It was already night, and the camp had grown quiet. The group was exhausted after the long series of training drills we'd pushed through. Most of them were getting sharper in close-quarters combat, and their accuracy with the javelin was improving, too. I was proud of their progress, but I knew this was only the beginning. My next step was clear: we needed real weapons—guns. If my people were going to survive in this world, we had to be versatile, capable of wielding anything from a blade to a firearm.
I already carried the vision in my head: we would become something greater. A new clan—the Fourteenth—separate from the thirteen, separate even from the Sky People. We would be the elite among the elite. A clan not just built to endure, but to thrive. I would make sure we carved out a life of comfort and security, even in this harsh world.
And Jaha… my lips curled into a bitter smile at the thought of him. Part of me wanted revenge, to settle the score outright. But instinct told me not to waste myself on rage. No—better to let him live, broken and scarred, scattered across what remained of his days. That, I decided, would be my revenge.
Restless, I woke up in the middle of the night, unable to sleep. Slipping quietly from the bunker, I wandered into the cool night air. The moon hung high above, its silver glow bathing the trees and ground in pale light. I tilted my head back, letting the sight wash over me. Since landing here, I've found myself falling in love with this version of Earth—raw, untamed, free of the suffocating pollution I'd grown used to. Yet beneath its beauty, I could sense danger. Radiation. Hidden things lurking, waiting to reveal themselves. I was certain we'd encounter threats even the show had never prepared us for.
A faint rustle caught my attention. I turned sharply, hand instinctively reaching for my knife, only to relax when I saw her.
"Hey," I said, spotting Fox stepping into the moonlight.
She gave a small, tired smile. "Hey. Couldn't sleep either."
"Yeah, me too. The moon's too damn beautiful to ignore."
She tilted her head back, her eyes softening as she gazed at it. "It really is. Almost makes you forget where we are."
I chuckled. "Almost. Don't get too comfortable, though. You never know what's hiding in the shadows."
She laughed quietly, shaking her head. "You always have to ruin the moment, don't you?"
"Hey, I'm just keeping it real," I grinned. "Besides, if I didn't, who else would remind you not to wander off and get eaten by… whatever the hell lives out here?"
She nudged me lightly with her shoulder, a small gesture of camaraderie. After a moment, her expression softened. "Thanks, you know… If it wasn't for you, I don't think I'd know what to do after we landed here."
I looked at her, caught off guard for a second, then shrugged. "Don't mention it. Just stick close, and we'll make it through."
We stood in silence for a while, simply admiring the moonlit sky, letting the night wrap around us in its calm. For a brief moment, the weight of survival lifted, and it was just two people sharing a quiet night.
Finally, I exhaled and stretched. "Alright. We should head back. Tomorrow's going to be another long day."
She gave me a small nod and a smile. "Yeah, alright. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Fox."
Together, we turned back toward camp, the moon still watching silently over us.
True to my word, when morning came we started with breakfast. Our supplies were running dangerously low—just a few scraps of rations left—so the first order of business was to forage for edible plants.
I had already taught the group which plants were safe to eat, knowledge I'd gathered from books back on the Ark. But even so, not everything out here matched what I remembered. Some plants looked familiar, others completely foreign. Either these species had changed over time, or maybe the Ark's records had never been complete to begin with. It was a reminder that this Earth wasn't the same one from the history books—it was wilder, harsher, and full of unknowns.
We moved carefully through the undergrowth near the old bunker. I made sure we didn't stray too far; the last thing I wanted was someone wandering into danger while we were still learning the lay of the land. Every sound—the snap of a twig, the rustle of leaves—kept us alert. After gathering enough to supplement our meal, I signaled the group to fall back.
Foraging was only part of survival. Today's real task was more important: hunting.
If my people were going to survive, they needed firsthand experience. Reading, training, even practice throws with javelins—they only went so far. Survival was something you had to earn with blood, sweat, and risk. Today, we would start with the basics: hunting for meat. It was a step toward independence, a way to build both skill and confidence.
But tomorrow… or the day after… it would no longer be animals we hunted.
Soon, we would test ourselves against the Grounders.
Gripping my spear, I called everyone together. The chatter quieted, and soon all eyes were on me.
"Alright," I said firmly, raising the weapon slightly. "It's time. Today we hunt."
A wave of determination swept through the group. No one argued; they only nodded in agreement. They were ready—or at least trying to be.
Troy, standing at my side, leaned closer with a grin that betrayed both nerves and excitement. "What do you think we'll run into out there? Normal animals… or something mutated?"
I gave a small shrug, keeping my expression unreadable. "Hard to say. But one thing's certain: if it is mutated, we'll have a tougher fight on our hands."
He smirked, but I could see the flicker of unease in his eyes.
I let my gaze drift to the forest beyond, the endless expanse of trees whispering with secrets. "Back on the Ark, I knew that some animals survived the radiation with barely any change. Deer, for example. Dangerous if cornered, but nothing we can't handle. But others…" I paused, my grip tightening on the spear. "Others turned into something else entirely."
The image of that monstrous gorilla from season three flashed through my mind. Just the thought of it made my blood run cold. A creature like that could rip through all of us without breaking stride.
I exhaled slowly. "If we run into something Monstrous before we have guns, we're finished."
The group shifted uneasily, the weight of my words settling over them. I didn't sugarcoat it—they needed the truth, even if it scared them.
"That," I continued, "is why we need firearms. Spears and javelins will only get us so far. If we want safety, if we want dominance, then we need real weapons. And we will find them. Soon."
The silence stretched for a beat, then Troy gave a small, confident nod. "Then let's make today count."
I looked around at my people, their faces tense but resolute, and felt a surge of pride. For now, we would hunt animals. But this was only the first step.
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