Jamie wanted to freeze but she couldn't. Her instincts made her run. She ran away from Sawyer and also away from the Caw Caw crow.
The crow swooped and Jamie ducked. Just missed her.
"Why are you following me?"
Jamie asked the crow. The crow wouldn't answer her but running like this was just so wrong.
"Why is Caw following my friend?"
"I'll ask!"
The plant replied. Sawyer was worried that Jamie had broken the crow's nest or hurt the crow's family. It was not easy to know if you did that.
"Caw says she has delicious food."
Sawyer froze. She came here to eat secretly and she was found by the crow. Sawyer remembered how she put the sandwich in her mouth when he saw her.
This was unexpected.
"Caw wants your food."
Jamie was being followed by the crow and she kept dodging and running. What? Her food? This crow wanted her sandwich? Why?
"If you want to just keep running, do this. But if you want to stop, get some food for the crow."
Sawyer yelled.
Jamie almost tripped. Was she going to get another sandwich for the crow? But it was in her space. If she took it out, it may look odd. She put her hand inside her coat pocket and took another sandwich. This way, it looked like she carried food with her.
She then threw the sandwich in the air and the crow caught it mid-air. It was a nice presentation. The crow could shoot movies as an extra actor.
"You came here to eat?"
Now it was embarrassment time.
"I thought you would feel bad if I said I didn't love your food."
This was one of the reasons. Like twenty percent and the majority was that she wanted to just eat good stuff.
"Next time, eat with us. Other animals won't like sparing you."
It was because of the plant friend the crow calmed down.
"Thank you, plant friend. Is there anything you want?"
Sawyer was a polite human. He knew how to thank people, plants even.
"I want what Caw eat."
Sawyer felt speechless. From the moment he met Jamie, his speechless moments were increasing exponentially.
"That, our plant friend, wants to eat that sandwich. Do you have more?"
Jamie understood that her food held appeal to the plants and animals here. She didn't know why but it could be because this food was from three hundred years ago. Maybe it was the last batch of good food.
How did it stay good though after so long? Her space was extraordinary.
"Here!"
She found a little one for the plant.
Sawyer took it without any guilt.
"Where are you?"
"Me too right."
He walked to the right.
"No other right."
The plant spoke broken words but he understood perfectly.
This was something he had never fathomed that would happen to him. But it felt good somehow.
Sawyer walked to the left.
"More!"
Jamie followed him. She didn't think she was safe here with the crow.
The crow had eaten the sandwich and was now watching Jamie. She had read somewhere before the Apocalypse that crows had other colors that they couldn't see. Now, she realized she didn't want to see.
They walked for fifteen minutes before reaching the plant.
Sawyer had thought that it was some grass because of how young the plant sounded. But he didn't take this into consideration. Plants that could develop consciousness should be somewhat old too.
The tree before him was different.
"Wow, a mango tree."
The big tree was laden with big mangoes. At least the size of a watermelon. Jamie would love this.
"Hello!"
Sawyer greeted the tree.
The tree shook the branch closest to them.
Sawyer looked at Jamie. She looked back.
"Food!" He whispered.
Oh, right! She forgot about it. Looking at the size of the tree, she didn't think a small mini sandwich would be enough. Jamie gave the sandwich to Sawyer and walked to the back of the tree.
She had some plant strengtheners. They were some fluids that had nutrients and they were developed by her father.
She had gone back home and collected everything. That fluid wasn't used then but now she felt that this cute mango tree would like it. She poured it and quickly came back to her previous position, beside Sawyer.
The tree shook slightly and then dropped some mangoes before Jamie in gratitude.
"I'll take one."
Jamie looked at Sawyer. She could take all. If only Sawyer left.
Sawyer walked around and he found some creepers. He moved them and found a way. He was sure it was a way out. The plant didn't know this. Plants didn't understand what they did anyway.
"Look here, there's a way out."
It was funny how the tree didn't know the way out of this valley. And now they could leave. It was all because Jamie took out her hidden food.
"Stay here. I'll get Leo."
Looking at his leaving back, Jamie was really happy. She put all the fruits on the ground in her space.
"Thank you, Mango Tree. You are awesome."
Jamie started looking in her space. She should give something in return. It was a polite thing to do.
A mangosteen plant? No no! An audiobook? A gameplay? Finally, she gave a help button.
"This is something I made. It will send me a signal if you are in need of help. It's good that you understand. Anyone in this valley, any plant or animal, you need help, you can call me."
She pointed the button.
"Press this. And then rustle your branches so I can hear."
The mango tree picked up the button and placed it somewhere high. She couldn't see but she knew that the gift was accepted.
"Come on, let's go."
Leo and Sawyer came out.
The way out was a narrow passage. It became narrower and narrower. From walking to crawling, they were now tired.
"Sounds like there's a fight ahead."
Sawyer was ahead and he was right.
"You xxxxxxx zombie, don't touch my sister."
"Let's get out, quick!"