Odyssey Of Survival-Chapter 44 The Returning Raft

The camp was alive with muted activity as the survivors returned from their scouting missions. Jack sat at a makeshift table near the center of the camp, going through each group’s reports. The burning wood cast a soft glow, flickering in the night breeze as voices murmured around him. Each scout detailed their findings: terrains they’d explored, water sources they’d found, and potential dangers they’d encountered. Jack’s brow furrowed as he sifted through the options, weighing which location offered the best chance of survival.

Madison sat on the edge of her cot, stretching her arms with a yawn. She had already slipped into her simple gown for the night, a loose and comfortable garment designed for sleep. The soft fabric hung just above her knees, the cool air brushing against her exposed legs. She was about to lie down when she paused, a nagging thought tugging at her.

"I didn’t see Nate when we got back," she murmured to herself, her brows knitting.

Curiosity mixed with a tinge of concern as she stepped outside her tent. The camp was quieter now, most of the scouts having retreated to rest. Her bare feet padded softly against the sandy ground as she walked toward Nate’s tent. She passed by Bella’s tent and noticed something peculiar: two distinct shadows moving inside, one unmistakably Bella’s, the other belonging to a man.

Madison paused, narrowing her eyes as a sly smile crept onto her face. "So Bella’s already shacking up with someone," she muttered under her breath with a snort. "Figures."

Shaking her head, she continued walking, leaving Bella’s tent behind.

Inside Bella’s tent, however, the scene was far from romantic. Bella sat cross-legged with an irritated expression, spitting out chunks of chewed fruit into a small pile beside her. Jason sat dutifully next to her, peeling another fruit as quickly as he could.

"This one’s bad too," Bella said, her voice sharp as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Peel the next one. And make it quick!"

Jason nodded without complaint, his fingers working deftly to strip the skin off the next fruit. Earlier that day, Bella had gathered several types of fruit while scouting with Madison and Amara, and now she was methodically testing each one to determine which were edible.

Madison finally arrived at Nate’s tent. She stopped just outside, noticing the eerie silence inside. Her hand hovered over the flap as she hesitated. "Maybe he’s asleep," she thought, taking a step back. "I shouldn’t disturb him."

But something gnawed at her, a feeling she couldn’t shake. She turned back, lifting the flap slightly to peek inside. The tent was empty. The bedding looked undisturbed, and the air felt stale, as if no one had been there for hours.

A knot of unease formed in her stomach. Thinking back, she realized that Nate had left earlier with Axel and Alice. Determined to get answers, she hurried to Axel and Jason’s tent, only to find it empty as well. Her next stop was Alice’s tent, but it too was unoccupied.

Her concern deepened. "Something’s wrong," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Driven by a growing sense of urgency, she made her way toward the riverbank, drawn by the sound of loud splashes and animated voices. As she approached, the scene came into view. Ryder was waist-deep in the ocean, his arms moving with controlled force as he splashed water high into the air.

A group of men nearby was constructing what looked like a raft. The noise of wood being hammered and ropes being tied filled the air. Madison glanced between the raft builders and Ryder, her concern momentarily replaced by confusion.

Ryder finally emerged from the water, his shirt clinging to his muscular frame, droplets streaming down his skin. His expression was grim as he looked at Jack, who stood waiting near the shoreline.

"The moment I stepped into the ocean," Ryder began, his voice low but steady, "my powers stopped working."

Jack’s face tightened, the weight of Ryder’s revelation settling over him like a storm cloud.

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Madison stood frozen, watching from a distance as the uneasy atmosphere around the riverbank thickened.

Jack pressed his fingers to his temples, his mind racing with scenarios and calculations. He had hoped that their newfound powers would give them an edge in escaping the island, but the revelation about the ocean had thrown a wrench into his plans. The fact that their powers were nullified the moment they touched the water complicated everything.

As Jack remained deep in thought, Madison approached them. Her light steps crunched against the sand, but the worry etched on her face was unmistakable. She didn’t waste time on pleasantries.

"Nate and his group haven’t come back," she said, her tone laced with urgency.

Ryder, standing near the waterline, turned toward her. "There’s no need to panic," he said calmly, though his voice carried an undercurrent of assurance. "I know Nate. He’s relentless. If he hasn’t come back yet, it’s because he hasn’t found what he’s looking for."

Madison hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. "But…he’s not reckless," she countered.

Ryder’s expression faltered for a fraction of a second before his usual stoic mask returned. "He’s not. That’s why we give him time. If he’s not back by tomorrow afternoon, we’ll send search parties."

Madison’s shoulders slumped slightly, but she nodded. "Alright," she said softly, though the unease in her chest remained.

"Go rest," Ryder added, gesturing toward the tents.

Madison reluctantly obeyed, retreating to her tent. The night was far from restful for her, her mind plagued by images of Nate in danger, lost or worse. She tossed and turned, her worry growing with each passing hour.

Before anyone else had stirred, Madison was awake. The pale light of dawn filtered through the trees as she slipped out of her tent. She immediately headed toward Nate’s tent, her heart sinking as she peeked inside to find it still empty.

Sighing, she turned toward the beach. Perhaps keeping busy would help distract her.

When she arrived at the shore, she found a group of men pushing the raft they’d built into the water. Ryder was barking orders, his deep voice carrying over the soft crashing of the waves.

"Don’t go far," he warned the men as they prepared to board. "We don’t know how far the ocean affects our powers, and I don’t want to lose anyone. Move forward, see what’s out there, and then come straight back."

The men nodded, their faces serious as they climbed onto the raft. Slowly, the makeshift vessel began to drift away from the shore, bobbing gently on the waves.

Madison joined Ryder and Jack as they stood at the water’s edge, watching the raft grow smaller in the distance.

"Any sign of Nate?" Ryder asked without looking at her.

Madison shook her head. "No," she replied quietly.

Ryder frowned slightly, his expression softening before he quickly composed himself. "We’ll give him time," he said, more to himself than to her.

The three of them stood in silence, their eyes fixed on the raft until it disappeared from view. Just as Ryder and Jack turned to head back to camp, Madison stopped them.

"Wait," she said, her voice sharper than usual. She pointed toward the horizon, her brow furrowed in confusion.

Ryder and Jack followed her gaze, squinting. "What is it?" Ryder asked.

Madison’s voice lowered, almost a murmur. "Are they supposed to be coming back this quickly?"

Ryder and Jack exchanged puzzled looks. The raft was indeed visible again, moving toward the shore at an unusual speed.

"They couldn’t have gone far," Jack said, his tone uncertain.

Madison’s sharp eyes scanned the raft. Her enhanced vision, a byproduct of her evolving powers, allowed her to see details others couldn’t. She frowned as she focused on the men aboard. Something wasn’t right.

"They seemed too calm," she murmured to herself, her voice tinged with unease.

Jack’s expression brightened, excitement flickering in his eyes. "They must’ve found something," he said, clapping Ryder on the shoulder.

But Madison’s unease only grew as she continued to watch the raft approach. Something about the way the men moved didn’t sit well with her.

The three of them stood rooted in place, watching silently as the raft came closer.