Jamal didn't plan to sleep for long, as the sun was beginning to rise when he woke up. He got up early and began getting himself set for the journey ahead. Grabbing the bottle, he took a short walk to the spring, where he filled it up, before covering it up. Getting back to the camp, he got the deerskin to hopefully sell for some money since he had none on him, as he looked around one last time. Just a bunch of sticks and burnt logs showed anyone was there.
He turned back towards the woods, to see the forest fire even larger than before, as he could see several powers being used to quell it down. Grinning as it gave himself an exit, he turned the other way and began his trudge towards somewhere else. He brought out the map once he reached the forest floor, as he continued to move ahead. He still had no idea where he was, but thankfully there were several marked forests that could have been a possibility. There were labels to the side, as he noticed multiple roads, some more major and important than others.
Making his way deeper into the forest, he thought about Ula and Laken, them being worried about where he was, if he was even alive right now, they couldn't know. He wanted to be upset for letting this happen, but he still had a chance and he would get back to them, no matter the risk.
Approaching another stream, he sat down to gulp down the water inside the bottle, halfway as he refilled it, before continuing his way across the river, the water soaking his worn-out boots. He remained focused, as the sun reached its peak in the sky, as it was finally noon. He chewed on a piece of leftover meat, as he let it distract him on the grueling march. At least it wasn't cold, as it felt just right.
In what felt like an hour of walking, he moved ahead to what appeared to be a small dirt road, as he saw one of those vehicles from earlier throttle past. Smiling, before realizing that it would lead back to society and others looking for him, he stopped grinning, as he moved back into the woods, but traveled perpendicular to the road to the direction of where the vehicle was going.
The walk was much longer, as it took many twists and turns, before he reached an old cabin, with the vehicle outside. Low on options, he sighed as he walked up to the door of the cabin and knocked. A grumble and some shuffling appeared before an old man had some type of thick taboon in front of his face.
"Jamal?" the man's voice stumbled, as he lowered the weapon.
"You know me?"
"You saved us in Port-O-Bea. I saw that attack where you destroyed that asteroid!" he began to speak in excitement.
"That's great and all, but am I allowed in, or the very least can I get a ride?" Jamal begged.
"Of course, come in!" he allowed him inside.
"Excuse the dirty shoes, it's been tough traveling through here." Jamal began to explain, as he took them off as well as the socks, feeling the hard wooden floor.
"It's fine, go ahead and take a seat." the old man said while watching him, "You know, I think you've met my son."
"I have? Who?"
"His name is Zim, or was. I haven't seen him since they took over." the old man stared down.
"I don't rememb-, wait I recall! He was one of the guards with me!" Jamal eye's lit in recognition. "He's still alive?"
"I hope so, last I saw him was when they forced him into the army. I fear he's been broken." the old man explained while pouring some tea, before handing it to him.
Jamal eyed the tea, as he swished it around. He's been truthful so far, and he had made sure he didn't put anything inside. The old man seemed like he was there.
"You going to drink up, or is tea not your thing?"
"Oh, I don't mind it." Jamal spoke up, taking a few sips before downing the drink.
"Someone's been thirsty. Now, let's really get down to business. You have any idea of where you are?" the old man began, placing the taboon down.
"Nope."
"Ah, we're near the Southwestern portion of the mainland."
Southwestern and mainland? Jamal couldn't believe it. They couldn't be that far, could they?
"You seem surprised. I mean only around two hundred miles away from what's considered the Southwestern section, as for the mainland part, well take a look at this." he said, pulling out a map.
Jamal followed his finger, as it landed on some small islands a few miles off the coast of what was Saputa.
"That's where the capital is for now. It's going to be moved here." he traced his finger back to a place called Youdenio City. "That was once Saputa City, it's been rebuilt since the war."
"Is that so." he looked, where he noticed a dark cross near the bottom of the map. "And that's where we are?"
"Yep, about a two day trip back to the new capital. You've missed a lot Jamal, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Resistance wanted you in."
"Resistance?"
"Ah, remembered you left. Ever since Port-O-Bea had finally been captured, and even before that, a small but slow-growing resistance movement had been formed, to the point where even Youden know's about. There's a current insurgency in the Southwestern section, which is why I brought it up, since they're attempting to retake it.
"Retake? How's the progress?"
"Last I heard, they're getting crushed. It'll only be a month or so till they're gone and then there's nothing we can do to get back Saputa. I'm afraid you might be our last hope to get Saputa back."
"But I can't, even if I wanted too. My family's worried about me, and I need to get back to them."
"Surely your mother and father can wait, can they not? You're a young man now, compared to when I last saw you."
He stifled a noise, not wanting to bring his parents into the conversation. He didn't even know where they were, but they didn't even know he had a family of his own.
"No, I have a son now, you might have seen Ula."
"Ah, I guess some people want to start a life early."
"But can you take me to the Resistance then. Perhaps they'll help me."
"Of course, this is the least I can do for saving us. It won't be easy to get back to where you came from, but I'm sure you'll find a way." the old man nodded, ready to be of use again.