Zombie survivor

[70] Teens vs wild

The group trudged through the dense valley for hours, exhaustion weighing on them like an anchor. The rough terrain tested every ounce of their endurance, with Ms. Heather being passed from one volunteer to the next. By the time Morgan finally called for them to stop, the sun was hanging low in the sky, casting long shadows across the wilderness.

"Alright, we camp here," Morgan announced, scanning the area with sharp eyes. "Spread out, but don't go too far. We need firewood, food, and water. Move."

The group sagged in relief, dropping their bags and collapsing onto rocks or the forest floor. Brittney plopped down dramatically, running a hand through her pink hair. "Finally. I thought we were gonna walk until we passed out."

"Rest later," Morgan barked, already pulling supplies from her pack. "Get moving."

The teens groaned but obeyed. Morgan didn't tolerate backtalk for long.

***

The boys split off in pairs, grumbling as they scoured the area for firewood. Jean and Brad worked in silence, the only sounds being the occasional snap of branches and the crunch of leaves underfoot.

"Man, this blows," Brad muttered, balancing an armful of sticks. "Feels like I'm back in gym class."

"At least gym class had benches," Jean replied dryly, snapping a branch over his knee.

Meanwhile, Jordan and Trev were less productive. Trev stopped every few minutes to complain, his arms hanging limp at his sides. "Why the hell do I have to gather firewood?" he whined. "This is, like, bottom-tier labor. Shouldn't we be doing something more important?"

Jordan snorted, picking up a large log. "What's more important than not freezing to death, genius?"

"I don't know, man," Trev said, gesturing vaguely. "Something strategic. Like planning or moderating group dynamics."

Jordan stopped, gave him a flat look, and said, "You're not a Discord mod in the apocalypse, bro. You're just a dude picking up sticks. Cope."

Tyler, on his own nearby, grinned at the banter but stayed focused, gathering wood in silence. He'd been assigned to stay with Ms. Heather when they got back to camp, which he didn't mind one bit. His grin widened at the thought.

***

Chloe, Brittney, and Akira moved deeper into the woods, scanning bushes for anything edible. Chloe knelt by a cluster of shrubs, poking at the small red berries. "Are these, like, poisonous or something?"

"Probably," Brittney said, not even glancing over as she picked a handful of blueberries. "If you die, at least you won't have to walk anymore."

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Hilarious. But if anyone's gonna test these, it's you."

"Wow, selfless as always, Chloe," Brittney shot back, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "You're such a saint."

Akira ignored their bickering, carefully plucking berries from a different bush. "These are safe," she said softly, holding them up for the others to see. "Just be careful not to mix them with the red ones."

Chloe glanced over and raised an eyebrow. "How do you even know that?"

"I read about it," Akira replied, not looking up. "Back when I was learning... survival stuff."

"Okay, Bear Grylls," Chloe muttered, but she picked the berries anyway.

***

While the teens worked, Morgan scouted the area. She moved silently through the underbrush, her sharp eyes scanning for movement. The bow in her hands was rough and makeshift, but it would do. She'd fashioned it from a sturdy branch and some cord from her bag, and after a few test shots, she felt confident enough to hunt.

It didn't take long before she spotted her target: a small rabbit hopping cautiously between the trees. Morgan crouched low, her muscles tense as she pulled the bowstring back. Her breathing slowed, her focus narrowing until the only thing she saw was the rabbit.

She released the arrow, and it flew straight, striking the rabbit cleanly. It collapsed instantly, the kill mercifully quick.

Morgan moved quickly to retrieve her catch, pulling the arrow free and slinging the rabbit over her shoulder. It wasn't much, but it would add protein to their sparse meal.

Back at Camp

By the time everyone returned to the campsite, the sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving the forest bathed in twilight. Morgan had already started a fire, the flames crackling and casting warm light over the tired group.

"Throw the wood here," she ordered, gesturing to the fire pit. "And someone skin this." She held up the rabbit, her tone leaving no room for debate.

The boys exchanged uneasy glances. "Uh, not it," Tyler said immediately, stepping back.

Jean sighed, stepping forward. "I'll do it."

"Good," Morgan said, handing him the rabbit. "Don't screw it up."

Jean took it reluctantly, muttering under his breath as he moved to the edge of camp.

The girls emptied their foraged berries onto a blanket, separating the edible ones from the potentially dangerous. Chloe stretched her arms over her head and sat by the fire. "If I have to eat another fucking berry, I'm gonna lose it."

"At least we have something," Akira said quietly, sitting beside her.

"Yeah, thanks to me," Chloe said with a smug grin, earning an eye roll from Brittney.

Morgan sat down near the fire, sharpening her knife as the group settled in. Ms. Heather, her leg now splinted with a sturdy branch, sat on a makeshift seat near the flames.

"Um, thank you, everyone," she said with a soft smile. "I know it's been a hard day, but you've all been so helpful."

"No problem, Ms. H," Blake said earnestly. "It's the least we can do for you after everything you've done for us."

Tyler, sitting nearby, smirked. "Yeah, I bet you'd carry her to the ends of the earth if she asked."

"Grow up, Tyler," Blake snapped, his face turning red. "I'm just being supportive."

Jordan chuckled, leaning back with a smirk. "Supportive, huh? Sure sounds like something else to me."

Ms. Heather blinked, tilting her head. "Something else? What do you mean?"

"Nothing!" Blake said quickly, shooting Jordan a warning glare.

Brad, ignoring the conversation, sat near the fire with a scowl. "We're eating berries and rabbit. This is bullshit. I'd kill for a burger right now."

"Then go find a cow," Chloe muttered. "Oh wait, they're all dead."

"Keep talking, Chloe," Brad shot back. "See how long it takes me to throw you into the fire."

"Children," Morgan growled, her glare silencing them both. "Eat. Shut up. Rest."

The group fell into a tense silence, the fire crackling as they shared the meager meal. The rabbit, once cooked, barely fed everyone, but it was enough to take the edge off their hunger.

As the fire burned low, Morgan leaned back against her pack, her eyes scanning the dark forest. "Get some sleep," she said. "We move at first light."

The group nodded, their exhaustion outweighing their complaints. One by one, they settled into their makeshift bedding, the fire's glow casting flickering shadows over their faces as the night stretched on.

Q: Have you ever watched man vs wild before?