Taboo

Keywords: Island, Ch., The, 06,

*Chapter Six: Snared*

It was late when Trinity woke up, nearly noon. Surprised, she propped herself up on her elbows and took a quick look around the shelter. Zane had been next to her when she'd fallen asleep last night but now he was nowhere to be seen. She pushed herself up off the palm fronds and walked out into the sunlight. Trinity rubbed her eyes as they adjusted to the bright light, then took another look around.

Zane wasn't anywhere in sight. Agitated, Trinity dropped down beside the remnants of last night's fire and reached into the boat. That was where they kept their food. I can't believe he didn't wake me up, she thought, as she chewed on a piece of dried fish. We're supposed to work together. Not that Trinity didn't like extra sleep where she could get it, but she didn't need to be treated like a princess, either.

While she waited for Zane to show his face, she began wandering through the edge of the trees, looking for good vines. Zane had told her that his net was getting worn out, so she decided to make a new one. This time I'll try to weave it tighter, Trinity thought, as she cut off a vine she thought would be good for the net. I didn't really know what I was doing the first time. That didn't change the fact that she was irritated at him, though.

Three hours and one fishing net later Zane finally returned. By that time Trinity was so annoyed that she didn't even look up when he approached. It wasn't until he dropped down onto the sand across from herthe she glanced at him. He was soaked from head to toe and he had brought back a few more fish. Their dried supply was low, although they tried to eat it fresh as much as possible.

"Nice net," Zane said, reaching out and taking it. "Have you been working on this long?"

"Since I woke up," Trinity replied sharply. "And found out that you let me sleep in."

Zane blinked. "I was trying to be nice."

"I don't need special treatment!" Trinity snapped. "I'm not a pampered little princess like Sheila!"

"I never said you were…" Zane said quietly, his eyebrows lifting. "I didn't think it was a big deal."

Trinity let out a growl of frustration. It isn't a big deal! she thought, scowling. The big deal is that I woke up and didn't know where you were! That thought startled her. She'd been so determined to be irritated that she hadn't really cared what it was. Truth be told, she'd felt a bit of panic when she realized he wasn't next to her. Trinity dropped her head into her hands, unsure what to do with such feelings. She most certainly couldn't tell Zane about them!

"Next time I'll just wake you up then," Zane grumbled. He grabbed a banana from the boat and stood up, leaving her by herself.

Oh, damn, she thought, sighing. I keep messing this up. Trinity peered into the boat and took note of their dwindling supply of fruit. She had actually considered trying to patch up some of their clothing today, but she was beginning to think having anything sharp at hand, even a needle, was a bad idea. I totally forgot I keep a kit with me when I travel, she thought, pushing herself to her feet. Trinity couldn't make clothes, or anything else, but she could patch things up. And her grandmother, who had taught her, always insisted that she have a small sewing kit with her when she traveled.

Good advice, if you don't forget it, Trinity thought wryly. She found Zane's duffle bag and started off into the woods. Aside from collecting more fruit, she wanted to go around to the places where she set her snares. So far she had caught nothing, but it couldn't hurt to look. Trinity was starting to get sick of fish and fruit. She knew it was better to have boring food than no food at all, but it was still annoying.

The trails they took through the woods were becoming pretty well worn, so it left her time to think as she walked. The changes in Zane since they'd gotten stranded here were startling. I wonder if they're really changes, Trinity thought, or if they're things that Sheila stifled. When she'd first met him, so many years ago, he'd been a cheerful, good-natured punk. He'd even been nice to her, until his friends started giving him trouble for it. Even if he'd tried to make amends, I probably wouldn't have been very willing to listen, Trinity admitted to herself.

And she really, really needed to stop snapping at him so much. He wasn't being rude to her like that. It had been nice of him to let her sleep in. In fact, he's really been nothing but nice, Trinity thought, frowning. And what he said, when I mentioned Sheila… So he too was having doubts about the path he'd chosen in life. What was it that had made them both realize their mistakes? I suppose getting stranded like this does make one re-examine one's life, she thought wryly.

Between the places where she collected fruit were the places she'd set up snares. Trinity stopped at each one of these, finding them disappointingly empty. I shouldn't even bother checking the last one, she thought, scowling. Still, she followed a slightly less worn path to the last clearing. As she stepped through the trees she drew to a sudden halt, the duffle bag falling from suddenly numb fingers. Something had gotten stuck in one of her snares, and it wasn't a rabbit…

*****

Zane waited until Trinity left, then began gutting the fish he'd caught. At least he had them to take his frustration out on. Yesterday, when she'd walked back to camp with him hand in hand, he'd thought things would finally be good between them. He had allowed her to sleep this morning; she'd looked so angelic while she was sleeping that he hadn't wanted to wake her up. So much for gratitude, Zane thought, tying the first finished fish to a stake. Every time I think she's finally being nice, she turns around and pulls a Sheila.

That was what he called it every time Trinity snapped at him. It reminded him of Sheila, the way she would be so nice, then turn around and bite his head off. I'll never be able to escape that, he thought, scowling. I can't take it anymore. Zane couldn't wait to get home. He could dump Sheila, get the hell away from Trinity, and find himself a nice, sweet girl who wouldn't yell at him all the time.

Except that that's no fun, Zane thought, rising to his feet. Girls who are doormats are just as irritating as girls who aren't. Maybe he ought to go for a swim, try to clear his head. Later, when Trinity came back, he could try to talk things out with her. God only knows how long we'll be on this damn island, he thought, so we really should try to get along.

He found the trail he'd taken yesterday, with only some small difficulty, and followed it back to the little clearing he'd found. This time he hesitated before stripping down and wading into the water. There's no way Trinity is going to show up here twice, Zane thought, as he sank into the water up to his chin. Why should that happen more than once? Just because he wanted to see that hungry look in her eyes again didn't mean it was going to happen.

He thought instead about his plans for when they finally got off this island. Although Zane had decided he would make some changes, he wasn't sure what. Perhaps it was time to move out of his parents' house. He'd been staying there because his mother started to cry every time he mentioned leaving, but he didn't really want to stay anymore. I can get a small apartment, if I'm careful, Zane thought. Assuming I still have a job when I get back home.

Finally he slipped out of the water to dry off. Although it was later in the day, the sun coming down was warm enough to dry his skin fairly quickly. He was still a little damp as he began getting dressed and his hair was still wet, but he decided to get back to the campsite. I'd better get back, before Trinity flips out again, Zane thought, rolling his eyes. No sooner had he thought it than a loud, piercing scream split the air.

"Trinity," Zane breathed, his eyes widening.

He was exactly sure where the sound had come from, but it was pretty close. Turning in the general direction of the sound, Zane began pushing his way through the underbrush. There was no time to find a clear path. Another scream, slightly softer than the first, propelled him forward, faster than he would have thought he could run, especially with branches slapping him in the face and vines threatening to trip him up.

Zane reached the clearing and skidded to a halt, startled. Trinity was backed up against a tree, trying desperately not to move. Crouched mere feet from her, not so much as twitching, was a large, spotted wildcat. He wasn't sure exactly what had happened here, but there was a length of vine caught around the wildcat's food. Zane looked around wildly for something, anything he could use to drive the cat away. He spotted a large, thick length of branch with another length of vine tied around it and made a dive for it.

The cat whirled, snarling loudly. Zane yanked the vine off the branch and scrambled back to his feet as the cat came at him. It was too big, too strong, and too fast for him to get away from. He lifted the branch and swung, catching the wildcat on the shoulder. That brought it to a halt, but only momentarily. Zane dashed out of the way, putting himself between the cat and Trinity.

"Run," Zane called back over his shoulder. "Get back to camp!"

She began moving, but slowly, inching along the width of the trunk. Zane's heart was in his throat, but he couldn't let the wildcat get to her. He lifted the stick again and rushed the cat, yelling at the top of his lungs. For a moment it just stood there, stunned, then it sprang. Zane swung the branch again, catching it beneath the chin, slowing its momentum but not stopping him. The cat collided with him, knocking the air out of him. He lost his grip on the branch as he fell.

Trinity's scream was the only thing that kept him from passing out. The wildcat's momentum carried it over him, sending it crashing into the underbrush. Gasping for breath, Zane forced himself to his feet.

Keywords: Island, Ch., The, 06,