Chapter 15: Won’t Waste

The landscape began to shift as they climbed over the rolling hills, the terrain growing more rugged and untamed. In the distance, a dense cluster of trees rose against the horizon — a forest untouched by the decay they’d encountered elsewhere. The sight of thick, green foliage brought a faint glimmer of relief. Forests meant cover, and cover meant a chance to rest undetected, shielded from the eyes of any Pale Ones or other unwelcome surprises.

Finn gazed at the treeline, a cautious hope flickering across his face. “Looks… safer than anywhere we’ve been in days.”

Nate surveyed the forest, nodding. “It’s a good place to lay low for a bit, maybe even find food or water.”

Bella, stepping up beside him, shaded her eyes as she looked into the distance. “Let’s just be careful. We don’t know what’s in there, and we’ve learned that every place has its own risks.”

They moved forward, keeping close to the hill’s edge to remain unseen as long as possible. The forest loomed closer, its leafy canopy thick and shadowed. The sounds of their footsteps grew muted, swallowed by the soft earth and the whispering leaves overhead.

Once under the shelter of the trees, they were enveloped by the forest’s earthy scent and the muted calls of distant birds. The dimness was a sharp contrast to the bright, open sky they had just left behind. Rays of sunlight pierced through gaps in the leaves, casting fleeting patches of light on the forest floor. It felt peaceful, yet unfamiliar — a strange blend of security and tension.

Nate motioned for them to stop, scanning the forest floor. “We’ll need water soon. See if there’s a stream or a lake nearby.”

Bella nodded, moving silently to his right, her eyes darting around. Finn stayed close, his focus shifting nervously between the shadows and the foliage. They hadn’t gone far when the faint trickle of running water caught Bella’s attention.

“There,” she whispered, pointing to a small creek winding through a shallow dip in the terrain.

The group approached carefully, filling their canteens and splashing their faces with the cool water. For a few moments, they allowed themselves to breathe, each of them savoring the relief from the harshness of their journey.

As they rested, a faint, almost inaudible sound drifted through the forest, barely distinguishable from the rustle of leaves. Nate’s head snapped up, his senses sharpening. The sound wasn’t the groan of Pale Ones or the harsh calls of birds — it was softer, almost… human.

Bella noticed his reaction and looked at him, her eyes questioning. He held a finger to his lips, signaling silence, and motioned for them to follow him. They moved cautiously, following the source of the sound through the thick underbrush, their steps as quiet as possible.

The forest opened slightly, revealing a small, overgrown clearing. In the center stood a crude shelter — a lean-to made of branches and canvas, looking like it had been hastily constructed. A thin wisp of smoke rose from the remnants of a campfire, barely visible in the morning light.

Nate’s hand moved instinctively to his knife, and he motioned for Bella and Finn to hang back. He crept forward, his steps silent, his gaze scanning the area for any sign of movement. As he neared the shelter, he caught sight of a figure slumped against a tree beside it, barely moving.

The person — a young man, maybe a few years younger than Nate — looked up, his face pale and eyes hollow. He was injured, a makeshift bandage tied around his leg, dark with dried blood.

Nate knelt beside him, his voice low but steady. “What happened here?”

The young man blinked, his gaze unfocused. “Ambush… they came out of nowhere. Took my friends. I managed to get away… but…”

Bella moved forward, crouching beside Nate. “Who attacked you?”

“People,” the young man whispered, his voice raspy. “They’re not like you or me. They’ve… given in to something darker. They hunt others. For sport.”

Nate and Bella exchanged a grim glance. The Pale Ones were horrifying enough, but encountering hostile humans, especially those who had abandoned any sense of humanity, added a new threat to their survival.

“We’ll help you get somewhere safer,” Bella offered, her voice calm but firm.

The young man shook his head. “I’m not going to make it. But… take this.” He handed her a small, tattered map, his hand trembling. “It shows the areas they roam. You’ll need it if… if you’re heading east.”

Bella took the map, her expression determined. “Thank you. We won’t waste this.”

The young man nodded, his eyes drifting shut, exhaustion overtaking him. They stayed for a moment in silence, then Nate gently guided Bella and Finn away from the clearing.

As they moved through the forest, Bella unfolded the map, studying it carefully. The faded lines and markings were crude but legible, showing the areas controlled by the group that had ambushed the young man.

Finn’s face paled as he looked over her shoulder. “So we’re stuck between Pale Ones and… them?”

Nate nodded, his gaze hardening. “We don’t have the luxury of choosing our threats. But now we know where they patrol. We use this information and avoid their paths.”

Bella traced a route on the map with her finger, her brow furrowed in concentration. “If we cut east and move quickly, we can avoid the densest areas. But it means traveling through more open ground.”

“Open ground has its own risks,” Nate replied, “but it’s better than walking into an ambush.”

They set off, using the map to navigate around the marked areas, each of them moving with heightened awareness. The forest thickened around them, the branches twisting together, creating a canopy that shrouded the sunlight.

As they neared the edge of the forest, a faint, rhythmic sound caught Nate’s attention. He held up a hand, stopping them. The sound was faint but unmistakable — footsteps. Several of them.

They crouched behind a fallen log, their eyes scanning the area. A group of figures emerged from the shadows, moving in loose formation. They were armed with scavenged weapons, their faces obscured by makeshift masks fashioned from scraps of cloth. Their movements were deliberate, predatory, as they scanned the forest with sharp, watchful eyes.

Bella tensed beside Nate, her hand tightening on her weapon. “Those must be them.”

Nate nodded, his gaze fixed on the group. “We wait. Let them pass. If they don’t see us, we keep moving.”

They held their breath as the figures drew closer, every rustle and creak of the forest magnifying the tension. The group paused just a few yards away, scanning the surroundings with an intensity that made Nate’s skin prickle. For a moment, it felt like they might be discovered — but then the group moved on, disappearing into the depths of the forest.

Once they were gone, Nate exhaled slowly, motioning for Bella and Finn to follow him away from the area.

As they reached the forest’s edge, they could see the open plains stretching out before them, an expanse of tall grasses waving in the wind. It was both a blessing and a risk; while the open ground allowed them to see anyone approaching, it also left them exposed.

Finn looked at the expanse nervously. “It’s going to be hard to stay hidden out there.”

Nate nodded, his expression serious. “We’ll have to keep moving, fast and low. No stopping until we’re well out of their range.”

Bella looked at him, her gaze steady. “We can do this. We’re ready.”

They moved into the open, keeping close to the ground as they navigated through the tall grass. The sun had begun its descent, casting long shadows across the plains, and every rustle of the grass felt like a potential threat. But they pressed on, their determination unshaken.

As dusk began to fall, they found a small cluster of rocks that provided some cover and settled down for a brief rest. The day’s events weighed heavily on them, the encounter with the hunters a stark reminder of the dangers that lay in every direction.

Finn broke the silence, his voice filled with a mix of fear and admiration. “I don’t know how you two do it. You’re… fearless.”

Nate looked at him, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Fear’s still there. We just don’t let it stop us.”

Bella nodded, her gaze shifting to the horizon. “We’ve made it this far by trusting each other and adapting to whatever this world throws at us. And we’re not about to stop now.”