[color=39b54a]"[b]...I'll do my best.[/b]"[/color]


The handshake was brief, but from such a simplest of touch, Sonia could feel the calluses of her hand. Typical for someone who regularly handles short, hilted tools such as knives and dirks. A fellow hunter perhaps? While the long-range weaponry was preferable, a good hunter needed to hone their melee capabilities as well, from skinning the game to protecting yourself in the highest corner, you couldn't survive long enough in this line of business without a proper skill to handle a knife. 

"I am sure you will," Sonia assured, acknowledging the awkwardness showed by her new party member and decided to not observe her any longer. "We will depart soon, there is still time to prepare if you want."

And then she left. 

The demoness found the black-haired swordsman returned from his small survey. Probably continuing his plan to give the perished proper burials in the soil that has less sand in it. 
[@Remuri]
"Mister Traveler, may I have a moment of your time? We will be searching for water sources in the outlying forest, and I wish you can coordinate with mister quartermaster and others after you are... done."

Sonia was obvious that her words were far from sympathetic, but the priority for the living outweighs the priority for the dead. She wanted the survivor to quickly have some security, in addition to an extra helping hand.

Done with that brief instruction, she returned to the boulders-- supposedly their rendezvous point. Upon her arrival, she was greeted by the female sailor and Ryland, who expressed their initiative to join the expedition. Sonia didn't mind of course, since they seemed capable and armed. However, another fellow approached the party, bearing some ill news about a certain disabled man rolling his wheelchair towards the heart of the forest. 

[color=a187be]"I did say it clearly that everyone is free to decide how they will survive this island."[/color] Said Sonia with clear frustration despite the aloof nature of her sentence. [color=a187be]"If he wants to do that, let him be and we will be his trouble no more."[/color] 

Interestingly she had no idea which man was it with a wheelchair. Must be some desperate imbecile seeking an easy way out. 

[color=a187be]"Let's not occupy ourselves worrying over people who may have their own plans."[/color] 

The group nodded, except the old fellow who instead announced "I'd like to go as well."

There was an objection from the young Ryland, but the old man easily dismissed his doubt convincingly. Sonia however still thinks that their group was a bit too large with five people in it. 

[color=a187be]"I think you should stay. I am not saying that because I am doubting your capability, but rather the security of our base camp being compromised with too many capable people leaving it behind."
[/color]
[color=a187be]"But like I said before, I can't stop you. Perhaps...not now. You can tag along if you insist, and I will still consider you part of the team." [/color]