Support for the notion the The Others took children from the tailies:

When Big tracker guy brought back Jin and Michael:

BTG: "I saw them"

Various: "How many were there?" "What?" "!"

Libby: "Did you see the kids?"

Ana, hushing with her VOC: "Libby."

In the promo I'm fairly certain somebody says/yells something about the kids too.

I just finished rewatching. It appears that Cindy was still onscreen after she handed the bag to Libby (unshown).

She might have just slipped and conked her head and rolled under the downed tree, maybe to be found next episode, or to emerge dazed as everything comes to a head after the shooting.

I'm finding the whole logic of who to run screaming after in the jungle a bit wonky. It may just be that the Tailgaters have only a limited amount of sanity available to them and this is coloring their decisions.

But first, they tie Jin to a stick, but let him run away. Then they stick all of the rafters in a hole. Then they stick Ana in the hole with them. Then they haul everyone out of the hole, less gun. Then they go back to the cave, but Michael runs away. Then Echo goes with them to go after Michael. Then they go back to their cave, but most of their people are missing. Then they go along the coastline to the Frontloaders camp. Then they go through the jungle to the Frontloaders camp. Then they want to leave Sawyer. Then they take Sawyer. Then they lose Cindy, but they don't go after her. Then they, for realio, trulio, no reason whatsoever, shoot Shannon.

Right? So, like, what? Do they want to capture, befriend, follow, find, leave, kill or make sweet sweet love to the rest of their fellow passengers? I am confused by their motives.

[This post was brought to you by the hour 2. If it is nonsensical and not in an entertaining way, blame Canada. Thank you very much for your attention.]

Do they want to capture, befriend, follow, find, leave, kill or make sweet sweet love to the rest of their fellow passengers?

No, but I think the writers want to, Liese. I just want Sawyer.

But first, they tie Jin to a stick, but let him run away.

Do we kniow they "let" him?

Then they stick all of the rafters in a hole.

They were not sure they weren't "The others" playing tricks on them.

Then they stick Ana in the hole with them.

They sent in a spy.

Then they haul everyone out of the hole, less gun.

After talking to Ana, they decide the FusiRafters aren't "The Others," but are still wary.

Then they go back to the cave, but Michael runs away.

Looking for the son that was kidnapped from him.

Then Echo goes with them to go after Michael.

He's a tracking kind of guy, and he feels a moral duty to help.

Then they go back to their cave, but most of their people are missing.

Some stolen by The Others, and done in by mishaps TBN later.

Then they go along the coastline to the Frontloaders camp.

It's on the beach.

Then they go through the jungle to the Frontloaders camp.

A risk to get there sooner, rather than traversing the rocky peninsula, apparently. Personally? I think they would have had better luck swimming around the horn, or waiting for low tide, maybe. Or even following the tree line over the peninsula.

Then they want to leave Sawyer. Then they take Sawyer.

The original reason for the trip was partly to get Sawyer to Doctor Jack.

Then they lose Cindy, but they don't go after her.

I can see that somewhat. They didn't lose her, she dissapeared from their POV. They might have decided to make a quick look for her to see if she was fallen on the slope, but they were still arguing when the voices started, and the monsoon started, and something shrieking in the woods bursts out in front of them..

Then they, for realio, trulio, no reason whatsoever, shoot Shannon.

Except Ana was pissed and scared and freaked, and see above.

The trouble with waiting for low tide and going round the Horn is that they probably don't know how long it would take them to go around.

Of course, that could make for tense rising tide type moments in the show.

I think more trouble would be that they'd be out in the open, visible to a large cross-section of the jungle, and have no ready avenue of retreat if the Others spotted them there.

Daniel, you're making too much sense. Don't let the writers hear you or we might actually get some consistent writing. They change direction more times than a hurricane in the Caribbean.

ABC keeps mentioning that this will be a "special expanded" LOST even though they also say it starts at 9 and Invasion starts at 10. Anyone know what's up? Are they starting a little earlier, or going a little later like they used to, or both?

Also, thought it might be a good heads up for tapers/TIVOers.