Day 36 - The Girls

"I get that these tablecloths are kind of warm and that we don't want to waste any of Barb's party shit, but we all look pretty ridiculous."

"Yeah, I kind of feel like I'm in a basket of french fries."

"Yeah, or like a church basement on spaghetti dinner night." 

Hunter snorted, trying to hold in a bark of laughter at the conversation. It was starting to feel like things were becoming a little bit more normal again - missing limbs and dead Nora aside. The discovery of the party supplies had really brought back a spark in the camp that Hunter had almost forgotten had once existed.

They were right - they all did look pretty ridiculous. Using the plastic tablecloths wasn't the comfiest idea that they'd ever had but Hunter figured that it was better that than not using anything at all. 

Toni was just glad that it seemed Hunter had improved mentally since they'd... reconnected a few days prior. She was back to snuggling up to Toni's side during the night, and since the day of Dot's birthday, she

"Well, I for one love 'em. I get to make my bed again, which I've really been missing. You know, just that sense of accomplishment," Shelby mused, a proud smile on her face as she stood up and folded her plastic tablecloth, ignoring the judgemental look that Toni instantly directed her way. "And no, Toni, the housekeeper back home did not make my bed like you so carelessly assumed. The pleasure and the privilege was all mine."

"Oh, God, you're a lunatic," Toni teased, shimmying forward from her and Hunter's resting spot to allow the other girl the space to sit up and stretch out her legs. 

Hunter smiled appreciatively at her, swinging her legs to dangle off the small platform out of twigs and leaves that they had made.

"No shit. The definition of insanity is waking up every morning to make your bed knowing that you're just gonna mess it up again at night!" Fatin ranted, rolling her eyes as she rolled over to look at the others. "Raise your hand if you have wasted years of your life on the domestic fucking hamster wheel that is bed-making."

"That is a total misrepresentation of a beautiful ritual," Shelby replied, but her tone was light.

"I love hamsters."

Hunter wished she was as chilled out as Martha sometimes.

"Okay, and where are my liberated queens who like to let the chaos ride?" Fatin said, smirking as Dot and Toni also raised their hands. Her eyes snapped to the blonde, noticing her hand had not risen. "Hunter... I'm looking at you. There's no way the perfect all-American cheerleader has time to make her bed."

Fatin wiggled her eyes, noticing how Hunter still had the tablecloth wrapped around her shoulders and wasn't quite folding it up like Shelby. The blonde barked out in laughter as she looked at the expression her best friend was sending towards her.

"Shut up, Fatin," Hunter said through laughs, throwing a small twig from the ground beside her in the direction of her best friend. Toni smiled at the grin on Hunter's face, moving so that her back was lightly pressing against Hunter's outstretched legs. "First step to a good day."

Fatin sighed dramatically, huffing as she turned around to look at Leah for back-up. The girl was the only one who was yet to express an opinion.

"Leah?" 

"I mean, I'm not really on either side. Like, sometimes I make it, sometimes I don't."

"Okay, that's actually fucked up," Rachel replied, no hesitation in her voice as she gave the girl a side eye. Everyone mumbled in agreement, Leah raising her hands in defence as they all ganged up on her.

"Truly sociopathic."

Toni rose from her spot, crossing towards Shelby with a smile on her face. 

"Okay, fuck it, I'll help make your bed bed. It's, like, you know, a betrayal of everything that I've ever believed, but..." She cast a look back at Hunter who was still wrapped in their sheet, a lazy girl on her face. "Hunter looks too cosy to make her get up just so I can prove a point and make ours..."

They all continued to laugh, Hunter standing up with a huff. As Hunter reached over, holding out the sheet to Toni with a playful grin, a sudden gust of wind swept through the camp. The girls' laughter was abruptly cut short by an ominous creaking sound that seemed to echo through the trees surrounding them.

Before anyone could react, a massive crack split the air like a gunshot. Hunter's eyes widened in horror as she looked up to see a huge tree branch come crashing down from above and landing directly where they had just been sitting. Time seemed to slow as the enormous trunk slammed and splintered, smashing into the ground with a force that instantly made Hunter flinch backwards.

The impact sent tremors through the ground, kicking up a cloud of sand and debris that momentarily obscured everyone's vision.

"HUNTER!" Toni screamed out, her voice hoarse as she reached out and grabbed tightly on to the blonde that had stumbled ever so slightly.

As the dust settled, the girls stared in stunned silence at the destruction before them. The tree had completely obliterated their sitting area, crushing the carefully constructed platform of twigs and leaves. 

Hunter pulled back a little from Toni's grasp, subconsciously feeling a little overwhelmed at the tightness of it without realising. Shelby, her earlier cheerfulness replaced by a solemn expression, crossed herself and whispered a quiet prayer of thanks as she moved without thinking.

She threw her arms tightly around Hunter's shoulders, pulling the smaller blonde girl into a bone crushing hug as she hurried her face into her neck, engulfing her tightly.

Hunter's body tensed instinctively as Shelby's arms encircled her, the sudden contact sending a jolt through her system. For a split second, her muscles coiled, ready to push away from the unexpected and unwanted embrace as she had done countless times before.

But something made her pause.

Maybe it was the lingering shock from their near-miss with the falling branch. Maybe it was the genuine concern radiating from Shelby's trembling form. Or maybe it was the realization that, despite her usual aversion to touch, this felt... different. Safe, even.

Hunter's rigid posture slowly softened. Her arms, which had been frozen at her sides, hesitantly lifted to return the hug. She felt Shelby's surprised intake of breath against her neck, but the other girl didn't pull away. Instead, Shelby tightened her hold, as if afraid Hunter might disappear if she let go.

The rest of the girls watched in stunned silence. They were all too familiar with Hunter's usual reaction to unexpected physical contact - the way she'd flinch away, her eyes going wide and wary. 

Shelby's grip loosened slightly, giving Hunter the opportunity to pull away if she wanted. But to everyone's continued astonishment, Hunter didn't immediately step back. Instead, she allowed the hug to linger for a few more heartbeats, her fingers curling into the fabric of Shelby's shirt.

"I'm... I'm just so glad you're okay," Shelby said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "That was too close."

Toni's eyebrows shot up in surprise as Hunter stayed in her hug for a moment longer, Toni's gaze darting between Hunter and Shelby before looking towards the others. She caught Fatin's eye, seeing her own astonishment mirrored there. Dot's mouth hung slightly open, while Martha clasped her hands together, a soft smile spreading across her face. They weren't used to seeing Hunter allow anyone but Toni to get this close with her.

The rest of the group seemed to collectively hold their breath as they stepped back from each other, waiting to see how Hunter would react now that the moment had passed. But there was no breakdown, no panic attack.

The girls began to move cautiously around the fallen tree, gathering up scattered supplies and checking each other for injuries. Hunter remained rooted to the spot, her eyes fixated back on the crushed platform where she and Toni had been cuddled up just moments before.

Toni walked towards her, gently cupping Hunter's face and forcing the blonde to meet her gaze.

"Hey, we're okay," she said softly, her thumb brushing away a tear that Hunter hadn't even realized had fallen. "We're both okay."

The light-hearted atmosphere from moments ago had vanished, replaced by a tense silence as each girl grappled with the realisation of how fragile their lives truly were in this unforgiving environment. 

The island wanted them dead.

____

Day 14 - The Boys

Hudson let one hand glide through the sand at his side aimlessly as his other held on tightly to the slightly grubby polaroid in the other. His eyes were fixated on the picture, a million thoughts running through his head as he ignored what the rest of the boys were up to.

In the photo, Hunter's long blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, catching the afternoon sunlight. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, a stark contrast to the haunted look he'd seen in them the last time they were together. Hudson's own hair was shorter then, neatly trimmed and styled - a far cry from the shaggy mop it had become on the island.

The air had been crisp with the first hints of autumn, but the sun was warm on their skin as they lounged on the weathered wooden dock. Hunter had brought her instant camera, insisting on documenting the day.

"One for the scrapbook," she had said, holding the camera at arm's length to capture them both.

Hudson's throat tightened as he stared at their past selves, so carefree and unaware of the trials that lay ahead. He wondered where Hunter was now, if she was back from her own trip and out searching for him like her life depended on it. He knew she wouldn't rest until she found him.

The thought of her alone and scared, at home with their parents who barely loved them, made his chest ache with a pain so intense it was almost physical.

He was so lost in his memories that he didn't notice Kirin's approach until the other boy's shadow fell across the photo.

"Whatcha got there, man?" Kirin asked, his voice uncharacteristically gentle as he lowered himself onto the sand beside Hudson. Most of the boys had kept a wide distance from Hudson after he'd pummelled Riley into the ground a few days prior, despite offering the boy a truce after doing so.

Hudson instinctively moved to tuck the photo away, but something in Kirin's tone made him pause. Instead, he held it out, allowing Kirin to see.

"It's, uh... it's me and Hunter. My sister," Hudson explained, his voice rough with emotion. "Our sixteenth birthday. It's one of the only things that seemingly remained untouched from my backpack."

Kirin studied the image, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Damn, you two really are twins, huh? Same smile and everything."

Hudson nodded, a lump forming in his throat.

Kirin was quiet for a moment, his eyes still fixed on the photo. When he spoke again, his voice was low, almost hesitant.

"You think... you think she's okay out there?" He asked, his voice the softest that Hudson had heard it. "Like... looking for you, for us?"

The question hung in the air between them, heavy with the weight of all their fears and uncertainties. Hudson closed his eyes, willing himself to believe in the connection he'd always shared with his sister.

"She has to be," he finally whispered, as much to himself as to Kirin. "I know her too well to know that she's even taking a minute of rest for herself."

The sun was beginning to dip lower on the horizon, casting long shadows across the beach and painting the sky in vibrant hues of orange and pink. After a moment, Kirin cleared his throat, his gaze shifting from the photo to Hudson's face.

"So, uh... how are you holding up? You know, with Riley being here and all?" he asked, his voice low and cautious, as if treading on thin ice.

Hudson's jaw clenched at the mention of Riley's name, his fingers tightening around the edges of the photograph. The memory of his fists connecting with Riley's face flashed through his mind, along with the satisfying crunch of cartilage giving way beneath his knuckles. He could still feel the hot rush of rage that had coursed through his veins, fueled by years of pent-up anger and the desperate need to protect his sister.

"I'm fine," Hudson muttered, his voice tight with barely contained emotion. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm brewing inside him. The sand beneath his fingers suddenly felt coarse and irritating.

Kirin raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying Hudson's terse response. "Come on, man. It's just us here. You can be real with me."

Hudson sighed, running a hand through his unkempt hair.

"It's... complicated," Hudson finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Every time I see him, I want to finish what I started. But then I remember Hunter, and how she'd want me to be better than that." 

He paused, swallowing hard against the lump in his throat. 

"She always saw the best in people, you know? Even when they didn't deserve it."

Kirin nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, I get that. But man, after what that asshole did to your sister... I don't know if I could hold back like you have."

Hudson let out a bitter laugh.

"Trust me, it's not easy. Every time I close my eyes, I see her face after... after what he did. The bruises, the fear in her eyes. It haunts me, Kirin. And knowing he's here, breathing the same air as us..." 

He trailed off, his eyes distant as he stared out at the horizon.

"You know," Hudson continued, his voice barely above a whisper, "there was this one time, right before I got kicked off the team. Hunter came home late from a date with Riley. She tried to sneak in, but I was up waiting for her... I just had this feeling something wasn't right. When she saw me, she just... broke down. She was shaking so bad, Kirin. Her lip was split, and there were finger marks on her arms. Tried to say it wasn't him - but I could feel she was lying."

Kirin listened intently, his usual bravado replaced by a solemn understanding.

"That was the night I decided enough was enough," Hudson said, his voice growing stronger. "I confronted Riley at the game the next day, in front of everyone. I didn't care about the team, or my college scholarship, or anything else. I just wanted him to feel a fraction of the pain he'd caused Hunter." 

The memory of that day played out vividly in Hudson's mind. The shocked faces of his teammates, the sound of his fist connecting with Riley's jaw, the cold fury that had consumed him.

"And now he's here," Hudson said, gesturing around them at the island. "Trapped with us. Every day, I have to see his face and remember what he did. It takes everything in me not to finish what I started that day at school."

"What's stopping you?"

"Killing him would be a mercy," Hudson replied, shaking his shoulders as he tried to relief some tension. "An easy way out of it all. Cause let me tell you this, Kirin, as soon as we make it back home - the entire world is finding out what he did to her. And you'd best believe I'll make him wish I'd killed him here."

____

Day 36 - The Girls

"There's dangerous shit lurking out there," Dot announced to them all, the uneasy feeling around camp from that morning still lingering as the day went on. "I've had my head so far up the ass of this stupid book, I've taken my eye off the ball. So I'm gonna go do a safety sweep and check for any widow-makers."

Hunter barely paid her any attention as she flicked through the first few pages of the book that Dot had passed to her. She wasn't a huge reader, but maybe something to take her mind off almost getting crushed by a tree wasn't such a bad idea.

"Uh, widow-makers?" Shelby asked, clearly on edge. 

"Yeah. That's what loggers call a dead tree, 'cause when they fall they do some serious damage, obviously," Dot replied, her voice rather monotone as she pointed towards the fallen tree that Shelby was now sitting against. "Later!" 

"I'm gonna head too," Toni replied, standing up and grabbing one of the backpacks as she planned to go ahead with Dot. She wanted some water, not just for herself but to see if Hunter would allow her to try and clean up some of the dirt that had been coating her healing wound. She didn't like how slowly it was healing and wondered if it was almost infected.

"Where you going?" Shelby asked, jumping to her feet at Toni's announcement. Hunter's eyes looked up from the book for a second before looking back down to the words on the pages.  

"Jesus. Look at your face," Toni said, her voice soft as she noticed the sheer panic on Shelby's face. "I'm just gonna get water, okay? I'm not off to war."

She walked away, pressing a quick kiss to the crown of Hunter's head as she passed her by. Hunter smiled but didn't look up, starting to find herself getting lost in the book. Dot was right - it was trash, but it was good trash.

"I think I'm gonna..." Shelby announced, walking like a newborn deer as she rushed in the direction that Toni was heading in. "I'm gonna go with. You know, live and die by the buddy system and everything,  so I'm... I'm just gonna... Bye."

Fatin and Martha shared a look as Shelby all but ran after Toni, both of them a little confused at her attachment to Toni and Hunter's seemingly lack of interest in it.

"Okay, so Dot's out of here, then those two are peacing out," Fatin said, noticing how Hunter stopped reading her book as soon as she started speaking. "Which - by the way - is it not like concerning you how much time they're spending together? That's like, your girlfriend, dude."

Hunter snorted, closing the book and leaning back on her hands as she sarcastically tilted her head at Fatin, knowing exactly what the girl was trying to insinuate.

"Does Toni concern herself with how much time I spend with you?"

"Fair but like..."

"Nothing Fatin," Hunter replied, her voice a little more firmer but still carrying her usual warmth for her friend. Almost like a child being gentle parented. "Like I said, there's a whole story there that isn't mine to tell. Leave it."

"Sheesh, whatever. We should have a sign out sheet. Write down when you're leaving and why, but you don't have to be super specific. Like if you're going to take a dump. I don't know, am I being a buzzkill? Like, am I ruining my street cred with all this mom energy?"

Hunter decided in that moment that peace was not going to come from sitting listening to Fatin and Martha have a heart to heart conversation. In fact, in the nicest way possible, death almost seemed like a more fun option than sit in the miserable camp listening to everyone try to make themselves feel better.

"I'm going to dip my feet in the sea," Hunter announced, standing up and grabbing Hudson's old sweater from beside her as she started to walk away from them without looking back. 

Fatin sat in shock, looking between everyone and the retreating figure of Hunter.

"Girl... what the fuck?"

____

Hunter stood in the water, letting the soft waves brush against her ankles. It was a weird feeling - being back in the place where they'd experienced so much hurt. They'd lost Nora here. Lost Rachel's arm. It was surreal.

"Behind you," a gentle voice said, Hunter knowing who it was without any hesitation.

Toni came to rest beside her, just close enough so that their shoulders were almost touching but not quite.

"I thought you were getting water with Dot and Shelby," Hunter said softly, her voice barely audible over the sound of the ocean.

"They're back at camp. Fatin said you'd came to the water, so I thought I'd come find you. Didn't want to scare you."

A small smile tugged at the corner of Hunter's lips. "You didn't have to do that. I'm okay, you know."

"Are you?" Toni asked, finally turning to look at her girlfriend. "Because after what happened this morning, I wouldn't blame you if you weren't."

Hunter was quiet for a long moment, considering Toni's words.

"I keep thinking about Nora," Hunter admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "About how quickly everything can change. One minute she was here, and the next..."

She trailed off, unable to finish the thought. Toni reached out, gently intertwining her fingers with Hunter's.

"I know," Toni said softly. "It's fucked up. All of it."

Hunter nodded, squeezing Toni's hand. "I just... I can't shake this feeling that we're running out of time. That the island is trying to pick us off one by one."

Toni turned to face Hunter fully, her free hand coming up to cup the blonde's cheek.

"Hey, look at me," she said gently. Hunter's eyes met hers, filled with a mix of fear and determination. "We're not going to let that happen. We've made it this far together, and we're going to keep fighting. All of us."

Hunter's voice was barely above a whisper when she spoke again.

"I can't stop thinking about Hudson. What if... what if something like that happened to him, now that I'm not there? What if he's hurt, or what if Riley went back for revenge or..." She couldn't bring herself to finish the thought.

"Hey, look at me," Toni said gently. Hunter turned, meeting Toni's intense gaze. "Your brother is tough as nails, just like you. He's out there, and he's fighting to get back to you. I know it."

Hunter's eyes welled with tears, but she blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. She took a deep, shaky breath, her gaze drifting back to the horizon.

"I just wish..." she started, her voice barely audible over the gentle lapping of the waves. "I wish I wasn't so afraid all the time. Of losing everyone, f people touching me, of letting anyone get close."

Toni remained silent, giving Hunter the space to continue.

"When Shelby hugged me earlier, I almost pushed her away. But then I thought... maybe this is what I need. Like exposure therapy or something. To remind myself that not every touch is going to hurt me."

The admission hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken meaning. Toni's thumb traced soothing circles on the back of Hunter's hand, a gentle reminder of her presence. Toni listened intently, her heart aching for the pain Hunter had endured. She reached out slowly, telegraphing her movements, and gently tucked a strand of blonde hair behind Hunter's ear.

"You're not broken, Hunter," Toni said softly. 

Hunter leaned into Toni's touch, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, Toni could see a glimmer of determination there.

"I want to get better," Hunter said. "I don't want to be afraid anymore."

Toni nodded, a small smile playing on her lips.

Well, if you want exposure therapy, I might have an idea." She glanced down at Hunter's leg, where the makeshift bandage was still wrapped around her jagged wound. "That dressing needs to be cleaned - not just changed. It's not exactly a hug, but it's a start."

Hunter followed Toni's gaze, her breath catching slightly as she considered the proposition. The thought of someone touching her wound, not just changing the bandage, sent a shiver of anxiety through her. But she also knew Toni was right - it needed to be done.

"Okay," Hunter said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I trust you. I trust all of you."

_____

"Hey Dot," Hunter murmured as her and Toni returned, noticing almost all of the girls were now sitting around the fire. Dot's eyes flickered over the two, noticing how Hunter seemed more at ease than she had in a while, leaning into Toni's side. "Are you able to... clean it?"

Hunter motioned towards her bloodied bandage leg, Dot trying to suppress the surprise that took over herself and the others. She wasn't sure what the tree almost killing her had done to Hunter, but it seemed like it was a positive improvement. 

Fatin leaned in close to Martha, whispering, "Did we enter some alternate universe while they were gone?"

Martha shushed her, but her own eyes were wide with wonder as she watched Hunter fidget with the sleeves of her sweater as she waited for Dot to answer. 

"Of course," she said, keeping her voice steady and casual. "Let's get you set up over here."

She patted a spot on a flat rock near the fire, gesturing for Hunter to sit. Toni gave Hunter's hand a reassuring squeeze before letting go, allowing her girlfriend to make her way over to Dot.

Hunter settled onto the rock, her posture tense but determined. The other girls tried not to stare, but their curiosity was palpable. They'd all seen how fiercely protective Hunter was of her personal space, especially when it came to her injury.

"Alright, I'm going to need to remove the old bandage first," Dot explained calmly. "It might stick a bit - like it did last time, so let me know if you need me to stop, okay?"

Hunter nodded, her eyes fixed on a point in the distance. 

Dot began to carefully peel away the bloodied bandage, her movements slow and deliberate. Hunter's breath hitched as the fabric pulled at her skin, but she didn't flinch away.

"You're doing great," Toni murmured encouragingly, having moved over and allowed Hunter to lean back against her. "Dot's almost done with this part."

As the last of the bandage came away, revealing the angry red gash beneath, a collective gasp went up from the group. The wound looked inflamed and painful, a lot different from the last time they'd looked at it up close.

"Shit, Hunter," Fatin breathed, her usual bravado faltering. "That looks..."

"Like it hurts like a bitch," Dot finished, her voice tinged with sympathy.

Hunter managed a weak smile. "It's not so bad," she lied, her voice strained.

Dot examined the wound closely, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"It's definitely showing signs of infection," she said, her tone serious but not panicked. "We need to clean it thoroughly and apply some of that antibiotic ointment we found in the first aid kit. We have a little left that Rachel didn't use before."

She looked up at Hunter, her eyes searching the blonde's face.

"This next part... it's going to sting. A lot. Are you sure you want to do this?"

Hunter took a deep breath, her gaze flickering to Toni for a moment before returning to Dot.

"I'm sure. I need to do this."

As Dot began to clean the wound, Hunter's body tensed, her eyes squeezed shut against the pain. But she didn't pull away. Instead, she focused on the warmth of the hands holding hers, anchoring her.

"You're doing great," Toni murmured, her thumb tracing soothing circles on the back of Hunter's hand.

"Just breathe through it," Shelby added, her voice gentle and encouraging. 

The other girls watched in silent awe as Hunter endured the painful process, accepting the comfort and support of her friends while her body trembled to a level they hadn't really seen before. Despite the shaking, it was a stark contrast to the guarded, touch-averse girl they had come to know over the past weeks.

As Dot finished cleaning the wound, Hunter finally opened her eyes, her face pale and damp with sweat. She looked down at her leg, taking in the angry red gash that was now free of dirt and debris.

"That wasn't so bad, right?" Fatin said, trying to lighten the mood. Her voice held a forced cheeriness that didn't quite mask her concern.

Hunter let out a shaky laugh. "Yeah, piece of cake," she replied, her voice hoarse.

The girls exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them. In that moment, something shifted in the group dynamic. The walls Hunter had built around herself were beginning to crumble, and in their place, a stronger bond was forming.

Just as they settled into silence for a moment, Leah and Rachel came stumbling into the camp with huge smiles on their faces.

"Attention, everyone. Sit down, please. Please, sit."

"We are sat," Hunter replied, deadpan while the others chuckled at her monotone reply. If Rachel and Leah had picked up on the shift in atmosphere, they didn't comment on it.

"Settle in, order a drink, cause, baby," Leah drawled, shimmying up and down in a jazz-singer-esqe type of persona. "Because we're here to entertain you."

"What are you doing?" Rachel muttered, elbowing her in the side and causing Leah to turn to look at her in embarrassment.

"Yeah, no, I don't know. I just went into this lounge singer thing and I don't..."

"What fresh hell?" Fatin asked the group, thinking she truly was dreaming this day from start to finish.

"Uh, no lip from the cheap seats, okay? No matter how shitty this is, we practiced it for two hours."

"It was more like three. Rachel got really intense."

"Let's just do this."

Hunter let out a loud laugh along with the others as Leah started blowing on a hand-make wind pipe from bamboo shoots. 

"Alabama, Arkansas, I do love my Ma and Pa, not the way... That I do love you..." 

Hunter found herself smiling genuinely for the first time in days. She leaned back against Toni, feeling the tension slowly drain from her body. The pain in her leg was still there, but it felt more manageable now, overshadowed by the warmth of companionship surrounding her.

For a moment, she could almost forget they were stranded on an island fighting for survival. It felt like they were just a group of friends enjoying a silly performance together.

As their friends danced around, Hunter turned to look at Toni. Their eyes were locked on each other, and there was something there that Hunter wasn't sure had been before. Something... pure.

"I think... I think I was always meant to be in love with you."

"I was thinking the same thing."