RE:VIVAL

Brandon Avil

The first light, we saw the sun rising. the light penetrated through the trees.

'Truly magnificent,'

It was the very first thought which came in my mind. I had always been a sucker for great views and scenery.

I averted my eyes towards Ishi who was sleeping like an elephant. I tried waking her up and in the process not her, but Maria was the one who woke up.

"Oh! Good Morning!" she said with a blistering smile of hers. I don't know how she manages to do that, but looking her smile always just makes you captivated to her and gentle attitude.

"Good Morning!" I replied as I turned towards Ishi, "Hey, wake up!"

"Um...." she made a noise as a small infant.

"Ishi?" I screamed in her eyes which made her jump. She was frightened and started looking around.

"Well, at least she's awake."

"You!...." she said with an angry face as she realized that it was me who just scared the living hell out of her.

"Guys?" said Maria as she foresaw the potential verbal fight, "We should be preparing. What's the plan?" she asked as tried taking a close call at the guards.

"Can't you just take inside through walls?" asked Ishi.

"Nope," I answered, "We don't know the inner landscapes and so, its dangerous."

Maria nodded in my response.

"So, what do we do now?"

I had no ideas and so was Maria. Going through is necessary as staying out here was dangerous. I had to secure Ishi at all cost, because it was my mess. I dragged her into this and only I am supposed to be trapped in this cat-n-mouse chase.

As, we tried scratching our heads trying to come up with ideas; we heard some noises. Noises which sounded like animals, like horse. I peeked a little and tried to conclude from a distance.

"What is it?" asked Maria.

I signaled her to wait as I wasn't getting any clear look. I jumped off the cart and tried going a little closer, there were four men riding on a horse and a large cart with a trailer attached to it.

"It's a Merchant, I guess." I answered Maria, "Four horsemen: they look like Adventurers and a trailer attached to a cart,"

The merchants were the only trade connectors and only people authorized to buy and sell stuff to local shopkeepers. Of course, their work included them to travel through the deadly forests. Usually, they hire Adventurers to protect him and his cargo.

"Can we sneak through using them?" asked Maria.

It was possible, but was way too risky and I would always prefer that as my last resolve.

"No, I don't think--"

As I was saying, a sound came from my left side. It was a sound of a sword brandished in air. The path that sword followed lead towards my neck.

I was stunned and didn't move an inch.

"Peeking? Trying to attack? They saw humans have become monsters, maybe they're right." a voice said, It appeared to be a man's voice. I looked over to the left and found a man standing straight: six feet tall, with orange dyed hair and an armor made of bronze. He was a 'Swordsman'-- one of the classes of Adventurers.

The sword nearly touched my neck and I wasn't in a position to move, "We're not thieves," I said to clear out the misunderstanding.

But, it seemed that he wasn't in a mood to listen and so, Maria decided to take small steps towards my spear and make a little diversion. But, he saw right through her and said, "I wouldn't suggest that,"