Lost In Tomorrow

Chapter 3: Paths Into The Unknown

After eating and drinking, the group gathered to discuss their plan for the following day. They decided to split into four groups, each consisting of two members, to explore different parts of the forest in search of help. Each group was assigned a specific direction: one would go behind the plane, another would head ahead of it, while the third and fourth groups would explore east and west, respectively. Damian emphasised the importance of marking their paths to avoid getting lost and returning to the shelter before nightfall.

With the plan set, Alph inquired about Felix, whose injured leg prevented him from joining the exploration. It was agreed that Felix would remain at the shelter to recover while the others searched for assistance. With the arrangements finalised, Sophie ended the discussion, and the group prepared to sleep, knowing that their survival depended on the success of the next day's exploration.

The next morning,

Damian and Elena woke up early, and they woke everyone up. Before waking everyone, they both discussed the plan and the members thoroughly.

"Come on, everyone up, right now. We've to go." Damian stated.

"We have discussed, who will go with whom," Elena remarked.

"The first group going will be Me and Sophie. We will go in the North Direction." Damian stated.

"The second group will be Ryder and Chloe, they'll be going in the South direction opposite to ours," Elena claimed.

"Aren't they too young to go alone, Ryder will be the one to die first, he just can't control his curiosity," Sophie replied.

"They are the best match, Chloe is attentive to details and she can tell Ryder to stay away from certain things. Ryder just needs to control his curiosity." Elena remarked.

"This is a life and death situation for us, we need to find help as soon as possible," Damian stated.

"The third group to go will be Alph and Elena, they will go in the Eastern direction." Damian proposed.

"The last person remaining is Leo, you have to go in the western direction alone," Elena muttered.

"As for Felix, he will stay here at the shelter. Every group will take a water bottle and a canned food, don't eat it there, it is only for emergencies," Damian remarked.

"How will we mark our way while going?" Alph asked.

Damian looked around at the group, considering their limited resources.

"We're not exactly stocked up on fancy supplies to mark our way," he began.

"So we'll have to get creative. Use whatever fabric you can spare—tear strips from any extra clothing or bags we found in the wreckage. Tie those strips to trees or low branches as we go. Make sure they're visible, but not too obvious from a distance, just in case we're not alone in this forest."

He paused, then continued, "Also, use the ground around you. Grab sticks or stones and make small arrows pointing in the direction you're heading. Keep them simple, but clear enough that we can see them on our way back. This way, even if the fabric strips get blown away or fall off, we'll still have some way of retracing our steps."

The group nodded, understanding the plan. It wasn't much, but with their resources depleting, it was the best they could do.

"Just remember," Damian added, "keep an eye on where you're marking. If you don't see a marker after a while, place another one. Don't lose track of where you are."

"Also don't touch any unusual plants or flowers or anything wild. If you see any animal, try to hide and then run away from it in the direction you came. Don't try to be a saviour by killing any of these animals especially you Ryder." Leo added.