[ another day, another failure. that makes it seventeen days now, for those of you at home who are counting. almost three weeks of nonstop searching, only to turn up empty-handed each time. it probably wouldn't sting so bad, if it didn't feel like the island was taunting them each and every time. ]

I'm back.

[ sanji would be able to tell from her flat tone alone that today's search has once again ended in failure. she certainly doesn't need to pour salt on the injury by explaining any further, but given the very nature of their situation, some debriefing is always necessary.

a half-drawn map is set down on oversized barrel they've come to use for dining, along with a waterlogged compass and oil lamp. ]

There's nothing but jungle north of where we stopped last. What we thought might have been another stranded was just the nest of a jaguar and her cubs.

[ some days, the sense of dread and hopelessness is so overwhelming, it feels like the first day all over again. waking up half-soaked in the sand along the island's shoreline, the last few memories of her life before this flickering in and out of her field of vision as the rest of her surroundings filter into view. broken wood, waterlogged crates. every indication of a shipwreck, only angelika had never been on a ship once in her entire life.

two hours later, she finds sanji on another beach, mulling over the remains of a seaplane — something he'd never been on either. it had taken them three days later before coming across this abandoned shed, what would end up being their would-be shelter for the next few weeks. and it was a week and a half later when the island first reached out to them, letting them know their compatriots were in similar situations, looking for them as well. even now, angelika isn't sure if that was meant to be helpful or not.

passing a hand over her face, she pushes out a steadying sigh. it could be worse, she keeps telling herself. it could always, always be worse. ]