It was dark. Really dark. But not unlike the shelter of your blanket on a stormy night, or the comfort of closing your eyes as a loved one holds you. Aviana felt almost calm. She was at peace. She took in a deep breath as she saw absolutely nothing except black everywhere.
  It felt so soothing. She was so relaxed. It was perfect.
  Like that time of a few minutes of splendor for those who are fortunate enough to catch them, when the sun sets and for a bit everything goes quiet and the world is hushed by the Sun and Moon. When you can hear nothing and feel everything. When your emotions are like a calm wild and raging beauty amidst the fire of longing to stay this way forever.
  You don't feel exactly tired but not exactly adventurous. You want to let your soul go deep withing the earth and spread out; consuming lands and seas of wonderful new ideas while standing there and looking at the Sun dip down. While the colors that had once emerged now turn dark and merge within to become one.
  What you feel then is how Aviana felt now, as she stood in this shadowed place that was so far away from Canada or the island...
  It was not strange to her one bit that her emotion for colors were the same for those of darkness. Eternal black.
  Black held some kind of relief to her. But only because...
  Aviana felt her beautiful dark being consumed by an even blacker and harsh force, which was full of the memories, full of her- No. She wouldn't let this happen. Aviana used all her will to stop, stop remembering. When among the dark that was not hers, a small light appeared in front of her.
  Aviana gasped. This time she didn't hold back. Her shadowed face smiled back at Aviana. Aviana's shadow held out her hand, coaxing Aviana to reach out as well. Her shadow was glowing. Aviana sucked in a breath as she tentatively put her hand forth. Her eyes widened as their finger tips almost touched; one inch, half an inch, a couple centimeters- "CRKK- SNAP!"
  "Say wha?!" Aviana woke up suddenly with her heart lurching. She quickly looked behind her to see Rick scrambling towards Lewis, who was screaming as he held on to the trunk of the tree. The branch he was on was barely hanging by a splinter. He was slowly being pulled down as the jacket around him pulled him towards the tree to which it was tied.
  Rick reached Lewis and shouted, "Untie the shirt!" Lewis quickly pulled at the garment as it came apart and flew down. Rick took a deep breath and hauled him up, his not so big muscles flexing as he struggled to lift Lewis. Lewis gave a grunt as he heaved himself up. Just as his foot lost contact with the branch, It gave a mighty chrk sound before falling. The thud of the mass was loud in the silence of dawn.
  Rick and Lewis sat on Rick's branch, panting slightly from the sudden exertion. Their tanks soaked in sweat from the constant heat. Aviana was frozen in place as she slowly comprehended her surroundings, the time and what just happened.
  "His other branch snapped when we had just settled down. Remember how you said it would hold out? Well, half way through the night it fully broke and we went through this whole ordeal," Rick's voice interrupted Aviana's thoughts, "Lewis is pretty unlucky. This tree is made of strong stuff. Probably took the rotten branches, Lew."
  Lewis pouted before lying down and gripping Rick's branch tightly as he fell asleep. Aviana and Rick shared exasperated looks. Lewis and his beloved sleep...she thought. The two quickly agreed to wake Lewis up as soon as they grab their shirts. Aviana was about to pull on her shirt before she stopped. She decided to tie it around her head as a type of bandana to soak up some of her sweat. After showing Rick the same method, they woke Lewis up, meaning they poked him hard in the stomach. Literally the only way he woke up, or else he is dead to the world.
  After that, they proceeded to go down the tree, which took ages, because for Aviana, going down was harder than going up. You just went so fast and your hands scraped the bark and your knees ached. Yep, this jungle was getting to her nerves.
  As they walked in the direction of the ship, which Rick had quickly taken a look at from the top of their tree in the morning, the thought struck Aviana.
  "Guys, I'm starving."
  "Me too. And thirsty," Lewis piped up.
  "Hm... same. Water will have to be from fruits. And that goes for food too. I'll identify them. Aren't you glad you have me around?" Rick answered with a smirk. (A/N Malfoy style smirk guys; amirite Potterheads?)
  "Our pleasure," Aviana supplied as she got distracted by the mouth watering idea of sweet, juicy fruits. Yesterday was way too hectic to worry about anything but staying alive.
  As they trekked on it turned to noon and Aviana was craving anything to put in her mouth. Her throat was dry and even swallowing left it like a mini desert in her. She stumbled to a halt. "Wait here, guys. I'm going to go look for sonething to eat."
  "Yes! Finally someone bothered," Lewis said as he shot a glare towards Rick.
  The latter gave a grunt and sigh mixed together like a muffled bull breathing loudly as it died. When Aviana informed him of that, he wasn't entirely pleased. "It's not my fault I have more stamina," Rick shot back with an air of annoyance.
  "Well, it's not our fault you have the awareness of a brick," Aviana said with a little smile as Lewis snickered.
  "Wait up. I'm coming too, and so is Icky here," Lewis added as he quickly caught up with the already walking Aviana. Rick gave a growl of warning before running after the two.

☆Helllllo friends! I'm kind of sad that my rank for the story increased (as in it used to be 300 something and now is 600 something)  :(. Please vote and drop a comment from time to time. I love if you read my story, but voting is a big part for me. Now I'm not forcing you, just saying it would be REALLY appreciated. If this story goes good,  and hits off, I'll start maybe releasing a second story. That's all I'll tease ;). But only if this story really gets better. Your help is appreciated!
-SugaKookies05 ♡