The forest was quiet, but strangely inviting; the air was neither too hot nor too cold. It felt… controlled, Maya thought, though she kept that observation to herself.
They moved as a group, Ethan leading with precision, Rory trailing behind with restless energy, Lena quietly scanning every detail, Sam lingering near Maya quietly fixing his glasses, scanning his surroundings, and writing in a small notebook.
"First rule of survival," Ethan said, pushing past low-hanging branches. "Shelter, then water, then food. We'll cover those basics before dark."
Rory groaned. "You sound like a teacher. Do you carry a manual everywhere you go?"
Ethan scoffed and didn't answer.
They walked for a while, neither knowing how much time had passed, until they heard flowing water in the distance. A small river runs its way through the rocks, sparkling in the light; the sound of running water is oddly soothing in the otherwise still forest. Sam knelt, cupping his hands to taste.
"It's fresh," he said, relief flashing in his eyes. "Clean, too."
"That's… convenient," Maya murmured.
Lena crouched, admiring the tiny fishes swimming in the river.
Ethan's eyes widened like he found the jackpot, "At least we don't have to worry about food and water tonight!"
Food turned out to be no challenge at all. Not ten minutes from the stream, they stumbled across groves of fruit trees. Glossy-skinned apples, ripe enough to pluck with ease. Beyond that, clusters of berries glistened on shrubs.
Roy bit into an apple, juice running down his chin. "Perfectly ripe," he said. "Surviving in the wild is not so bad after all."
Ethan scanned the trees with suspicion. "No birds."
They all looked around.
He was right. The forest was alive with green, with reptiles scuttling over rocks and a few lizards on tree trunks, but not a single bird flew through the branches since they got there.
"Maybe the birds are sleeping in," Rory joked, though his laugh was hollow.
They collected enough fruit to fill their arms, carrying it back to the clearing near the river. Ethan suggested they set up camp there.
As the sky got darker, Rory built a small fire from dry branches. They huddled close, the flames bringing warmth to the cold atmosphere.
Due to Ethan's military skills, he was able to catch some fish by crafting a rod from a branch and vines, and he used earthworms as bait. Everyone was watching him, impressed. They roasted the fish and ate them for dinner.
After dinner, Sam let out a breath. "Maybe it would help if we… knew each other better. If we're stuck here, trust matters. At least until we figure this out."
They all looked at each other.
"Fine," Rory said suddenly. "I'll go first. Name's Rory Keane. 22 years old. Grew up in Nevada. Used to stream robotics online in my small apartment 24/7, if you can believe it. Haven't done much with my life, unless you count dodging real jobs. Guess I was just waiting for an adventure." He gestured broadly to the forest. "So… here we are."
Lena spoke next, her voice steadier now. "Lena Ward. 21 years old. I study Data Analytics in college. I like doing calculations. I was...supposed to be home last night. But all I remember was being knocked out from behind by someone as I was walking home." Her eyes flickered to the fire. "I had someone waiting for me."
They all looked at her with empathy, even though they struggled with their own thoughts.
Maya caught the faint tremor in her voice, the way she pressed her lips tight after speaking.
Ethan cleared his throat. "Ethan Cross. Army for 5 years. Or—was. I'm 28. Two tours overseas. I know how to keep people alive in bad situations, so… I'll do what I can."
"Military man," Rory muttered. "Figures."
Ethan ignored him.
Sam smiled faintly, though there was sadness in it. "Sam Rivera. I'm 24. Med student. Third year. I was supposed to take my final exam this week. Guess this is one way to practice trauma care."
They chuckle at his humor.
Maya hesitated before speaking. "Maya Phillips. 21 years old. Botanist. I love plants and gardening. I… worked at a research facility. Studying ecosystems."
They talked for a few more minutes about themselves, breaking the tension.
"Tomorrow," Ethan said, staring into the fire, "...we scout further. Maybe there's a road. Maybe a cabin. Something."
"And if there isn't?" Maya asked.
"Then we keep moving."
No one argued, but unease clung to them like smoke.
Above the treetops, Maya traced the constellations with her eyes as she lay her back against a tree.
And for the first time, she wondered not just where they were… but why it felt like a perfect yet unsettling dream.