Law of Survival

'How could someone be so infuriating but at the same time be beautiful while at it?'

Szeina tried not to glare. Feeliz had her blood boiling, but she was indebted to the tribal woman. Without their timing, she and Yvann would have been doomed trying to save the twins who haven't spoken a single word.

Despite their argument, Szeina knew she needed to have a truce with Feeliz. Her skin crawled with the chilly wind blowing past.

Their steady breaths were the only sound that blended with the noise the crickets were making. Other than that, there was nothing.

If they were to hear another owl hooting, they all knew by now that it would be a good sign to run.

"Alright," Szeina cleared her throat, eyeing Feeliz and her companions.

In the laws of survival, pride needs to disappear and build allies. No matter how temporary, an ally is an ally. Its validity is up to their usefulness. 

More than the biting cold, Szeina shivered at the thought. It was heartless, and she never thought she'd even consider doing anything like that.

Yet, their situation called for something she knew was necessary.

"I'll settle for a compromise. But I'm pretty certain that wherever this place is, you're not about to give us a tour. So, what's the plan?"

Feeliz's mouth twitched. The corners of her lips turned lopsided as one of her brows shot up. She was sizing Szeina up and down, her eyes never leaving her.

"Given the little knowledge that you lot possess, I'll advise the four of you to come with us. Hunter can then decide your fate. Whether we set each of you free or detain you for wise reasons."

"Hunter?" Yvann perked up, hearing a new name. Szeina eyed him and he did the same. The exchange brought the two to have the same thoughts.

Whether Feeliz noticed or not, she didn't let on. Signaling for one of her comrades to come close, she continued to keep an eye on the four oddly dressed beings they met by chance while on a mission.

"Enough with the questions. The longer we stay here, the more chances of some other tripper group could come upon us. When that happens, I can no longer guarantee we can help you. Each of us would need to save our own."

Szeina had to suppress her snorting response, convincing herself that Feeliz can really be annoying, but she needed her.

In order to keep Yvann and the twins in a safer state, they needed the tribesmen-looking people.

"Reeeeeeeeee!!!!"

Szeina froze in her place, her body stiffening at the sound echoing around the forest.

A shrill shriek came from the distance. It was nothing like she heard before. 

An image of yellow fangs, an ugly and welting skin on the monster's face and a thin body like that of a goblin, had Szeina inching closer to Yvann.

Whatever monster emitted that noise, it surely wasn't one which she already saw.

"Amethyst," Feeliz called out with urgency. A woman whose hair was neatly braided into small patterns above her head, wearing the same binge clothing and tattoos crawling all over her arms as Feeliz came forward.

"You take care of them. Bring Esfar and Baroq with you. The rest, the hunt is yet to be over."

Briefly catching Szeina's gaze, Feeliz tilted her head in a curt bow before leaving them with one swoosh.

Amethyst turned to Szeina. The brownish hue of her eyes reminded her of dark chocolate. Szeina watched her intently, expecting her to at least say something.

However, the former only gestured with her head to come and follow her.

Leading the way, Amethyst went towards the Eastern part of the forest. Her two companions, Esfar and Baroq each walked behind the four, moving their heads front and back, left and right, making sure the premises were clear.

"Let's go," Yvann encouraged, turning towards the twins, who walked idly behind him and Szeina.

Imagining a dark freezer increasing its temperature by the minute, Szeina walked closer beside Yvann.

His icy fingers eventually found hers, taking her by surprise as he held her hands in his, squeezing it gently.

"I know you're freezing." He whispered, eyeing Amethyst, who didn't even bother to spare them a glance.

Her long, braided hair swayed behind her. Szeina wondered how she could even tolerate the chilly night air with the little piece of clothing covering her body.

If she could sit in front of a fire, with a cup of hot chocolate and a thick blanket wrapped around her, that would feel like heaven for Szeina.

"Jeez. I thought I was the only one." Szeina replied, distracting herself and trying not to think too much of their intertwined hands. 

"I can't fully grasp what is going on. But, whatever it is, I prefer that we stick together. You, the twins. And if we're lucky, Raegan and Riley too. The six of us together, we're a team."

"You sounded like a captain just now. I had goosebumps." Szeina remembered that Yvann was part of the football team. Of course, his leadership experience would come out one way or another.

However, his pep talk hardly assured her. Whether they work as a team, the six of them still stood no chance against every creature or odd beings they would meet in the strange place they were dragged into.

If the recent incident wasn't enough proof, she had a feeling that more proof would come to fruition some time soon.

But instead of killing his spirit, she rode along, lifting the mood.

"Did I?"

"Sir, yes sir." Szeina smiled.

Yvann had to shake his head. Despite the situation they had fallen into, at least they were alive.

That was what mattered.

Now the next thing they need to make sure was that they stay that way. Unless they make it out of the strange place they are in, they need to do everything they have to in order to survive.

Survival should be their top priority.