Snippet #2354522

Four hours. Four stinking hours. That's how long Raith had been waiting with a damn paddle and no stinking boat, raft, canoe...nothing! The dark mage ran his hands through his hair and sighed, looking about for something useful. Maybe he could make a raft? He shook his head, his dark hair falling in his face. Raith set the paddle down and then sat next to it, chewing his bottom lip in contemplation.

The mage reached into his pack, a black leather satchel that he always carried, only to find the exact same thing he had found two hours ago; nothing. His book of spells was bound in heavy, black leather, and it was awkward to carry without his pack. Raith set that next to the paddle and continued to dig about. He had three keys, none of which had opened anything he'd come to so far. Raith sighed, finding only a few potions and a fire starter.

Something in his mind clicked; He'd been stuck here before! Crap! he thought to himself. Now I suppose I have to die so I can do another challenge... The mage sighed, and so did the twenty year old in hypersleep. Raith replaced everything in his satchel, stood up, and grabbed the oar. Maybe if he kept looking, he could find something.

Raith shouldered the oar, and took off toward the opposite end of the beach. Maybe someone else he was on this godforsaken ship with could help him out...someone who had already done it and remembered what he was supposed to do. Raith thought about this and allowed himself two low, humorless laughs. No one remembers anything... he thought to himself. No one remembers because the state doesn't want us to... The cynical mind of someone raised by the state was hard to change.

Raith saw another avatar sitting on the beach, and then he saw the boat. Finally! he thought, looking from the oar to the boat. Maybe if he agreed to take her across, she'd let him use the boat...Usually, people weren't that nice, especially to someone with no charm who was hard to get along with in and outside of the game.

"Hey!" Raith called, jogging the res of the distance between him and the other avatar. "Need an oar?" he asked, nodding to his left shoulder where the oar was resting. "You help me out, let me use your boat, and I'll take you across. Deal?" Raith held out his right hand to help the girl off the beach, and to shake her hand to solidify the deal. "I'm Raith,"