They had been walking for hours. There seemed to be no end to the thousands of trees. There were strange plants too. One was purple and glowing and actually exploded when Sam touched it. Another had actual fangs and tried to bite them when they got close.
Finally Sam stopped, and leaned against a tree, tired. "Ok, I think there's no point in us walking further. We haven't seen any sign of civilization in ages. Where are we?"
Kameron sighed. "I have no fucking clue. All I know is that this isn't Connecticut." He looks up, staring at the large mountains in the distance. Suddenly he spies gray wisps from the corner of his eye. Was that...
"Sam! Look!" Kameron points to the wisps. Sam looks and gasps. "Oh my god smoke. That means fire. Fire means people." Kameron nods grinning. He gets up as Sam begins walking in the direction of the smoke. Kameron follows.
"You think they're friendly?" Kameron asks, trying to break the awkward silence.
Instead someone else answers instead of Sam.
Most things in Axoria are not friendly. We should go to Lymin to the west. They are nicer.
Kameron jumped surprised. Since when could Apep do that?
'Wait where did you say we are?' Kameron asks in his head. The Chaos god is silent for a few seconds.
Axoria. Country on the large continent known as Aihune. To the west is Lymin and to the east is Qerea. You are in a different world, Kam.
Kameron stops walking. "What?!" He snaps. Sam turns, confused. "What did you say?" she asked. Kameron gives her a fake smile. "Nothing." he answered. As he continued walking his mind was racing. What did Apep mean by "different world"? And if they were in a different world, could they get back? And Apep knew the name of both the continent and a few countries. Could he be from this world?
He is so busy thinking he doesn't notice where he is going and stumbles straight into creek. He gasps as cold water fills his shoes. Sam snickers and extends a hand to help him out. "Not funny. Not at all." Kameron says glaring at her. She shrugs. Her smile disappears when she sees something on the other side of the creek.
"What is it?" Kameron turns wondering what she was looking at and notices a small child hidden behind a tree. She has curly hair pulled into a messy bun. She was chewing her nail eyeing the strangers. Sam crouched and waved to the girl. "Hi. I'm Sam. This is Kameron. Can you tell us where we are, sweetheart?" Sam says quietly. The girl frowns and looks back and forth before she waves a hand motioning for them to follow. She runs into the trees.
"Should we...follow her?" Kameron asks. Sam nods and splashes through the creek. She jogs after the girl. Kameron sighs annoyed. "I hate this place." He mutters and runs after Sam and the girl.
***
The girl stops on a large hill. Sam and Kameron catch up to her seconds later. "Jesus. Why are you so fast?" Kameron gasps out, placing his hands on his knees. Sam laughs. "Stop being a baby." She turns to the girl who points to something in the valley below. "Oh. Oh wow." Sam whispered. In front of them lay a large plain of grass. Dozens of small houses and huts made from stone and wood are huddled together. There are fields to the right of the village and Kameron could see people waking through the streets and working in the fields.
Sam steps forward, smiling in relief. "C'mon, lets get go-!" She doesn't finish. An arrow suddenly flies through the air, skimming Sam's cheek. "Ow!" She hissed. Kameron stumbles back. "What the actual hell?" he whispers. There is the sound of thundering hooves and suddenly people on horseback ride onto the hill surrounding them. They shout at them in an unusual language and somehow Kameron can understand it.
They level swords at them and the little girl walks over to one of the horses where a tall man sits. "Maddison, who are these foreigners?" The little girl, Maddison, shrugs. "They looked lost, daddy." She said. She sounded sorry. Kameron growled as one of the swords came a little too close to him.
Sam swallows nervous. "What are they saying?" She whispers. Kameron grabs her hand and concentrates. "Here." he whispers back. Apep understands his intention and acts sending some of his linguistic knowledge to Sam. Sam gasps as a warmth fills her. Sound seems to be muffled before becoming clear again. Now she understands the people. "What the hell was that?" She snaps, scared and confused. "A little knowledge. Roll with it. I'll explain later." Kameron says.
"Foreigners. My daughter says that you seemed lost. While we do not accept most strangers into out home we will make an exception as my daughter thinks you are good people." The large man on horseback says. Kameron and Sam glance at each other before staring at the man.
"Um...ok?" Sam said. Unknown to her she had spoken in these people's language with a perfect accent.
Maddison smiled at them. Kameron gave her a small smile back. "Come. You can walk beside us. I am Rodan, the village chief. There is another person in our village. He is from the school in the mountains. I believe his name was...Zach?" Rodan said. Kameron frowned. It couldn't be... "Does this Zach have a last name?
Rodan nodded as Sam turned to Kameron. "What are you thinking?" She whispers. "What if we aren't the only ones who got sent here?" he says. Sam's eyes widen in surprise and understanding.
"Zach Julliard? I believe that was it." Rodan said. Both Kameron and Sam stare at the chief in surprise. "What the actual fuck is Zach doing here?" Sam and Kameron said at the same time. A good question. A question he should answer.