13 Onward (1/2)
”Well, it seems this is where we finally depart from each other.”
The caravan stops at a fork to separate. Rations for a few days' travel have already been distributed to the Wanderers' vehicle, but Eli stops Vanessa before she opens the driver side door.
”Hey!”
Vanessa tenses at his approach and turns around with an annoyed look on her face.
”This trip wasn't supposed to end in so many casualties. I regret what happened to your companion, Greg.”
”Hmm.” She grunts before turning again to get into the vehicle.
”So, we've deliberated and think it would be fair if we handed over some men to help escort you all to your destination. It wouldn't be right to leave you one man short. We wouldn't want to make it harder for you to reach your objective, so we have a little proposal for you.”
Vanessa raises an eyebrow and crosses her arms.
”What?” she replies, her shackles raised since he mentioned Greg.
Noticing their goodbyes were turning into a discussion, Raymond walks over to stand beside Vanessa.
”The original proposal was a 10% increase of product in exchange for some supplies and the vehicle. You're longstanding partners with Dennis, so we wouldn't want any hostility between our two groups. We'll give you two of our best men, and they can return with you when your business is settled. How's that sound?”
Vanessa scowls and opens her mouth to refuse, but Raymond is quicker.
”Sounds fine. Thanks for your help, Eli.”
”Excellent.”
Eli taps the hood and signals his men to jump into the back of the Wanderer's truck. Vanessa turns to Raymond and grunts at his grip on her bicep.
”We don't need their help. Look where it's got us so far.”
”Exactly, look where it's got us. They circulate business throughout the entire region. We can't afford to step on their toes.”
”Don't step on their toes? So we should kiss their ass? What about when they're gunning us down in our sleep?” Vanessa hisses into Raymond's face.
She pushes him back into the vehicle, and he releases his grip on her arm to steady himself. Raymond glares back at Vanessa as he wipes stray bits of saliva off his chin.
”Leave it, Vanessa. They had nothing to do with Greg. It's just bad luck.”
”What about the Mantis attacking Sia during one of our first checkpoints? They've been slowly loosening their guard to let all sorts of things slip,” she whispers harshly at him before opening the driver's side door.
”Their men died too.”
”This deal is worth more than a few hired hands, Ray. Tell me which one of their core members was killed?”
”…”
”They had night vision goggles for god's sake. Why didn't they spare us a pair?”
”I really think you're overthinking all of this. We can't even confirm the girl's people even exist.”
Vanessa climbs up beside the front seat and looks down at Ray.
”Don't be a fool, Ray.” She gets in and shuts the door before he can reply back.
Ray wipes a hand over his bald head and sighs. Shaking his head, He returns to the back of the vehicle to sit with Sia and their new travel companions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Turner hops into the back of the truck. Sia looks up from checking the supplies that have been piled up along the back wall.
”He got me going back and forth between the entire caravan. Eli takes his position too seriously.”
Sia puts down an MRE pack and turns fully to the mercenary.
”Hi. I'm Sia,” she says and sticks her gloved hand out.
”Turner.” He clasps her hand and squeezes for a moment.
Sia pulls her hand away and holds her hand behind her back; wiggling life back into her fingers.
'Aaaaaah. Maniac, what are you doing squeezing my hand to a pulp!'
”Haha. Nice to meet you,” Sia says while backing away.
Turner chuckles at her cringing form and turns to the other new member. Blue Scarf effortlessly climbs in and sees the two.
”Hey, you're back again!” Sia says.
Ika nods and sits at the end seat, the farthest seat away from them all.
”I thought he'd send Priya with us. Aaaaaah Eli!” He lifts a fist into the air comically before gripping a knee, ”Not that I don't enjoy your bright sunny presence, Ika.”
”…”
Sia sits and turns back to supplies.
'Hmmm, so his name is Ika,' she thinks before going back to see what she should set to the side for herself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They drive for a few days until they near a swampy area. They get out to search for wood and things to start a fire. Raymond and Vanessa decide to travel at the back as Turner and Ika lead them, Sia remains in the middle.
Keeping that formation, they walk into the muggy forest. Sia listens to the squelching mud and looks at the turbid water nearby; fearing to see those worms again. A tree branch caresses the back of her neck and she wildly slaps at it. Otherwise, it's a quiet trek.
Ika disappears at one point, and Sia calls out to Turner, ”Hey, your friend's gone.”
Turner smiles at her.
”It's fine. He noticed a trail and wanted to go try his hand at capturing some food for us.”
Sia pictures the large squirrel and grasshoppers, and can't imagine what would be small enough for that teen to survive hunting and bring back. They carry some wood and kindling back, and when they get to where they parked the vehicle, it is gone. Turner doesn't seem phased.
”Ika must have found something and needed it to carry the game back.”
”Or we were robbed,” Sia mutters gazing at the muddy tire tracks.
Vanessa and Raymond are silently looking at each other. Raymond's grip tightens on his bat. Turner shrugs. They make camp nearby, and after the sun sets, the rumble of the truck is heard. A gutted and skinned rabbit corpse is tied up and held in the back of the truck on a piece of blue tarp. Ika hops out and starts at cutting up the giant critter.
”What?! You're like a Super Predator!! How can someone so...and...What?” Sia exclaims from behind Ika to Raymond.
Raymond chuckles at her before joining Ika. They eat as much as they can. Now Sia understands why she was given so much jerky by the Wanderers. With a large amount of meat given by one animal, there is a great amount to go around. Instead of trying to preserve the rest of the meat, Ika and Turner pile the excess on a tarp and disappear from camp.