Chapter 4

“I want some breakfast!” Della said loudly. (Not that it matters because no one can hear her for a couple miles around)

“Yes, let’s eat,” said Kaylin. They rummaged in the snacks backpack. Della took out an apple, and Kaylin took out a sleeve of crackers. Della was about to take a big, juicy bite, when Annabel yelled at her to stop.

“What, Annabel?” Della asked, lowering the apple from her mouth.

“You can’t just eat, eat, eat!” Annabel shouted, probably louder than Della. “We need to start rationing out our food! Though it may only be one or two more days ahead of today before the barrier brings us to either of the islands, we won’t have enough food to last if you eat like that!”

“Eat like this? Having a healthy breakfast?” Della asked.

“Yes!... Well, no. What I mean is, we can’t eat all our food in one day. If we do that, we will be hungry for the rest of the time. We’re going to have to ration out our food. As I’ve already stated.”

“Okay, so what do we eat?” Kaylin asked, not really following the conversation from before. “I suggest two small items per meal. For example, a cracker, or a slice of apple. In that case, we would all have to eat a slice.”

“I’ve got a pocket knife in the snack backpack if that would help with cutting,” Elmi said unexpectedly. Della, Kaylin, and Annabel all looked at her suddenly, like they didn’t know she was on the boat. She had been very quiet since the talk of food.

“Elmi! Oh yes, what would you like to have for breakfast?” Annabel said, quickly. She figured that Elmi should decide on breakfast just so that she would not feel like they had forgotten her.

Elmi seemed surprisingly calm and careless. “I guess I’ll just cut up and apple into quarters and you can feast on a cracker or two each while I’m at it.” Then, quietly, Elmi rummaged through the backpack, removed a mini knife and took the apple Della was offering her. Kaylin held out the sleeve of butter crackers for everyone to take. Still in silence.

Once they had finished their small, continental breakfast, they decided to pass the time of the morning away with singing and chatting. At one point, Annabel had to yell at Della about rationing when she took a big gulp of water. “Don’t be picky, Annabel. The fish-poo-ocean-water is still drinkable...right?” Della stated.

“Della, salt water just makes you more thirsty, and after a while, it can make you sick,” Annabel replied. It was funny to think after all the times the Cubs had gone out to sea, that Della still hadn’t learned this simple fact.

By lunchtime, they were all more hungry than usual. They tried to shrug it off, but their stomachs kept reminding them with loud gurgles. Eventually, they gave up and had some cheese cubes and crackers. Two of each.

Chatting brought them past the sunset, and having no supper, they ate some crackers before bed. Kaylin’s stomach growled for the fourth time. It would not let her fall asleep. Maybe just one cracker… no! NO! I will not be tempted by my own hunger! Kaylin thought furiously. But then again… hmm. She was about to crawl over to the backpack when she saw Elmi and Annabel were also awake. Tired eyes on the snack backpack. Eh, If they can wait, I can wait.

Della woke up… or did she? I don’t remember falling asleep… Della thought. She slowly sat up, her hunger was starting to get to her. She was sitting on Elmi’s lap again. Elmi was awake, trying to shift over to Annabel without upsetting Della. It wasn’t working.

Della made a long exhale. It dramatically grabbed Elmi and Annabel’s attention. “Oh, little Della, you’re up!” Elmi observed. “Why, yes I am,” Della said drowsily, yawning. Unfortunately, during her yawn, she made a loud ‘aauauhh’ noise and woke up Kaylin.

“Whups! Sorry, Kaylin,” Della said quietly.

Kaylin rubbed her eyes. Oh, yes, Kaylin remembered inwardly. I was on my guardian’s boat in the middle of nowhere… with only my sisters to comfort me. Which was not too bad for them. Living at an almost reasonable amount of food per day, chatting, singing, pretending to draw, and talking about the other islands. Well, Fuzz mostly.

The man that had kidnapped them from the horrible orphanage in Arkk, was actually the reason that the Cubs met Bear. The police were in close pursuit of the kidnapper when he became desperate for escape and stole an expensive, fast speed boat on the docks. After a few hours of terrifying driving, the kidnapper abandoned the cubs near Bear's house on the island Kenol. They ran into the bushes as not to be seen by the police, who were tight on the kidnapper’s tail. In some ways, the children appreciate the kidnapper rescuing them from the evil orphanage. But, they still have horrible memories of Arkk.

Elmi prepared a small breakfast for her sisters and they had a boring rest of the day. They were all out of fresh foods and had to eat only crackers for lunch and supper. Boredom couldn’t take them over completely, for they were still quite shocked of their situation.

Once it was finally sundown again, the kids were not tired. They laid down and at least rested to make sure they would not be too tired for the morning.

It was an unusual sound that woke them up. Seagulls. It gave them a jolt of morning happiness because seagulls meant land.