Our corner of the world

♁.•°°•.•⭒•.•°˙°•.✧{13}✧.•°˙°•.•⭒•.•°°•.♁

3rd POV

The rest of the Nerix followed behind. Once close enough to see the rescues froze in awe. The ground opened down creating over hundred-foot walls most of the way around the crater. The group spiraled down about fifty feet before they landed on a ledge in the crater. The nerix lead them around the back edge of the ledge that was mostly full of water not nearly as big as the lake from earlier it was properly described as a pond.

As the nerix continued down you could barely see tree huts within the orange glow. Most of the large glow flowers were closed but some moss and a few vines still gave off blue light. In the center of the crater, a large fire burned. A mouth-watering aroma floated on the smoke. The fireplace was set down into the floor and much like the first treehouse it was surrounded with a  table like structure and chairs carved into the ground.

Once the Nerix hit the ground they turned left. It turned out the railing they had seen sat on top of an overhang. Glowing moss and vines as well as some other plants and possibly animals decorated the underside.

There was another stable under the overhang. This one was much larger however.

The stalls were huge and full of grasses, and there was even a second story that was seemingly impossible to enter. Each Nerix had their own stall, much larger than the previous stables, large enough to lay down in and able to fit three or four Nerix comfortably. Each stable had an intricately carved name sign above it. Each somehow perfectly reflecting the personality of the Nerix the stable belonged to.

The Nerix lazily sauntered over to their respective stables. Everyone hopped down giving the Nerix a pat and opening their stables so they could rest. Ava scott and amelia went to work.

Entering each stable and first removing the bags from the saddles and placing them on the hooks that lined the exterior of the stables and then removing the Nerix saddles. Then they unhooked a rope from the edge of the stable and used it to pull down a ladder. Each disappearing momentarily as they put the saddles away. The rescues helped remove the bags and the saddles but remained clueless on where to get the seemingly magical rope from so they waited for the other three to make their rounds.

"Come on let's go see what's for dinner, you guys can meet everyone else who lives here"

Scott started ushering the rescues back toward the fire.

"Yeah all two of them"

Amelia scoffed before suddenly turning on her heels and walking quickly back to the stables.

"Hey guys"

A hand popped up from the fireplace and waved, the person's face was shadowed because the fire was to his back but you could hear the smile in his voice.

The group was about halfway to the fire place when a shout came from behind.

"Look out, Jessabelle coming through!"

The group split in half as the Nerix pounded through the center of the group.

One of the people by the fire jumped up and ran to meet the Nerix half way, only managing a few steps before the Nerix all but took them out. The Nerix proceeded to lick nip and nussle the person as they gently hugged her neck. Amelia snickered as the Nerix attempted to affectionately smother the human.

"She may have missed you"

The figure shook their head as they led the Nerix back to the stables. Finally to the firepit the group filled into the circle settling in front of the fire.

Much like the tree fort their were dishes ready for everyone's arrival. There was a chunk of meat sitting in the middle of the plate surrounded by sliced vegetables and all of it was doused in a gravy. The meat literally fell apart as you ate it, the vegetables were cooked perfectly. A glass of water was next to every plate and a little cup held a mashed starch with a silvery glob of what seemed to be butter on top.

"Alright, first things first i proudly percent your dinner."

The man stood up with some kind of arm flourish, his curled hair bouncing due to his sudden movement.

"We all know chris made that"

Amelia scoffed already eating the meal

"Hey i made the fire"

"And chris made the meal"

Amelia finished the sentence receiving a glare from the man. All the while Scott and Ava were busy digging into the meal and encouraging everyone else to do so as well.

The man plopped back into his chair with a huff, only a moment later a brite smile broke out on his face and he jumped up again.

"Greetings fair travelers I am Kellen, responsible for your insider information, now which one of you is taylor?"

Taylor silently raised her hand, her fork glinting in the flame.

Well it is wonderful to finally meet you, when you said how many people you were gonna try to get out i was quite skeptical."

Kellen cast a side glance at Amelia but continued on without a moment's hesitation.

"Honestly some people just can't handle it out here, I don't suppose they told you about nick?"

"We agreed not to tell them about him for a while, let them adjust to life out here first"

Kellen turned around as someone spoke from behind

"Well i remember now"

Kellen chuckled as he turned back around in his seat

"Chris everyone"

Kllen gestured to the man behind him.

He wore a simple oversized black top and cargo pants his hair was a dusty brown and was parted to the side. With all the attention on him his eyes squinted down into crescents as he smiled awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck in the process.

"Hi"

There was a small pause after the boy greeted everyone.

"Did you come from district 6"

There was no stopping the answer from jumping out of taylors mouth, she even shocked herself with her own blunt question. Immediately giving an apology she clamped her hand over her mouth. Chris let out a chuckle

"Yes, I am supposed to be in district 6. About three months before we escaped district 2 there was a "transfer student program" and I passed so I was moved. In reality the districts had food shortages so they tested all the students and if you passed the first test you weren't killed. If you passed the second you were moved to a different district."

"That's an odd way of helping a food shortage."

"It definitely is but i'm just happy i don't have to worry about all the venomous creatures that live out their anymore"

Chris shuddered and joined the group in the circle. Everyone sitting down nicely spaced apart actually filled the circle and brought a homey feel to the place.

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3rd POV

Once everyone was done eating and done making conversation it was time to hit the hay. The group had known about the planed escape and the amount of people intended to escape since the early budding season so they made preparations. Four tree huts had been constructed, each different, all completely empty.

Tiahs POV

It was interesting to see an empty tree hut. It looked like i was inside a woven basket. After dinner the group split into two groups the boys kellen, scott, chris and sebastian went on way and all the girls, myself, taylor, amelia, ava, mae, and kaily all went the other. The fire wasn't much help in the dark. It was almost out. Amelia was holding a stick wrapped in what where apparently glowing berries, judging by the fact that ava ate one and amelia wacked her over the head with it causing a few more to fall off. We walked for a little bit passing two large trees with stairs that disappeared up into black. Another area had clusters of four or five small trees planted in a simi circle. Little bugs flittered away as we walked through he grass.  Some time later we stopped at the base of a tree. Ava spun on her heels.

"Ok, weve got four huts one is on the ground the other three are in the tree anyone got a preference?"

Nobody really said anything to avas question but i'm pretty sure we where half asleep. The girls started walking around the back of the tree, presumably to were the hut was. Eventually we saw a hut. It was much larger than the ones in the treehouse. It was a cylinder with a dome overtop that looked like it was made from the oversized leaves that grew on the trees. Much like every other door it was arched and the only part that wasn't round was the part that touched the ground. Amelia walked over a pushed the door open ushering us into the hut.

It was definitely interesting to see. The walls looked like stacks of bent logs. Amelia's little torch lit the room for the most part. Some glowing vines peeked through the walls but nothing much else seemed to glow. Their where three large glow flowers on the ceiling each had a small cord hangin down just far enough to grab. But nobody touched it. Ava walked over to the right were the hut seemed to melt into the base of the tree. She pulled open a door that apparently led to a closet and grabbed something. She peeled off an outer layer that sounded like paper or dry leaves and tossed it out the door before returning. Ava held it in both hands like she was about to ring out a towel and she twisted it suddenly. A multitude of cracks rang fourth as the object in her hands sprung to life glowing as if it's life depended on it. A few pieces of it popped off and fell to the ground glowing like little marbles still glowing bright as can be.

"Glow flower seed pods. We will teach you how to harvest them, for now just know they glow for twelve hours."

Ava finished her mini lesson with a smile and bent down to scoop up the few seeds that dropped.

"Ok whos sleeping here"

Everyone looked around but nobody really said anything. Eventually Amelia leaned over and whispered into avas ear.

"Ok kaily you have been chosen"

Ava marched up to the girl and grabbed her hand, setting the glowing seed pod in her hand before shoving her over to another door in the back of the room.

"That's the bedroom let somebody know if you need anything."

Kaily stood, stunned and confused. Giving an awkward wave as we were unceremoniously shoved out the door again.

Kailys POV

My hand dropped as the door clicked shut and there voices faded into the distance. Quite frankly i was glad Amelia and Ava had decided to put me in the ground hut. I wasn't exactly looking forward climbing the tree were ava had told us the rest of the huts where. Turning back to the door ava had shoved me tward i reached out and pushed it open. The room wasn't very big but it was comfortable. A bed sat back along the curved wall and a small table was nexed to it. A large glowflower hung over the table in the corner with a string hanging from it. It glowed slightly a few petals where still out but most where folded in and completely dark. Amelia had said something about the glow flowers going droment. Their was a tall wardrobe on the left near the door. Intricate swirls lines and dots were carved into the doors. I almost couldnt help when i walked over and ran my fingers over the carvings. Curious i pulled open the doors. Their was two outfits hanging one soft to the touch, different browns made up the majority of the outfit but it was accented with bright blue. Parts of it where lined with fluff that was softer than anything i had ever felt. The other outfit was beautiful. Most of the outfit was orange and golden tassels hung off one part of it and some sort of medal sun medallion hung off a different part. A pink sheer fabric hung loosely over the whole outfit making the orange look like peach. And what looked like a necklace hung off the hanger as well: a bright orange stone glittered in the white glow of my seed pod. Closing the doors i neeled down and opened one of the four drawers. It had shirts, the next had pants and undergarments, the next two where empty except a pair of shoes. Sliding the drawer closed i stood up and walked over to the bed. It wasn't anything special a pillow and a blanket on a mattress. The bed was curved to fit the wall which i did find peculiar. Glancing at the bedside table i noticed a small bowl that i hadent seen earlier, it didn't have anything in it, it was just sitting on the table. pausing for a second i set the glowing seed pod in the bowl and plopped down on the edge of the bed. I reached down and unstraped my boots, followed by unzipping them because apparently the extra security was needed out here. I placed them under my night stand and unclasped the cloak i had warn. The dark fabric flittered around as i roughley rolled it and placed it on the night stand.  I pulled my sweater sleeves down as i tucked myself into bed, it's gotten chillier as the night has progressed and i was happy to be out of the open air.