After Earth.

Chapter 13

"Ndeshi! Look what I found!" Jessica exclaimed with a bright smile. "Shuuu! Stay quiet and lay low, I've been tracking this deer for days" Ndeshi answered as she squatted behind a tree.

Jessica put a finger on her lips in response and started crawling to Ndeshi who was on the other side. Ndeshi looked at her and sighed while shaking her head "You know you could just walk right?" she said observing Jessica as she moved towards her with determination. "Well you said that I ought to be quiet, so that's what I'm doin" she replied.

"Your body weight is crushing more leaves than your two feet would. Your noise will only drive it further away" Ndeshi said annoyed. Jessica looked up at Ndeshi realizing her mistake and let out an embarrassed chuckle. She stood up and brushed the leaves off her clothes before silently tiptoeing toward Ndeshi. Ndeshi gave up on her, stood up and leaned against the tree with her arms crossed. " 'M sorry. But to be fair, we ain't gon' catch that deer. It's long gone now" she said standing directly in front of Ndeshi. "But cha' know what? How about a quick splash in that lake I just spotted? Ndeshi we just hafta, when was the last time you had fun?" Jessica said in an excited tone "A lake? That's impossible I've gone over this area already, if there was a lake I would know"

Jessica rolled her eyes at Ndeshi's response before grabbing her hand and tugging her forward "Little miss know it all, I'm tellin' ya I saw a lake. Do I look blind to ya?" she said leading her through the woods. Ndeshi sighed and let her navigate her not wanting to start an argument. Besides Sarah, Jessica was the only one who knew her real name and her backstory. They grew close only because Jessica was annoying and persistent.

She was loud and talkative, always asking questions and probing around. Ndeshi wondered how she had survived for so long because Jessica had zero survival instincts. She was naive and sometimes a little airheaded. Those were traits that annoyed Ndeshi but also ones she learned to appreciate.

The reason she was so fond of her was because she was innocent, she always looked at the bright side of things. In an evil world, she still took time to stop and look at the flowers or appreciate the butterflies. Sometimes she made Ndeshi forget about the type of world she lived in. The cruel reality that was shoved down her throat from a young age.

They had different circumstances but the same story. Both of them lost their parents and they both had to flee. The only difference was their hatred and their drive. Jessica fled the Zephonians not out of hatred but out of fear, she did not despise them or want them exterminated, she just wanted to stay as far away as possible. Her feelings about Zephonians would always fluctuate.

She would joke that if she was ever caught by a Zephonian male, depending on how desirable and kind he was, she might just give in. She always wanted to live in a humble cottage in the middle of nowhere, close to the river and far from everyone. It would be just him and her and their three little babies. That idea did not bother her, she just didn't know if any of those Zephonian males were kind enough to offer her that life.

When Jessica let go of Ndeshis hand she pointed to the emerald lake and exclaimed in a loud voice "I told ya so, would you look at that!" Ndeshi stood there in disbelief and awe. She thought she knew this side of the forest like the back of her hand, but apparently, she didn't. The lake was hidden behind tall trees and a large rock slightly obscured its view from a close range. The only way you could spot it was from a distance.

The lake was absolutely breathtaking, it wasn't very big but the water was clean and alive. The dark green pine trees looked as if they were protecting the lake forming a semi-circle around it.

"Last one there's gotta take the others nightshifts for a week," Jessica said huffing as she attempted to strip while falling over. Ndeshi wanted to scold her but her competitive side took over and she also began stripping hastily "That sucks because now you're going to have sleepless nights for a week" She said before sprinting off.