The first rays of sunlight filtered through the sparse canopy of the forest, casting a golden glow over the small clearing where the team had camped for the night.
The air was cool and crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and earth. The forest was alive with the sounds of birdsong and the rustling of leaves, a stark contrast to the eerie silence of the plains they had left behind.
Sam was the last one to stand guard. The others were still asleep, their bodies sprawled out on the soft forest floor. He walked around slowly, spear in hand.
The events of the previous day—the crocodiles, the triceratops herd, and the long, exhausting trek through the plains—had left them all drained. After a night of rest, they were ready to face whatever lay ahead.
We'll need to find more food soon, he thought. AJ's creations are a lifesaver, but they're not enough to sustain us for long. Between the lack of taste and unknown amount of nutrients, it's really only an emergency measure.
One by one, the others began to wake. Ethan groaned as he sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Ugh, I feel like I got run over by a mammoth," he muttered, his voice thick with drowsiness.
Lily, already awake, smirked. "You're just out of shape, Ethan. Maybe you should try running more."
Ethan shot her a glare, but there was no real malice in it. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. You're still a young ball of energy—age will come knocking on your door sooner than you think."
Victor stood and stretched. "We should get moving. Those kilometers aren't going to disappear on their own."
They quickly packed up their meagre supplies, their movements efficient and practised. They were becoming accustomed to life on the move.
Their travels were uneventful at first, the forest quiet and peaceful. But as the sun climbed higher in the sky, they began to notice signs of human activity.
The first clue was a narrow, well-worn path cutting through the trees. It was clearly a well-travelled path, the dirt packed down by countless footsteps.
Sam crouched down, examining the ground. "This path has been used recently," he said, his voice low. "We're not alone out here."
Lily nocked an arrow, her sharp eyes scanning the trees. "Do you think it's safe to follow it?"
Victor shook his head. "We don't know who made this path, but it seems a lot like it's from humans."
AJ's form rippled as he extended his senses. "I don't sense... any immediate danger. It should be... okay to follow. We don't want... to cause... any problems... avoid conflict... at all costs."
They moved cautiously along the path, their eyes scanning their surroundings. The forest began to thin out, and soon they could see the outline of a small settlement in the distance.
It was a modest collection of wooden structures, surrounded by a crude palisade made of sharpened logs. Smoke rose from a few of the buildings, and the faint sound of voices carried on the breeze.
Sam held up a hand, signalling for the others to stop. "We need to approach carefully. We don't know who these people are or what their intentions are."
Ethan frowned. "You think they're hostile?"
"We can't know yet," Sam replied. "Let's try to make contact from a distance first."
They moved closer, as they neared the settlement, they could see more details. The buildings were simple but sturdy, and a few people moved about, tending to small gardens or carrying bundles of firewood.
The atmosphere seemed peaceful, but they knew better than to let their guard down.
Sam turned to the others. "We'll approach slowly, weapons down. Let's try to appear as non-threatening as possible."
Lily slung her bow over her shoulder, and Ethan tied his axe to his waist. Victor concealed his knife, and AJ hopped onto Lily's shoulder to ensure he was seen as being with them and not a threat.
Together, they stepped out of the trees and into the open, their hands raised in a gesture of peace.
Almost immediately, a shout rang out from the settlement. "Strangers! Hold where you are!"
They froze, their eyes scanning the palisade for the source of the voice. A man appeared on the wall, his bow drawn and aimed directly at them. He was middle-aged, with a weathered face and a stern expression.
Sam raised his hands higher. "We mean no harm," he called out. "We're just travellers, looking for food and temporary shelter."
The man hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he studied them. After a moment, he lowered his bow slightly. "Stay there. Don't move."
He disappeared from view, and the team exchanged uneasy glances. A few minutes later, the gate of the settlement creaked open, and a small group of armed men emerged.
They approached cautiously, their weapons at the ready. The leader of the group, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward. "Who are you, and what do you want?"
Sam took a deep breath, his voice calm but firm. "My name is Sam. We're survivors. We've been travelling for days, trying to find a safe place to rest. We saw your settlement and thought we might be able to trade for supplies or information."
The man studied them for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded. "Right. You can come in, but keep your weapons sheathed. Any trouble, and you'll regret it."
They nodded, breathing sighs of relief. They followed the man into the settlement, their eyes taking in the sights.
Walter noticed some wheel ruts on the way in, keeping that detail in the back of his mind for later. The settlement was a small but well-organised community, nestled in a clearing within the sparse forest.
The wooden structures inside were simple yet sturdy, built from rough-hewn timber and patched with whatever materials the settlers could scavenge. Smoke curled lazily from a few chimneys, and the faint hum of activity filled the air.
At the centre of the settlement stood a large meeting hall, its walls reinforced with stone and its roof covered in moss and leaves. Around it, smaller cabins and storage sheds were arranged in a loose circle.
Children played near a well, their laughter a rare and welcome sound in a world that had grown so harsh. A blacksmith's stall stood nearby, its stone tools and weapons a testament to the settlers' resourcefulness.
The blacksmith, a grizzled man, worked tirelessly, the sounds of hammering constantly sounding out.
But what caught their attention most was the gardening area, a large plot of land on the far side of the settlement.
It was a patchwork of carefully tended plots, each one filled with strange and unfamiliar plants.
The settlers had clearly put a great deal of effort into cultivating this space, using whatever knowledge and resources they had.
The settlers had also attempted to cultivate other, more mundane crops—grains, vegetables, and herbs—but even these had taken on strange characteristics.
Some of the plants grew at an accelerated rate, their leaves larger and more vibrant than anything they had seen before. Others bore fruits of unusual shapes and colours, their properties still unknown.
A small group of settlers worked together in the garden, their faces focused. They moved carefully, tending to the plants as if their survival depended on it—which, in many ways, it did.
While they was studying their surroundings, they were also being watched by the settlers. As they stepped through the gate, they were met with a wave of uneasy stares.
The settlers, who had been going about their daily tasks, paused to watch the newcomers with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
A cluster of women near the well stopped their conversation mid-sentence, their eyes narrowing as they took in the team's ragged appearance.
One of them whispered something to the others, and they quickly turned away, their voices low and hurried.
Near the blacksmith's stall, a group of men leaned against a wooden fence, their arms crossed and their expressions guarded. One of them, a burly man with a thick beard, spat on the ground and muttered something under his breath.
His companion, a younger man with a scar across his cheek, nodded in agreement, his hand resting on the hilt of a crude stone dagger.
Children playing near the gardens stopped their games to stare, their wide eyes filled with a mixture of fascination and fear. One little girl pointed at AJ, her mouth hanging open in awe.
"What is that?" she whispered loudly, tugging on her mother's sleeve. The woman quickly shushed her, pulling her close and casting a wary glance at them. "Don't stare," she hissed, though her own eyes lingered on AJ's gelatinous form.
---
The man led them to a large building in the centre of the settlement. "This is our meeting hall," he said. "You can stay here for now."
Sam nodded, his expression grateful. "Thank you. We appreciate your hospitality."
As they entered the building, they couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. For the first time in a weeks, they were surrounded by signs of civilisation.
But they knew better than to let their guard down completely. In this new world, trust was a rare commodity, and danger could come from anywhere.
They settled into the meeting hall, their eyes scanning the room for any signs of trouble. The man who had led them in stood by the door, his arms crossed.
"My name is Jonas," he said. "I'm the leader of this settlement. We don't get many visitors, so you'll have to forgive our caution."
Sam nodded. "We understand. These are dangerous times."
Jonas studied them for a moment before speaking again. "You said you were looking for information. What do you want to know?"
Sam exchanged a glance with the others before answering. "We're trying to understand what's happening in the world. We've been on the move for a while now, and we've seen some strange things. We're hoping you can tell us more about some of the happenings in the area, and we are looking for the safe zone."
Jonas's expression darkened slightly. "There's not much to tell. The world's gone mad since the wish event. Factions are popping up everywhere, each with their own agenda. Some are trying to rebuild, others are just looking to dominate."
Victor stepped forward, his calm voice echoing through the hall. "What about this settlement? How have you managed to survive?"
Jonas sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "We've been lucky. This area is relatively safe, and we've managed to avoid attracting too much attention. It's not been easy, though. We're constantly on guard, and resources are scarce."
Lily spoke up, her voice soft and soothing. "Is there anything we can do to help? We're not looking for a handout. We're willing to work for what we need."
Jonas considered this for a moment before nodding. "We could use some extra hands. If you're willing to help with the planting or repairs, we might be able to spare some supplies."
They exchanged glances, their eyes brightening. They might be able to get the information they were looking for, as well as have a roof over their heads with some food.