, but, to my knowledge, I didn't sire any offspring either. I simply don't have that much experience with flirting; there hasn't been anyone special.
    Until now... as I act like a pathetic git of a fifteen-year-old.
    Who apparently doesn't know when to quit. "Oh yeah?" I lean in, practically falling over on top of her as she giggles, trying to escape. I talk into her ear again, "You mean like this?"
    She pushes me back, and I go ahead and let her, "Rohan, quit it."

     "But it's fun making you giggle like that." Maybe my acting like a man-child who doesn't know what he's doing is actually better for her. I can still count it as a win if I'm making her smile like that. Sure, she totally either didn't get it or is completely ignoring the fact that I asked her to move in with me.
    "Well, you're funny when you're not acting all serious and stuff." She does something goofy with her voice, making it go a little lower, when she says 'serious.'
    As I speak, the door behind us opens. "Well, I'm not serious ALL the time."

     "Rohan, could I speak to you a moment?" It's Sama, who apparently doesn't know how to knock.
     Fuck. What does she want now?

3: The Family

Sama

     Yadira visited Asa and me this morning to tell us something astounding: we have a newcomer to the island. A man! And she says he can build. This is wonderful news! Our homes were quickly turning into rubble no matter what I tried. Perhaps he has training which I do not. I look forward to meeting him this morning.
     However, Asa does not appear to have the same thoughts as I.

     We arrive at the new man's camp, and immediately, I watch as Asa's scowl deepens.

     The new man walks up to us and introduces himself as Rohan. His green eyes cover the three of us, them resting on Yadira the longest.
    "Why are you here?" Asa asks, not bothering to hide his animosity.
    I'm not having it. I've already decided he can stay, especially if he has the skills Yadira says he said he has. If nothing else, we could use more... genetic material. I'm most-definitely old enough to have a child, and I'd assumed I would ask Asa to give me one. But I might change my mind...
    "He's already told Yadira why he's here, Asa." Then I look at the man. "Unless you have something to add?"
    He finally looks my way. "I'm not sure what she told you. I can do whatever's necessary to make myself useful. I also have a boat."
    "We don't need a boat," snaps Asa.

     Again, I answer for the newcomer. "A boat might certainly come in handy. I've long been curious about the mainland, and nothing YOU'VE tried to build has kept out the water." There. That should knock him down a peg or two.
    Yadira speaks. "So you want him to stay because of his BOAT?"
    I look at her and smile. I've always loved her on-the-surface way of looking at things. I believe she grounds me while I make her see things in a deeper way. "I was merely pointing out to Asa that a working boat is a good thing."
    Asa mutters, "The mainland is dangerous."
    The new man grabs our attention once again. "About that, I'm afraid I must agree."

     "It is dangerous, but that is one of the reasons I would like to stay. And my knowledge of the mainland could help you."
     "Are there others?" Asa asks.
     I scowl. "Yadira SAID he's left his tribe; wouldn't that mean that there are?"
     Asa won't give up, though. "Yes, okay. So, why DID you leave your tribe?"
     "She didn't tell you?"

     "No, I... left that part out." Something in her expression implies she's laughing at him, but I don't have a moment to ponder why.

     With a very solemn expression, he explains. "I was training a young boy, my apprentice I guess you could say, to fight. He got a little too rambunctious, and before I could stop it, he fell off a cliff. They accused me of murder."
    "Why were you training near a cliff?" Asa refuses to let up.
    All I care about is he said he knows how to fight--and how to train others as well. Something deep within my soul relaxes with this knowledge. We've been here, virtually defenseless, for over a decade. I knew it was only a matter of time--if there were any other survivors--before others found us, and I'd hoped they would be friendly. Thank the gods this one is. That is, if Asa doesn't royally piss him off. "Enough, Asa! I'm sure he had his reasons!" My 'brother' looks over at me with a glare. "I say let's bring it to a vote. I vote he stays."
     Big surprise, Asa has his say next. "I vote he leaves." He quickly pounces on the opportunity to sway Yadira's vote. "Yadira, he's dangerous. Just look at him! And he admitted he's a fighter. We don't need that kind of person here."
    I speak up. "Of COURSE we NEED that kind of person here, Yadira. He has so much to teach us. He can help us in ways we can't help ourselves. He's exactly what this family needs."
    "Yadira, we don't. Please. He'll ruin everything."
    She bites her lip and looks at all of us. "He... he stays."
    Asa covers his face with his hands, and I walk over to Rohan. "Welcome to the family, 'brother.'" I hug him. He smells terrible. We'll have to work on that. I smile when I look at his astounded expression.
    "Thank you." He blinks a few times, probably wondering what to do next. "Wh-why don't you three join me around my fire?" He bites his lips together, and his brow creases.
     Asa storms over, headed to a chair. "Whatever."
     The rest of us follow.

     When I sit down, I can't help but notice how Rohan's garment isn't quite ...covering... enough. Maybe we'll work on that later too.
     "So when do I meet the rest of the tribe?"
     Asa chuckles.
     I hope this animosity doesn't last very long. Asa needs to welcome Rohan, even though him being here means that he's not the only male. "Unfortunately, Rohan, we are it." Did he think only the 'tribal elders' came for a visit? "And, mainly because of that I suppose, we prefer to call ourselves a family."
    Yadira interrupts. "What's that?" She points to the lamp.

     He smiles brightly up at her. "It's a lamp."
     "But... there's no fire, and it's always lit."
     I must admit, I'm curious about the lamp as well.
     "It uses a special stone, we called it glowstone, that sucks up the sun's rays during the day. The light lasts well into the night, as I'm sure you noticed."

******************************************

Rohan

     They let me in! I get to stay. Although, belatedly, I realize I could've stayed anyway. With only three of them, it would've been easy. But that's not what I WANT.

     I can't help but feel a bit ridiculous from how I acted last night. In the light of day, I realize she's just a girl, not a goddess. Even if she fecking looks like she should be. It's unreal!

     The other woman, Sama, demands my attention.

     "You see? It's stuff like this, Rohan. Asa and I were very young, even though I was almost a teenager, when the sickness spread. Yadira was maybe two. Everything we've learned, we've gathered from books we've found, but I've never heard of this glowy stone."

     "I think before everything collapsed, it was merely a novelty. People only started using it in this way when the power grid shut down."

     Yadira has a seat--on my bed--and listens to us. I get the feeling she has a thousand more questions, and I would love to take as long as possible in answering them, preferably one-on-one. But it would appear that Sama is the more serious of them. It looks as though I'll answer hers first.

     She wants to know all about my building expertise, so I tell her what I know how to do. She looks pleased enough. And Yadira still sits on my bed. I tell Sama about how my old tribe started as a street gang but that we left the city when the leftover resources ran out. There were about thirteen of us at that time, and we'd quickly realized we would need to learn to hunt if we were to survive. One or two of us died of food poisoning, a hard lesson learning what to and not to eat, which was a real slap in the face for dying like that after surviving the plague. And Yadira still sits on my bed. I regale the story of how we all had to learn to live a primitive lifestyle, and Sama listens with her eyes glowing. She would've made a good addition to the Skeeves because from the little I've met of her, I can tell she's got her head on her shoulders. Yadira (who's still sitting on my bed) and the overly-testosterone-filled manchild sitting next to me probably owe her their lives.

     Speaking of manchild... "Hey, Yadira. There's a stool over here."

     She blinks. "Oh. Okay."

     Smart move, I guess, because now I have to crane my head around to look at her. I do, though.

     Seeing I've turned to her, she happily starts chatting. "So is this where you're going to build your house? We have our own houses. Ooo! I built mine myself. You should see it! Although, it's not very good. I have to live with Sama in the winter. But you said you can build. Could you teach me?"

     Sure enough, a thousand questions. Yes, I'd love nothing more than spending time with you for whatever reason. "Yes, I'd love to." I must look like the veriest cake with this ridiculous grin on my face.

     I can sense the manchild's ire rising. But before he can say anything, Sama calls him over to talk privately.

     "Why don't you take the seat she had so I don't have to crane my head around."

     "Okay." She gets up and moves... again.

     Pausing, she suddenly looks uncomfortable.

     "What?"

     She doesn't answer as she sits down, and she won't look at me.

     "Did I say something wrong?" Is it a culture thing? I wish she'd stop hiding her face. I could look at her face for an eternity. Gods, I'm going mad. But someone should paint it. Could I find the right materials to make paint?

     "It's just... I'm seeing... a bit more than I expected."

     "What?" I look around, wondering what she means. Then I look down. "Oh. That's, uh, that's just where the garment stops, I guess." I grin. I could work this to my advantage. "But just so, I don't have a problem with it." I swallow my laughter. Look your fill, beautiful goddess. "Do you have a problem with the way I'm put together?"

     "Do you have something else you could wear?" She's blushing!

     Now why would I want to do that when this is so much more fun? "I do actually, but I save it for the colder months. The other thing I had got ripped apart by the wolves, so I ripped them apart." I suddenly wonder how much clothing SHE possesses. I have a ruined sail. But there's enough material to piece together a dress...

     She moves her hand, keeping her eyes trained on my face, as she asks, "Wolves?"

     So I tell her the story of my most-recent fight with wolves, how I managed to break the jaw of one after burying and breaking my spear into the other. "Then the two that were left ran off."

     The next words are from Asa, who has stormed back over here. "All right. So there are others. You can stay because we might need your help."
     The other woman speaks to the manchild. "He can stay because we voted him in."

     "I know that. I'm just trying to make the best of it." He huffs and has a seat next to me. "And you can build?"
     "Yes."

      The goddess speaks, "You should come see our houses."

     After dinner at what I'm told is Sama's place, the goddess Yadira eagerly wants to show me her house.
     Most of their settlement is moldering ruins. Glancing around, I already see how I could make improvements. The only question is where to start.

      "This is it!"
      Dear gods, this is a dump! No wonder she said she can't live in her 'house' in winter. My eyes squint the tiniest bit as I think about how Sama and Asa have let her live in this squalor.
      Then she asks me the question I hoped she'd not:

     "So what do you think?"

------------------------------------------

2: A New Home

     A glint catches my eye, and I go completely still. SOMETHING is there. Squirrel? Rabbit? No. It's too bright, even in the darkness. Am I hallucinating? Is it some kind of shiny rock?
     It moved. That's no rock. I'd swear it's breathing.
     Rabbit? Fuck, I need a spear. I slowly reach for the pointed stick I'd recently jabbed into the dying embers. But would a rabbit of that color be able to survive? Even if it happened to be an abandoned pet, which I doubt since those would get eaten, a bird of prey would surely snatch it up.

     Some kind of large rodent? Perhaps this island isn't as safe as I first surmised. Well, I've taken on four wolves at once. Bring it, rodent of unusual size. My heart rate increases, and my eyes fix on that slowly-moving patch of light, shimmering thing. Muscles tense before I spring off my terrible bed.
     The lightly shining thing suddenly rises up, much higher than the possible-badger I was expecting. It's human! I skid to a halt, my mouth drops open, and my eyes watch the quickly-retreating sample of humanity.

     "Wait!" Fuck! What the fuck?! There ARE people here, at least one. "Wait!" Shit. Oh really great first impression there, Rohan. Like an idiot, I decide to chase after it. "I'm not going to hurt you!"
     I let out an 'oof' sound when I trip over an exposed root. I very narrowly avoid stabbing myself with my pointed stick. Dammit! I don't know these bit of woods like it does, and the moon is hidden behind all this fog.
     The fall jarred my shoulder, and I wince from the pain. I've certainly had worse, and I make myself stand anyway, worried I might be attacked. After all, I have no idea how many OTHERS there may be.

     Completely still and silent, my eyes and ears strain to catch the tiniest movement. I can't give chase, but I can defend myself. I dip into a slight crouch.
     Breathing. Very fast breathing. Somewhere ahead of me. It has stopped and is hiding once more. Having identified its likely position, I use my senses to continue scanning the unknown area around me.
     It's not a fighter; I'd be in knee-deep shite if it were. A pointed stick: Reck would piss himself from laughing so hard at me if he knew.
     Is it scared of me? Why didn't it keep running? Curiosity?

     I allow longer pulls of air into my lungs, and my muscles relax the tiniest bit. "Hello?" Fuck. How do I even know if it'll understand me?
     In addition to everything else, my stomach plummets with the knowledge that this island isn't uninhabited. And here I thought I'd found a place. Billions died, and I still can't find my own place.
     Glint.
     I found it. It's hiding behind another bit of brush.

     Forcing myself to smile, I try talking again. "I can see you," I mostly lie. "Why don't you come out and introduce yourself?" Again, I'm banking on the fact that it can understand me.
     "Who are you?"
     YES! The accent is different--but the language is the same.
     "My name's Rohan." Pause. "And you are?" Introductions: how very strange, like something from a former life.
     I still don't rule out that there could be others nearby, and I remain alert.
     "Why are you here?"
     The tone of the voice... feminine? My own curiosity gnaws away at me like maggots on a rotting carcass. I clear my throat. "I left my tribe, and I'm looking for a new home." May as well be honest.
     "This is MY home."

     "I, uh, apologize. I mean no harm. I don't require much. Perhaps we can come to an agreement of sorts?" Common sense would tell me just to move on and find another place, but I like it here. And... maybe the idea of going it alone isn't the greatest. "I have useful skills. I can hunt. I can sew. I can build..." I leave my statement hanging in the air like a question. It's like the strangest fecking job interview.
    After a beat, SHE steps into a stream of light caused by the moon coming out of hiding, and I momentarily lose my ability to breathe. If there really are goddesses wandering around, I'm looking at one.

    "My name is Yadira."
    Do I fall on my knees like the hapless mortal in front of a goddess? Perhaps it's a trick of the light, but she is flawless. She has to be more than human.
    Mesmerized by her face, I'm surprised by the fear I see displayed. What would a goddess have to fear?
    "Please put down your pointy stick."
    I immediately let it fall to the ground, not the least bit worried it could start a fire. It was hot earlier--but only just so. It's cold now.
    As for losing my "weapon," does she realize my very hands can be deadly?
    Perhaps I should be worried about what the goddess Yadira could do to me, but I take a step towards her anyway.

******************************************

     "Stop!" I hold up my hand and take a step back. He stops.

     I can't stop shaking! Oh, I am so stupid! What was I thinking going out alone like this? I want to run home to Asa and Sama, but what if he follows me and hurts them? Oh, what do I do?
     I put my hand down so he can't see me shaking. Perhaps he can anyway.

     "I'm not going to hurt you."

     "Then why did you chase me with a pointed stick?"

     "To defend myself!"

     "Defend yourself against someone who's running away?" And I hate that I couldn't run straight home. I didn't want to risk leading him right to the place. Acting on what I thought was a forgotten instinct just now, I ran in a line parallel to the house. I couldn't run much farther without risking a fall off the cliff. I thought I'd be able to lose him; then I thought I could hide. Now, I just have to get him to leave me alone on his own.

     "Well, I hoped I'd not need it," he replies, talking about the pointy stick. Did he take another step?

     "Stay where you are!" I back up again.

      The corner of his mouth goes up. "And what if I don't? Will you call down lightning to strike me dead?"

      Huh? Can people do that? "No. But you'd better stay back." Stupid, Yadira! What will you do if he doesn't?

      "Oh. Perhaps it's nature then. You'll strangle me with vines?"

      "Huh? No. But I'm... I'm warning you!" Maybe I should've threatened the vine thing. He might believe me. "I'll... I'll..." I can't think of anything! This hairy man could be a murderer! It would be better if he were afraid of me. "I'll... tell Jers you killed him!" It's a huge stab in the dark, and it really doesn't make sense. It was just the best I could think of right now.
     But it works. Thanks to the moonlight crashing through the treetops, I can clearly see his face fall and eyes widen. "You! How do you...?!" He swallows hard. "Okay. Of course. I'll not come any closer."
    I still can't believe that worked! I take another step back, making sure I'm out of arms' reach. "And you'll turn around and go back to where you came from."
    The quirky smile returns, doing something weird to my stomach. "I hope you mean back to my little campsite."
    Stop smiling at me! I clench my jaw for two seconds before I decide to speak, "Fine. We'll visit you at dawn to discuss your, uh, whether or not you can stay."
    "We?" His eyebrows raise.
    I scowl. "Yes, of course."
    His features straighten up to a more normal expression. Then he does a slight bow, making my eyebrows come together. "As you wish."

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A/N: Sometimes I can't help myself. So... many... films...