Laughter

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A day or two passed. They worked together to gather more food and tend to each other's wounds. They were mostly silent, both having nothing to say to each other. Sitting by the fire, they watched the flames dance as the moon rose and the stars lit up. Jessie's tail was doing better but she still needed some time before swimming and flying. Maria's wing didn't heal that much, it being broken. However, she now didn't have any trouble walking though her leg still hurt. She got up and stretched, being careful not to move her wing too much.

- Jessie?

- What?

- Don't you have trouble trusting people?

- Of course I do. I just don't treat them like you do.

Maria didn't say anything. Jessie was right. Each time she met someone she becomes a liar and shuts them out completely. It didn't take her too long to trust her friend Goji but that's only because he helped her stay free since the beginning. She raised her head up and looked towards the forest. Her night vision allowed her to see something shiny amongst the trees, close to a cave.

- I'll be back. Just want to explore.

- In the forest? Can't you wait till morning?

- I have night vision. I don't need light.

- Heh, same.

Maria looked at Jessie for a while before letting out a sigh and leaving for the shiny thing. Once she got there, nothing of interest was found. She suddenly felt watched and grew uncomfortable. Without her wings she was really vulnerable, advanced hand to hand combat training or not. She turned around, hearing footsteps and went in for a kick.

- HEY

Jessie managed to dodge the kick and instantly went on self defense. Maria jumped back, surprised, wanting to end the battle.

- I thought you were at camp.

- I can't simply let you go in the forest alone at night. Night vision or not we don't know what's in here. We haven't checked everywhere.

- True... I saw something shinning in the moonlight. It was right here but now that i arrived I can't find it.

They looked around the place and Jessie took a look in the cave. She took a step in and stared deep into it, seeing a faint light.

- There's a person down there!, Maria exclaimed.

- wait, what?!

- Oh, did i mention i have long ranged eye sight?

They both grinned and went straight in the cave, after the man. Maria felt relieved she went along with Jessie even if she shut her out. When they got down they heard a big door close and to their left was a huge metal door, blocking access to a base of some sort. The man was looking at them through the glass, fear in his eyes.

- Hey, dude, open the door! We don't want to hurt you. , said Jessie.

The man jumped in surprise.

- You can talk?!

- No, duh! Didn't you hear us fight for the first couple of hours?

- Tell me why i should trust you monsters!

Maria got frustrated and went straight in front of the window, making the man take a couple steps back.

- Listen here, Dude, We were humans once just like you. Do you think we asked to become monsters?!

The man baffled a couple of things and got away from the door. Maria, in a fit of rage, punched two holes in the door and ripped it open, throwing it away further in the cave. The man held his gun up and shot at them but their skin were both bullet proof.

- G-Get away from me!

He screamed and ran further inside the base. Jessie looked at Maria with a disapproving look. Maria sighed.

- You're right... After a while you forget why you're angry.

- well now we should go after that man. He might need some help. Seemed like he had malnutrition or something.

They explored the base to find a lot of guns and ammunition. Whatever they were doing here, it was military. Jessie and Maria decided to split up to cover more grounds and while one was looking closer to the exit, the other found a room with a window showing a big nuke.

- This place is no good... , Jessie said as she looked at the old Nuke.

It seemed to have a radioactive charge and by the looks of it, it was already pointing in a specific direction. Meanwhile, Maria popped up in what seemed like a computer room. She tried accessing one and surprisingly got it to work. This place did have electricity after all. The minute the computer stopped loading, the screen showed a very familiar logo. Her ears flopped down and she sighed.

- hashtag "Johnnywashere"? Really?

She looked at the dragon logo for a while and turned the computer off since it didn't listen to any of her commands. If Johnny took a look of the files in this place, it must've been important and linked directly to them. Jessie wasn't part of her team. She came from a different facility but didn't say anything about it. Probably didn't want to remember bad memories. She sighed, thinking about the Johnny she remembered from base. He always seemed distant and shut her out a lot but the minute Jack brought her back, he fought to get her out.

- Never thought i'd say this but i kinda miss him...

- Well, why don't you propose to him already?

Maria turned around, blushing, to see Jessie looking at her with a teasing smile.

- How long have you been here?!

- Heheh, long enough to see that lame hashtag. Good to know i can sneak up on you even if you have two pairs of ear.

- I was distracted. Next time i'll hear you.

- Distracted? More like day dreaming.

- Oi! I already have a crush on-

She stopped in mid sentence and blushed even more, making Jessie laugh. She joined her soon after, relieving herself of some old stress she latched on for no good reason.

The vent grid plopped off from the ceiling and the man's head popped up.

- You two really do act like young teenaged girls...

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