At the end of the day, the tribe gathered around a large empty space in the middle of the Dead Lakes area. The last rays of the sun turned red, illuminating the sky with a warm color, while a strong scent of pus spread through the air. Voices mingled among the people, some setting up tents while others prepared to build a huge fire in the center to avoid dangerous situations.
Laughter and whispers echoed among the individuals in the distance as they went about their tasks, but Rian, trapped in his cage, was far from this atmosphere. He looked outside through the bars, and memories of the past weighed heavily on his mind, his heart aching with pain and longing for freedom.
Kieran approached the cage, seizing the opportunity while the guards were distracted. He looked at Rian's frail body from starvation, then tossed him a small bedbug before saying, "Eat this, for today will be the end of your humiliating days."
Kieran quickly left, leaving Rian with eyes full of doubt: "Is he really saying what he means? But perhaps what he means is my death." Rian let his thoughts drift away, picked up the bug, and began to eat it raw, trying to fill his empty stomach.
As night fell, the tribe gathered around a large fire, their shadows dancing on the sand like ghosts of the past. Oliver stood before them, talking about the importance of the upcoming journey and the dangers of the Dead Lakes that they might encounter. His face was grim, but his voice was full of determination.
"We must be cautious, for enemies lurk around every corner. We must reach the Eganor Mountains before they can pursue us," Oliver said, his breath catching between words.
"In the end, I extend my deepest condolences to all our tribe members who we will not see again today," he said in a deep voice filled with sorrow, looking at the large pot placed over the fire, which contained arms, limbs, and entire human corpses; those were the bodies of the dead today.
"Although we mourn what has come to be, in light of the current situation, and with no food in sight, there is no other choice." Asher stepped forward and placed a hand on Oliver's shoulder in consolation.
A somber silence fell over the people around the fire. In this harsh world, sometimes one must do horrific things to survive. But most of them had become accustomed to such matters, and others began to pull out insects of various sizes, walking away unwilling to partake in this gruesome feast.
"Haha, I want Jan's arm; I've been craving it since the morning!" A strange laugh rang out from afar. The others turned to see this emotionless person. Although everyone knew Oliver's words were just empty echoes to justify the brutality, they still had to cling to the last thread of humanity so they wouldn't completely lose themselves.
The one who laughed stepped forward. It was actually the thin old Owen, wearing a mask, with white hair and a completely black robe. His eye showed a glimpse of greed as he looked at the fire.
Everyone fell silent again; although he appeared to be a frail old man, he was one of the tribe's leaders. Worse still, he was currently the strongest man in the tribe after Ethan's death.
At that moment, the old man Sun stepped back, standing next to Kieran. He said quietly, "We need to move now; there are things that come out at night that we don't want to face."
"Yes, but how will we get Rian out of here?" Kieran asked, anxiety overwhelming him.
Sun replied, "I'll distract the guards. That will give you a chance to go to him."
After a brief discussion, the two agreed on a plan for escape. While the tribe prepared for the feast, Sun began to ignite a larger fire in the main tent.
"Ah, no! The fire is consuming the main tent!" yelled one of the people sitting around the fire. When he noticed the distant flames, he immediately dropped the food in his hand and began to run towards it.
A strange flash flickered in Oliver's eyes before he ordered all the guards to use sand to extinguish the fire.
While the guards were busy putting out the rising flames, Kieran freed Rian from his cage. His heart raced, but he was determined to save him.
"Rian, it's time!" Kieran whispered as he opened the door.
Rian, who was half-exhausted, looked at Kieran wearily but felt a glimmer of hope for survival. He approached him and prepared to escape.
But they were not alone. As they were sneaking away, one of the guards spotted them, shouting a warning to the others. The noise spread, and nearby guards began to gather around them.
"Go! I'll hold them off!" Kieran shouted, drawing his sword from its sheath.
"No, I can't leave you!" Rian replied, but he knew he had no choice. He dashed into the darkness, following instructions.
At that moment, Kieran began to fight the guards. He used all his combat skills, but he was aware he couldn't hold out for long. He tried to draw their attention as much as possible so Rian could escape.
In the lake near the camp, strange green bubbles rose, and then a fully green hand emerged, grasping the sand and began pulling the rest of its body out.
On the other side, Rian had crossed the entire camp. The sand seeped between his toes, and as he moved towards the horizon, he felt a spark of hope return to him. But his anxiety grew with every step. Would the person who saved him survive?
He kept running until he realized he was far enough from the noise of the battle. But soon, he found himself in a strange area, surrounded by desolate trees and odd rocks. He didn't know where he was headed, but he knew he couldn't turn back.
Meanwhile, at the tribe's camp, the battle intensified. Kieran managed to resist the guards, but the numbers were increasing. He felt surrounded, but he was ready to die for Rian.
In a moment of quiet, one of the guards said, "Why are you risking everything for that boy? He is just the son of a traitor!"
Kieran replied angrily, "Rian is not a traitor. He is a victim like all of us. Even if his father did something, what is his fault?"
Then, suddenly, a loud sound from the horizon pierced the air, sharp enough to make one's ears ring, fluctuating in intensity, sometimes rising and sometimes falling.
Everyone's attention was drawn to look in that direction. In the darkness, no one saw anything, and the loud sounds continued to flow, accompanied by a deep stench of pus filling everyone's noses.
"Ah!" suddenly screamed one of the nearby guards, falling into a pool of blood. Behind him stood something that no one could comprehend...