The air grew thinner as Azad, Ellie, and their newly tamed dog, Choco, began their ascent up the steep mountainside. Every step was a struggle—rocks slipped beneath their feet, and the jagged terrain made it difficult to maintain their balance. The mountain seemed almost endless, towering over them like a beast daring them to reach its peak.
Azad panted heavily, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Why did we have to choose the steepest part of the mountain? I feel like we've been climbing forever!"
Ellie, leading the way, paused to catch her breath. "Stop complaining, princess. We need to get a vantage point. We can't afford to waste time searching blindly on flat land. And besides..." She glanced back with a smirk. "You've been in worse situations."
Azad groaned, his legs burning with the effort. "That doesn't make this any easier! My legs are killing me, and I swear my boots are filled with rocks by now."
Ellie chuckled. "Would you rather deal with skeletons and zombies, or do a little climbing?"
"At this point, I'd take the zombies," Azad muttered, wiping his brow.
Choco, on the other hand, seemed to be having the time of his life, bounding ahead, his paws effortlessly finding solid ground while Azad and Ellie struggled. The dog would stop occasionally, looking back at them with a mix of encouragement and impatience.
"Look at him," Azad grumbled. "He's not even breaking a sweat."
Ellie smiled as she watched Choco dart around. "At least someone's enjoying this adventure."
The path ahead only grew steeper. They had to use their hands to pull themselves up onto ledges and navigate around large boulders. Loose stones would occasionally slip from under their feet, tumbling down the mountain and echoing as they fell into the abyss below.
"Careful!" Ellie warned, glancing at Azad, who nearly lost his footing. "One wrong step, and you'll be joining those rocks."
Azad steadied himself, his heart racing. "Yeah, no thanks. I'm already regretting this mountain idea."
They kept climbing, the mountain refusing to give in easily. As they reached a particularly steep section, Azad slipped again, but this time Ellie caught his arm, pulling him up with surprising strength.
"See? You're lucky I'm here to save your butt," she said, grinning at him.
Azad, out of breath, nodded. "Yeah… yeah, thanks. I owe you one."
They pressed on, determined to reach the top. The wind picked up as they ascended higher, whistling through the cracks in the rocks and tugging at their clothes. Despite the struggle, the view slowly began to change—below them, the land spread out like a patchwork quilt, vast and full of promise.
Finally, after hours of climbing, they pulled themselves onto the summit, collapsing onto the rocky ground, gasping for air.
"We… made it," Azad panted, laying flat on his back.
Ellie sat up, her eyes scanning the horizon. "Look."
Azad groaned as he sat up, following her gaze. In the distance, past the edge of the mountain, stretched a vast plain, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. It was beautiful—a sea of green, with rolling hills and wide open spaces. But the animals caught their attention most: cows grazing lazily, sheep dotting the landscape, and chickens pecking at the ground.
"There," Ellie said, her voice filled with excitement. "That's where we're headed. We can set up camp, build a proper base, and—"
"Eat!" Azad interrupted, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the animals. "Finally! No more rotten flesh or moldy bread. We can have real food!"
Ellie laughed, shaking her head. "You're hopeless. But yeah, that's the plan. We'll get down there, build a shelter, and make sure we're fully prepared for what's coming next."
Azad stood up, feeling a renewed sense of energy. "Alright then, let's get down this mountain before dark. I'm not spending another night in the wilderness if I can help it."
The descent was quicker than the climb, though still tricky. They followed the rocky trail, careful not to rush, knowing one misstep could send them tumbling. Choco led the way, his tail wagging as if he understood they were heading toward better days.
As they reached the mountain base, the air grew warmer, and the sounds of the plains replaced the eerie silence of the heights. After days of constant tension the soft rustling of the grass, the distant mooing of cows, and the clucking of chickens felt like music to their ears.
"Look at it," Azad said, his voice filled with awe. "It's so… peaceful."
Ellie nodded, her eyes scanning the landscape with a mix of relief and caution. "For now, yeah. But we'll need to stay on our guard. We don't know what's out there."
"At least it's not a spider-infested cave," Azad muttered. "I'm just glad we have a place to call home—well, sort of."
As they walked toward the plains, the tall grass brushing against their legs, Azad turned to Ellie with a grin. "So, what do you think? Build a mansion or a little farmhouse?"
Ellie rolled her eyes, smiling. "Let's start with something simple, Azad. A safe shelter with food and a decent fence. We'll worry about mansions later."
"Fair enough," Azad said, looking at their new horizon. "I just hope Choco doesn't get too spoiled with all this space."
Choco barked happily, running ahead of them as if he had already claimed the land as his own.
As the sun began to set, it painted the sky with vibrant shades of orange and pink, they reached the plains. The ground was soft beneath their feet, and the animals didn't seem to mind their presence—yet.
"We made it," Ellie said quietly, a sense of accomplishment in her voice.
Azad took a deep breath, feeling the fresh air fill his lungs. "Yeah… we made it."
With their new destination in sight and a newfound sense of purpose, they walked toward the heart of the plains, ready to build, survive, and thrive in this new world.