Private Footprints in the sand

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn

Mugen was looking at it. "It is rudimentary, but it gives us interior lighting with the reflective surfaces. Refracting the light around it but capturing it enough that it won't go up. It will let us work more at night if we need it and sectionally we can rotate them so areas can be illuminated. Then there is the benefit of it in the tunnels and rooms that we have been working on. It will give use routes that we can go along with when we are checking or storing goods. Mari's sap and shell seals are being a lot better. The dried and stored food is better in temperature controlled areas. The gardens alone are getting better as we can sift and rotate the top soil of it." Mugen was looking at more of it as Jesse moved around and got some food.

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren listened with genuine interest as Mugen explained each improvement. On their own, none of them sounded particularly remarkable, but together they transformed the camp into something far more sophisticated than she would have imagined possible when they had first found themselves stranded. Every problem they encountered seemed to inspire another practical solution.

"The more you explain it," she said with an appreciative smile, "the more impressive it becomes. None of it is extravagant, but every piece serves several purposes. That's probably the best kind of engineering when resources are limited."

Her eyes wandered from the reflected light overhead to the tunnel entrances before settling on the gardens beyond. Better food storage, improved lighting, defensible walls, and growing crops. It no longer felt like they were simply enduring the island. They were adapting to it.

The aroma of the evening meal finally reached her attention, reminding her just how much energy they had spent hauling the wreck ashore. Her stomach was quick to agree.

"I think I've earned dinner after today's workout," she admitted with a quiet laugh.

Following Jesse's example, Seren wandered over to where the food was being served, accepting a portion with a grateful smile.

"Thank you."

Settling onto one of the nearby seats, she took a moment simply to enjoy the warmth of the meal and the comfortable bustle around camp. After a day spent straining against cables, currents, and the weight of a submerged ship, sharing dinner together beneath the softly reflected light felt like the perfect way to end it.

Jesse Organa

 

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn

Mugen looked at her while he sat there with some food. "That is the goal, you want to be able to maximize everything we have. Even the shells that we have are able to be used for different things that will function. Mari has been cleaning and sectioning some parts of them We have bowls but we will also be able to use them with the waterway as basins to spin around and generate some minor power. ONce I finish with the melting down the metals that were in the rocks as all fo those smaller traces. We will have enough to conduct and fix a capicitor." Jesse gave him a look while she was eating and stretched out giving them all a lot of space and Ginger was there. "Today has been good, we got plenty of trees brought in and will do the other sections tomorrow to weave around and with the rocks."

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren ate quietly for a few moments, listening as Mugen continued explaining the growing list of improvements. She found herself smiling into her meal. There was something deeply satisfying about the way he viewed every object not for what it was, but for what it could become.

"I don't think I've ever met anyone who could look at a shell and immediately see a power generator." She chuckled softly. "I would have stopped at 'bowl.'"

She looked toward the scattered collection of materials around camp. Rocks became metal. Shells became tools, dishes, and eventually moving parts. Trees became walls. Even sunlight had become something they could shape and direct where it was needed. It was a remarkably efficient way of thinking.

"It's impressive how little actually goes to waste." She took another bite before continuing. "Everything seems to end up serving two or three different purposes. I suppose that's how a camp like this eventually becomes sustainable."

Her attention shifted to Ginger as she spoke about the day's progress, and Seren gave an approving nod.

"It certainly feels productive." Her gaze wandered toward the perimeter beyond the reflected glow of the camp. "By this time tomorrow we'll have another section reinforced, the recovered ship waiting to be explored, and a little more confidence that we've thought ahead instead of simply reacting."

She relaxed back slightly, enjoying both the food and the company.

"Not every good day needs to be exciting." A contented smile crossed her face. "Sometimes it's enough to finish the day knowing we left this place a little better than we found it this morning."

Jesse Organa

 

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn

Jesse gave a nod of her head when she was listening and eating. She was just glad that they had the chance to keep improving and they were gathering materials from that ship even if she had to find a way to get Seren to help her lift it and all of the other ones that had been down there. If they would have them then they could use them as placement around THey could do a lot with some ship hulls straight up and if there wasn't any power they could at least make them more then useful with the compartments and tools that would be there. Most had even minor kits they could use or facilities and bedding that would be set up and if they could get more sections for the seawall then they would be able to reinforce that as well.

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren ate quietly while listening to Jesse think several steps ahead, following the same pattern that had steadily transformed their camp over the past month. Recovering one ship had never really been about the ship itself. It was about what it represented. If there was one intact wreck nearby, there were likely others, and each one held the promise of more materials they no longer had to fabricate themselves.

"I think it's worth the effort," she agreed after swallowing another bite. "Even if the power systems are beyond repair, the hulls alone are valuable. Compartments become storage, bulkheads become walls, and anything we can't use directly can probably be taken apart for something else."

She smiled faintly as she looked toward Jesse.

"And yes," she added, already anticipating where Jesse's thoughts were headed, "I'll help lift the next one too." There was a hint of amusement in her voice. "Preferably after we've recovered from lifting this one."

Her gaze drifted toward the shoreline beyond the camp.

"If we can slowly build a seawall from the recovered hulls, reinforce it with the stone we've gathered, and continue weaving the living walls behind it..." She nodded thoughtfully. "Eventually we'll have several layers any creature has to cross before it reaches us. That's a much better position than relying on a single barrier."

She settled back with her meal, content with the thought.

"One ship wasn't the end of today's work." A small smile crossed her face. "It was the beginning of tomorrow's."

Jesse Organa

 

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn

Jesse gave a nod of her head. "Yes though using the force like that, I got that itch that I don't know how to explain. Like getting itno a fight sometimes you just want to do something else regardless of how tired you are." She said it as her arms stretched out and leaning back with some fodo that she was able to eat for the moment. Mugen was there though while he had a bowl of the crab shell. "Any ships we can use we can set up, if they are large enough for walls and able to be intact enough we can benefit over a few parts. No power just means we have parts that can be used unless whatever sabotaged us did the same to these ships. That would tell us more as well about who or what group did it.

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren smiled knowingly at Jesse's description. She understood it better than she cared to admit. There was a peculiar restlessness that followed a demanding use of the Force, not exhaustion exactly, but the lingering desire to continue moving, to continue doing something productive while that focus still lingered.

"I know what you mean," she said with a quiet nod. "It's almost as though the mind has accepted that today's work isn't finished, even when the body insists otherwise."

Mugen's thoughts drew her attention back to the recovered ship. She considered his theory for a moment before the corners of her mouth lifted into a faint, thoughtful smile.

"Now that..." she said, setting her bowl down beside her, "...is an investigation I can get behind."

Her amber eyes drifted toward the shoreline where the recovered vessel rested beyond the camp.

"If we find the same damage aboard multiple ships, we'll have a pattern instead of an isolated incident. Patterns tell stories." She folded her hands together thoughtfully. "Whether they were sabotaged, disabled by the same weapon, or simply failed under similar circumstances, each possibility narrows the field considerably. Even what isn't damaged can be just as informative as what is."

A small smile returned as she looked between Jesse and Mugen.

"Recovering useful supplies would be an excellent outcome." She chuckled softly. "Learning who stranded us here, or at least how...that would make the effort even more worthwhile."

Jesse Organa

 

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn

Jesse looked at her and gave a nod of her head as she rose up. "Yes and all good but I need something to exhert all of this extra energy so. Mugen you aare coming with me." He looked at her for a moment and Guilia laughed from her spot as Jesse was dragging Mugen towards the pod where he had set up shop and the large Cathar let her go before rolling over to go into the sand but she only let out a bellowing laugh. "Good luck, don't break anything." There were more laughs and Guilia was looking over at Seren with a moments rest as she had another bowl of food. "Make sure you eat up, tomorrow prying that ship open might take all of us."

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren followed Jesse with her eyes as she abruptly rose, apparently having reached the limit of how long she could tolerate sitting still with all that restless energy. Her brows lifted when Mugen was volunteered without anything resembling consultation, and she managed to hold back her amusement right until Jesse began dragging him toward the pod.

"Apparently he didn't realize he was part of the exercise plan."

Guilia's bellowing warning finally broke Seren's composure, and she laughed along with the others before shaking her head and returning her attention firmly to her own bowl. Whatever Jesse intended to do about her excess energy was between Jesse and the unfortunate man she had selected to accompany her.

"I think I'll take your advice and stay right here with the food."

She took another generous bite, having little difficulty recognizing how hungry she actually was after the day's work. Between maintaining the wreck through the Force, handling the lines, and helping with the fortifications afterward, her body had more than earned the nourishment. Guilia's reminder about tomorrow only encouraged her to finish what remained rather than becoming distracted by the laughter still coming from around camp.

"If getting it out of the water was today's challenge, I suppose finding out whether we can actually get inside is tomorrow's." Seren smiled as she gathered another bite. "I'm looking forward to that part. We might finally learn something about why those ships ended up down there in the first place."

She settled comfortably beside Guilia with her bowl, content to let the evening wind down around them. "But that's tomorrow's mystery." Her amber eyes dropped pointedly to her meal. "Tonight, apparently my assignment is to eat everything I'm given and stay out of Jesse's way."

Jesse Organa

 

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn

"Well you don't have to eat everything, but it is good to stay out fo the way of many of them. I usually wait until all of you are asleep and use my time for watch but we have managed to get a good amount done. Specificially in the small barrier we set up for the water. The eels are nasty with those crabs if they manage to get in and we can take a few out at a time to cook. The other parts have been set up so we have a filter to try and get as much of the salt out of it and other particles with a filter. Not perfect but it is for emergencies we can use the straws on a lot better without having to clean the filtered straws as often and as quickly.":

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren glanced down at her bowl at Guilia's correction and smiled before taking another bite anyway. She had worked up enough of an appetite that finishing it was hardly going to be a hardship, though the advice about staying out of everyone else's way seemed increasingly sound after watching Jesse disappear with Mugen.

"I think staying out of the way might be the more valuable piece of advice," she said with a quiet laugh. "Although after today, I doubt you'll have to wait very long for most of us to fall asleep."

Her attention sharpened when Guilia mentioned the barrier near the water. Seren had seen pieces of their work developing, but hearing how the different parts functioned together made her appreciate it more. Keeping the eels and crabs contained gave them another dependable food source without requiring someone to hunt every time they needed meat. "Being able to take only what we need should help preserve the supply as well. Especially if those creatures keep finding their way into the barrier on their own."

The filtration system interested her even more. Fresh water was one of those necessities that could become an immediate problem if their usual sources were compromised, and reducing the burden on their remaining filter straws gave them another layer of security. "It doesn't need to be perfect if it's meant as a backup. If it removes enough salt and debris that the straws have less work to do, they'll last considerably longer." She paused thoughtfully before adding, "And having several imperfect ways to get drinkable water sounds much safer than depending entirely upon one perfect one."

Seren took another bite and relaxed into her seat, listening to the comfortable activity around the camp. After nearly a month together, she had come to appreciate how much work happened quietly while everyone else was occupied with something different. "You know, I think that's what I like most about what we've built here. Nothing depends entirely upon one person or one solution anymore. If something fails, there's usually another way to manage until we can fix it."

Jesse Organa

 

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn

She looked at Seren. "You would be surprised, Etain might like her drinking but the woman can stay up for hours wearing down her husband." Guilia was laughing about though as she remained there before she stretched out with one of the bottles and some more food. "Besides, a good days rest is earned and brought on. A better days rest is what you do with your pard. You mate or the others. It is not great being alone on a world like this." She was sad a little when saying that but took another drink with a nod of her head when she finished her food in the bowl.

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren nearly choked on the bite she had just taken.

She managed to swallow before looking toward Guilia with widened amber eyes, amusement quickly overtaking her surprise. After nearly a month with everyone, she probably should have expected the conversation to take that particular turn eventually. Still, there were some details about Etain and Ru's relationship she could have happily lived without knowing.

"I am beginning to understand why Ru was so enthusiastic about retiring to a beach and making sure everyone knew when he was applying sunscreen," she said, laughter warming her voice. "Apparently the man has very specific plans for his free time."

The humor softened when Guilia continued, however. Seren caught the sadness beneath her words, faint though it was, and her expression gentled with it. She understood the sentiment perhaps better than she would have once. There had been a time when being alone had felt easier. Safer, even. No expectations, no one close enough to disappoint or lose, and no vulnerability beyond what she chose to carry herself. Her life had changed considerably since then.

"No," Seren agreed quietly. "It isn't." She let the simple acknowledgment rest between them rather than immediately trying to cover Guilia's sadness with reassurance. "Being stranded somewhere like this makes you appreciate having people around. Even when they're loud, ridiculous, steal the blankets, or apparently drag their husbands away after dinner because they still have too much energy."

A small smile returned as Seren took another bite from her bowl. "I suppose there are worse things than ending a hard day beside someone you care about." She glanced around the camp at the others before looking back toward Guilia. "And until we get home, none of us are exactly alone here."

Jesse Organa

 

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn

"ALone no we are all here but lonely is possible. it is different with you humans. You are social yes but cathar are communal, sometimes clans will shaare a single room for no other reason then just because it is comfortin. The skirmish the other night also helped a lot. I was able to release a little of that built up tension on some unsupecting creatures." Guilia said it while she was there but ater a little more. "And if you think that news about Etain is bad, wait until you hear about Mari and Ginger." She said the laast with a laugh and didn't elaborate beyond that.. it was simple enough as they were going forward with the food when she finished.

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren listened with interest as Guilia explained the distinction. She understood loneliness well enough, but the Cathar idea of community sounded considerably closer than anything she had grown up with. Sharing a room simply because the presence of family was comforting was almost the opposite of the independence she had become accustomed to over the years.

"I suppose being surrounded by people doesn't necessarily keep someone from feeling lonely," she mused, finishing another bite. "But I can understand why this would feel particularly strange for you. Going from an entire clan sharing space because they enjoy being together to being stranded with a handful of people must be quite the adjustment."

The mention of the skirmish earned a small laugh. Seren could certainly understand that method of relieving tension. "Well, those creatures chose a particularly unfortunate night to attack us. Apparently they provided a valuable community service before becoming dinner." There was something rather satisfying about that particular cycle, especially considering how much use the group had already found for their shells.

Then Guilia mentioned Mari and Ginger.

Seren stopped with her next bite halfway to her mouth and slowly turned her head toward the Cathar. The laughter without any explanation whatsoever was considerably more suspicious than if Guilia had simply told her.

"No." Seren pointed her utensil at her with mock accusation. "You cannot say something like that and then casually finish your dinner, Guilia."

She narrowed her amber eyes playfully, although curiosity had plainly gotten the better of her now. "I've already learned considerably more about Etain and Ru than I expected to tonight. You may as well finish destroying everyone's privacy while you're at it." A grin betrayed her amusement as she finally took the waiting bite. "What about Mari and Ginger?"

Jesse Organa

 

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn

She looked at her with a laugh though when it came down to everything. Guilia was looking at her and raised an eyebrow. "Well, Ginger is not a natural redhead and Mari's husband was apparently a lot of things but most importantly.. the key thing to know is, they largely go hunting together because they have a hunting ground and traps they can check and reset. The rest of the time they can lounge around and relax on a private area of the beach." SHe said it while being there. "Jesse is well, Jesse is Jesse and Mugen possibly has a crush on everyone but he has the benefit of being one fo the few males on the beach... but he is smart and timid."