It still took some time, but Raya began moving and eventually popped up with panic eyes. They both quickly went to her side calming her down and explained everything that happened after she was captured.
After explaining everything. They caught her up to speed with their plan to look for food while showing her the shelter they made.
"We can get limbs and break them at the correct length, place them as pillars within the mound. It should help with the possibility of it crashing down. It may not stop it completely, but its better than no security at all."
Damon and Jasper looked at each other for a moment and they both had the same thought.
Why didn't they think of that!
They agreed to let Raya complete the pillars after they gathered specfic limbs. Once completed Damon gave the iron rod back to Raya and they moved out heading in one direction.
Raya carved arrows in the trees to help with navigating back to the camp while Jasper and Damon led the way. Jasper stayed out in front with glowing fists, prepared for a sudden attack or encounter while Damon walked closely behind looking for signs of small animal life.
"It's crazy you awakened, and at the perfect time." Raya said.
Jasper eyes cut her way, he then sucked his teeth in annoyance while giving her a look that practically said. "The hell with you."
"Whats that look for?"
Cutting his eyes again, he spoke.
"You do know I remember you telling Damon to leave me chained up right? Just to be clear I wasn't helping you earlier, I was helping Damon. If it wasn't for him, id be toast right now.
Raya tightened her grip around the rod while clinching her teeth.
"It wasn't personal, I just didn't think we had enough time."
"Oh yeah, well the next time you're in need of some help ill determine lending a hand depending on that same time factor. "
They're bickering went on for a few minutes until they attempted to drag Damon in on the conversation.
"None of that doesn't matter now. If we want to survive this we have to work together. I know in reality we are all still strangers and we're only together because of circumstances, but we cant do nothing about it except move on. Now I don't know how hungry you two are, but im fucking starving. Now can we focus and find some food."
Jasper and Raya glared at each other again before letting out a sigh.
They now were in a section of the forest that was more vibrant in color. Dark green, orange and red leaves were everywhere as different species of trees flourished. It was interesting how forest terrain could change so drastically as the area they were in had to be an entirely different forest.
The forest floor was crawling with vibrant green, purple and blue moss that stretched and hung on many trees. Small flying fowls chirped and dashed in the air around them. Some even settled on high branches overseeing the suspicious people entering their territory.
"Jack pot." Jasper said with a smile.
"Stay back, dinner is on its way." He added.
Damon and Raya side eyed each other shaking their heads. Jasper was newly awakened so it was natural for him wanting to use and experiment with his powers, but they somehow knew what he was planning.
"Hmmmm, ill call this my Shockwave punch."
Jasper generated energy into his fist creating a small rippling wave that could be seen vibrating on the outside.
"Haaaa!
Running forward, he pulled back smashing his fist into the base of a tree where seven small bird beasts sat high up spectating them. The tree shook, and the birds flew up and away landing in another.
"Figures, all brawn and no brains." Raya said under her breath.
"Oh shut it, i don't see you doing anything."
A deep frown crawled over Raya's face as her nose twitched upward. Looking at the birds she twisted the fireplace poker rod between her fingers before gripping it tight. Her eyes tightened with intensity as she pulled back the rod attempting to find a good balance while correcting her throwing posture.
Seeing what she was about to attempt, Damon stopped her.
"Wait, I have an idea. Jasper find the straightest limbs you can find close by, ill get some vines. We can make it into a spear, that should give you more leverage for a good throw."
"Great idea, at least two out of three of us knows how to use their brain."
A large vein emerged on Jasper's forehead as he knew Raya was referring to him.
"Says the chick that's so quick to turn tail and run, yea, Damon told me how you ran instead of attempting to fight that spider beast. You only care about yourself."
Raya stepped forward tightening her grip on the rod. Jasper stepped forward as well with glowing fists.
"Hmph! typical, you're so ready to fight me, but where was that same energy against something that was set on killing you ?"
"Shut up." Raya screamed shifting forward, but Damon slid between them grabbing the head of the fireplace poker seconds before she acted out what was in her head.
It wasn't hard to tell that she was about to take a swing at Jasper using the rod. Damon's body just moved, he didn't even think about it. The only thing that was on his mind was food. He was starving and was beginning to become impatient with how they both were acting.
"Where is that calm, courageous and unwavering daminor you showed when we were in chains being tortured and branded like slaves." Damon asked in a serious low tone.
Hearing his words,Raya's focus turned from Jasper to Damon. Although he spoke in a serious low tone, Raya could tell he wasn't verbally insulting or attacking her in any way. She could tell by the look in Damon's eyes which was more of a genuine look of concern.
Taking in her thoughts, Raya relaxed and looked around spotting a few long broken limbs nearby and walked over inspecting them. Damon turned and began snatching down vines looking for some that were thin, but strong. As he sorted through a few of them he noticed a small trail on the ground.
The soil was disturbed and pushed up in a manner like something small had been digging. Looking at the trail further, it continued on in no specific way. Brushing his thoughts aside he focused back on the vines.
"That should do it, it may not be balanced well, but throwing it should be a bit easier." Damon said after tightening the last vine around the stick and fire place poker. It wasn't a real spear, but it would do.
Raya took a comfortable stance positioning one of her feet in front of her, digging her toes in the ground. Without a second thought she aimed and threw the rigged spear with all her might.
Red and green feathers shot up as it hooked into the chest of the small beast making the other birds flutter and fly away from the sudden danger.
"Damn, great throw." Damon thought with raised brows. He wasn't expecting Raya to kill one on the first try, but he wasn't complaining about it either.
Jasper folded his arms against his chest while mumbling to himself with a stone face. He was acting as if he wasn't impressed, but Damon could tell he was just as surprised as he was due to him not being able to keep eye contact with Raya as she was walking back holding her prize and first kill.
The bird beast was bigger than a fully grown chicken with green and red feathers like a parrot. It's beak was dull, black and rather large while its eyes were small. Looking at it further, the only thing they considered could be dangerous was its small, sharp, needle like talons.
Considering how the bird beasts just sat there until it was too late made them more confident and positive that they were easy prey with the right tool.
"These things are stupid, one of they're kind just got killed and they only thing they did was relocate to another tree." Jasper said in frustration as if he preferred the bird beats to fight back or make the hunt harder.
"Stupid or not, its food. That's all I care about. Damon replied with a smirk holding the dead bird. He could see it being grilled over a fire in his head which made him lick his lips.
The sound of cutting wind snapped into they're ears. The next second another bird was crashing down. Then another and another. Within ten minutes Raya had collected eight birds in total.
"I believe that should be enough for today Raya, there is no need to haul in too many when we cant properly store them. Besides, we should leave before its completely dark. I sure as hell don't want to run into any predators, especially at night."
With that said, they journeyed back following the tree marks made by Raya which turned out to be very helpful as they had drifted off the path they came from a couple times.
"Oh man that's good, or maybe im just hungry." Jasper said before taking another bite. Steam fluffed up as he ripped off a chunk of meat with his teeth. The aroma of grilled meat surfed through the shelter creating a wave of charred satisfaction.
"Thank you Raya, not only did you get us dinner, but you cleaned and grilled them as well. " Damon said gratefully while taking another bite.
"Yea, you did great....thanks." Jasper added with a mouth full of food.
"A genuine compliment, that wasn't so hard now was it?"
"Shut it Damon." Jasper quickly said with a smile.
Raya leand against the wall of dirt with a slight smile as she watched them lick their fingers and hog down the meat barely chewing in the process.
"You guys eat like pigs."
"Oink oink." Damon said mimicking the sound of a pig while taking another bite, making them both smile and laugh.
It was refreshing to see how a little food, shelter and friendly conversation could actually change the atmosphere. For the moment they weren't thinking about the things they had been through.
They enjoyed themselves for the first time since escaping and it felt good considering they're circumstances. Damon told Raya of his ability to create rain which surprised her as well, but after learning he was only 10 years old and had awakened three years early.
Raya couldn't believe it, she made just as big a deal as Jasper when he learned about it.