<span style="font-family:Amaranth"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff99cc">The air was progressing into the early morning chill despite the tropical area that Veda had been dropped into unaware. Goosebumps rose from her porcelain skin, and she rubbed her arms furiously as she continued along the shore. If it continued to grow colder, Veda would dive into the brush that awaited her in hopes of escaping the breeze that was leaving her thin figure quivering. However, a lump in the sand caught her eye and to her dismay, Veda knew that it was the brother she despised ever so. The rude, sniveling crustacean was laying in the sand like a beached whale, his apparent laziness and failing interest in their predicament irritating her already frazzled nerves.<br/>
<br/>
As Henrik began to sit up, Veda grabbed her bag and scooted it away from her brother, turning her back to him as she released the locks on her suitcase. She dug through the bathing suits and skimpy outfits to her beloved sweaters and coats below. She always packed something warm, in the odd chance that her snowy home called her name once again. She'd visited Germany more than a few times in the past years, planning to move there one day to open another bookstore. That's if her parents let her bookstore survive after this situation they must've put their children in.<br/>
<br/>
Without turning to look back her brother, Veda peeled off her nightgown that released a puff of beach sand in its departure from her body. Grabbing a washcloth from her suitcase, she wiped off any sand left on her body, positive that nothing had gotten caught in her nude colored thong. She pulled out a tight pair of brown yoga pants and an over-sized red sweater. Pulling the yoga pants on and shrugging an undershirt on before the sweater fell onto her shoulders, Veda heard her brother speak up randomly behind her, the noises of his bag following along.<br/>
</span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#a6ff4d">"Danke den Sternen, unsere Taschen sind da."</span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ccff99"></span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff99cc">Humming in agreement, Veda slid gel pads into tan-colored boots she had also packed. Knowing that walking in sand and uneven ground could possibly lead to a damaged ankle, she hoped that the gel would at least prevent any feet aches, while she had thick socks to somewhat protect her ankles from twisting. Otherwise, she was ready to go through the cold night and find out how they ended up outside without any recollection. Veda went ahead and packed a small bag of different clothes she could use, as well as her ID she'd tucked into her bag in case they did run into other people.<br/>
</span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#a6ff4d">"Ahhh, that is better. Hey Veda, any sign of mom and dad?"</span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ccff99"></span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff99cc">Looking back her brother, Veda raised an eyebrow at his idiotic question. Obviously she hadn't seen their mother of father or she wouldn't have gone to look for his simpleton head. Did he really think that she'd be in front of him if she'd found them? Even further, he was trying to push her buttons by speaking English despite knowing how she hated the language when it came to family and friends. Though, she wished that the two didn't share blood or DNA for that matter.<br/>
</span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff4da6">"Frag keine dummen Fragen. Offensichtlich fand ich keine Mutter oder Vater." </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0080">(1)<br/>
</span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff99cc">Throwing her knapsack over her shoulders and onto her back, Veda started walking towards the towering brush and away from her brother. There was no point in carrying their suitcases with them; the contraptions would just slow them down and become a hindrance if they needed to run from something. They had no clue what kind of creatures inhabited wherever they were, and the lighter they were, the faster they'd move. She didn't care if her brother followed, he could stay on the beach all night if he wanted, until he realized that there was no freshwater in that large body of liquid, and would be dehydrated before he could even begin to look for any river or lake.<br/>
<br/>
They needed food, water, and some sort of shelter away from the weather. Her amount of reading and drama shows told her that much. At least the TV was good for something besides watching the "Kardashians" flounder around their wealth and issues. Pushing into the brush, Veda hoped to hear any sounds of running water or voices that could be considered friendly.<br/>
</span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0080">_____________________________________<br/>
<br/>
1 - "Don't ask stupid questions. Obviously, I have found no Mother or Father."</span></span>