As his footsteps grow louder and louder, I knock another arrow onto my bow.
I lick my lips, tasting the salty sweat beading across my skin as I attempt to calm my breathing once more.
Looking to my left, Dorian grips a large, jagged rock, his knuckles white, seemingly ready to bring it down on the man's skull
To my right, Elias draws his knife, biting his bottom lip.
We sit there, watching as the man treads ever closer to his would-be grave.
"Does he see us?"
Dorians question falls on deaf ears as both Elias and I continue watching the man tread ever closer, stopping just before the high grass.
For a moment, I could've swore I made eye contact with him
But then, something happens that makes him stop right in his tracks.
A small and weak rumbling begins to assault my ears. At first, I think nothing of it, instead focusing on the large man as he seems to scan through the greenery.
But then, the sound grows louder and louder, accompanied by a small clicking noise.
The large man turns, his smile growing as he stares down the road.
"Finally! Food and equipment!"
We watch in shock and awe as two horse drawn wagons make their way up towards the base of the tower tower.
"Where'd you get all this?!" He asked, his voice booming with excitement as the horses came to a stop.
One of the men, seemingly the one in charge looked down at him with a small smile.
"The kernel found a barn a few hours up north near the mountains. It was only occupied by 2 people, loners from the cellblock if I remember correctly."
"What happened to them?" he asked, helping the four men with the crates and supplies.
"They're probably dead, rotting in a ditch somewhere." One of the other men commented, creating a wave of chuckles.
I look back at Elias and Dorian, giving them a smug smile.
"Looks like we have something to steal."
I quickly pack up my compass and map, making sure to not leave anything behind.
Today seemed quite successful.
"We'll be staying here for the next few days. The Kernel wants to negotiate with Whiskey, I think they plan to meet at that barn in a few days. He sent us here incase things go wrong so that we can launch a surprise attack against their camp towards the east."
I stop.
I forgot about Whiskey!
What negotiations are they talking about?
"I need more info..." I mutter, carefully picking up my backpack, trying my best not to make a nosie.
For now, we needed to go back and regroup.
I turn to Elias, helping him get up.
"Where's the camp?"
"It's near the beach." he responds, signaling for us to follow him.
I trace behind him, making sure to keep my head low, and foots steps quiet as we walk back through the high grass. Occasionally, I make sure to look back, making sure that Dorian isn't too far behind.
Without the machete, it's quite difficult to navigate through the dense forest. Every little plant, stick, and pebble seems to poke at me, while the mosquitos and bugs bite at my skin. It's all extremely unpleasant. It really makes me appreciate my little beach house a lot more.
As we continue to walk, the greenery begins to thin. At first, it's just the tall grass, but then the bushes, and finally the trees. The faint, and steady sound of waves crashing against the shore seems to grow with every step we take. The earth beneath our feet begins to shift, trading the grass, roots, and rocks for looser, more sandier soil. The atmosphere changes too: from thick, and hot air to a cool, salty breeze.
The feeling was quite amazing.
Almost as amazing as the view when we finally broke through the tree-line.
We stepped through the final curtain of hanging vines and thick underbrush, watching as the world seemed to open out in front of us.
I release a small chuckle of happiness as I step out onto a sloping rise of golden dunes, stretching out beautifully just before the shoreline. Beyond that, the sea stretches out endlessly, its surface reflecting like pieces of shattered glass beneath the late afternoon sun. Waves roll in slow, crashing smoothing against a shore of smooth stones and pale sand, sending white foam high into the air.
We stand there for a moment, the two of us, watching the amazing view before us. In a universe of constant war, stress, and destruction, even a simulated view like this was quite captivating.
The tide was low, revealing tidal pools that glimmered with trapped sunlight, and tiny crabs scuttling between rocks.
I can't help but play with the warm sun-baked sand under my feet.
Before I knew it, a smile had grown on my face. It felt like peace.
That all changed as the seagulls wheeled above, calling out in lazy, and echoing cries, reminding me of our purpose here.
Elias lets out a quiet whistle, taking in the view.
"It seems so beautiful, so perfect."
Dorian catches up, brushing the leaves off of his prison attire, and freezes as he takes it in.
"Goddamn..."
We spend some time here, taking in the godly view, knowing that tonight, we'd be doing something unholy.
As the sun begins to dip even further, we decide to continue our way towards the camp.
Elias leads us along the shore, his feet crunching softly against the wide stretch of sand. It only takes a few minutes before we reach it-a wide, winding river spilling into the ocean like a bleeding vein.
It's mouth is broad and chaotic, the strong current tugging anything along with it out into the sea. The contrast is stark: the river, both cold, and dark, clashing against the ocean's shimmering vastness.
We stand there for a moment, watching it churn before continuing on, trailing Elias as he follows the river back into the forest.
"We set up quite far away, huh? I ask as we curve down one of the rivers winding bends.
"I mean, it's much faster to cut straight through the woods. We just took the more scenic route." Dorian comments, still lingering behind me.
"Ah."
After several more minutes of walking, we finally see it.
Nestled at the river's edge is a small cave entrance, half hidden by brush. And just outside it, slumped against a tree with his rifle in hand, sits old man Theodore.
I release a sigh.
Crude, quiet, and temporary, it seems that this cave would be my home for the next day or so.