In a vast and rich forest, where birds were the size of boars, and where bugs were the sizes of soccer balls a large group ventured through it.
Their loud presence as well as their vast amount, they had gained the attention of the whole forest. Except this is what they hoped for.
As the hunting had just begun, the group needed as much resources as they could. While in the group two medium sized teens were in the midst of a conversation.
Although contrary to kids their own age they were not talking about anything that would be normal to hear.
These two teenagers were Alex and Lyra, truly the pinnacle of strangers and outcasts to their age groups, yet this was the main reason for their success.
As if any normal teen was put in their situation they would surely fail. So only because of their abnormality they had come so far, carrying the others on their shoulders.
"Do you know how that spider was able to come up with such brilliant battle strategies?"
Lyra was obviously curious about the spider and its strangely ingenious battle tactics. Except Alex had no idea, and for once he didn't have a reason to lie.
Even further than that Alex didn't want to lie to Lyra at that moment. With their bonding truly working, erasing as much distrust as it could.
"No I really don't know, but maybe it was because of its realm, or stage."
Lyra seemed a bit disappointed but showed a relaxed expression shrugging the lack of an answer off.
"Oh yeah did the spider use that poison or whatever it was on you?"
At this Alex suddenly realized he had not told her about it. Recalling her story he realized she was so afraid of the spider spit she had woken up.
Alex suddenly let out a soft chuckle before looking at Lyra with a smug grin on his face. Seeing this Lyra suddenly became annoyed by his reaction, yet she wasn't truly annoyed.
Although she was shocked by the emotion he was showing, compared to before he had seemed almost emotionless.
Then Lyra suddenly grew impatient with his teasing and not answering.
"Are you going to tell me or not?!"
Lyra crossed her arms before puffing her cheeks out in playful anger. Yet seeing this Alex started laughing even more.
Causing Lyra to grow even more shocked and angry. Although Alex caught on quickly before realizing he should answer before she bit his head off.
"Well you see it wasn't poison, venom, or even-"
Alex suddenly cut himself off as he couldn't contain his laughter. Yet seeing her gaze he controlled his laughter before continuing.
"It wasn't even acid, instead it was just spit, harmless spit."
Alex then stared at Lyra while trying to hold back his laughter. Lyra on the other hand blushed red like a tomato, embarrassed by her exaggeration of the spit.
Yet then she started laughing, finding it funny that she had started assuming everything to be the worse, so much so that she believed the spit to be dangerous enough to kill her.
Seeing this Alex was obviously puzzled yet he joined in with her. As they both started historically laughing the hunter and survivors around them stared at them in confusion.
Seeing their reactions both Lyra and Alex calmed down. Then breaking through his social communication limits Alex asked a question.
"Why were you on this plane?"
Lyra's features suddenly grew dull, as a sorrowful tone encompassed the surrounding air. Noticing this Alex realized his mistake.
"If you don't want to answer, that's totally fine."
As Lyra heard Alex's reassurance she didn't change one bit.
"No no it's fine I'll tell you."
Hearing this Alex suddenly became overjoyed to hear her backstory. Although he also prepared himself for a nightmarish tale.
"Thanks, it means a lot."
"Well I was on this plane to go see my family for the first time in four years. As four years ago on that horrid I made a harsh decision on impulse, running away from my family after a few rude comments. Yet they still loved me and I overlooked that, now I regret my decision so I decided to come back to them on this plane."
Hearing this Alex felt emotions well inside of him, as he felt bad for Lyra, due to her being cut off from her family the moment she tried to get them back.
While in this cluster of emotions logic prevailed and Alex suddenly wondered how she had survived a whole four years without a guardian.
Overcome by curiosity Alex had no choice but to interrogate her even further.
"One more time if you don't mind me asking how did you survive all those years alone?"
"Well after a few days on the street I was taken in by the police who instead of running a background check decided to put me in an orphanage. During my short stay at the orphanage I found it to be quite pleasant, although I was adopted by a kind family pretty early on. While this family treated me as their own, yet eventually I realized I needed to talk to my real parents, and after telling them about what had happened they agreed to give me a plane ticket back to America, and although they were hesitant I promised to keep in contact with them and visit them every once and awhile. And there you have it, my life story."
Alex was amazed by their similar and completely different lives. Yet he still felt envious of her adoption, while also feeling pity for her days homeless.
With Alex knowing on the streets anything could've happened. While she was also most likely starved, a horrible fate to encounter.
"Well thanks for telling me your story despite your hesitance."
Alex sincerely thanked Lyra, truly showing their newly growing friendship. Yet once again it was Lyra's turn to ask the questions.
"Now that you know what happened to me may I ask why you were on the plane."
This a fair and simple question, with Alex feeling no reason to withhold the information.
"I was heading back to my orphanage after two years studying abroad, a journey to pursue knowledge or something along those lines."
Lyra immediately knew what Alex meant by orphanage, connecting the dots and realizing he didn't have parents to go back to.
Feeling sorry for each other and not wanting to dig any deeper, the two conversations died out.
While this was also perfect timing, as suddenly a bear had emerged from the thick trees surrounding them.
Quickly reacting Alex and Lyra moved in unison, rushing towards the bears to front limbs. Before both cutting the bear's front limbs off in quick succession.
The immediate disruption to the bear's balance caused it to fall forward. While Alex and Lyra both climbed up the bear and together in sync delivered the killing blow.
Showing their amazing teamwork and unparalleled skills to the other hunters. We're amazed by their feat.
While Alex stuffed the bear meat into the sack on his back. While others joined in storing the bear meat for the party.
Suddenly the group heard a loud roar emanate throughout the forest. Both Alex and Lyra immediately grabbed their weapons prepared to fight.
Then from behind them another bear came out from the thick forest walls. This bear seemed to be abnormally enraged, even for the strange continent.
Seeing this Alex realized that he and Lyra must've killed its mate. Yet he felt no worry instead he prepared for another fight.
Right before Alex was about to charge into the fight Lyra stopped him.
"Let's see what these hunters are capable of."
Alex clearly knew what Lyra was trying to say. She wanted both of them to stick out of this fight to test the other hunters.
Alex found no problem with this, thinking if it got to grave he'd just intervene, so Alex decided to agree to Lyra's proposal.
Lyra then decided to tell the others about their decision.
"Hey we're going to leave this battle to you guys, but if it gets bad we'll intervene."
Hearing this the hunters were suddenly sweating bullets. As they were terribly afraid of the ginormous bear.
Yet they then remembered how Alex and Lyra took the bear down so easily. They believed with dozens of men they would be able to pull off the same achievement.
Filled with a new found courage the men and women raged into battle. As a hoard of people rushed toward the bear.
Seeing this the bear targeted its rage toward the group as it swung its massive paw toward the crowd.
Except as it did this all the people avoided its attack, either my running dodging or ducking. Yet in the next moment the bear felt immense pain throughout its legs.
As it was standing on two legs, and dozens of weapons were simultaneously jabbed into both of them.
Feeling the immense pain the bear toppled over. The mass of people ran onto the bear, climbing up to its head.
They were all copying Alex's and Lyra's strategy, except The bear still had working limbs.
As it began rapidly trying to swat away the annoying pests. Seeing this they stopped in their tracks, before one idiotic man yelled something.
"Everyone throw your weapons towards its head, then maybe it will die for good."
This plan was not at all good, as it left them weaponless, while offering them a small chance of success.
Yet the people did not care as they listened to the man and hurled their weapons toward the bear's head.
While a cloud of blades flew towards the beast. It reacted by putting up its paws to shield its face.
Many weapons bounced off the paws or sunk into them, but it seemed none of them had hit the bear's brain.
Suddenly the constant breathing of the bear stopped and its paws fell down revealing a single sharp sword that landed in the bear's head.
Watching this Alex was extremely surprised by the stupid tactic and its outcome. Dumbstruck he watched as the group collected the bear's meat.
…
The group then dispersed for a short amount of time, as they formed two groups splitting up to grab water for the nearby lake.
While the other part headed toward a cluster of trees to gather firewood
…
After the gathering of a vast amount of materials the groups started heading back to the plane. After a short amount of travel the group found themselves back at the plane.
Alex was overjoyed by the results, as the main reason Alex had set up for the large hunting party was to see if the group was ready to survive in the wilderness.
To Alex it seemed as though they were as ready as they'd ever be. Now all they had left to do about it was party.
With the resources quickly being arranged into a large campfire and a huge mound of food. While a miniature pond stood next to them.
Alex for the first time in his life was going to take part in a true party.