Aftermath

The night was quiet when Michael awoke, his wounds had scabbed over enough to walk around, though they ached too much to continue sleeping. The fire made of scattered branches, started with the bear Grylls flint and steel knife, slowly died out throughout the night. 

Michael winced as he pushed himself up, his muscles protesting. The sky glowed with the soft pink of an approaching sunrise. Nearby, the two brothers sat chatting—too relaxed, considering the bloodshed they'd witnessed.

Strange. They should be shaken—haunted, even. But they're just… chatting?

Michael grimaced as he gestured for the boys to come over, his left ear throbbing with a dull ache. He rolled his shoulders, testing his body's limits as he stretched.

The boys approached cautiously, exchanging glances as Michael let out a quiet groan, stretching his sore limbs.

"Hey, Michael, we're sorry about yesterday—we just…"

"Don't worry, you're just kids" Michael interjects frowning, "I did that because I wanted to protect you, and no other reason, understand?"

"Yes, sir" the boys state. Why are they looking at me like that… was that not what they were going to say, maybe, they were not saying everything they know. 

"Go to bed, if you want to help, I'll wake you up in an hour while I figure out what we should do today… we need you to be as healthy as possible for what is to come." Michael orders the brothers as they nod their heads and walk towards the rest of the group.

 "Also can you wake up, Joseph and Christopher? I want to talk to them." Michael calls after them in a hushed voice. "What are your names again?"

"Dean's the name, and this is my little brother, Sam," the taller boy says, nudging Christopher awake while Sam prods Joseph and points toward Michael at the edge of the campsite

Dean stood apart—lean but built for a fight. The wind ruffled his dirty-blond hair, but his green eyes remained sharp, scanning the surroundings like a soldier checking for threats. A battered brown bomber jacket clung to his frame, its sleeves frayed at the edges. Damn, he's annoyingly handsome.

Sam towered over everyone at 6'5", broad-shouldered and imposing, though his expression carried an unexpected gentleness. His chestnut-brown hair was longer than his brother's, often falling into his eyes. Unlike Dean's rugged style, Sam preferred practicality—sturdy cargo pants and a simple dark hoodie, its sleeves pushed up to his elbows. He looked more like a hiker than a fighter, but there was strength in the way he carried himself.

Michael waited for the weight of reality to hit them—the blood, the deaths, the horror. But instead, their eyes locked onto the glowing blue screens, their breath hitching. Not the wolves. Not the battle. This. This terrified them.

***

Finding a spot away from the group, Michael watches the sunrise as he waits for Joseph and Christopher to catch up with him. Absentmindedly rubbing his ear.

"Michael, are you feeling better yet?" 

"Hey mate, how's your wounds?"

Christopher and Joseph sat beside him, their eyes flickering with concern as they scanned his wounds, their brows furrowing at the sight of his scabbed-over ear.

"I'm fine, I'm fine, i just needed some rest. I feel like I'm healing faster but not superhuman yet" Michael says, showing his scabbed over half a ear.

"But guys, we need to figure out what we are doing." Pausing to catch his breath." We need a plan, ok?" Michael says as he turns to Christopher " I was thinking, we might not have food for a while so I reckon we should skin the wolves and see if you can make weapons from their bones and claws".

"Joseph could you, help him with that and also find someplace to hide the children for the next fight, and see if you can train Sam and Andy to join in the next fight" as Michael looks down at his body, sighing "Because we will need their help"

"We need to make a plan too, I'll talk it over with the rest of the guys and see if they can figure out anything" says Christopher as he watches the sunrise and the rest of the group being pulled awake.

"Michael, I'll give you my points. See if you can buy that Store on your Lord Status, we might need it" as Joseph shakes Michael's hand and a ding flashes through his screen as he transfers his 1 TP. " Let's first see what this can do before we make plans."

Thinking of it as training, Michael tries to mentally pull up his Lord Status.

Lord Status 

Store: 10 TP (Bought) - Full access or limited access?

- Weapons

- Tools

- Mischievous

Guide: 50 TP

Upgrade: 100 TP

Residents: 10

Authorization Controls: Michael Ashford [Lord]

Possible Controls: Pylon Mayor, assistant, vassal - each have varied control given by the Lord.

His screen flashed gold, and a list of options appeared. Weapons, Tools… Mischievous?

Michael blinked. This was… insane. His hands trembled slightly as he scrolled through the menus, the implications hitting him all at once

The first page held weapons, such as knives, swords, bows and slingshots. The second held axes and some tools you would find in a shed. The third held something called formations and talismans…

"Well? How is it?" Joseph and Christopher ask at the same time, their gazes locked onto Michael as he blinks away at the screen.

"This is game changing… Wait, I think I can let you guys see as well." as Michael mentally focuses on the full access, which brought him to Allow all Residents or Allow Limited, thinking on it he just chose Christopher and Joseph for now. They needed to think about their purchases, and couldn't waste it.

Deciding to spend the rest of the time scrolling through the pages to understand what they could and should buy, while Joseph and Christopher look through it themselves. Their hands pointing on the seemingly invisible air in front of them scrolling.

So weird

Wait " We are idiots" Michael says as he clutches his head, before turning to Christopher "You should have access, right? I gave you the Pylon Mayor position which means you should be able to do this too?"

"We're idiots," they chorused, sharing a grin

"Yeah I have a Status called Pylon Mayor Status, and it lets me buy stuff off your Lord Status. But what's a Pylon?" says Christopher cocking his head to the side.

The trio looked down, contemplating why and what a Pylon was.

"Oh, oh I know, it's that crystal that you grabbed before the Wave started, you know in the campfire?" exclaimed Joseph as swing his hand in the air in excitement, like a kid getting a lightbulb moment.

"You're an idiot"

"Please shoo dumbass"

Christopher rubbed his temple, still trying to piece things together. Before they could discuss it further, Sophie's voice cut through the air…

"Why is Joseph acting all weird?" calls Sophie with a smile, as she walks towards the trio of boys grinning foolishly. Her eyes coupled with sandbags, as she had to deal with the children's nightmares throughout the night.

The shining sunrise reflected a smooth dark glow off her hair as the sun seemed to roll off her skin despite the clear tiredness of her slumped shoulders. "What are you guys looking at?" as she turns around searching for the target of the attention.

"We are just talking about what we should do next" as the trio looks away blushing, trying to make themselves look busy.

"Oh, okay" slightly confused from that information Sophie furrowed her eyebrows, before smiling, causing the boys to gin with her as she flops to the floor, tired.

"First we should figure out a few things" as Michael extends his finger, gathering their attention. "One, we have to learn about each other, not just to improve teamwork but to see if you have any skills we could use right now." the group nods in understanding.

"Second, we must figure out if the knife should stay with Chris or we should give it to someone else, if that's alright with you?" Michael says looking towards Christopher, who just nods. "Is there anything else I should add?" while looking around.

"Joseph should be given something to fight from a distance, we all saw how he saved Michael from that wolf." Christopher points out "and we should check if others have the same accuracy-"

"Wait, wait, i missed the shot against the Alpha, not me please someone else" Joseph's cuts in, his hands raised as he tries to convince the group.

"No listen here" as Sophie holds Joseph's hands in a prayer position, causing him to flush. "You can't expect to get it 100% of the time, you did well now, next time just do better, ok?" Joseph's gives a slow measured nod. 

"Umm should we leave you two alone?" teases Michael as he grins mischievously at the two, making them both look away, with Joseph looking like he wanted to dig himself a hole. 

"One more thing we need to do is prepare a safe space for the children, and since they trust you Sophie the most. We will leave that task to you" Christopher says as Joseph gives him thankful eyes, happy that they are no longer teasing him.

"Last thing we need to do is have someone learn as much as they can about their Status and everything else." Josephs reminds the group, with his ears still slightly red." Since Michael is still injured I think he should do that."

Alright, let's start with introductions." Michael stretched his arms, groaning slightly at the stiffness in his muscles. "I've been training in martial arts for years—mostly jiu-jitsu. Helps when you've got two little troublemakers at home—twin daughters, ten years old." As he rolls and loosens his body out, stretching and checking how his body feels.

He smiled faintly before his voice softened. "Their mom passed away recently." A moment of silence settled over the group, the weight of loss hanging in the air.

Christopher gave him a firm pat on the shoulder, his lips pressing into a thin line as if holding back words. Instead, he jumped in. "I'm 25, worked as a bouncer and bodyguard for a while. I'm a gym rat, rugby player, and I'm into bushwalking and survival stuff. Guess that'll come in handy now."

Joseph cracked his knuckles. "And here I thought I was the outdoorsy one. Just finished my business degree, and I was planning to party for a few months." He smirked before shrugging. "But I'm big into archery. Spent a lot of time out on my family's farm in the Outback practicing."

Alex walked up just as Joseph finished, flopping down beside him. Christopher leaned over, whispering a quick recap. Alex nodded and stayed quiet.

Sophie smiled. "Okay, my turn! I'm 22, a yoga instructor, and I do emergency aid work. I live with my parents—overprotective, by the way, which I remind them of every chance I get."

"Yeah, yeah, we get it, your parents are dramatic," Alex cut in, rolling his eyes.

Sophie glared at him playfully before motioning for him to go next.

"Not much to say," Alex shrugged. "Took a gap year after high school. Oh, but I can knit, so if your pants rip, I got you."

The group stared at him.

"…What? You think we're gonna walk around in torn clothes forever?" Alex smirked. "Bet you'll be glad when I fix your stuff.

Michael smirks at Alex's confidence and adds, "Chris should keep the knife. He's the most experienced with it, and he can make tools too"

The group exchanges glances before nodding in agreement, ready to move on

"Next I want you guys to figure out a plan, while Joseph and I find a bow and some arrows." Michael explains dismissing the rest of the group as he secludes himself with Joseph.

"We will reconvene in an hour, when I wake the brothers to discuss the rest of the plan, ok?" Michael affirms, receiving nods from the rest of the group.

Secluding themselves a small distance away, just enough distance to hear their conversation without interrupting their own.

Michael and Joseph moved away from the group, their footsteps crunching softly against the forest floor. The morning light cast long shadows as they scoured the area, searching for anything—weapons, tools, or supplies—that might increase their chances of survival.