As the hours passed, they rotated through their watch shifts, each pair keeping a vigilant eye on the surroundings. The night seemed to stretch on endlessly, the moon slowly creeping across the sky.
Walter and Victor took the final watch, their eyes scanning the horizon as the first hints of dawn began to appear. The sky shifted from deep black to a soft grey, the stars fading as the sun prepared to rise.
"Almost there," Victor said quietly, his voice tinged with relief. "A few more minutes until daylight."
Walter nodded. "Just glad that's over."
As the first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon, the team ate breakfast and prepared to move out. The night had been long and gruelling, but they had survived.
"If we can find some kind of cave or shelter, we might be able to rest during the day," Sam suggested.
Victor nodded. "Yeah, that would be good. Let's move away from the river for now. While we need the water, so do the other creatures out here—it attracts more danger than I'm willing to risk being around."
As they walked, continuing in the direction of the distant mountains, the plains began to come alive with movement.
The first creature they spotted was a herd of giant ground sloths, their massive, shaggy bodies lumbering across the grassland.
The sloths moved slowly, their long claws digging into the earth as they grazed on the tall grass. One of them paused to look at them, its small, curious eyes blinking slowly before it returned to its meal.
"Well, that's something you don't see every day," Ethan muttered, his axe resting on his shoulder. "Think they're friendly?"
Sam shook his head. "Not sure. Let's not find out."
Further ahead, a flock of terror birds darted through the grass, their long legs carrying them at frightening speeds.
The flightless birds stood as tall as a man, their sharp beaks glinting in the sunlight as they hunted for smaller prey.
One of them let out a piercing cry, its head snapping toward them before disappearing into the tall grass.
"Those things look like they'd take a chunk out of you if you got too close," Lily said, her bow at the ready.
"They're really... quick too. Stay sharp... everyone," AJ said whilst perched on Lily's shoulder.
It didn't take long for them to spot another new creature—a large armadillo-like creature lumbering across the plains.
Its armoured shell was covered in thick, bony plates, and its tail dragged behind it as it moved. The creature seemed oblivious to the team, its small eyes focused on the ground as it dug for roots and insects.
"That thing looks almost impossible to take out," Ethan said. "I wouldn't want to mess with it."
AJ's form rippled slightly as he observed the creature. "It's a glyptodont. Another prehistoric... creature brought back... by someone's wish. It's a herbivore... and just like... the triceratops... they are built... for survival."
They gave the creature a wide berth, their footsteps light as they moved past. The plains were teeming with life, each creature more strange and fascinating than the last. But they knew better than to let their guard down—this world was as dangerous as it was beautiful.
---
As they continued on, the sun rose higher and higher into the sky. They decided it was about time to eat. They found a spot that was on some slightly elevated ground, which would hopefully provide them with some nice visibility of their surroundings.
They scavenged what edible parts they could of the mammoth meat as it started going bad. Realising their food situation was actually quite dire, they turned to AJ, wondering if he could reproduce any.
AJ gave it a shot. He decided to give them a variety of options—he recreated meat from the Ravager, mammoth, and the crocodile from the night before. The meat looked just fine and felt nice and tender; however, the smell wasn't quite right.
"What is that smell? You can't have made meat that's expired, right?" Ethan said with some apprehension.
"I have no idea. I can't... smell anything. I assume... it's just... the smell of me?" AJ was just as unsure as the others.
With AJ's permission, Lily picked him up and gave him a quick sniff, then smelled the meat. "It is similar. The meat should be fine after we cook it."
They decided to cook the meat and see from there. Victor and Walter got a fire started, and everyone except Ethan settled down and helped cook
Ethan watched the surroundings whilst they cooked, making sure they wouldn't be snuck up on.
As the meat was cooking, the delicious smell of smoky barbecue meat spread out, causing everyone's stomachs to rumble. Soon enough, the meat was ready to eat. Everyone took their portion and carefully bit into it.
Thankfully, the meat AJ had made didn't taste the same as it smelled earlier; however, the taste certainly left something to be desired—it was blander than actual meat. However, at this moment they were just glad to have something to fill their stomachs.
The team quickly finished up and continued their journey north. They saw various creatures—prehistoric, fantasy, and modern creatures all mixed together, forming what looked like a new ecosystem. How this new ecosystem would hold up in the long term was anyone's guess.
In the distance, they could see the plains coming to an end—a forest was in their near future.
---
Meanwhile, in the heart of Richard's safe zone, Maria stood at the edge of the growing town, her eyes scanning the bustling activity around her.
The safe zone had continued to transform and evolve. Richard's influence was undeniable, but thanks to Maria's quiet efforts and the team's previous acts of rebellion, the oppressive atmosphere had softened—at least for now.
The town was laid out in concentric rings, with Richard and his closest allies occupying the centre. At its heart stood a large, sturdy structure made of wood and stone—Richard's headquarters.
It was the most fortified building in the settlement, with a watchtower that loomed over the surrounding area.
From there, Richard could keep an eye on everything, his presence a constant reminder of his authority.
Radiating outward from the centre were rings of wooden houses, their quality diminishing the further they were from the heart of the town.
The innermost ring housed Richard's loyalists—mercenaries, enforcers, and those who had proven their usefulness. Their homes were well-built, with proper roofs and even rudimentary windows.
Further out, the houses became simpler, little more than shacks made of scavenged materials.
The outermost ring was reserved for newcomers and those who had yet to prove their worth. Their shelters were flimsy, offering little protection from the elements, but they were better than nothing.
Despite the hierarchy, the town had begun to develop essential facilities, thanks in part to Maria's influence. Near the centre, a communal bonfire area served as a gathering place, its flames crackling day and night.
Surrounding it were designated cooking areas, where people could prepare meals using shared resources.
Further out, a small field of grain had been planted. Though no one knew what kind of grain it was, they decided to try to grow it and find out.
A crude mill had been constructed nearby, its wooden gears ready to grind the grain once it was harvested, hopefully creating flour or at least allowing people to experiment with the grain to find some potential uses.
Bathrooms and showers had been set up on the outskirts, their simple wooden structures offering a semblance of sanitation.
A blacksmith's stall stood nearby, its stone tools and weapons a testament to the settlement's resourcefulness.
The blacksmith, a grizzled man, worked tirelessly to meet the growing demand for tools and weapons, though his materials were limited to stone and wood, leaving him frustrated.
Maria walked through the town, her presence a calming influence on the people she passed. She had worked tirelessly to improve conditions, using her position as Richard's "ally" to advocate for the community.
Her efforts had borne fruit—Richard's oppressive tactics had lessened, at least for now. He couldn't afford to alienate the people, not when the settlement's survival depended on their cooperation.
As she approached the centre of town, Maria's eyes fell on Richard's headquarters. The building was a stark reminder of the power dynamics at play, but it was also a symbol of the fragile stability she had helped create. She knew Richard's leniency was temporary, a calculated move to maintain control.
Maria entered the headquarters, her steps measured and deliberate. Inside, Richard sat at a large wooden table, surrounded by his closest advisors.
Maps and plans were spread out before them, their voices low as they discussed the settlement's future. Richard looked up as Maria entered, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly.
"Maria," he said, his tone neutral but laced with suspicion. "What brings you here?"
Maria met his gaze, her expression calm but firm. "I wanted to discuss the grain field. The grains are growing at an extremely fast rate—it will soon be ready to harvest. We need to decide what to do with it once we discover its uses. Should it be a new constant source of food, we need to set up designated farmers and plan people's rations around it."
Richard leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming on the table. "And how do you propose we do that? We can't just hand out resources to everyone. There's not enough to go around."
Maria stepped forward, her voice steady. "We distribute it fairly. Those who work the hardest get a larger share, but everyone gets something. If we hoard it, people will start to resent us. You know what happens when resentment accumulates."
Richard's eyes narrowed, but he didn't argue. He knew Maria was right—her influence over the people was too valuable to ignore.
"Fine," he said after a moment. "I'll leave the details to you and Callum."
Maria nodded, her expression unreadable. She turned and left the room, her mind already racing with plans for the future.
As Maria stepped back into the sunlight, she took a moment to survey the town. The people moved about their tasks, their faces a mix of exhaustion and determination.
The safe zone was far from perfect, but it was a start. And as long as she could keep Richard in check, there was hope for something better.
---
The team trudged onward, their footsteps heavy with exhaustion but their spirits lifted by the sight of the forest ahead. The plains had been relentless—vast, open, and teeming with danger. But now, the sparse forest offered a glimmer of hope.
The trees stood tall and sturdy, their branches forming a loose canopy that provided shade without completely blocking out the sunlight. The undergrowth was thin, allowing for easy movement, and the forest floor was soft with fallen leaves.
"Finally," Ethan said, his voice tinged with relief as he wiped the sweat from his brow. "Some cover. I was starting to feel like a roast chicken out there."
Sam nodded, his eyes scanning the edge of the forest. "It's sparse enough that we won't be fighting through thick vegetation, but dense enough to give us some protection. This is exactly what we needed."
The air was cooler here, the familiar scent of pine and earth a welcome change from the hot, dry plains.