Amity and Enmity

Chapter 25

Day: 1180

Days Left: 4300

Lives Saved: 6

"They're what!" Annika hissed, doing all she could to contain her voice so that no one outside the tent could hear.

Talon rolled their eyes, tired of having to explain everything again. "They're still there; they haven't left the forest."

"It's been half a year!" Annika paced around the tent, constantly changing directions to vent her frustration. "Why are they still here? How are they still here? They must have run out of food by now." She then paused, glaring at Talon, who was sitting on the ground, fiddling with a shiny metal bracelet around their wrist. "You!" Annika pointed at Talon accusingly. "You said they had gone!"

"No, I didn't." Talon's face scrunched up, seeming to be disinterested in the threatening tone of their leader.

"Yes, I told you to keep an eye on them and inform me of any changes-"

"You said they would be gone after that blood moon, like for definite, so I stopped spying on them." Talon shrugged. "I mean, they did look like they were packing to leave."

"Why didn't you make sure that they had actually left!"

"Wasn't asked to do that. You asked me if I had seen them one day-"

"Yes, and you said they had left!"

"I said that I had not seen them because I did not go to see them; I was telling the truth, then you decided to declare to everyone that they had finally left."

"Because you-"

"Hey, all of you could wander outside and find out yourself! So stop putting all the work on me! I'm tired of it!"

Annika scowled, her hands on her hips, moving her coat just enough to reveal the gun in its holster hidden underneath. However, much to her anger, Talon seemed unfazed by the threat. 

"What are we going to do?" Annika sighed, rubbing her forehead. She looked expectantly at Junior, sitting quietly in the corner of the tent.

He winced, not particularly wanting to join the conversation. "Well, it depends on what you want to achieve."

"What I want is for any threats to our group to be eliminated," hissed Annika. "They remained here for a reason, to take over our camp and get our resources, our food, our water, the Land of the Lost."

"If they are still here, then they must have their own food supply," said Junior.

"Then the Land of the Lost!"

"Nah, I don't think they need supplies," said Talon. "They've already made houses and tools without it-"

Annika turned slowly, staring at Talon. "They... what!"

"They've made houses, well... huts from the trees, like proper ones, not the shitty huts we tried to make. They look super sturdy and cosy too-"

"Why didn't you tell me this!"

"I tried to, but you started yelling at me about the other stuff before I could get to it."

Annika bit her lip, taking a moment to regain her composure. "What are they up to? Why are they here?"

"They've been here for half a year; I doubt they're of any threat," said Talon, resuming playing with their bracelet. "I mean, if they wanted to attack, surely they would have done so already?"

"Talon's right," added Junior. "Perhaps we should extend a hand to greet our new neighbours?"

Annika scoffed at the idea.