Island, Round Six: By a fallen stake...

[Nova]

Mina Saelune started to walk towards the black smoke, and while Hunter was curious what the smoke was about, he wasn't going to go with minimal company. After all, what if it was the mafia camp? Not exactly smart of them, having a campfire in daylight, but if it was their encampment, he wasn't going to meet them with only another person. No, he needed numbers to face dreaded killers.

More people came and saw poor Cassie's body, and weird Nelly came and dragged it away for burial claiming she and Cassie 'had such a connection' and needed closure. Hunter watched mournfully as Cassie left his view, and looked at everyone else. Thomas was getting bruised up, and got off on another ramble.

Hunter sighed, and stared at the sand while Thomas was explaining his adventure book. He noticed a glimmer in the corner of his eye, a sparkle in the sand. Curious as always, he walked over about five feet and grabbed a handful of sand. As some of the grains fell, it revealed a small vial. A small vial containing red liquid: blood. Hunter smirked, and put the vial into his inside coat pocket.

Nelly came back, with beef kebabs. Instantly people started to rush towards her, excited at eating something meaty instead of coconut, but Hunter stayed back.

He just found some food that will sustain him for a while.

[Robyn]

The enticing aroma of cooked meat wrapped itself around Moonflower's senses, and her mouth began to water. She couldn't place the scent to any meat she'd ever tasted before-- the closest she could think of was beef or perhaps pork. When had Nelly found the time to track down, butcher, and roast an indigenous animal? Moonflower was honestly too hungry to care. And as long as she used every part of the creature, she really didn't find too much fault in it. Circle of life and food chain and all that. She probably would've had more fault to find in it if her brain hadn't been overridden with such a powerful foodlust.

She took two steps towards Nelly's little operation before said woman held up a hand to stop her.

"Oh no, you all wait a minute. This food is not free. I demand payment! And since I'm doubting any of you have cash on your person at the moment, I suppose I'll have to accept items for trade instead. Come on! You know you want it! Now what do you guys have to prove it!?"

Moonflower's eyes lit up. She had just the thing. She held out her wrist and delicately rolled the bracelet that clung to it down until it came off, coiled in her upturned palm.

"Oh hey, like, what about this? I made it last night. It's been blessed by the beams of the moon and the spray of the sea," she offered.

Moonflower wasn't kidding. She'd woven it from sea grass and white cowrie shells under the bright moonlight, and then let it soak in a tide pool, where she'd chanted good luck hymns in the language of the naiads as crabs scuttled over it. In her view, it now glowed with a gentle blue ambience. She'd been planning on keeping it, but it was a small price to pay for one of those scrumptious-looking kebabs. Besides, bartering was an integral part of communal living, after all.

Christopher might have bumped back into her at one point, but if he'd said anything, she wouldn't have been able to hear him over the sound of her own stomach growling. The same could be said for that suspicious smoke climbing over the horizon, as well as the sudden unrest Moonflower felt in the atmosphere that could've very well been Cassie's earthbound ghost. None of these were as important to her at the moment than eating.

Moonflower kept a dreamy-- if not a little bit edgy-- smile on her face as she held out the bracelet to Nelly, hoping it'd be enough.

[Deleted]

Mina stopped walking when she heard Captain Cromwell's request.

Where she was last night? Easy.

"I was asleep in my tent. The one with the unfinished, wet page of music in it."

She stepped toward Nelly and took a kebab, completely unawere of what is was. Some animal, she assumed. In exchange, she gave a small blue hairpin.

"Hey," she said. "You know that smoke? I think more than one of us should go. It might be a killer over there, so it would be unwise to go alone."

[Avery]

"Oh hey, like, what about this? I made it last night. It's been blessed by the beams of the moon and the spray of the sea."

It's not quite the offer Nelly was looking for, and the hippie girl seems absolutely barmy, but Nelly hopes that by accepting one offering, others will buck up the courage to make their own propositions. So she accepts the ugly, worthless bracelet, and with a patently false smile, hands over a kabob to Moonflower.

"There you go," she says pleasantly (or, at least as pleasantly as she can muster).

"Hey," she said. "You know that smoke? I think more than one of us should go. It might be a killer over there, so it would be unwise to go alone."

Nelly sighs at this. The curious ones never last long, not when there are murderers lurking about. Still, the girl has a point-- whoever goes to investigate the smoke should probably not go unaccompanied. That doesn't mean Nelly wants to be the one to go, however.

"Whoever goes with Mina gets a free kabob," she announces. She hopes one of the more annoying ones takes up her offer. It would be so nice to get the vacant girl Danielle, or the rich bloke Thomas, away for a bit.

She's just finished speaking-- and no one's taking her up on her offer-- when that little blind boy, Christopher, comes at her like a drunken bull. Before she can say anything, he collides with her. She's a sturdy old lady, so she doesn't fall, but the same can't be said for poor Christopher. Oh, the little chap! He reminds her of Candy, her apprentice back in Netwaffle, who ultimately killed herself in the aftermath of the deaths (hah, irony!). She glances at the simmering kabobs, then back at him. It wouldn't hurt to have cooking help, once the murders heat up-- which she's pretty sure they will.

"There, there, child," she says comfortingly. "Don't mind me. You're just a little tiny thing, aren't you? Without anyone to care for you, too! That shall no longer be a problem. I'll watch out for you starting this very instant, little boy. Now, have a kabob!"

[Yoyti]

"A-HEM. I am Captain Dean Comwell. I am hereby leading an Investigation on the murders going around on the island. I would like everyone to give me an alibi on where they were last night. I would also suggest that we execute any suspicious figures! How does this sound?"

"I've not a substantial alibi," said Gregory. "All you've got is my word that I was sleeping under that tree over there." He pointed towards a tree. "Of course, I may be misremembering, knowing my mental state."

And now the rich guy was talking. "My brain may be addled," growled Gregory, "But at least I have a brain to be addled. If you're so rich, use your wealth to get yourself off the island. We'll all be happier without you. Face it. You are rich, but you are a moron. And you use your wealth as an excuse for your arrogance. I, at least, admit my mental state. You're the one who needs a mental doctor. I just need a therapist."

And now the narrator had food. Meat. "Where'd you get this meat?" asked Gregory. "And what sort of meat is this? As for payment, I can offer you mathematical proofs of all kinds. Not interested? I thought so. I also have a soggy checkbook and a credit card, not that those'll do any good here. Of course, I could accompany the musician, but I'm not sure she'd appreciate my company."

And with that, Gregory walked back to his seaweed, lit a small fire, and started cooking it in coconut milk, along with some of the shelled creatures he'd found. He didn't particularly feel like being poisoned. He wasn't a good cook, and the meal wouldn't be very substantial, but at least he knew what he was eating. And he didn't have to pay.

[Luna]

Cassie floated around, looking at everyone. Her heart sank as Nelly dragged her body away. She figured out what she was doing with it, and thought it was for the best.

"Cassie! What is it like being dead? And did you see who did it? Anything?" She looked at the winged girl in surprise.

"Huh? You can see me?" She looked at Shani in rapture. Cassie floated up to her. "Yeah, I'm a ghost, dead... I didn't see anything, I remember something hitting my head and then a black...floating death." She looked down, slightly scared. "I don't know what happened, but all I can say is that Thomas guy has to big a mouth for his own good. He lies. Nothing he says is true. Just, don't ever listen to him, okay?"

The ghostly girl turned around to notice Nelly coming back with her body in chu-- oops, I mean her "beef" and Cassie looked at it wide eyes. It made her sick. She floated off quickly and looked at everyone. One of these people was a monster who thought she needed to die. She floated away from the crowd as the people gathered around the meat.

"I hope you're happy, you sick person." By that time she realized her voice sounded quite weird from its original sound. It was echoy and scratchy, sounding like it came from all directions. It actually sounded pretty cool to her.

Cassie sat on the sidelines of the group, watching them all eat, and looked as a man, Captain Dean, started to talk about investigating. She floated over to him, hoping that he could see her.
"Sir, I think I might be able to help if any, since I was kind of the victim of it..." She looked at him when he suggested to kill someone. "Maybe we should...But, what if we kill the innocent?" She sighed, she couldn't stand this, not the island. She wanted to help but this was all overwhelming. "Never mind, I'll talk to you later, if you can even hear me." She floated away, leaving her ghostly trail behind. She floated without even looking were she was going, and felt something tug at her. She looked up and noticed she had brushed past Hunter. She was puzzled.

Cassie floated up to him, and something felt weird inside her, something was different about him than normal humans. It wasn't a feeling she got around Shani, it felt dark, and almost hurt. She looked at him.

"Hello? Can you hear me?" She stared at him, hoping he could.

[Avery]

((Just a reminder, guys, votes are due tomorrow at 10am Eastern. Please get them into me as soon as possible! ))

[Nova]

People started fashioning items and double checked what they were wearing to see if they had anything of use to barter for the beef kebabs. But Hunter wasn't interested in beef, and he certainly was not willing in parting any of his possessions to get some beef he didn't want. Coconuts and his, erm, trinket, would suffice.

Nelly started bribing people to go the black smoke, presumably to their death, but he didn't mind. The more people that left, the better. So much drama going around, they weren't exactly needed. But hopefully there won't be a mass carnage to deal with, hopefully no deaths at all. But they could take a hike, yes. A long hike.

He felt something brush past him, and looked up and saw Cassie's ghost. He hoped she wouldn't sense his dark aura, but she floated back and stared at him for a few moments. She knew something was up with him for sure.

"Hello? Can you hear me?" he heard in his head.

Hunter hasn't communicated with a member of the ghost family in a good hundred years or so, but he knew how to communicate with them. You can talk to them by thinking; focusing your train of thought towards them. But a vampire must be careful with guarding his or her thoughts, lest a ghost or another vampire eavesdrop.

"Yes, yes I can hear you. Now don't be alarmed. I'm a vampire, but I'm not one of those threatening killer ones. I'm genuinely nice and I won't harm you. As you can see, there's enough death on this island..."

[Celestial]

She found it funny how, despite being so excited, the mathematician, whose name she thought was Gregory, did not pay any attention to her words. Oh well, it was not like this was such a big deal anyway. If he asked her again, she would just tell him. Besides, she barely knew how her own body worked, just that it worked.

"An alibi?" Shani asked, her brain trying to remember what that was. "Oh yes. I went fishing, ate the fish and then went to sleep." At least somebody was doing something useful here. She decided she liked this Dead Cromwell. He had a good head on his shoulders

But then Thomas started talking and everything went downhill. He was talking about the various despicable acts that he did. The angel doubted that she would ever meet somebody as loud, obnoxious and full of themselves as him. There was no way he could exist. And he had the nerve to accuse her of liking the sound of her own voice. Him of all people.

And then, even though he had rejected her for his personal zoo, he had the gall to accuse her of being an inferior being. This was a new experience for Shani. Normally most people who saw her stared in awe, surprise or worship, depending on their scale of religiousness. Even if they did not, most of them acknowledged that she was a sentient being.

He did not seem to. If it were not for the fact that Cassie's ghost spoke to her, the angel would have torn his limbs of there and then.

"Yes, I can see you. My race have a lot in common with birds, including sharp vision for flight. It is a real shame you did not see anybody but we'll find 'em. And," she growled at the mention of Thomas, "You're not even preaching to the choir, you're preaching to the freaking Pope."

Nelly had come out with some kind of kebab. Shani felt a painful rumble in her stomach. The kebabs smelt of pork, which was odd considering the distinct lack of pork on the island. But Shani did not really care. Even if it was human, heck, even if it was Cassie, it was better she ate something now, otherwise they would all be in danger. An angel consumed by hunger is where devils come from. She went over to Nelly and tore out a two of her feathers. It was a bit painful but they were feathers that she probably would not miss.

"If we get off the island, which I have a feeling you will, you could sell this to some chump occultist. They love these things for the whole 'summoning of ancient demons' thing'. Could I get four of those, two for each feather?" the angel asked her, holding the feathers out.

"I'm sorry, Cassie, Captain, Cassie's mother," she whispered under her breath just in case "But my metabolism makes me its slave."

The smell of smoke and maybe a hint of crab made her mouth water. She had to investigate that when she could. Once she had beaten Thomas' mouth swollen, that is.

But another free kebab, that could satisfy her for a few hours.

"I'll go with Mina," she said after a few seconds pondering. What could she possibly stand to lose? Besides, it might help her cool down a little.

[Rosalie Dylas (Maddy)]

"There, there, child," she says comfortingly. "Don't mind me. You're just a little tiny thing, aren't you? Without anyone to care for you, too! That shall no longer be a problem. I'll watch out for you starting this very instant, little boy. Now, have a kabob!"


These were not the reactions Christopher was use to when running into people. Usually he would be scolded, or called rude, or sometimes even hit if he was at his school, but this, this was new. Christopher couldn't help but be confused, but also flattered, and warm and fuzzy inside. This woman seemed so nice. Besides that, he was hungry. The night before he had eaten fish and some coconuts. The nice hippie lady.... Moonflower had helped him in acquiring it. Moonflower was so different and she confused Christopher, but she was still nice. Still, the previous night's meal had long since gone, and Christopher knew he had to eat, and a kabob sounded so tasty.

"Oh... T-t-thank you so much miss! I... don't know what to say!" Christopher said, overwhelmed with delight. He managed to take the kabob from Nelly (which he was quite proud of) and took a bite. It was unlike anything he had ever eaten. The taste was delicious, especially since he hadn't eaten a meal like this in a while. He finished chewing then beamed at Nelly (at least that was where he hoped he was beaming)."This was so good, what is it? Thank you so much Miss....? I don't even know your name. Mine is Christopher Dylans." He chatted happily. He continued to eat his kabob.

[Deleted]

The mathmatician and Shani had volunteered to go with Mina. While the mathmatician made her nervous, Shani seemed very nice. This was a good arrangement so far.

"Hello? Can you hear me?"

Mina turned. Again, it was a bit awkward, and she still didn't know what to say to Cassie.

"Er...yeah, I can hear you. I've been able to hear you and see you for quite a bit, I just didn't know what was the most polite thing to say...so I didn't. Sorry if I offended you or anything."

She ate her kebab and looked at the blind boy, Christopher. He seemed so cheerful, even though he was obviously hard of seeing. She envied him for that. She hoped Nelly would take care of him, and protect him from whatever monster had murdered Cassie.

There were some children on this island; him, Calista and Danielle, who still acted like a child even though legally she was an adult. Mina worried about them. Cassie, at 15, had been the first to go since the Captain.

She didn't want the other kids to fall victim.

[Avery]

At first, the woman simply seemed sincere: a bleeding heart, someone truly concerned for her fellow survivors. But in the wake of the deaths-- the horrid, horrid deaths!-- some began to question her motives. One could only be so sympathetic, so noble, so moved before it began to seem suspect. A little too much.

After this, they began to talk. Rumors began to swirl. What if the woman acted this way because she had something to hide? What if it was her compensation, her way to throw suspicion off her because she had a dark secret? What if, they asked, she were the killer?

Some thought it far-fetched. Opinions were divided. But in the end, the majority ruled.

The woman would have to die, for the sins she may have committed.

She protested to the very end.

"I am innocent!" she screamed as crafted a makeshift gallows on a towering palm. "I would never hurt anyone! I swear, I swear, I swear!"

But her cries fell on deaf ears. The survivors had already made up their minds.

Mina Saelune would be executed.

**

Later, in an isolated part of the island, the Killers gathered. Laughed. Joked. Breathed a sigh of relief.

"They really thought she would kill someone?" asked one. "Hah! Laughable!"

"That girl was the polar opposite of a killer," agreed another.

"A bleeding heart," said the third.

The fourth nodded their head. "It seems we are safe for now. Now... who shall we eliminate next?"

Mina Saelune was an innocent islander.

[Luna]

"Yes, yes I can hear you. Now don't be alarmed. I'm a vampire, but I'm not one of those threatening killer ones. I'm genuinely nice and I won't harm you. As you can see, there's enough death on this island..."

He laughed sheepishly. "A v-vampire? Well I won't hav-ve to worry about you harming m-me, I don't even have blood. Just this m-misty stuff." She held up her hand to her eye level, showing him the fog that rose from it and swirled off into nothingness. She put her hand back down. "Yeah, you could say that again." She frowned. "So, w-what it like being a vamp-" She stopped and looked behind her, people were yelling names and arguing, she wanted to see what was going on. She gave a small nod to Hunter and floated closer to the people.

"....AND I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY, IT WAS OBVIOUSLY HER." Someone pointed to Mina.

"Yeah, yeah! She's to kind, to caring for someone innocent!"
"You're right!"
"Get her!"

People were accusing Mina Saelune of her death, prepared to kill her.
Cassie gasped.

"What?! I'm INNOCENT!" Mina pleaded to the ongoing crowd, closing in on her. Cassie floated to them, trying to push them back but her ghostly hands going through them. She tried to get them to stop.

"What are you guys doing, you can't do it this way!" She pleaded, but the group grabbed Ms. Saelune and took her in, pushing her body onto a makeshift gallows.

"I am innocent! I would never hurt anyone! I swear, I swear, I swear!" She pleaded, but no one listened. Cassie couldn't watch as her fellow survivors killed off one of there own. She flew away.

She flew out to the ocean, into it, wanted to get away. She went about knee deep before something pulled on her left leg and nearly tripped her. She tugged and the thing tugged back. She looked down and saw something red. Glowing red, an outline, almost like herself, but she was different colors.
She leaned down lower and looked at it, it was some sort of chain? A shackle on her leg. "What...?" She pulled on her leg, and looked how far the chain went. It stretched about 3 or 4 feet then faded away into nothing. It looked like it went to the middle of the island.
She was trapped here.
She sighed and started to walk back, the chain fading away and turned into nothing.

Cassie was trapped forever.
Or until her murderer was brought to justice.

[Celestial]

Shani hissed angrily in frustration. It had happened so fast and she was swept along with the mob before she even realised what was happening. Mina was crying and screaming right up until the moment she was hung. She was not the person who had killed Mina but even so, she felt her blood on her hands. It was a disgusting feeling.

"Hey, Mina," she said quietly, hoping that the girl's ghost would hear her. "Do you...want to go exploring still? I'd be happy to, if Nelly accepts my feathers for kebabs."

Shani sat down on the beach, her wings folded around her. She hoped that the girl would forgive them.

[Draco]

Q sat, pretty happy with his crab he finished eating. It was a excellent crab (could use butter), and he was full. While sitting there, he started to hear a rustling noise behind him in the forest. Standing up he looks to see what it was.

A large very angry looking boar dives out of the bushes in the direction of Q. This is oddly the moment he realized something. He didn't have any clothes except some boxers on. How he missed this fact is unknown, even to him, but there he was, facing down a angry boar in boxers.

"Well now, this doesn't make much sense... But what fun is there in making sense? Charge when ready!"

The boar charges and Q holds his spot. The boar continues to move, and Q remains where he stands. This goes on for a few minutes (actually about 4 seconds, but it's drawn out from different angles to look cooler, but you wouldn't know that reading it, but if you saw it... It would be awesome). When the boar reaches Q, he dives over the boar and lands on the other side staring down the boar as it quickly turns around for another attack. This time though, when the boar reaches Q, he steps to the side so it runs into a tree. Where Q then whacks the pig with a log (followed by a number of other things that can not be shown on screen or in text). After a while Q is now cooling some bacon on a hot flat stone he found.

"Sorry friend, but Q needs some pork!"