The wasteland stretched endlessly, the silence occasionally broken by the faint whistle of the wind. Zami's steps remained steady as Kiyo walked beside him, clutching her bird carving tightly. Karesh, perched on Zami's shoulder, tilted his head curiously, observing the barren landscape.
Breaking the silence, Zami spoke, his tone firm and calculating. "You said the skeleton-headed beasts wander without purpose." He glanced sideways at the crow. "I don't think that's what it is."
Karesh's glowing white eyes flickered. "Oh? Enlighten me, then."
Zami exhaled sharply. "They have weapons. Spears, swords, daggers, even bows. They've built catapults, for crying out loud. You don't call that aimless wandering."
Karesh flapped his wings briefly but remained perched. "Fair point. But weaponry doesn't always indicate strategy. Perhaps they operate on instinct or mimicry."
Zami shook his head. "No. It's more than that. They work in groups, coordinated ones, and they hunt. Specifically, they've been hunting Kiyo."
Kiyo's grip tightened on Zami's cloak as she looked up at him, her expression laced with fear.
"They're organized," Zami continued, his voice edged with a hint of irritation. "And they're persistent. They didn't just show up out of nowhere—there's intent behind their movements. Whether it's because of her or something else, I don't know. But they're not just mindless creatures."
Karesh ruffled his feathers, his voice thoughtful. "If what you say is true, then their persistence makes them more dangerous than I assumed. They've adapted to survive in this world, just as you have."
Zami's hand moved to rest on his katana's hilt. "Exactly. So we need to be prepared. The next time we see them, it won't just be a skirmish. It'll be a battle, and they'll come in force."
Kiyo tugged lightly at Zami's sleeve, her voice small. "What if… what if they find us first?"
Zami looked down at her, his silver eyes calm but resolute. "They won't catch us off guard." His gaze shifted back to the horizon. "If they come, we'll deal with them. But from now on, we stay vigilant."
Karesh flew off Zami's shoulder, circling above briefly before landing back. "Wise. I'll keep an eye on the surroundings as we move. You focus on conserving your strength. If they're as organized as you think, we'll need every advantage we can get."
With that, the trio pressed forward, the air between them heavy with the tension of what lay ahead.