"We have to wake up early. Let's sleep." Jai said as he asked both Sky and Loran to get up.
Sky followed them and stroked her hand on Arlo's head who was still sitting, "Go and sleep."
Arlo turned back to see her hearing her sweet tone and smiled, "Goodnight!"
"Sweet dreams." Sky replied before reaching farther distance and entering the house.
Knowing she was spending time in the Harley resort on her birthday, he called David before coming there. Ryan also joined him leaving Sigma to vice president.
Later he got to know she wasn't celebrating hence he prepared the cake remembering once she had mentioned she liked red velvet cake.
When she took the first bite, she instantly guessed Arlo prepared it. That was more than enough for him. But when she included him for eating cake with her brothers, He was very content.
He knew if somebody genuinely treats her good, she would treat them a lot better in return.
-- The next day, on Sky's birthday --
All gathered in front of her tiny house and wished her before trekking. It was just an hour trek to reach the peak.
After Sunrise, they used zipline one after another to descend. They would enter between trees followed by the clear area above the rocks, on the water before reaching the last point.
David said no to enter the forest separately hence they decided to go in two as five teams. Sky picked two chits at a time for the group.
First, the yellow group was Ryan and Clark. The latter instantly showed dissatisfaction on his face but Ryan cheered him saying they would win.
The second blue group was Maxwell and Loran. Both were on good terms and spirits to start the game.
The third red group was Sky and Arlo. Both looked at each other and remained silent.
The fourth orange group was Jai and Sam. The first to react was Sky with a pout, "Why do you guys are together?"
The last white group was Peter and Jimmy who high fived with full confidence.
"Each team has an Ex-military man except my team... Anyway if you lose the path back to here, just shout and the nearest sensor will signal the base station and they will pick you guys. Don't cross the fencing or don't even touch it. You will get an electric shock of a few volts but no problem on health or body." Sky finished saying.
All laughed when they heard her. Loran teased, "Sister Sky, you are the only girl here, why do sound like you protecting us than we protecting you."
Sky kicked him on his leg, "So what if I'm a girl. That doesn't mean I have to be a weak one."
Soon they started after bantering a little. All spread out in two in search of flags.
Sky and Arlo saw other colors more for quite some time before seeing the red on a tree branch. "There! There!" Sky pointed and ran towards it.
Arlo followed behind as he was about to say 'I will get it' , Sky climbed on the next tree which was easier to climb and took the flag stretching her hand and jumped down effortlessly.
Arlo just saw her actions and couldn't react until she faced him and say, "Let's move."
"Ms.Sky!" Arlo called. Sky turned back to him, "Hmm?"
Controlling his smile, "I can climb the tree and pick them. You don't have to do all that."
Sky stopped in her tracks, "Do you know to climb? Have you ever climbed a tree?"
Arlo didn't know whether to laugh or cry. 'That should be a man's line to a girl.'
"Let's search for other flags."
Sky nodded and both searched. Sky almost got five and five more were there and they had almost searched half of the place.
Arlo stopped her and pointed right side, "We will go that side."
"We didn't search in this area yet." Sky said confusedly.
Thinking she would half-heartedly follow him without proper reasoning, he explained, "Do you remember the aerial view of the whole area?"
Sky nodded and saw Arlo drawing in the air as he explained, "This is lake and houses area. We started from here and we found five flags here, here, here, here and here. the pattern is like this so if we go this side we will get next flag."
"Ooo" Sky imagined the picture and points wherever they found the flags. Arlo smiled looking at her O formation from her lips and moved her chin up with his finger.
Sky asked her doubt, "How can you be sure they followed this pattern?"
He knew she would ask such questions. He searched a stick and drew a few patterns on the ground.
Pointing each line he spoke, "This is white, this is orange, this one is blue and this is yellow. So according to this where do you think the next yellow flag will be?"
Sky squatted and pointed on the ground. "Here!"
Arlo pulled her up and pointed a tree not so far which had a yellow flag.
Sky jumped on her toes, "Wow! You are so smart... Let's go get our next one."
Sky pulled him towards the next flag as per his deduction and asked, "Why will they use such patterns?"
Catching up with her speed Arlo replied, "If we stop the game in between, staff will have to take all the flags back. if they keep randomly here and there, it will be difficult for them too."
Sky bobbled her head looking impressed, "So we have chances of winning."
He had realized the pattern after the third flag but he thought they would spend time searching aimlessly but seeing her looking every tree for the flag, he gave up on his idea and told about the pattern.
Soon they reached the next flag and saw it was very high, Sky couldn't reach by the jump and tree trunk was narrow she couldn't climb such tree.
Sky looked at Arlo, "I can't climb. Can you? Or try to jump to reach."
Arlo tried to jump but he didn't reach, the tree trunk was slippery so he was slipping with his shoes on. When he was about to remove his shoes after not finding any sticks, Sky stopped.
"Lift me!"
Arlo was surprised. He nodded and held her near the knee and stood straight being utmost careful.