Foraging for Sustenance

Zami's eyes slowly opened to the muted light filtering through the cracked walls of the abandoned house. He stirred quietly, feeling the familiar weight of Karesh perched on his shoulder. The crow puppet shifted slightly, its glowing white eyes observing the room.

"Nothing happened," Karesh said, his voice calm and measured.

Zami nodded, standing and brushing the dust off his cloak. He glanced toward Kiyo, who was sitting on a corner of the worn wooden floor, holding the wooden bird figure tightly.

"Are you hungry?" Zami asked, his tone even.

Kiyo looked up at him and nodded hesitantly. Zami glanced at his pouch, where the last of his berries had been stored. Empty.

"We'll find something," he said, adjusting his katana at his side.

Karesh's glowing eyes fixed on Zami. "This village may have remnants of food, though its decay suggests otherwise."

Zami stepped outside, the barren wasteland stretching endlessly before him. The village was eerily silent, the ash-laden wind brushing through the broken structures. His sharp senses were on high alert as he began searching the houses, Kiyo trailing behind and Karesh maintaining a vigilant perch.

Inside a decrepit home, Zami found a storage area. Broken pots, scattered debris, and rotted supplies lined the floor. Among the rubble, he uncovered a small stash of preserved vegetables and dried meats sealed in jars. He inspected them cautiously.

"Still good," he muttered, testing the scent. He grabbed enough for Kiyo and himself and stepped out, handing Kiyo a small piece of dried meat.

"Eat slowly," he instructed, taking a bite of the preserved food himself.

As they rested against the remains of a stone wall, Karesh spoke. "This place is a shadow of what it once was. Whatever lived here vanished long ago, yet remnants of their lives linger. It's strange, seeing ruins that once thrived."

Zami stared into the distance, his expression unchanged but his mind alert. "It's no stranger than the ruins we've walked through before. These places are echoes, and the echoes never tell the full story."

Karesh's wings twitched. "And yet, in these echoes, you persist."

Zami stood, adjusting his cloak. "Let's keep moving. This place doesn't feel safe for long."

He began leading Kiyo out of the village, Karesh flying overhead, his gaze ever watchful. The trio moved toward the unknown, their journey through this desolate world continuing.

The faint crunch of ash and dirt beneath their feet was the only sound as Zami, Kiyo, and Karesh made their way through the desolate wasteland. The air was heavy, carrying the faint scent of charred wood and decay.

Zami glanced at the horizon, his silver eyes scanning the ominous gray sky, the burned trees that jutted from the ground like jagged teeth, and the endless remnants of a world long destroyed. The dark clouds above seemed to swirl sluggishly, an eternal storm frozen in time.

He broke the silence, his voice low and steady. "We better not run into those skeleton-headed beasts again. I don't feel like wasting more time or energy."

Karesh, flying a few paces ahead, circled back and perched briefly on Zami's shoulder. "Unlikely, but not impossible. Those creatures wander without purpose, but their instincts may lead them here. Always be prepared."

Zami didn't respond, his focus shifting back to the terrain. He recognized the monotony of the landscape—the same bleak scenery he'd seen countless times before. Yet, there was always a nagging sense of unease, as if the land itself was watching, waiting.

Kiyo clung closely to Zami's side, her small steps struggling to match his. She held tightly to the wooden bird carving he'd given her, her wide eyes darting nervously at every shadow and movement.

As they pressed forward, Zami's sharp senses picked up faint traces of movement in the distance—nothing concrete, just the subtle shifting of ash on the wind. He didn't stop but kept his hand resting lightly on his katana's hilt.

"The further we go, the more this place feels like a graveyard," Zami murmured, his gaze unwavering.

Karesh tilted his head, his glowing eyes surveying the surroundings. "That's because it is. Not just for those who lived here but for countless others who were consumed by the calamity of this world. Their remnants are everywhere, seen and unseen."

Zami gave a slight nod but said nothing further. The trio moved forward, each step a small defiance against the oppressive weight of the wasteland.