Return Of The Outcast

|023| Freaky talking cat

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Now that Mia was out of the cage, she was instructed by Sullivan to follow the two to their "base" as he went his separate ways.

She did what she was told and the trio with the girl humming  an unfamiliar soothing tune as they  went deeper into the forest.

As They walked through the small, secluded community nestled within the embrace of the forest, Mia was struck by the quietude that surrounded her.

The trees stand like sentinels, their branches a cradle for the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves. The air is fresh, tinged with the earthy scent of moss and pine. Mia couldn't help but stare in awe at everything around her. The area didn't look all too big or that it housed that many people, but something about its simplicity made it all the more beautiful in her eyes.

They seemingly lived in tents judging from all the ones spread across the forest ground. The scenery was a far cry from the bustling city Mia was used to. But despite the contrast, she likes it.

She watched the people go about their day. Some moved through the forest with a grace born of necessity, their eyes scanning the underbrush for edible plants and their hands skilled in the gentle art of foraging While others tended to the brimming gardens with vegetables and herbs with the sounds of children's laughter not too far away.

Never had Mia felt such a profound connection to nature, experiencing a blend of awe and respect for the delicate balance of the ecosystem. It was the type of feeling that made you consider abandoning the city girl life with all its glorious capitalism and air pollution, just so you could go off the grid to live with wild animals in the forest.

But she couldn't dwell on the idea for too long as she remembered there was a knife being pointed at her head.

"Hey. Just because we're letting you in, doesn't mean we trust you and it certainly doesn't mean you can start acting up." The girl said in a harsh tone.

Mia profusely nodded. "Yup. Yup. No fooling around. Got it. Now how about you put that thing down " she tried reasoning with her "And quit holding me like this!" she demanded, trying to break free from the girl as she had her in a choke hold from behind with her free hand pointing at the end of a dagger to her forehead.

"No! If I let you go, who knows what you'll do" the girl said and Mia just groaned " I told you already, I won't do anything. I'm completely innocent" she tried defending herself but the girl just ignored her before the guy stepped in.

"Alright that's enough." he said, separating the two "Come on. I need you to put your trust issues aside," he told the girl but she just scoffed "What!. How can I when we don't know her intentions or don't tell me you believe her stupid story about the necklace and purple glow"

"Of course I don't" the guy replied "but I also don't think that she has malicious intent. Just give her a chance"

"Exactly! Listen to your friend a-...." Mia was about to say, before realizing she couldn't finish her sentence as she didn't even know the girl's name or the guy's either.

"Hey, what's your name anyway?" She asked, expecting her simple question to be answered, but of course, the girl just had to be stubborn about it. "I'm not telling you," she said, crossing her arms.

"Huh. why not!" Mia inquired but the girl scoffed. "Everybody knows you never let the enemy know personal information about you like a name. To ensure they can't use it against you later." The girl replied, which annoyed Mia "For the hundredth time. I'm not an enemy, I'm not diseased or who the hell you think I am" she argued back, and then they started bickering again.