Keera [1]

8. Siblinghood

How would you feel if two members suddenly left you? Who would you hold responsible - yourself, them, or someone else? It's evident to everyone that EMK is struggling as the number of members continues to decline.

~

Day 15, May 17th

EMK'S POV:

Two weeks have gone by without any progress, in vain.

In one section of the Congo, there was a meadow, but it lay barren with only dry grass and a small amount of flowers. A gentle mistral wind wafted through the meadow, providing a pleasant sensation against the skin.

This enchanting place, nestled within the jungle, stood out most favorably. Each meadow possessed a unique quality that seemed to purify the soul upon gazing at its beauty.

Imagine a vast meadow surrounded by a desolate forest, and then suddenly stumbling upon a breathtakingly beautiful area. This is exactly what happened to the EMK team, who had been enduring boredom, suffering, and longing for the past 14 days, slowly running out of food.

Fortunately, Tanner, an experienced hunter, would wake up at the crack of dawn to forage for the team. The African wildlife he encountered was notably more aggressive and faster, including deer, wild horses, and even sheep.

A few days ago, Sandra was attempting to cross a swamp when she spotted something moving in the murky waters toward her. Luckily, Tanner swiftly came to her rescue and pulled her to safety. It turned out to be an alligator. Along with alligators, they encountered numerous large and venomous snakes, spiders, and even poisonous frogs.

In the Congo world, they found a welcome relief from the daily encounter with the formidable Hulks in America. The contrast was stark - while America was rife with squalid conditions and a scarcity of these creatures, the Congo offered respite from these challenges, but Africa was still dangerous.

"Nice place," exclaimed Troy, expressing surprise. "The only downside is the overgrown grass." Lowering his gun, he retrieved a metal stick to protect himself from potential snake bites.

Vera, who has experienced numerous challenges in the past few weeks, began walking closely behind him. First, she had to deal with the entire situation with Shawn, and then her sister's sudden departure.

Despite feeling a surge of anger, she reminded herself that directing that anger towards her sister was not fair, as there had to be a valid reason for her actions. But she could not bear a single reason.

As soon as she woke up after fainting that day, she asked her father where Stella was but he remained silent. Vera became increasingly upset and had many unanswered questions. However, Sandra kept interrupting her, assuring her not to worry and promising that she and Andrew would return soon.

So, she continues to wait, wait, and wait, longing for any sign of her missing sister.

As they strolled through the towering grass, clutching metal rods, the weight of their backpacks was a constant reminder of the tents nestled within. Each step was a hopeful prayer that they would stumble upon the perfect spot.

A few days earlier, Tanner's frustration had flared, but Sandra's calming presence had restored peace. He had relinquished his quest for refuge from the foe, realizing that his team and family were of greater importance.

Additionally, Tanner had expressed his anticipation of Stella's imminent return to the team, conveniently omitting any mention of Andrew. In the wake of those events, Troy had fallen uncharacteristically silent, sparing only the occasional "good morning" or "good night."

They all continued walking, feeling the intense heat of the sun scorching their foreheads, prompting them to quickly put on their hats. The sun's rays seemed unusually strong for mid-May, especially on the 17th.