Tex's Story

Bruce got to his hooves slowly. He'd recovered quite quickly from the shock thanks to the conditioning his body went through soon after his change. Back then he had even less of his cognitive function and it took very little to send him on a destructive rage. Many scientists ended up with broken bones and a few died from being gored to death with his horns. People where much less inclined to insult him to his face at least. Bruce completely dismissed Cadmus from then on. If he provoked him again he would be facing a literal raging bull but for now Bruce felt his message was sent. He returned to his previous spot in front of the bench in the spot between the two sets of glass doors to the outside and crossed his massive arms across his hairy chest.

Just outside the facility a creature twice as strange as Bruce circled the stairway that lead both down to the beach and down into the jungle. He was miles up and out of sight from the other side of the glass doors, even from the outside he looked vaguely like a bird albeit a bird with an irregular flight pattern and a very long trailing tail. Such oddities could be explained away by sun glare and poor eyesight but the truth of the matter was he wasn't your average tropical bird. Tex's wide golden eyes flashed as he watched the outer doors. He'd been monitoring the conversations flitting from walkie to walkie on the several channels that went across the island from his secret cliff home stocked with various trinkets and stolen equipment. He was very interested to meet the newcomers. Not right away of course, he was too cautious and too much of a coward to face them all head on, but one on one he could benefit from their individual needs and desires. Not to mention the emotional stress and turmoil induced by long term captivity was far more entertaining to him than any soap opera. It wouldn't be long until Tex had them all eating from his talons.

Tex was certainly not the only one to catch the echoing voices of new arrivals that managed to emanate through the air vents to the outside. His ears may have shriveled but he could still hear above the water just fine to tell that there were more than just a couple greenhorns who have found themselves on the island. So it seems as though they expanded their operations to harbor a larger group. He was curious as to how this would turn out. After all. They could barely handle three in the beginning and from what he could remember, the first trials weren't even finished yet. Here he thought he would give them a shocking welcome but the brute with horns already beat him to it. Not like he could drag his body out onto the sand for very long. Feels much like dragging yourself over fine grain sandpaper. It doesn't hurt right away until it rubs away the top hair and outer epidermal layers of skin...not that he had much hair anymore.

Alex lugged his upper body onto the sand so that he could get a better look at where the bird-bat-man had landed. He huffs like an asthmatic old man but once he creates a niche on the side of the stream he settles in enough to quickly recover his air. "Hay. Birdo, see an'thin' to ripe ohf' yeh?" His speech wasn't the best. Serrated teeth were not kind to delicate tongues causing him to develop a speech impediment just so he could avoid accidentally biting off his own tongue. His words were slow but his mind was still well enough intact.

They weren't the only two curious about what was going on inside the building. He could never catch her completely in his sights and for most eyes, she had good reason to do so. But with him, he was starting to think that she started to do this with him as well for the fun of it. Or maybe seclusion was actually getting to her, that knack she had for paranoia was finally getting the best of her. Maybe. What a lonely existence she must lead.

Tex glanced down at the fish-man several feet below. His gaze spoke of very little interest in the creature but he scoffed slightly anyways, turning his gaze back to the new test subjects. His tail began to uncoil from around the trunk of the tree in which he stood. The movement was very much like that of a snake seeking to wrap around anything nearby.

"Hardly." Tex said simply. "None of these fools will last very long."

Tex lowered one of his wings to grasp the branch he stood on with his hooked claw. He crawled strangely along the branch. His tail slid off the tree trunk to drape below and gradually sway and twitch with each step he took. He lept with ease to a lower branch on another more thickly grown tree. "One of them is ex military though....he should be interesting if he lasts. He'd probably be dumb and stubborn enough to try and confront them. It would be.....thoughtless of me not to lend my.....assistance."

Tex smirked. He and Alex both knew of the potential futility of rebellion, even if the man figured out a way to get them all off the island there was no way society would allow them normal lives again. Both Alex and Tex fared just fine where they where as most people would pay to live on a secluded island full of the bounties of nature. Tex would have fun regardless, sapping the man for his own amusement and desire. He fell silent after that, his sharp gaze scanned the nearby brush sensing vaguely the presence of a comrade he had much desire to avoid. He climbed the tree he was in using hook and talon to find a potential save zone and used his tail and tallons to secure himself in a comfortable inverted position. He wrapped himself in the comfort of his wings with only his head visible. His wide eyes gazing down at Alex. "What will you do? Stalk them along the riverbanks and drag them to their watery graves? That would be amusing. We can rename you Loch Ness. Nessie for short."

"Y'no I though' the same thing when I saw you." The Tex had little to no meat on his bones to speak of when he first came here. He figured he would be the first one to die off. Either from withdrawal or while trying to execute one of his idiotic plans to get off the island. The man proved to be more versatile than he expected. He neither hated nor particularly enjoyed the man's company but it was far better than talking to the birds. If anything he became more tolerant of him when 'she' went into hiding. Of course she still visited him at times, when she wasn't always looking over her shoulder...speaking of which. The area had grown quiet. Only the distant sound of a bell, the dampened songs of birds and breeze rustling the trees accompanied them.

Alex's attention returned to Tex. "Course he'll last, for now. Till-" He trailed off. Sure the soldier was the best bet starting off considering his training. This of course could change. Just like it did with the different roles that they had played just a few months ago. "Long's you don' get me cau' up in yer sh'nan'gins, like las' time." He didn't even want to bother thinking about that time. Best left to be forgotten to time.

Much of his facial muscles didn't function like they used to but it was clear as day that he was scowling at the feathery man's last comment. "How 'bout you come dow' here so I can give you my opinion?" If he could climb trees he would drag that snarky idiot and watch his expression turn as he pulled him under just long enough to watch him inhale. Tex would hear something zip past his head as he moved further up the trees. It only happened once. But it was enough that he would be reminded just how futile it was for him to climb. No matter how high, as long as he was in the trees he could be reached by one.

'If only it didn't take so damn long for the greenhorns to walk out a damn door. You'd think they were half blind.' Alex thought to himself.

Tex laughed like a wheezing parrot, "Sorry, I don't scuba dive with sharks."

He stopped laughing when he caught movement at the corner of his eyes. He turned his head abruptly and though he couldn't get a glimpse of the faceless creature keeping an eye on them he knew very well who it was. A twinge of annoyance breeched his expression, discarded only at the sound of Varin's sounds of dispair. He immediately fell to silence and used his hooked claws at the knuckles of his wings to clamber along the branches, upside down towards the sound. He hid far above Varin, cloaked by shadows and leaves his black fur and dirt covered skin acting as some vague form of camouflage. He listened to Varin as he spoke to himself and the heavens, with an indifferent expression on his deformed face.

"Pull yourself together." He said simply. Keeping hidden in the trees but addressing Varin. He wasn't quite ready to show himself yet. Tex was.....melodramatic at times. Varin would hear his voice quite close by, just in the trees but he wouldn't see him, not directly. He would hear the rustle of leaves however and occasionally catch a branch shake as he leapt from one branch to another, climbing and swinging. Perhaps he'd catch the last swaying tip of Tex's long trailing reptilian tail or hear the rustle of his enormous bat wings. Tex's voice would then sound somewhere to the left of him. "Crying isn't going to solve anything, I can assure you that."

Finally Tex would drop in right behind him, after toying with his senses enough to confuse him. His landing would be heavy, both tallons would grip the dirt, the massive curved claws digging deep and locking him into position. He would appear crouched over as his legs compensated for quadrupedal movement, his spine would seem almost curved into an arc, the spine a visible ridge in his back, shoulder blades sharp and visible. His long wing arms came down as forelegs, folded the knuckles substituted as support for landing on. He then would straighten up onto his hind legs again and fold his wings beside him. Upright he was much taller than Valin, about two heads taller but he stood at a reasonable distance away as to not make him feel any more uncomfortable about the whole confrontation. His tail snaked around to circle the mutant's feet, the feathered end quivering slightly.

"Hello." He said simply, a strange and friendly smile spread across his face.

The pain in varin's head started to subside a bit, the coolness of the water bringing him back to calmness. His thoughts rational once again, he peeked from his crouched position. He breathed deeply before he started to bring himself up from his fetal position when something caught his attention to his left.

His head snapped up at the source of it. 'pull yourself together... the voice said as he snapped back into a sitting position. "How can I pull myself together in a place like this?" He thought out loud to himself. Out of the corner of his eye he caught the last bit of something. A tail maybe? But it was enough to cause him to shake with fright. The feeling of being watched was not a pleasant one, and the strange feeling of something on his head wiggling where he had felt it last wasn't helping.

The presence and the voice was felt above in for a second. 'Crying isn't going to solve anything, I can assure you that.' "I wasn't crying!" He said, annoyed at the fact that he could only feel and hear this presence. He got to his knees, looking around the place as he tried to calm himself. That was until he felt someone...or something drop behind him.

The wind was enough for him to estimate the size of whatever was behind him in his head, but his body was compelled to look. Skin turning paler than it already had been, the very look of his creature made him want to die if he wasn't already dead. It was like a not so finished cross between a bat, a lizard, a bird and a man that was slowly fading a way. "Yimir's frosty taint! Don't eat me!" A terrified varin pleaded as he scrambled backwards right into the shallow end of the creek. He was shaking with fear, wet from the watch, the only thing that could make this worse would be giant spiders at this point. He hoped that it didn't reach that point.

Alex sunk back behind some low laying branches that slightly dipped into the water. A reflex that developed when just about anyone who approached him have had nothing to offer that would prove to be useful to anyone but the staff of the island. He was smart enough to keep to himself and away from employees. Until it was required of him to fall under their care once the treatments started.

Unlike Tex, he wasn't so quick to reveal himself. Nor was he as keen on messing with the newbie either. Most likely he would have let Tex have his fun until Alex had a better chance to understand who was capable of what. It was childish really, to play find the freak and scare the living hell out of those who had little understanding on what was going on. Though these people, or so far this person was the first newcomer they had seen in months. There was a way for him to get why he was doing this little dance. The bat-bird man would enjoy his grand reveal. 'Couldn't even wait for the others to pop into the picture. Good lord.'

He wanted to allow the others time to fret over Tex in case they decided to properly defend themselves with makeshift weapons. The best bet would be letting him take the limelight since he could damn fly. While Alex was literally limited in movement by all but two and a half directions. Forward, back and slightly down. Not once did he consider any natural weapons that he acquired to be advantages since they would prove to be no more useful than as a last resort.

"Gahh!" Alex was caught by surprise with the greenhorn scrambling backwards into the water whilst churning up water and kicking up wet sand. He held up a webbed arm to protect his eyes, face and gills from the debris. "Ey! Wa'ch yohr dahmn self kid!" For a few moments he acted as though he was back on the mainland, in his old skin. His lips were pulled back into an annoyed grimace to show many of his shark-like teeth.

Tex had no patience to continue to deal with the paralyzed and frightened man. He turned to the side and swung his massive length of a tail towards Varin. It seemed to move in slow motion, first the base then a ripple traveled down towards the end which had gathered enough kinetic energy to whistle through the air at remarkable speeds that would cause Varin to wince had he been observing it. Tex maneuvered it in such a way, however, that it merely tapped Varin's ankle with some pressure and a smarting ache before he wrapped it and yanked, pulling Varin across the mud and filth with ease.

"Easy there, Loch Ness, you're going to scare the little fish." Tex said glaring at Alex with his razor teeth bared. "Your smile may have captivated an audience while you where walkin' on two legs but I can assure you It ain't the same anymore."

Tex used his tail to wrap it around Varin's forearm in order to help him back up to his feet.
"Now, newbie, why don't you and I have a talk. This place isn't all roses and smiles as you can very well tell. There are creatures on this island that you've never even heard of and you can bet the people here have their hands elbow deep in all of it. I can make sure that you survive this, if you'd like my help, of course that would mean that you would have automatic obligation to help me in return."

Varin's head started to spin at the sound of another voice, his relex to turn around proving to be another reason for him to hate himself for it. Some kind of shark creature grimacing at him for trying to get away from the bird creature. However, before he could say anything, He was pulled away and pulled up from the ground.

"Now, newbie, why don't you and I have a talk. This place isn't all roses and smiles as you can very well tell. There are creatures on this island that you've never even heard of and you can bet the people here have their hands elbow deep in all of it. I can make sure that you survive this, if you'd like my help, of course that would mean that you would have automatic obligation to help me in return." Varin blinked, trying to get his mind stright at answer this...bird, lizard creature that was striking him a deal. It wasn't like he had a chose in the matter, if he was to survive here, he would need all the help he could get.

"What do you want in return, exactly?" He said, plainly crossing his arms as so not to fidget in fear of this thing before him. However, his toe tip tapping wasn't helping his cause of not looking fearful as it was thumping the ground like a frightened rabbit. "As of right now I have nothing to give other than carving things, but being pushed off of a boat doesn't leave me with much."

Alex shrugged off his remarks without batting an eye. it was par for the course and he was becoming predictable with his insults. There's only so many cripple, fish man jokes one can tell to keep it fresh.

Ideally they should have been smart enough to partner up with another new islander. Least that way they could figure out what was going on together. A level playing ground where neither had anything more than sheer skill over the other. Make it less likely for a monopoly to be formed right away. Like with what Tex was attempting. Alex huffed a half laugh when the kid said his only skill that he viewed had value was carving. "A whittler. Great catch ya got there Te's."

It wasn't everyday that he had the possible option to give Tex an actual hard time. There weren't many people to take advantage of on the island in the past, staff were too smart to fall for his silver tongue, most of the time. Now it was more possible for it to be like a breeding ground for seedy promises and near-truth lies. Just the thought alone made him feel ill. "Word of a'vice kid. Better off helpin' yourself then gettin' it from a feather'd snake." He grumbled while wiping off his face the best he could. Using his hand like a huge bowl he scoops up water and pours it over himself to clear the sandy debris away.

Alex would be more informative to those willing to listen if it wasn't for the bird brain who had to stick his beak into everything. He didn't want that dirty, naked idiot to end up hearing something of value and getting to it first before the others could. It wasn't long before he could hear other people nearby and lazily ducked back again to be part of the scenery.

"Hmmmh, why don't you shut your mouth, Alex." Tex hissed, eyes narrowed with irritation. The man was always judging, always had something to say, pretending to be the wise one of the island. He may not agree with the things he did but it didn't mean he actually knew any better. "Tell the man he's useless why don't you? No one is useless save for the one who can't even leave the water without shriveling up like a salted leach. Crafty hands are better than no hands at all." Tex wrapped a wing around Varin as if to protect him from Alex's heartless words.

"My payment is simple after all. Simply head my words when I give you advise. I will make sure the others don't harm you and that the wildlife doesn't kill you. My first advice? Head to the beach. Now before the others realize the gold mine of resources there. If you want to survive you must get to it. You're a crafty man and if anyone's going to make real use of that stuff it's you." Tex released him and nodded in the direction of the beach.

Varin shivered at the feel of Tex's wing being around him as if he were a friend helping him. Though at this point his trust was weary, but this...thing's mental state was better than some of the other's he's met so far. Even if he was some kind of bat thing. He listened to his words with intent, for in his mind either getting off this island or at the very least making himself hard to find was a priority.

"If that's what it takes. But alright." He muttered to himself as he felt himself being pushed away. He nearly tripped over himself, but corrected himself just enough to get himself into a jog toward the beach. He looked at the ground as he jogged, and soon turned on his heel in an epiphany. He jogged back toward the the bird thing and tilted his head to the side. "I nearly forgot something. What do I call you?" He asked, tapping his fingers together to keep from figgiting again. The fact that his...advisory was something that made it very hard to look at for the moment. At the very least, he could pick out the sound of his voice.

Tex cursed under his breath when he saw that he wasn't in fact the first person at the boat. This was going to have to require some intimidation. His brows furrowed. His sharp eyes recognized the distinguishable figure of a woman and his interest peaked momentarily before he recognized the filthy little stub next to her. He growled, a sound that was promptly snatched away by the breeze. Another opportunist lurking in his collection of possibilities. It was turning into a very unsuccessful evening indeed, it was time to establish some ground rules.

Should they have turned around they could have seen Tex pretty clearly in the distance, his bazaar avian form a mixture of flying fox and....something else. His long tail could be seen trailing like the commercial advertisements on those low flying planes.

Tex announced his arrival to the beach with a piercing shriek that traveled quickly along the beach. He swooped low, stirring the sand with his wings then he landed, his talons burying in the white grains as he turned to face the Violet and Evan.

"Not so fast! If you want what's on that ship you're going to have to wait your turn." Tex flexed his long whip-like tail, an implied threat in his posture. The sparse feathers in his hair where ruffled making him look even more deranged and dangerous than usual "I dare you to try and make off with what's mine."

He thrashed the end of his tail in the sand, sending the hot grains sailing at them. In the mean time he was biding time for his established partner to arrive. He himself could not swim and the salt from the seawater caused him issues.

"Suit yourself. A lookout staying on the shore would be wise. Keep track of these for me." Violet hands her clothes to Evan before entering the surf.

Hearing the loud shriek as she reaches the boat Violet thinks, 'That doesn't sound like any bird I know. Maybe there are actually some new animals I can catalog while here. Though this one sounds large and potentially dangerous, so close study may not be possible.' Not one to distracted from her chosen path Violet continues and enters the boat.

After taking a quick survey, She hears the shouting from the beach, "I dare you to try and make off with what's mine." Oh great, someone who always divides people into us and them has shown up. Why can't these people ever just cooperate and share?

Violet is about to go on deck to respond to the new comer when she hears the banging coming from the cabinet. She grabs the maps and tucks them in a bra strap before picking up the spear, just in case. Violet knocks on the closet door. As soon as the noises inside stop, "I'm a friend. I'm opening the door." She unlatches the door and steps back, spear held non-threateningly but ready.

The jog to the beach was something that was somewhat welcome at this point. Strangely peaceful in a place that Varin knew now was going to be full of unspeakable horrors. Although he wished that none or at least very few of them would befall him, time was of the essence as the Bird man pointed out.

Supplies were needed, though his mind wandered about the place, taking note of everything around him in case. The sound of the waves made him shiver, remembering the feeling of floating in the open water. At the very least, the open water gave him only two options: Sink or Swim. Here, there was more than enough options that made his head spin with all sorts of mental images.

However, he was torn from his mental meandering by a loud screech coming from the direction he was going. As he got closer, he saw Tex, visibly angry and two other people. One of them he had met before, though hadn't talked to while the other he had never seen before. 'Must be a whole shipment of people...'

He rolled his eyes, climbing up onto the boat looking like he had just woken up from a bad nap and blinked a couple times. "Dun pissed off the wildlife, huh?" He said in his normal matter of fact tone as he started to wander around the boat as if looking for something. "Find anything of some value?"

Evan was startled by the shriek. So much so that he almost fell over even though he was standing still. It took him a few long moments of staring to compose himself enough to talk. "Ah, uh-I'm sorry, but we..." He was about to say that they got to the ship wreck first. But with the way Tex looked at them, he tweaked his response. "...she's already inside. Let me just..." He fumbles with his movements, thinking a tad too much with how to move his body as he was suddenly very subconscious of himself. "Hey miss...uhhhh, Violet? We have company!" A little too late for him to say since Varin was already inside with her. He does his best to call out to her without making much effort to get closer to the water. It looked as though he was more concerned over his feet getting wet from the rising tide rather than warning her. Her clothes still in his hands.

He had seen Tex before but only from afar. Mostly while he was flying way up in the sky. Actually that was really the only times he saw him. It was the first time he actually sees him up close and he is quickly learning just how uncomfortable that made him feel. There wasn't too much humanity left of the man-thing from the chest down. It would be safe to say that he was as rational as he was human. This officially was no longer exciting to him. Not in the good sense of the word.
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Inside the boat Violet had knocked on the cabinet door. The scratching stopped, and she had just stepped back. And that was when Varin spoke up, "Find anything of some value?" . The door started to creak open, stacked up poles and other equipment that was leaning against the door was pushing it open. Something else swung the door out hard and was stopped by the wall with a bang despite being partially submerged in water. The very thing that opened the door almost looked as though it was pushed down under the water by something heavy. It looked like a pack full of stuff from what they could see before it sunk below the surface of the water. The owner to it rather suddenly burst out of the water with a gasp. They were so quick that it was hard to really tell what they looked like. Only that they were heavily clothed and in an almost rabid panic to escape.

They weren't afraid to run towards Violet and Varin as they were either too scared to change their course or too bogged down to be able to slog around them. Violet makeshift weapon would catch as she was pushed back and down with great force. If her grip was tight enough she would feel the barb on the spear tear through more than just clothe. However if her grip loosened just enough then it would be ripped from her hand with a bit of cord that was still attached to it slithering through her grip. An almost human shout of pain filled the boat. The water did a better job of slowing them down than the injuries themselves. Mid-hop they lifted up their leg just enough to swat the spear away like a biting animal before getting enough ground under themselves to push Varin to the side, if he hadn't moved out of the way already.

The boat started to tip again onto its other side. It creaked loudly in protest as the water inside started to flow in the other direction. The pots, pans as well as equipment both in and out of the closet slid on the floor under the water providing tripping hazards for those still in the boat.
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Once they were out on the main deck they were able to move without ocean water to slow them. Their speed picked up despite the injury partly in thanks to adrenalin. Hitting the railing of the ship they could see more on the beach. 'Too many people.' One in particular caught their eye; making for a longer leap for the beach sand than they thought was possible for themselves.

They didn't stop once they hit the ground. It was too hard of a landing to stay on their feet so they ended up taking a couple of tumbles before using some of the momentum to help get them back on their feet and moving again. A couple supplies fell out of their partially opened bag. The heavily covered person in question half moved between using two, to all four limbs. Something long stuck out behind them and moved to help counteract how they ran as if it was a part of them. Whatever it took to get themselves to the tree line as they were already half way there. As long as it was away from people and followed along one of the lesser streams that ran to the ocean from the island. A blood trail, trailing behind them as they struggled to keep themselves from limping too much. It was still at a pace that would be difficult for the less athletically inclined to keep up with. Depending who had shown up on the beach by that time, there was definitely one who would be more likely to catch up.

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Back at the boat the water from the ocean was spilling in at a faster rate. If anyone was going to salvage items from the boat they would have to do it now as they wouldn't be able to chase after the thief at the same time. On top of that, the boat itself was starting to shift position in regards to where it was located in the water and sand. Each wave washed another layer of sand out from underneath it, further inching it ocean-ward. Each person would have only enough time to grab a couple of or a couple more items each. If they were lucky maybe more. That is, if the shifting of the boat didn't already cause the items to sink or get shuffled in with the general junk underwater.

Tex turned to keep an eye on Evan, he had been about to take off into the sky and perch on the boat itself when he both heard and saw the creature bolt out from inside. With his keen raptor eyes he could make out exactly who it was despite the sheer speed and frantic movements and heavy clothing that covered it's body. In fact it was the clothing that tipped him off. He let out a shrill long sound that sounded like an angry snake hissing, a lizard spitting and a raptor's long hoarse low hiss. "You!"

Tex unfurled his wings partway to both get them off the ground and allow them to collect the air beneath them, and he ran. His long legs moved just like an ostrich's giving him superb speed over the sand. He flapped his wings wildly, pushing himself forward with even more speed, head low and tail whipping wildly behind him. He caught up to her with ease just as she got to the treeline and the bank of the river and he leapt. His massive talons came down on her back first, by her shoulder, knocking her to the ground and just grazing her shoulder before he could get a firm grip on her. Her fall would have caused her to roll and tumble down to the edge of the river. He leapt down after her, his second grab caught her bag and he stood on her to keep her still. He wasn't as heavy as one would expect him to be, being such an enormous animal. His bones where hollow and he didn't have much fat after all. It would be just enough to keep her just barely too encumbered to throw him off without some squirming, maneuvering, and some good use of leverage. The thing that really kept her from escaping was the bag she had over her shoulders. His talons where stronger than most raptors' which meant even a crow bar wouldn't do anything. He was strong enough in the talons to crush bones.

"Heheheheheheh Where the hell do ya thing you're going? I should have known you would be right in the middle of things picking away at MY supplies. Did you really think that I wouldn't catch you? Darting away like a frightened dog, tail between your legs?"

Violet was about to respond to Varin when the closet opens. Initially stunned by the appearance of the occupant and further hindered by the water, Violet is too slow in getting out of the way. Feeling the tugging on thing in her hand Violet instinctively tightens her grip. Realizing she was holding the spear, Violet reaches out after the occupant. Intending to apologize and tend to the accidental wound, but she is again too slow.

After the departure of the occupant Violet tosses the fishing net to Varin. Keeping the burlap bag for herself. "Here, grab some supplies, Quickly. It's not safe here any longer." Violet then puts a fishing pole (or two), the rope, the first aid kit, and some random floating bits if there's room in the bag. Then she proceeds to leave the boat and follow the occupant.

Violet makes it on deck in time to see the birdman sneering at the occupant. She shouts, "Hey You! Get off her!" Not sure why she assumed the occupant is female, it just felt right.

Violet gets back to the beach quickly and slowly approaches the pair. The burlap bag of supplies over one shoulder. The spear held at the ready in the other hand. "Leave her alone, You!"

(This is second time submitting this post. The first time a computer error deleted it. And now It won't let properly tag characters)

Crombie had exited through the door to the outside. He shivered immediately from the rush of wind down his neck, and the mist of the water. It as a beach! At last, something he could identify with. He smiled faintly, he loved the beach. He loved the wind, the smell, and the sand. He stood and admired the feeling of the breeze, but it wasn't long until he heard a rustle and nearly jumped out of his skin. After that, he got himself going. His cane jumped from left to right hitting brush and rocks off to the sides. From what he could tell he was on a narrow path leading to what he hoped was a clearing.

The path began to slope and he stumbled over rocks imbedded in the dirt beneath him. He caught himself on a tree, his cheeks flushed, praying there was no one was around to see. Crombie grumbled at his cane, though he had to be grateful, he could have been without it.

He heard the bobbing of what sounded like driftwood and other objects in the distance, he wasn't far from shore. He eventually continued by inching his way down the small hill, and pretty much the rest of his walk, running his cane along the ground thoroughly this time. Soon, his shoes sank into sand and he sighed. Maybe the beach would make his captivity a little more bearable. The shore was littered with weeds, wood and other things he couldn't identify. He kept walking until the sand was damp, and then Crombie just stood.

He was visible for nearly anyone to see, and he was sure many people were out here, but he just didn't care. He was frustrated and uncertain, so he just stood and stared at what he could only imagine. It could have been a chaotic sight, it probably was, but in his mind it was still picturesque.

"You!" That sound was like an electric jolt that made them visibly jolt during their retreat. A new shock of adrenalin would boost their speed out of fear but it still wasn't enough to keep the threat at bay. This was why they stuck to the trees so often. Tex was almost at his peak advantage, seconded by his speed in the air. Just when they reached the tree line they crouched in preparation to jump up the closest tree with their payload. It was their downfall. The weight made them a few seconds too slow. Soon as their feet left the ground huge talons came down to shove them back towards the ground. "Ah!" They yelped feeling one of those talons rake their shoulder. Cans and other miscellaneous items such as dye packets, binoculars, a flare gun with extra flare cartridges flew out of the bag while they tumbled for a second time; getting sand in every place imaginable. It left them dazed, the wind knocked out of them long enough for Tex to land on top of them.

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Evan meanwhile was hard at work trying to collect the cans that had fallen into the sand. Sure he already knew that there were steady meals, so he didn't have any concern for starving. But the one thing he missed was the flavor. It was enough to make him almost as desperate as the two failed experiments to collect whatever he could carry. When he found that his arms just weren't big enough to hold what he wanted he took to pulling up the bottom of his pajama top to make a pouch. It made him clumsier but it did increase his carrying capacity.

The fight going on between the two experiments only brought to his mind that he had the opportunity to get what he could before running back to the safe confines of his room within the facility. He only looked over his shoulder to see where the two were fighting and, Violet, had gone. All the better for them to take the fight away from him. The loud sounds of creaking, groaning and cracking emanate from the ship in more frequent and louder intervals making Evan jump back a few paces. He nearly dropped what he had just picked up, including things like a small water proof flash light, swiss army knife and a spool of fishing line.

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Cool wet sand pressed up against them. It helped bring them out of their daze to assess what had just happened, and what was happening right now. Grabbing handfuls of sand they tried to fling it over their head to get them to back away. They began to squirm to get out from under Tex only to wince in pain as the movement was pulling open their wounds for more sand to get in. They didn't speak a word, only turned their head just enough so that they could look past the rim of the hood to give Tex an aggregated glare. There was no way they could get away without abandoning the bag. Therefore there was no way for them to get away from those talons.

"Leave her alone, You!" They could hear someone coming closer. It did nothing to ease the tension and desperation they felt to get away.

The long appendage that trailed behind them whipped up to wrap around the nearest part of the foul smelling man bird and began to squeeze so they could do something next. Which was, while still on their stomach, arching their back while lifting their legs up and back towards Tex with the skill of a contortionist. Their feet worked almost like hands; their long, claw tipped toes grip onto one of his scaled ankles and his tail. Whatever was closest to their reach. At the same time they reached back to grab at a wing in order to keep him from flying off.

All of this of course did nothing to help with their bleeding. It soaked into the sand and washed down stream.

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The boat couldn't hold out any longer. It slid further back into the ocean before sinking below the surface. Large bubbles rose to the surface as the last air pockets imploded from pressure. Only the most buoyant items cropped back up to the surface, like buoys. The risk of being pushed up against the rocks or pulled under the surf was high.

Evan sighed wishing that the boat didn't sink so soon. But at least he was walking away with something. He turned around to wake to the facility. "Gah! Jesus, don't sneak up on me like that!" He fumbled with his supplies in front of Crombie. He hadn't seen him before so it didn't occur to him that the guy was blind. Looking him over for a few seconds he juggled his things so he could wave his hand over Crombie's face.