After we got organized with the fire, we started our discussion.
Qiu Tu stated, "We currently have no means of transportation, nor any mechanics to help fix the vehicle into a working condition. The APC brought us around 750 KM away from our country and it would take around a whole week of non-stop walking to get back, so in reality it might take more than the 2 weeks of provision we have acquired so far.
We factor in sleep and exhaustion from so much physical activity, plus some of you might not make it with such a drastic diet change as well." Giving a small glance at me.
'WHAT, are you serious?! I'm not that fat... am I?' I looked down at my stomach for a second while thinking.
Tao Mei asks "Why don't we go into the forest to gather more supplies? I could help by seeing if I could forage anything in the forest. My friend yesterday said the wrong subject I'm actually a botanist, not some person which makes medicine out of plants. You guys could hunt some of the animals maybe."
I added on "We should stay within a hundred meters from each other in case one or the other encounters a dangerous situation. We'll be able to help each other out then."
After a bit groups were decided on. I was with with the two research girls Tao Mei and Wan Ting to try and forage for supplies, while the other group consisted of Yao Ya, the military driver Qiu Tu, and Ngo Peng try their luck at hunting.
Since the foraging group will be kinda far behind from the hunting trio I was appointed their guard since I have the shotgun and could easily defend the two from any sizable creature that comes near by myself. Most things would probably be scared of it after I fired a shot at them. Then I just gotta hope that they become even more scared and just leave instead of attacking.
Qiu Tu will try to teach Yao Ya and Ngo Peng about how to shoot while they are up ahead. She would try to anyway. The shooting skill is pretty important, but we would first still need to have bullets to even practice it.
"Wow, the plants here look extremely similar to the one we have in our old world maybe they could even be the same." The herbalist says while continuing to walk through the forest along with the zoologist while I hung in the back behind them.
The other group just ahead of us separated by a few meters in the distance as well as foliage has their own chat, but I couldn't hear them as they were fairly quiet. After we get fairly deep into the forest the two girls finally stopped to inspect some kind of berry bush and other plants surrounding it as the other group went on ahead without us.
Not really understanding what the girls were doing I just leaned on a tree to make some small talk and to make sure the other group wouldn't run off too far without us. If they really get too far I'll just call out for them on the radios we had collected.
"So, how long have you two been scientists?" I asked as I inspected my shotgun.
After a moment of silence Tao Mei responded "Well, we graduated around five years ago, Shu Su, Wan Ting and I each had different fields of study, but luckily we all found a place to work which included them all. We've all been working there until the earthquake hit. And now we're here, although we're missing half of of the group we came with, I really hope those two are still okay even though I know the chances are very slim."
As she spoke to me all the while she still handled the plants in front of her carefully. Even If I didn't know what she was doing I could tell she knew what she was doing. From the way she preformed each task to what she did to inspect them all.
Wan Ting remarks "It... its ok I'm sure they'll be fine. Shu Su is brave and strong and Shen Bo has always been there for you. I'm sure he'll be here again."
"We need to find the others. We can't just leave them alone here especially if they're still alive." Tao Mei says determined
"Why don't we ask the others to help look as well? After all, there's quite a few people who's missing without a trace." I said
After around half an hour of random gunshots going off every once in a while, I looked over to the hunters, but they were getting pretty far so I radio them in. Immediately after the two girls come over with clear excitement plastered on their faces. In their hands they show me what looks like an onion, a small carrot, and a sweet potato looking thing.
Excitedly the girls say "Look at what we found! We found vegetables growing here and they look like what we have back home and doing some tests we can confirm they're legit!"
With a smile I say "That's wonderful, we have fresh food now and we can preserve our canned food and MREs for longer."
Quickly one of them added, "That's not the only thing! It means that this world has similar properties to the one we know! It means that it's also taken a similar path of evolution to ours then! At least with these vegetables!"
'Hmm, similar evolution of worlds huh? Interesting, I wonder what we'll find deeper into the world.'
Having a solved the problem of food for now I tell them to gather some more and radio in to the hunting group that they should come back.
After around 5 minutes the group gathers once more.
Our group brings back a backpack full of vegetables from the small patch they found. The other group brings back a couple rabbits as their spoils.
Gathering around the small campfire Yao Ya offers to cook for the group. While she sets up a pot and stands above the fire, we help by skinning and butchering the rabbits. Despite the limited amount of ingredients she still somehow manages to make a good tasting soup. After the soup was finished we all sat around with full stomachs silently.
Thinking about what the girls told me I brought up their topic, "Why don't we look around the area and search for any other survivors. They---"
"Absolutely not! Those things could be anywhere at anytime and could like instantly maul us to death!" Ngo Peng interjects
"Ngo Peng, how could you! You want to just leave them to die out here?" Qiu Tu says
"Uh.. What I mean is they are probably dead already. Why try when it's probably pointless and even if we got more people do we have enough to feed them? We don't even know how long we can last with this food." he says
"And what if they are alive huh? We can always gather more food, but we can't replace those people's lives!" she counters angerly
"Hey hey hey, lets calm down. Ngo you are worried about the food right? Well if we have more people we can gather more food and we weren't even out there collecting for that long anyways." I say trying to resolve the matter
Taking a look at all of us he reluctantly agrees "Fine."
After agreeing a few moments later a rustling comes from bushes towards the woods. Everyone slightly panicking at the noise made nearby gets ready for a fight. Four people point their firearms towards a bush ready to unload at a moments notice.
*Rustle*Rustle*
A foot appears first from the bushes as an oriental man fully emerges from behind. He wears what appears to be iron armor with blue clothing underneath and a helmet from the medieval ages of the Middle Kingdom but with an unknown insignia.
"Who are you people!? Where have you come from, the nearby sect!?" The says aggressively while unsheathing his sword
"What do you mean? We are from the Middle Kingdom, aren't you?" I ask the man confused as to why he worn ancient armor out here.
"I've never heard of such a place and have you lived under a rock your entire life to not even know the kingdom's border you are currently standing upon? Why are you even here? The wasteland behind you has nothing to offer, everyone knows that."
Looking back at the group they look just as bewildered as I do.
"Would you please enlighten us on where we are?" I spoke up
Smirking he replies "Why of course its the Enlightened Earth Kingdom, say did you hear those loud noises an hour ago? We have come to investigate it."
'it must of been the gunshots from their hunting earlier'
"No, we didn't. Could you bring us to the nearby town?"
Sweeping the area with his eyes "Ah, yes well I could, but I'll need some payment. I'm sure you generous folks could spare something considering the iron carriages you rode in."
Since we could acquire information about the new world I accept "Alright, we'll pay."
"Come out men, we have no need to be alert with these people"
As he says so around eight men come from the forest behind him. Four of them lightly armored archers and the other four foot soldiers wearing a lighter version of armor of what the man who spoke to us wore.
"Alright, lets get going to the nearby village."