Quicksand Fans

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Victoria felt that refilling the water bottles was the easiest duty, but Patricia had taken all the bottles and gone on ahead. She instead helped out with preparing the meal. So far, the trek had been relatively quiet, with most of the group watching out for hazards. She hadn't become familiar with anyone in this new group, and the new faces didn't seem to be too friendly. Surrounded by strangers in a strange land, she kept to herself. She busied herself with cooking, hoping that someone would start a conversation with her.

Amanda eyed the group cautiously, wary that there might be some disagreement about who gets what if they eventually found the treasure. It might not be lucrative to split the booty this many ways. But that might be a question for another time.

Unsure of what to do, her muscle memory from her real life took over, and she pulled her phone out of her jeans pocket. She turned it on and moved quickly to email, not wanting to use much battery. There was a flurry of messages from the last few days. One email after another were desperate pleas from friends and family, asking where she was. Asking if she was OK. They - her husband most of all - weren't happy. It might be difficult to go back.

Amanda quickly turned off her phone. Her stomach feeling empty, she approached Victoria timidly, having mostly stayed quiet so far. Amanda brushed hair from her face and crouched down next to her.

"Need any help with that?"

Amanda used her own knife to start to cut food, smiling at Victoria, trying to make a friend. An ally.

Victoria eyed Amanda carefully, taking note of this advance. It was with some relief that Victoria that Amanda was someone who had even less field experience that she did. The smartphone was a giveaway - who would even think of bringing their phone in the middle of the jungle? Still, if she could get a signal from out here, it would be useful. If Victoria was able to figure out Amanda's lack of outdoor sense, she was sure that the others would too. It would certainly be advantageous to make a friend here. She welcomed Amanda's company.

After some light talk, Victoria decided to gauge Amanda's trust. "Who do you think is the strongest in the group?"

Putting his hiking skills to work, Jason decides to help put up the tent for the night and offers to go retrieve firewood once he finishes so long as someone else accompanies him.

Amanda paused, unsure if she should just flatter Victoria. She chose a different path, though, leaning in close to whisper with her glossy lips.

"Have you seen the arms on Patricia?" Amanda's eyebrows went up. "Strong, that one. Strong."

Amanda watches the tent go up, and sits comfortably on a rock once the food was prepared.

"What? You can't handle it yourself, Jason?" She grins.

Jason laughs at Amanda's taunt, "I'm sure I could, but everyone likes having some company. Especially in such an unfamiliar place."

He finishes up the last tent then calmly begins to enter as he says, "If anyone cares to go I'll be happy to accompany them."

Unsatisfied with the choices for food, Emily cocks her rifle and decides to look for some real food. She eyes birds in the distance and knows she can "bag" a couple. Her confidence grows when her first shot hits its mark. The next two shots hit as well.

Victor, a man with Spanish features but with a peculiar accent that mixes the accent of the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands very strangely, is a man of 21 years, of 1.72 cm tall and is fat, but is strong, smart enough, your hair color is black and short, is a hairy man but not too much, has been studied in a course assistant, is a good, noble, affectionate, good-natured man and his object is the first aid kit

Victoria acknowledges Amanda's remark, but lets it pass. "Listen, if we're going to survive out here, we're going to need to make allies. Patricia might have big arms, but I don't think she's made of the right stuff. We should find the strongest person in the group and get on their side, whatever it takes." She adjusts her top to show a bit more cleavage. "Whatever it takes."