Bonds in the Wild
The campfire crackled brightly, casting long shadows on the rocky terrain. The air was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of roasted meat as the group cooked slices of the beast they had hunted earlier.
"Not bad," Theo muttered, chewing on a piece of meat. "At least we won't starve tonight."
Arya nodded, handing a piece to Jace before turning her attention to the fox. It lay curled up near the edge of the firelight, its golden eyes half-closed but watchful.
"Here," Arya said, holding out a piece of meat to the fox. "You need this more than any of us."
The fox sniffed the air but turned its head away, uninterested.
"Ungrateful," Theo grumbled.
"Let me try," Dani said, reaching for a piece of meat.
Arya hesitated but handed it to him. Dani approached the fox slowly, crouching to its level. "Here," he said softly, holding out the meat. "You need to eat if you want to heal."
To everyone's surprise, the fox lifted its head and gently took the meat from Dani's hand. It chewed slowly, its gaze fixed on him.
"No way," Jace said, his eyes wide. "Why did it take it from you?"
Arya watched with a curious expression. "It seems to trust you," she said, a hint of wonder in her voice.
Dani felt a strange warmth in his chest. He reached out cautiously, and the fox allowed him to gently stroke its fur. "Maybe it knows I'm the one who helped it," he said, though even he wasn't entirely sure.
A Conversation Under the Stars
As the night deepened, the group settled around the fire. The boys dozed off first, their exhaustion from the day's events finally catching up to them. Dani and Arya remained awake, the fox resting quietly beside Dani.
He glanced at Arya. "Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead," she replied, poking the fire with a stick.
"This planet… it doesn't seem like a safe place to live. Why are people here?"
Arya sighed, her gaze distant. "This planet is called Kelnor. It's not under the control of any of the major families because it's too dangerous. The creatures here are stronger, and the environment is harsh. Only those without a choice stay here."
"Like you?" Dani asked gently.
"Like us," Arya corrected. "My group and I come from different places, but we all ended up here because we couldn't afford to live on safer planets. The strong families control everything, and if you're not one of them, you're expendable."
Dani nodded, piecing together the fragments of information. This world was just as harsh as he remembered from the novel, a place where only the fittest could survive.
"What about the skills?" he asked. "Everyone seems to have them."
Arya raised an eyebrow. "You don't know?"
"Not much," Dani admitted, trying to sound genuine.
"Everyone's born with a skill," Arya explained. "It's like a mark of fate. Some skills are powerful from the start, while others grow over time. Rankers—those with combat skills—are the ones who stand a chance out here. But only a few ever reach the top."
Dani nodded again, pretending to absorb the information. Inside, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. His "Mind's Eye" skill might not be combat-oriented, but its potential was immense. If anyone found out about it, he would become a target.
Unspoken Connections
The conversation lulled, and the fire crackled softly in the quiet night. Dani glanced at the fox, its golden eyes now closed in peaceful slumber. He felt an inexplicable connection to it, as if their meeting had been more than coincidence.
"You're different, Dani," Arya said suddenly, breaking the silence.
He turned to her, startled. "What do you mean?"
"You're calm, even in the face of danger. You don't act like someone who's been surviving in the wild for ten years, yet you're not inexperienced either. It's… unusual."
Dani forced a small smile. "Maybe I just got lucky."
Arya didn't look convinced but didn't press further. Instead, she stood, brushing dirt off her hands. "Get some rest. Tomorrow will be just as tough."
Dani nodded, lying back and staring at the stars. As sleep crept over him, he couldn't shake the feeling that his journey on Kelnor was only just beginning—and that the fox by his side would play a larger role than he could have ever imagined.