Nameless (on hold)

Chapter eight (Zeb)

Zeb

After Ten was take by the brown headed boy, Zeb had followed behind discreetly.

When he first saw Ten (he heard her call herself that) digging a whole by Alfesi, he was instantly captivated by her beauty. He took her back to his tribe, hoping that she would stay.

She was stubborn and always trying to do things her own way, but he found her personality charming. She seemed brave, unlike most girls in his tribe.

He had showed her around the village and she had seemed happy. She would have stayed. He thought to himself. If it wasn't for that stupid group taking her away.

The brown headed boy had lifted her off the ground and carried her through the forest. It was hard to be quiet with all the leaves crunching, so Zeb had focused on the runners foot rhythm and tried to match it.

Zeb had watched as a girl they called "Dany" snapped at Ten multiple

Times, making Zeb angry.

He followed and watched from behind a tree as the man named "Jon" came up to the group. He seemed like the leader and the two others listened to him.

She chose the name Ten and then they headed deeper into the forest. They had been going for hours until they reached a camp.

There were several boys walking around, cleaning off squirrels or making things or just sitting around talking.

Jon led Ten over to a stream where she drank some water. Zeb was thirsty and hungry, but he knew he wouldn't be able to sneak over there until night.

They had roasted squirrels over a fire. After they were done eating, they began talking about chickens and eggs... Zeb had seen chickens in his village, but the conversation bored him and he had to fight to keep his eyes open.

Then they began talking about the city, the fence, and his tribe.

Zeb listened intently when he heard Jon talking. He explained that there were multiple cities, each named by whatever the Rostum tribe called the fence surrounding it.

They called his tribe the Alfesi Rostum tribe, they called the fence... the fence, and they called the city inside Alfesi. Then they all began talking about their own cities and Rostum tribes.

Zeb had always thought his tribe was the only tribe there was. They were the Rostum tribe and Alfesi was the fence that came up from the great snake's dead body.

How could everything he grew up on be a lie? How did this Jon man and other people in the group know this?

He watched as Dany ran off and Ed followed her. They had gone the opposite direction of Zeb, so he didn't know what they were doing.

He sat behind his tree, thinking about everything he had heard until it was finally dark. Everyone was laying down on the ground and Ten was laying on Jon's jacket.

Zeb waited until the sun was barely rising over the horizon to get up. Everyone was asleep and he had just enough light to see what he needed.

He slowly got up, making sure he made as little noise as possible. He ran over to the stream and drank water until he was filled.

Hungry, he searched by where the fire had been for any food left. There was a few scraps of meat, but not nearly as much as he wanted.

He searched around the camp until he found their stock of squirrels. He knew where to look from hunting trips with his tribe.

The group had 3 squirrels left and Zeb took every single one. Making sure to cover his trail, he headed back to his tree.

Zeb had eaten plenty of raw meat and squirrel was no different. He skinned the squirrels the best he could and then ate. He ate quickly and then scattered the remains into the creek to be washed away.

After Zeb had a full belly, he could finally lay down. After a few minutes, Zeb was already in a deep sleep.

He woke up to hear Jon yelling at everyone.