Chapter Text
Bumpy roared softly, waking Ben up from his slumber.
"What is it Bumpy?" Ben asked, scratching her head.
Ben stood up from his bed. He had stumbled upon the old ruins of the original park in his journey through the woods, and it had been his camp for almost a month now.
Bumpy bopped against his legs, almost knocking Ben over. Bumpy had grown a lot, reaching Ben’s waist and was still getting to know her own strength.
"Careful," Ben told Bumpy, catching his footing.
Bumpy led the way out of the opening, and Ben followed. The forest outside still scared Ben, and he only went outside if necessary. Bumpy took care of him well enough, finding berries and other plants they could eat. Ben missed real food, but he wasn't sure he had it in him to kill anything.
Bumpy roared again, pointing her head for Ben to look that way. Ben wondered what she might be showing him when he noticed smoke rising from the sky. It wasn't unusual to see smoke in the sky, but it was close today, closer than usual.
"Someone’s out there." Ben suddenly realized. "Someone's out there! We’re not alone!" He hugged Bumpy, overjoyed at the realization that there might be hope.
"We have to see."
Bumpy made a noise of concern.
Leaving their hideout was risky. The woods were dangerous, but Ben knew he had to do it. If there were others out there, they could help him.
"We're going Bumpy. There's no other option."
Ben began packing up his things. It wasn't much, just some supplies he'd managed to find among the wreckage. Ben grabbed his pointiest stick, a weapon he'd made for himself. He tied a torn cloth around his head like a bandanna and was ready to venture out.
Ben began to approach where the smoke had come from. Noticing the remains of a small fire on the ground. He couldn't see anyone and wondered if they left.
"Hello." He called out, and Bumpy joined him.
He heard the click of a gun and jumped in fear.
"Put the stick down." He heard a voice from the woods.
"I don't mean you any harm," Ben said, slowly dropping the stick. Bumpy roared in fear. "Stay back Bumpy." He told her.
Footsteps began to approach, and Ben saw the barrel of a gun pointed at him.
"Ben?" He heard the voice.
Ben caught a glimpse of Kenji as he dropped the gun and ran over to hug him.
"Ben." Kenji sniffled, holding him tight.
"Kenji?" Ben pulled back to see if it was really him and not just his mind playing tricks on him.
"You’re alive." Tears fell from Kenji's eyes as he held Ben’s face between his hands.
Like Ben, Kenji looked dirty and sun-exposed. He had black stripes painted under his eyes like a football player, and his hair was a mess.
"Kenji, what are you still doing on the island?" Ben asked, overjoyed to see his friend.
"We never made it off. We thought..." Kenji’s voice trembled. "We thought you died. We had a funeral."
"I survived, somehow." Ben tried to smile.
Kenji hugged him tight once again. “I’m so glad you’re okay." He sniffles.
"I'm glad to see you too Kenji," Ben told him truthfully. "Where are the others?"
"Back at camp." He looked behind him.
Bumpy roared, happy to see Kenji too.
"Bumpy!" Kenji knelt down to hug her. "Look how you’ve grown. I thought I lost you. I'm so sorry girl." He scratched her head. "You found Ben though.”
"She took good care of me."
"I have to take you back to camp. The others will be so happy.”
Ben nodded. Kenji picked up the gun before wrapping an arm around him once more and leading him towards their camp.
"So, where'd you get the gun?" Ben asked, curious.
"We raided security. Figured we might need some firepower to protect us. Sometimes we use it for food."
"You hunt animals?"
"Yeah. Sammy knows how to skin them and stuff. None of us like it, but we need to eat."
Ben nodded. "I've just been eating plants, but I’d die for some meat."
Kenji chuckled.
"How are the others?"
"As okay as one can be on this island."
Ben nodded in understanding.
They reached a staff building where Ben could see Darius and Yaz.
"Guys!" Kenji called out.
"Ben?" Darius was the first to notice him, and he ran over, followed by Yaz.
"Ben, oh my god, you’re alive!" Darius laughed and hugged him. "Guys! It’s Ben. He's alive!"
"Ben." Yaz hugged him next.
"Hey Yaz." Ben smiled back.
Sammy came running out. She broke down before she could even reach Ben.
"It’s okay Sammy," Ben told her, walking over. "I'm alive. I'm here."
"We had a funeral." She said between muffled sobs, staring at him like he was a ghost.
"I heard."
She grabbed him curiously, then hugged him tightly.
"I'm sorry for scaring you," Ben said.
"Never do that again."
"I promise."
"Ben." Brooklynn stood beside her, staring in shock. The pink had faded from her hair, leaving it blonde.
He reached out, and she joined the hug.
"Bumpy’s here too," Ben told them, but Darius was already embracing her.
"I’m glad you guys are here. I was beginning to think I was all alone."
"We're meant to make this through together," Sammy told him.
Ben nodded.
"So this is it?" Ben asked as Darius showed him into where he and Kenji were sleeping. It was one of the rooms of the Staff cabin, right beside another were the girls were sleeping.
"We were holed up in the hotels, but after the power went out, we ventured out. So now were holed up here."
"I was living in the old remains of the original park," Ben told him.
"What?!"
Ben nodded.
"Okay, we are so checking that out!"
Ben smiled as he placed his stuff down on a cot.
"I'm sorry," Darius said.
"For what?"
"I don't know. I feel like I could have saved you somehow. If we hadn't all assumed you died, we could have been looking for you."
"It’s not your fault Darius for what happened. If it had been the other way around, do you think I could have held on to you?"
Darius nodded slowly.
"There was no way you guys could have known I survived. I don't blame you for trying to move on."
Darius brought him in for a hug. "I'm glad your back."
"Me too. So now what?"
"We’re just taking things one day at a time man."
Ben nodded.
"Get some rest. Maybe in the morning, you can show us the old park. Cause that sounds really cool."
"It is."
"Oh, we've got some extra clothes if you want to change. And there's water if you want to clean up."
"I'm just tired."
Darius nodded.
Kenji walked in. He was holding Ben's fanny pack in his hands.
"You still have it." Ben laughed lightly.
"I've been keeping it safe," Kenji admitted. "You can have it back."
"Thanks man." Ben took it, missing the old thing. "We’re going to get off this island soon, right?"
"Soon," Darius reassured him.
"I'm glad to have you guys back till then."
Darius nodded. "We need to stick together. Safety in numbers, right."