Survivors of a Broken World

The Discovery

        They woke up the next morning somewhat refreshed and energized. They both had a quick breakfast with what was in their backpacks, put away their sleeping bags, and started walking.

        "How do you know where to go?" asked Brax.

        "I found an atlas in a store," Ember yawned. "Too big to carry with me but easy enough to memorize. Rumor is the robots live in Philadelphia, or, what is left of it. We're in Pittsburgh right now. I was at the far end of it when I first started walking. I've done some calculations and I think it should take us about 4 days to get there as long as we keep up a good, steady pace."

        "Well, hopefully we run into some vegetation soon," Brax replied. "I'm getting sick of all this dirt and rubble. I have yet to see a living squirrel."

        "Same here, hopefully we will be able to find some food other than crackers and dried banana chips," Ember sighed. "This apocalypse has ruined those things for me."

         "Wait a sec," Brax said carefully, spying something in the distance. "I think I see something... Oh my gosh! No way! Finally! Look, there's a forest!"

        The two took off running towards it. Even though they both knew they should conserve their energy, the forest was too exciting to wait for. They ran into it, rolling around in the grass and hugging the trees. They looked around for berries and Brax took out six squirrels with her knives. Ember set up a fire and they cooked and ate as much as they could before they got full. They wrapped up the rest in leaves and set them in their bags to be eaten later that night. Then, they heard a rustling in the bushes. The two girls ignored it, thinking it was just some small animal, until Ember spotted a foot poking out.

        "Brax," Ember whispered. "take out a weapon."

        Brax started to ask a question but quickly caught on and silently took out eight knives. Ember took out the one she had in her pocket and stayed down, hoping the person wouldn't sense they were there, or, if they did, that they would be intimidated and run away. But Brax's and Ember's eyes grew wide as they saw not one, but four people step out of the bushes. The girls stood up and backed away, keeping their eyes on the newcomers who thankfully were not looking in their direction. But then, Ember stepped on a stick and it snapped. The strangers whipped around and a girl aimed a bow at them. She had black hair in two braids, dressed in all black.

        "Who are you, and why are you here?" the girl commanded.

        "I was about to ask the same of you," Ember replied cooly.

        "I, am Chieftess Wednesday, and this is my group of trusted warriors, DJ Bubbles, Scarlette, and Papa Shank. We work together to bring criminals, or just people, to Slayze and her guards. In return, she grants us immunity from the epidemic that she and her comrades have been working one, even more powerful than the one before, guaranteed to affect even those immune to the first virus that spread. At least, that's what she told me to say."

        "Seriously? You're kidding. Really? You know that "Slayze" will probably still kill you, right?" Brax asked, raising her eyebrow.

        "Uh, well, even if she tries to, my warriors will protect me, I hope. Either way, Slayze will be pleased with us when she finds out we brought her two new people, right guys?" Wednesday looked around unsurely.

        "Is it weird that not one other person spoke during that conversation?" Brax asked. But she didn't get an answer.

        Just as both groups raised their weapons, another figure leaped out of a tree and stood in the middle of Ember and Chieftess Wednesday. She was short, with pink and purple hair, unarmed. Unexpectedly, she dropped to the ground and started breakdancing. Brax and Ember were confused, but even more so were Chieftess Wednesday and her warriors. They were so dazed, they didn't react when the girl jumped up and ran over to them. By the time they regained their senses, it was too late. She had already started fighting them in hand to hand combat. Even with their weapons, she was too fast and easily outmaneuvered them. She kept attacking until each one could barely retreat into the safety of the forest behind them.

        Brax and Ember stared at her, amazed that someone so small was so skilled at fighting. She stared right back at them as if daring them to mention her height. Brax had lost her voice she was so amazed but Ember had recovered and was curious about the girl. Sadly, the only thing that came out was, "You're short."

         "You have got to be kidding me," said the pink haired girl under her breath. "Just saved your life, showed off some state of the art breakdancing, and you just comment on my height. Thanks."

         "Huh?," said Ember, "What did she say?"

        "Um... mutter mutter, get butter wuther, mumbo jumbo got a gumbo?" replied Brax questioningly. "That's my guess."

        "I said, I just saved your life by breakdancing and all you have to say is something about my height," the girl said quietly, shaking her head. "Thought you guys would be more appreciative than that."

         "You don't think we are?" accused Brax. "If it wasn't for your help we would be dead right now! It isn't my fault that Ember hasn't been trained in the art of proper manners!"

        "Excuse me?" said Ember indignantly. "Sorry for drawing a blank and accidently saying something a bit offensive to her, but you don't have to be such a jerk about it!"

        "Guys," pink hair interrupted, still very quiet, "You don't have to argue about it right now. You could've at least been polite and asked my name before exploding, which is Jazz by the way."

        "Sorry about that," Brax replied sheepishly. "I'm Brax, and she's Ember. We are on our way to the robots headquarters to destroy them and their leader before they can do any more damage. Would you, I mean, do you want to, um, you can come with us if you want."

        "Sure!" Jazz said excitedly, her eyes lighting up. "But can we stay here for the night? I don't like traveling in the dark."

        The other two girls nodded their heads in agreement, then picked out a nice grassy spot and laid out their sleeping bags. Jazz, instead of doing the same with whatever she had with her, climbed up the same tree she jumped down from and set up her stuff in the branches. Brax wasn't paying attention to this because she was nearly asleep, but Ember puzzled on why Jazz went back up, then came to the realization that Jazz had put all her stuff up there before they met her. With this answer in mind, Ember fell asleep to the sound of the leaves rustling in the wind.

Hey, yeah, again, sorry for the super uncreative titles, but hoped you like my 7th Grade writing skills, lol. :)