Survival

Skyrah

The outside is not what I had expected. Deserts and bleak woods, at least the water isn't terrible. I'm thankful that Elrick, or whatever his name is chose to save me, not that I needed saving, I don't plan on being a damsel in distress anytime soon. His name can't be that far from Elrick, he's not smart enough to do what I did. Thank God for middle names. He has blonde hair, a darker shade than my own. He has green eyes, somehow they remind me of the forest and his skin is tanned, probably from the sun, I'm starting to doubt if it will ever get dark. Zakia is really extraordinary, she's so grown up, she looks like she's about 15. Everything is so different out here, I need to make a bow tomorrow, I need to go home. I look around at the tattered furniture, it saddens me that we get so much in Creptium and there are still people on the outside that have to live like this.

"You want some food?" Elrick asks coming into the bedroom, where I sit alone.

"Yeah, that would be great" I reply and follow him into the dining room. He grabs a wooden bowl from a shelf and puts it on the table with all the others. He puts a rabbit leg in my bowl and his, he then gives all the other meat to his siblings. He cuts a loaf of crusty bread and gives everyone a slice each, he then puts a baked potato on each plate. He sits down and I see the lack of cutlery, he hands me a fork.

"We aren't barbarians Faria, we know how to eat properly" he says moodily. I don't reply, I just eat my meal. This meal is probably the best meal I've ever had. It tastes real. Dome food tastes fake somehow, and it never fills you up.

"That was lovely" I say clasping my hands together in my lap.

"Don't act like it was, you're from the dome, there isn't any competition" Elrick says picking up all the bowls.

"Elrick!" Zakia exclaims, scolding him.

"I'm aware and there was no competition, this was much better" I say standing up and storming to the bedroom. Why does he have to be so rude to me?

I was trying to be nice. Raid walks in and sits on the bed next to me.

"Ignore him, he's very closed off, he has to protect us" he says, he has to be around Quinn's age, but he has had to grow up well before he was meant to.

"I know, it can't be easy out here" I say wiping my sweaty hands on my trousers.

"It's not but we cope, I like you Faria, you seem nice" he says, I notice how his little eyelids flutter.

"You remind me of my little brother, he was around your age, really smart" I say biting the inside of my lip to prevent the tears from drowning me.

"What was his name?" he asks kicking his little feet around.

"Quinn" I say, what's the harm, it's not like they'll ever meet.

"That's a funny name" he giggles.

"I'd say Raid is a bit of a funny name" I say smiling, his smile so wide is lights up his big brown eyes, the same colour as his dark hair. He punches me lightly on my arm and we both giggle, I notice Elrick standing in the doorway smiling. He notices and the smile evaporates and Raid goes back into the dining room.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I'm sorry, I won't do it again, sorry" I say trying to apologise, I know he doesn't like me, maybe he doesn't want them to either.

"It's okay, you're great with kids, you know that right?" he says sitting on the bed next to me.

"Yeah, I have a little brother, he's five and my other brother is fifteen" I say shrugging my shoulders.

"How do you plan on getting back in there?" he says looking at the wall.

"I don't know, I need my family, that's the only reason I want to get back in, and for my best friend" I say resting my elbows on my knees.