As soon as they reached the tent, Huna and Nashw were completely uncontrollable with excitement, as they could finally go out and see the rest of the world, or what was left of it... Zo, however, was more aware and knew they shouldn't be so excited to leave the safe zone.
The truth is, it seems like almost no one knows what the world really is like or what happened. Some, marked or simply brave enough, volunteered to leave the village to prevent aberrations from entering. Some return, others are never seen again...
Nashw was 6 years old when The Big Impact happened, so he has many fond memories of what the world was like back then. Zo is the same. He was 8 years old, but he always avoids the subject of the past and family. Huna, on the other hand, was 3 years old. She says she remembers absolutely nothing except a woman carrying her in her arms. Huna doesn't know what life was like before they were trapped in the villages, so it doesn't matter to her. She simply has this desire to get out there, thanks to Nashw's will, whom she draws inspiration from and calls her little brother, despite the three of them being children of different families and countries.
Nashw and Huna even talk a lot about what it was like 10 years ago. Zo doesn't usually participate much in these conversations for some reason, perhaps just a lack of interest, since what matters is the current reality of the world.
During the week they were forced to stay in the village, they didn't do much. Nashw said goodbye to the village's plants and animals. Huna accompanied him because she loved the way he tried to communicate with literally everything. Zo spent almost the entire week training in the Village Arena, a place where the marked usually go to face each other, with the only rule being not to mortally injure anyone. Of course, nothing ever came close to that, but it's always good to have rules. Zo was seen as a prodigy in the village because he had no marks, so his only power was his dedication. He went to the Arena and usually defeated all the marked ones with physical strength and technique alone. He always seemed like the only one of the three who took the outside world seriously...
*Last day of the week before leaving for an adventure on a path of no return*
Nashw: Exactly 12 minutes until we can leave.
Zo: Going at night is out of the question...
Nashw, sarcastic: And why do I have to respect that decision? Hmm?
Zo: For the simple reason that I have the license in MY name.
Huna: Little brother, we're going during the day; it doesn't matter whether we go now or later.
Nashw: Change my anxiety, but anyway, I'm apparently an outvoted vote.
*Everyone laughed and went to sleep*
The next morning, as soon as they woke up, the three of them headed to the gate to leave, but were interrupted by Nashw's only friend.
Yori making kung fu gestures: Nashw, Nashw, Nashw, take me too. I can be useful in battle, WOW!
Zo: Are you looking for a reason to die early?
Yori: Oh, stop it, Zo, why be so serious? I'll be useful. I'm even marked, unlike-
*Zo just looks serious*
Yori, intimidated: Ah-Hm.. Well, I'm clearly joking, haha.. But please take me too. No one here takes me seriously except Nashw. At school, he was the only one who called me to talk.
Nashw: Of course—
Zo interrupting: In a week at most, if we don't come back, send someone to look for us. If they find us, we'll go back and never leave again. If we come back on our own, it's because we saw that it's possible to live out there, and then we'll take you, okay?
Yori: MORE THAN AGREEMENT!
*Yori runs off celebrating while the three of them head to the gate laughing*
Guard #1: What do you want— Ah... It's you again... If you're here, I assume you really want to kill yourselves.
Nashw: Let's go in search of a better future.
Guard #1: You've got to be joking. We've arranged for everyone to get an education, food, discipline, protection, a family... How ungrateful.
Huna, visibly shaken: Hey! We're not ungrateful, okay? My little brother just wants to do the same things he did before, live the same way, what's wrong with that?
Guard #2 joins in the conversation, irritated: Live like before? Was there this constant fear back then? Fear of passing through a stupid gate and never seeing anyone again? What was life like back then for you? *Points to Nashw*
Nashw, unsure how to respond: I-I liked hunting with my father...
Guard #2: Hunt?! There are several of us dying for you out there, and you want to hunt? Are you serious? Your father never talked any sense into you.
Zo: Enough!
Guard #2: Hmm... I'm sorry-
Nashw interrupting: No, it's okay...
Guard #1: We're just tired, forgive us. I also lost my daughter in the Great Impact, devoured by a damned freak. I'm just tired of seeing people die...
Well... It's unfair to keep them here. If that's what you want, go, but promise to be careful, and if you happen to spot even one of them, come back... You'll definitely see someone from the village out there. Ask for help if you need it.
Huna runs and hugs the guard: I'm so sorry about your daughter, I bet she had incredible moments with such a protective father, I wish I remembered my dad...
*Both cry lightly...*
After that, they said goodbye and headed down a path of no return...
Ghost to Nashw: Finally Free!!!
Nashw, startled: AHH!!!
Huna and Zo: WHAT??!
Nashw: Stop appearing out of nowhere, you bastard!
Zo slapping his forehead: That again...
Huna laughing: You can't have that imagination out here, brother, we almost died of heart attacks.
(Zo believes Nashw suffered a great trauma from losing his family and being alone after the Great Impact, and thinks that's why he sees things and talks to everything that has life, including insects and plants. Huna, however, accepts Zo's explanation and finds it amusing. She tries to see it in a positive light, despite it being sad.
However, Nashw seems to have some connection with the ghost and all life forms. He doesn't seem to just believe in hallucinations. He's always spoken to plants and animals, but Zo doesn't take what he says very seriously, just agreeing.
However, the ghost helped Nashw get up after waking up from the Great Impact. It was the first thing he saw, and since then, he disappears and reappears, seemingly for no reason, just to say something random, warn him about something, or make him laugh.)
Nashw: I already told you not to appear out of nowhere, and I'll say it again. STOP APPEARING OUT OF NOWHERE, YOU IDIOT GHOST!
*When Nashw turns around, Zo and Huna are already walking while he's standing there arguing with seemingly nothing*
Nashw running: HEY WAIT!
Ghost: Enough with calling him a ghost, I'm your number one adventure buddy now, I need a cool name! Hm... What was it again? Oh yeah, Zanny, it was Zanny! Call me Zanny.
Nashw: What do you mean "was"?
Zanny: Doesn't matter... well, where are we going?
Nashw: Zo, Zanny is asking where we're going.
Zo confused: Zanny? Oh whatever... I don't even know where to go, tell "ZaNnY" we're just going straight to where it's full of trees, if we need to, we have somewhere to hide.
Zanny: I can hear you, YOU IDIOT... anyway, I've been here a long time, I'm gone!
*Zanny simply disappeared again*
The three Heroes headed towards the forest, near the mountains. Is this the best route?