Tonya's adventures (Patreon)

Tonya ran down the mountain, not noticing that she was hurting her feet on small sharp stones, and that branches were scratching her shoulders. She was hurrying to the beach, where the natives ship was supposed to dock. Joy and adrenaline boiled in her blood, making her forget about everything else. The pounding of her heart in ears and her frantic breathing swallowed up all other sounds.

Millions of thoughts were crowding each other. Tonya tried to think on the move how she would communicate with these unexpected rescuers, how she would explain everything to them, tell her story and ask for help. And at the same time, she was already confident that she would succeed, that a little longer and she would return to a civilized society and would be able to go home.

How is it at home now? What has changed since her absence? And how long had it been at all? Were they even looking for her? After all, the plane couldn’t have gone that far off course, the weather was perfect that day, but for some reason no one rescued her from here up until now. And for all the time on the island, she hadn't seen a single plane in the sky or a single ship at sea. This is the first ship of all this time, and it apparently belongs to some islander fishermen.

But it doesn't matter. The important thing is that very soon she will have hot water, perfumed shampoos, and coffee and crispy toasts again in her life.

Immersed in joyful thoughts, Tonya ran out to the shore. She began waving at the approaching ship and shouting, jumping on the spot. The strange-looking ship was already quite close. Tonya looked at its unusual construction and odd sails with curiosity and surprise. People were already visible on the deck and their distant shouts could be heard.

Even in the distance, the people on the ship seemed somewhat weird to Tonya, but she didn't pay much attention to it, putting it down to the play of light on too bright a sunny day.

It was only when the ship dropped anchor in the shoal and a few figures jumped into the water, heading toward the shore, that Tonya recoiled. They weren't humans at all…