Morning dawned with a pale sun, its light filtering through the canopy and painting the forest floor in muted gold. The camp felt quieter than usual. Hope was awake, sitting cross-legged by the fire, carefully stacking stones into a small pyramid. Zhi stretched, letting out a groan, while Leo sat sharpening the rusted blade with slow, deliberate strokes.
"Today's the day," Leo said, breaking the silence.
Zhi rubbed his temples, still waking up. "The day for what, exactly? Another grand adventure?"
"Scouting," Leo replied. "We need to know what's out there—who's out there. We're blind right now, and that's dangerous."
Zhi sighed, reaching for his makeshift spear. "You're the boss. Just don't expect me to be thrilled about wandering into potential death traps before breakfast."
Leo smirked faintly. "Noted."
After a quick meal of roasted roots and berries, the three of them set off. Hope insisted on coming along, and despite their initial protests, Leo and Zhi relented. Hope's small size and sharp eyes had proven helpful before, and neither wanted to leave him alone in the camp for too long.
The forest was alive with sound: birds chirping, leaves rustling, the distant trickle of a stream. But beneath the surface, an uneasy tension lingered, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
They moved cautiously, sticking to the underbrush and avoiding open spaces. Leo led the way, the rusted blade held tightly in his hand. Zhi followed, his spear at the ready, while Hope brought up the rear, clutching a sharpened stick he had insisted was his weapon.
By midday, they came across the remnants of another camp. The ashes of a fire were still warm, and scattered footprints led off into the woods.
"Someone's been here recently," Zhi said, crouching to inspect the ground.
Leo nodded, scanning the area. "Not bandits, though. The tracks are too light. Could be survivors."
"Or scouts," Zhi countered.
Hope knelt by the fire pit, poking at the ashes with a stick. "Do you think they'll be nice?" he asked innocently.
Leo exchanged a glance with Zhi. "We'll have to find out," he said.
They followed the tracks, moving carefully and keeping low. The trail led them deeper into the forest, where the trees grew closer together and the air grew cooler.
Eventually, they heard voices—low, murmured tones coming from a small clearing up ahead. Leo signaled for Zhi and Hope to stop, then crept forward, peering through the foliage.
In the clearing were three figures: two men and a woman. They were huddled around a crude map spread out on the ground, speaking in hushed but urgent tones. Their clothes were tattered, and they looked worn but determined. One of the men carried a battered sword, while the other held a bow strung with a single arrow. The woman had a small dagger at her side and seemed to be giving directions.
"They don't look like bandits," Zhi whispered, leaning close to Leo.
"No," Leo agreed. "But we can't assume they're friendly."
"What's the plan?" Zhi asked.
Leo thought for a moment, then turned to Hope. "Stay here and stay quiet," he said firmly.
Hope nodded, his eyes wide.
"Zhi and I will approach. If anything goes wrong, you run back to camp and don't look back. Got it?"
"Got it," Hope whispered.
Leo and Zhi stepped into the clearing slowly, their hands raised to show they meant no harm. The three strangers immediately tensed, the man with the bow raising his weapon.
"Who are you?" the woman demanded, her hand moving to her dagger.
"We're not here to fight," Leo said quickly. "We're just looking for other survivors."
The woman's eyes narrowed. "Survivors? From where?"
"Our village," Zhi said. "It was attacked by bandits a few days ago. We barely escaped."
The three strangers exchanged glances, their expressions softening slightly. The man with the sword lowered it a fraction.
"Same thing happened to us," the woman said finally. "Bandits tore through our village a week ago. We've been trying to regroup ever since."
Leo nodded. "Then maybe we can help each other. We've set up a camp not far from here. It's not much, but it's safe—for now."
The woman hesitated, studying them closely. "Why should we trust you?"
"Because you don't have many options," Zhi said bluntly. "And neither do we."
The woman's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Fair point."
By the time they returned to the camp, the sun was beginning to set. The three strangers—who introduced themselves as Lina, Kai, and Ren—helped carry supplies they had salvaged from their own journey.
Hope greeted them excitedly, though he stayed close to Leo and Zhi, clearly wary of the newcomers.
Lina knelt to speak to him, her tone gentle. "You're brave, aren't you? Helping these two build a camp out here."
Hope beamed, nodding vigorously. "I even have a weapon!" He held up his stick proudly.
Kai chuckled, ruffling the boy's hair. "Looks like you're the real leader here."
That night, they sat around the fire, sharing what little food they had and trading stories of their escapes. Lina spoke of her village's fall, of how the bandits had come like a storm, leaving nothing but ashes in their wake. Kai and Ren had similar tales, their voices heavy with grief and anger.
"But we survived," Lina said firmly, her gaze sweeping across the group. "And as long as we're alive, we can fight back."
Leo nodded, the determination in her voice sparking something within him. "We will. Together."
Zhi smirked. "Great. Another speech. But yeah, what he said."
The group laughed, the sound lightening the oppressive weight of the forest for a moment.
As the fire crackled and the stars emerged overhead, Leo felt a flicker of hope. They had allies now, a chance to build something stronger. The road ahead would be hard, but for the first time, it felt like they weren't walking it alone.