Chapter 15: No Signal
A sharp squawk of parrots echoed high in the canopy, unapologetically loud at first light. Whistles, trills and cackles follow like they're gossiping among themselves, waking up the forest.
Insects droned like a low buzzing undercurrent. A branch creaked nearby as something unseen shifted its weight, and the rustling of leaves, like whispers of the wind billowing through, roused Nova's consciousness. It was far from quiet, but it was like soothing music.
Until it's not. Nova blinked against the dappled light and exhaled slowly, taking in her new reality. Everything that happened yesterday hadn't been a dream. Her body still ached from running.
The lake, the vampire bats, the eagles, capuchins, and-
A shrill alarm blasted in the air, making her jolt, arms flapping out and heart almost leaping from her chest. Nova clutched at her phone and nearly tossed it aside until she remembered where she was lying—high up in the trees of Isla De Tayun.
Something shifts under her and a mix between a groan and a yawn followed. Nova froze and rolled onto her side, gasping. How could she forget about this mammoth of a man?
Yoa was sprawled underneath her, completely at ease with his back lying on the thick wide branch, one arm holding her waist as his legs and other arm dangled loosely. This man was fearless or confident in his abilities to not fall from a tree and break his body. Or both.
He acts like a giant cat, lazily stretching out and yawning in content before those sharp eyes land on Nova, taking in her appearance. "If I hear that noise again..." he threatened, but his voice was thick with sleep. "I will destroy it."
"Noted. Can you..." She trails off as realisation hits her. "My phone..."
Nova looks at it again. The phone hadn't died, it was working perfectly fine without needing to put it in any rice. She grinned, unlocking the screen and flicking across the screen to phone someone, anyone.
"You are attached to a noisy critter," Yoa growls, glaring at her phone like he really will destroy it.