Chapter II - The Island

As they packed their belongings and prepared to land, Darien announced that no computer or transmitter equipment, aside from their scientific instruments, was to be brought ashore. Dale was heartbroken to be separated from his Game Boy and radio, although out in the middle of the ocean the radio wasn’t really that useful. Eventually, Maria Solis – his mother – had to threaten to hogtie him drag him to the island. She would have done so, too. Dale decided he didn’t want to be tied up and grudgingly agreed to leave his precious technology on the ship.
Eventually, the five kids, Darien, Maria, and Sierra’s dad Andrew clambered into a small boat and rowed ashore. Eneco got wedged between Sierra and Kyle, while Maria and Darien sat by the ever-silent Chassey. Dale sulked in his corner of the boat, and Andrew took the oars.
“Wow,” Sierra breathed. The sun was just setting over the horizon, giving the clouds a pinkish color and the water a fiery hue. “I’ve never seen a sunset like that before.” She reached for her sketchpad.
“Enjoy it,” Chassey replied sullenly. “It’ll probably rain tomorrow.”
“Hey, what’s that?” Dale asked, looking towards shore.
“The chief, probably some of the village Elders, and basically everyone on the island,” Chassey said in a bored tone. “Well, everyone able to come to the beach, anyway,” she added bitterly. Eneco wondered what she meant by that but didn’t press the subject. He had just noticed several tall, buff-looking men wearing typical island skirts. All of them were holding very long, very sharp, very deadly spears.
He turned away from the island and watched Sierra sketch the natives instead. “Wow, qué bueno," he complimented.
“Thanks,” Sierra replied, putting some finishing touches on the picture.
“Now, when we get to the island, I want everyone to stay calm. No outbursts, Dale,” he shot a glance at his younger son. “Once we get all the gear to our hut, we’ll go see if there’s anything we need to get done right away. Any questions?” He looked around at the passengers of the tiny vessel.
“When do we eat?” Eneco asked.
“We’ll worry about that later,” Darien replied.
“If these natives are so friendly, what’s with all the spears?” Kyle asked nervously.
“Stop worrying about the natives,” Darien replied calmly. “They’re not going to hurt you.”
“I’m sure that’s what the other team said, too,” Kyle muttered.
“He does have a point,” Chassey said. “There are a lot of warriors there. I think I should go and talk to them first, just to make sure it’s safe.”
“Are you sure?” Darien asked with a concerned look on his face.
“Don’t worry,” Chassey replied confidently. “They know me.”
The small boat ran aground. Darien and Andrew jumped out to bring the boat closer to shore while Chassey leaped nimbly onto the sandy beach and walked confidently towards the person Eneco assumed was the chief. His clothes were like those of the other natives, but he was also wearing several ornamental feathers and beads. Three girls were standing behind him. Two looked to be in their early twenties, while the third couldn’t be much older than eighteen.
Chassey bowed and began talking with the chief in a low voice. The chief said something back. Chassey nodded and returned to the boat.
“What did he say?” Darien asked.
“It’s safe,” Chassey replied. “He says we can come ashore.”
“Good.” Darien looked a little relieved as he motioned for the others to come, despite his calm demeanor. They all stumbled clumsily up the beach. Being out on the ocean for six weeks made them a little wobbly on land.
“Welcome to our island!” The chief called loudly as they stumbled towards him.
“How did he learn English?” Eneco asked.
“Duh, someone taught them,” Kyle replied indifferently.
“Hello,” Darien said, holding out his hand. The chief shook it vigorously.
“My name is Jenai,” he said. “Your houses are over there.” He gestured towards two huts near the center of the village. “Your belongings will be taken there immediately.” As he said this, several natives took their few bags and began making their way up to the village.
“Thank you,” Darien said calmly. “We’re going to send some of our people to get the rest of our equipment so we can start our research tomorrow.”
“We will take care of the children while you’re gone,” Jenai replied with a nod.
“No, I mean…” Darien looked a little disarmed by the chief’s reply. “Some of us are going to stay here,” he finally explained.
Jenai chuckled jovially. “Do not worry!” The chief held up a hand. “They will still be here when you get back. This way you can bring all of your things before the sun sets and the feast begins!”
“Er, okay,” Darien agreed, a bit overwhelmed by the chief’s personality. “They might feel more comfortable with someone their age,” he added when he saw the kids’ faces.
“Yes, yes.” Jenai shouted something in the native language. The youngest girl behind Jenai stepped forward. She had black shoulder-length hair and deep, brown eyes. She smiled at each of them. Three others emerged from the crowd as well. The first was a light-skinned boy with cracked glasses and messy, sandy-colored hair, who Eneco estimated to be about the same age as the girl. Behind him came a short oriental boy with jet-black hair and a giant grin on his face. Eneco thought they looked very out of place on a tropical island and wondered if they were part of the missing team.  From another part of the crowd came a serious-looking man with dark brown hair. He gave each of them a glare before joining the other three beside Jenai.
“This is Rackham,” he said, motioning to the serious guy. “And this is Riven,” the oriental boy, “Jent,” the other boy, “and my daughter, Laeni.” The girl smiled again. “They will be your children’s guides during your stay here.”
“Oh…kay, then.” Darien turned to his younger companions. “Is that okay with you?” he asked.
“Oh, sure,” Kyle whispered to Eneco. “Just leave us here to be murdered by-” He stopped suddenly as Eneco jabbed him in the ribs.
“Yes,” Chassey said. “We’ll be fine. Just get back before dark or you probably won’t get back at all.”
Darien laughed. “We’ll keep that in mind Chassey,” he replied as he, Maria, and Andrew turned to the small boat.
As soon as the boat and its passengers were out of earshot, Kyle let out an annoyed sigh. “Get back before dark or you probably won’t get back at all,” he whispered to Eneco in a mocking tone. “What a creep. What makes her the authority on weather?”
“It doesn’t take an expert,” Chassey replied evenly. Kyle jumped, apparently unaware that she was listening. “Feel the wind picking up?”
“Um…yeah,” Kyle said nervously, glancing at the growing waves.
“So, are you just going to stand there, or what?” said a voice behind him. The group whirled around. There stood Jent and Riven.
“Hey, where’s Laeni and Rackham?” Sierra asked.
“Oh, you probably won’t see them ‘till dinner,” Jent said.
“Why?” Kyle asked.
“Don’t answer that,” Chassey interrupted. “Where are Aedaria and Roei?” she asked.
“Who?” Kyle butted in.
“Shut up,” Chassey replied coldly.
“Aedaria and Roei have been missing since the lights from the Pillar of Power went off,” Riven said in answer to Chassey’s question. “Nobody will tell us why this is so important, but they all seem freaked out, more about the Pillar than the girls.”
“Is this true?” Chassey asked the other boy. She seemed more alive now than she ever had back on the Explorer.
“Uh, yeah, pretty much,” Jent replied. Chassey frowned and bit her lip in concentration. “Is there something wrong?” Jent asked.
“What do you mean, ‘is something wrong?’” Chassey rounded on him. “I mean, first the Pillar of Power lights up, and then Aedaria and Roei go missing? And you ask, ‘is something wrong?’” She shook her head, pacing in frustration. “Laeni should not have gone off alone, even with Rackham…” she muttered to herself.
“Why?” Riven asked.
Chassey looked ready to hit him, but then a look of realization came over her face. “Wait, you weren’t on the Ambassador, were you?” she asked.
“No,” Riven said with a little laugh. “We washed ashore after our ship went down.”
“Oh,” Chassey said softly. They waited for a moment for her to say something, but her mind was somewhere else entirely.
“You okay?” Sierra asked quietly.
“What?” Chassey shook her head, bringing herself back to the present. “Sorry, I guess I spaced out for a moment.”
“Uh, that’s okay,” Jent said. Kyle rolled his eyes in annoyance and mouth the word weirdo to Eneco.
“What were you talking about?” Eneco asked.
“Huh?” Chassey gave him a confused look.
“Pillar of Power?” Jent suggested.
“Oh, right. Well, the natives have this legend about how the first people came to the island,” Chassey started. “A thousand years ago, a man called the Black Wizard tried invade our world from a place called Vatilgar, a sort of alternate universe. As he was launching his assault, eight heroes rose up and used elemental powers of fire, water, earth, ice, wind, lightning, light, and darkness to fight the Black Wizard, and in the end, he was overthrown and reduced to a spirit.”
She paused to take a breath. “According to the legend, the Eight lived on this island after the battle and left three monuments here: the Pillar of Light, the Pillar of Darkness, and the Pillar of Power. They say that when the pillars light up, it’s a sign that the Wizard is preparing to strike once again, and that only when the descendents of the Eight rise against him will he be defeated once and for all.”
A moment of silence passed. “So…” Jent started, waiting for an explanation.
“So if the pillars are lighting up, Laeni shouldn’t leave the village,” Chassey replied.
“Dude, it’s a legend!” Kyle laughed. “It’s not real!”
“Try telling the natives that,” Chassey replied.
“I… oh.” Kyle fell silent.
“Laeni is the daughter of the chief,” Chassey continued. “As far as the natives are concerned, she’s one of the Wizard’s prime targets. Her father will be furious if he finds out she’s been wandering around alone.”
“Poor Laeni,” Dale said indifferently. “So, what do we do in the meantime?”
“It’s getting too dark to explore,” Sierra said. The sun was casting its last rays across the water. Two small boats were approaching the island.
“Well, we could probably help get the equipment ashore,” Eneco said.
“We’ll help,” Jent volunteered. “We can’t eat until you guys are ready.”
Riven laughed. “All he cares about is food,” he said.
“Wha-… Bu-…” Jent stuttered. “Augh! Dang you!”
“And doing that,” Riven added.