"Who are you exactly? And why do you want me in your group? Aren't I an extra burden?"
"Yeah, a question at a time. "
"As for who I am — Ezekiel. Well, the son of Ebonspire's governor."
"Oh?" Czar's forehead wrinkled. If it were an ideal scenario he wouldn't even dare meet this person's gaze. But no ideal scenario would even place him and the son of Ebonspire's governor in the same picture.
"Why do I want you in my group? It's simple, I need more survivors around me, that'll buffer the danger and increase my chance of surviving."
"What?" Czar blurted out, his eyes agape.
"And you think I'll join you with such logic? I'm no one's danger buffering scheme."
"It's not as if you have a choice, do you?"
"And why should I lie? Everyone wants to survive at all costs, no?" Ezekiel rolled his eyes.
"If you're capable, you'll survive, some will die in your stead. If you're not, you'll die and pave ways for others. You pick your struggles." He shrugged.
"And will you be an extra burden? Yes, more mouth to feed, but a better chance of survival, especially someone like you?"
"Someone like me?"
"Of course, surviving this far while protecting a child, that's admirable."
"Is that your son?"
"Excuse you? I'm an underage," Czar retorted. "She's my niece."
"Oh, a she."
Czar rolled his eyes, wondering how someone would think a seventeen-year-old boy could father a child. Even though he would become an adult in two months time when he was officially seventeen. Harbouring such thoughts made him feel repugnant.
"So, we have a deal, right?" Ezekiel waved his hands in the air, his smile contagious.
Czar fell not for this person's warm demeanour. He still had his guard up, but left with no choice, he dropped his shoulder, nodding.
"Argh, that's great news, let's go join others." Ezekiel walked further in the woods.
Czar followed, comparing different scenes in his head. First, he needed to shake off whatever energy had seeped into his body and Aliyah's. Contrary to his initial thought, Aliyah would've been affected too now.
The next step was to return to his journey. He still had to head North. The message didn't say whether it was a day journey North, or the next twenty-four hours North. Whatever the case might be, he wouldn't let these new people drag him down.
"How long would it take to repel the energy?"
"Oh that, not too long if you're not on death door. Two hours if you're in a group of five."
"I have twenty people in my group though which means stronger vitality energy."
"It's not a linear reduction." Ezekiel added as if reading Czar's mind. "It would still take at least an hour or so."
"I see."
"Why? You want to leave afterwards?"
"Huh? I didn't say that."
"I mean it's fine, some people have left already as well, not that I'll force anyone to stay."
"Why? Aren't you looking to buffet danger and increase your chance of surviving?"
"And? I should force people to go against their will then lose the trust of the loyal ones?"
A brief silence passed between the two, the rustling leaves resounding as they threaded forwards.
"Czar is it?" Ezekiel paused, his back facing Czar.
"You see I'm no saint myself, but here me out. Because we're in a perilous situation doesn't mean that you should discard all of your humanity. That's worse than death." He shrugged, pushing forward.
'What does he know about humanity.' Czar stared at the disappearing figure of Ezekiel, increasing his pace to catch up amidst forced breathing.
After ten minutes or so in the woods. Czar felt a few gazes landing on him. He didn't know how, but he could feel some peering eyes hidden somewhere.
"Ezekiel," he whispered.
"Nothing to worry about, it's them." He clapped his hands.
"I'm back, we have a guest," his voice sounded cheerful, contrasting their perils.
That was the signal. People crawled out from behind trees, some jumped from above, and others just lay with leaves hiding their body.
"Let's welcome our guests." Ezekiel waved at everyone as they assembled in a spot.
Czar's eyes absorbed every nook and cranny. He glanced at the people, they glanced back. Some harboured malice, others were welcoming, while some don't care at all.
"Ezekiel, why would you bring a stranger here? Aren't we enough already? " A lady in a burnt dress voiced her displeasure.
"She lost her three daughters," Ezekiel whispered in Czar's ears.
"I'm not sharing my ration." A man added, clenching to the dried meat in his hand.
"My, my. You all should take it easy. My friend here needs help — see… he's dying, shouldn't we be kind enough to help out?"
The group broke into low murmur, but no one retorted even though they didn't openly agree either.
"It's okay, you can share my ration with me." A muscular man clad in only a short waved at Czar.
Czar nodded in appreciation, wondering if there were still good people in the Wastelands. He didn't resent those who didn't want him here either. He would act the same if he were in their situation.
Everyone was clinching to every tiny chance of survival. And ration was one of the most important keys to surviving. So what if you escaped the claws of the Undead and the harrows of the Wastelands. You could still die of hunger.
Humans had always been pitiful creatures since the dawn of time. However, he believed they were also the most persistent and the most adaptable to change.
It wasn't even a week yet, but see everything around him. People had gathered, leaving their differences and status aside. They had a common enemy and a common goal. What was better in uniting humans aside this?
"Hello everyone, I'm Czar. I promise not to be a bother. "
"Even if you try you'll just be another food for the undead." The lady earlier grumbled.
"Tacha, that's harsh, he's just a kid." The buff man chimed in.
Some nodded in agreement. Others just watched everything unfold as bystanders. A boy met Czar's gaze from the corner, instantly looking away seeing Czar glance in his direction.
"So Czar, make yourself comfortable. We'll leave in an hour," Ezekiel said from the side.
"Okay."
He didn't mind wasting one hour. He'd make up for it after his departure.
The group returned to their previous positions, taking a second glance at the newcomer. No one knew what awaited them, but they'd persevere and survive — they believed.