Beyond The Fallen

camping

A day has passed since the bandit revolt.
The wagon creaking of its wooden joints echoed through the humid air, mingling with the chirping of birds and the hum of insects. The summer heat was stifling, but it was nothing compared to the blazing sun that hung heavy in the sky. The orb of fire was a beacon of light and warmth.

But Kuro didn't mind. He was clean, had a pretty substantial amount of wealth, and had a clear goal in mind: to make a home in the capital. Honestly, for him, it couldn't get better.

"Are we setting up camp yet?" a disgruntled voice called from the back of the cart.

"No, we can't stop yet. We'd waste precious sunlight unless you wanted to be in the wagon for an extra day?"

There was no remark from Akio. She simply groaned and laid her back against the sticky, hot wood of the wagon. Akio never could handle the heat, much the reason why she preferred winter out of all the months.

Kuro, on the other hand, never bothered caring about which season was the best. Each was inevitable, so acceptance of whatever came next was his belief.

The sun was starting to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows over the rolling hills.

Kuro reined in the horses, bringing the wagon to a halt. The horses whined their relief, their sides glistening with sweat.

"Good girls," Kuro said as he fed the two horses dried meat.

Akio, feeling the wagon come to a stop, slowly sat up. "Finally," she muttered, wiping the grime off her forehead.

She stepped out of the wagon, stretching her arms above her head.

Kuro jumped down from the driver's seat, landing clumsily, his driving of the wagon for hours had caused his legs to get numb.

His eyes scanned the area, searching for the perfect spot to set up camp. A small clearing in the distance caught his attention, surrounded by tall trees that would provide shade

The grass was a bright green the air filled with the smell of dirt, and citrus kuro took in a deep refreshing breath

"Let's set up there," Kuro pointed.

Both of them began to unload the wagon, pulling out their supplies steadily. Between the tents, food, and clothes, they managed to get everything out in no time.

"I'll set up the tent," Akio said pulling out the long pieces of cloth and tent poles

"You sure Akio? I usually set up the tent."

"Yes! Come on you drove us all this way I can handle this" Akio said more rowdy than her usual self

Kuro smiled as he gazed at Akio, guess he should start relying on her more.

"Okay, I'll go get us some firewood, keep your eyes open, just to be safe.

Setting up the tents came naturally to the Akio she'd watched Kuro do it countless times. As Kuro was gone, Akio could be with what her thoughts were.

"As Kuro left to gather firewood, Akio found herself deep in thought. It had been a long, difficult journey since they left the village, and she couldn't help but worry about their future.

"Where do we go from here?" she murmured to herself, the question rattling around in her head like a loose screw. Kuro had always been the strong one, the one who didn't let his emotions get the better of him. But lately, Akio had noticed a change in him. He was still brave and determined, but there was a hint of uncertainty in his eyes that she couldn't shake.

Akio knew that Kuro was only doing what he thought was best for them, but she couldn't help feeling like they were being too optimistic. The road ahead was uncertain, and she couldn't help but wonder if they were making the right decisions.