Hello again. I woke up screaming today.

Fading memories of forgotten horrors vanishing back into the recesses of my mind. Where I hoped they would stay.

When I finally managed to get a grip on reality I saw that reality had changed a little while I was away. Woven reed baskets of fruit and fish lay among banks of woven flowers and placed all over my previously empty and dour cave.

What?

When I went outside I was surprised to see a small building had been thrown together outside on the overlook. Pretty much just a woven grass three sided hut, with the open side facing away from the ocean and its breeze.

Inside a child was lazing about, rolling across the floor. Back and forth, back and forth. Until on one such rotation they happened to see me there, watching them.

Then they froze.

Very slowly, as if in front of an unknown but very dangerous looking creature, they stood. Then turned and ran frantically down the mountain.

I scratched my head and took a seat on the overlook.

Sometimes, looking at the horizon can be calming. Bringing back good memories of distant lands. Other times it can be frustrating. Like the horizon is mocking you for not reaching it yet.

This was neither of those. This time, the horizon made me sad. It was vast, the lands beyond it defying comprehension. And somewhere out there are my friends. Somewhere in this vast world. Alone, like me.

I had tried to stay positive. I had come up with plans to waive off the sinking sensation of the sheer size of the task in front of me. Finding four people in this wide world. How foolish do you have to be to not realize how ridiculous such an undertaking is? More so than I it would appear.

I was on the verge of doing something, what exactly I couldn't say. Was I about to leap off the cliff into the ocean? Burst into tears? Scream and rage at the world? I never found out, because it was at that moment that I heard movement behind me.

The elders were there, still sweating and refusing to meet my gaze. Curious, and thankful for an opportunity to get out of my own head I gestured questioningly at them. Kinda like a shrug with expanding arms and open palms. I'd have just raised an eyebrow, but like I said. They refused to look at my face.

Which seems kind of rude to me? Eyes and faces are very emotional places. If they wanted to really know what I was thinking or talking about they'd look me in the eyes. Probably. I don't know. Nevermind.

The child had come back as well, peeking at me from behind his elders. One of them grabbed him and pushed him front and center. Much to his panic and my amusement.

They said something to him, and then he turned to me.

"What want?" He said, surly and quiet. Probably not enjoying his role as translator.

"I want to find my friends." I responded, eager to see more amusing reactions. Anything was better than what was in my head.

He looked at me, with that special gaze children use when adults are being stupid. "No, what want us?"

Yeah, seems they thought I was a god. And wanted to know what I wanted as tribute for not striking them all down. It took a long time and dozens of broken sentences with wrong words to get the message across.

My tribute was for them to send messengers out. To as many places as possible, with a note and a picture I wrote and drew. To find my friends, and help them get back here, if they needed the help.

By noon ships were heading in all directions. Sailing towards known settlements in search of news of my friends.

It would seem I just got a pet tribe.

Nice.

I headed out myself shortly after. I was in no state to sit and relax. Shadows of my dreams last night lingered. Drawing me into a pensive and stressed mood. Travel is a good way to relax. So I wandered.

Trying not to think is hard by the way. The more you try the more you realize that thinking 'don't think about it' is still thinking. Then you start thinking 'don't think about not thinking' and it goes on and on. A never ending cycle of annoyance and redundancy.

Eventually the sun went down, and I could finally stop trying to think about not thinking about not thinking.

I set up camp for the night on a little hump of sand in the middle of the waves.

I am getting tired of fish.

Maybe if I cook it differently?

Goodnight.