As long as you are breathing

Vulture City

“This is amazing!” exclaimed Khalid.

“We can hide here and meanwhile figure out a map of the city,” said Walid.

“Yeah! We can use our military experience to turn this city into our fort and any incoming enemies will have the disadvantage fighting us here!” added Sajid.

“Whoa there smarty pants! Slow down and use your brain calmly. If we can do all of that, chances are there is already a team in this city who turned this into their base. We might just be running into their game,” said Zahid.

“That may be true,” spoke Kalil who rising up from his silence, “But we can’t let go of an opportunity like this, especially considering the likelihood of there being an enemy here.”

“Umm… I don’t think I understand what you mean?” asked Khestri.

“How much is the probability of there being an enemy and building a fort?” asked Kalil.

“Umm…I am sorry, I don’t know,” answered Khestri.

Kalil smiled and said, “The way you said that makes it sound like I am expecting a numerical answer.”

That smile brought a tiny relief to everyone after seeing Kalil down for so long.

“Let us explore the possibilities. Firstly, it has barely been a day we came here. So, you can guess how unlikely it is that they will find this place already,” said Kalil.

“I don’t think we can measure that, considering the fact we don’t know how big this place is,” replied Zahid intending to not let Kalil take the full credit, “Who knows? They might have even spawned here.”

Khestri giggled a bit, “Using the word spawn….You must be a gamer!”

Zahid faintly blushed at that. But Kalil’s analysis wasn’t over yet.

“Fair enough. But even if they do so. Do you expect an enemy to establish a base within a single day? Even if they do, do you expect the base to be strong enough? This is our chance to capture it before the base becomes too strong for us to land feet here. And we can’t try finding another base. There is more chance of there being an enemy over there. Since the elapsed time is more.”

Khestri giggled again.

“What?” asked Kalil.

“Nothing. It just feels like a game at this point. I like it,” she said.

So, all of them entered with caution they attained from Zahid’s arguments and hope they gained from Kalil’s analysis.

But when they entered the city, they noticed something prominent. Vultures! They were everywhere. Staring at them. Every step they took accompanied the catching of attention of more vultures.

“Creepy… Why are there so many vultures over here?” exclaimed Khestri expressing slight nervousness.

“Don’t worry, I will save you,” said Zahid as he was about to wrap his arm around in Khestri.

But Kalil pulled him back by his ears. “Stay focused, brother,” said Kalil.

After walking a bit, they started to realize some vultures are not staring at them but at the other side of a building.

“We are not alo-” Khalid started to say but Walid and Sajid stopped him together.

“Shushhhhhhhhhhh,” they all shushed him louder than the volume he spoke in.

Kalil facepalmed as Khestri giggled at the trio.

A group of three people came running from one side of the building and a group of three from the other side. They must have noticed Kalil’s group’s presence.

“Hey, there fellow players. Seems we are equally matched in numbers,” said the one who looked the cockiest. They all subconsciously concluded him to be the leader.

“Seems so,” answered Zahid taking the lead in their group, “We got one for each. Except me of course…”

“Huh?” the opposing leader tilted his head in an expression of confusion.

“I ain’t gonna make a lady fight men you know,” answered Zahid.

“Hey! I can fight too. I learned Aikido,” she snarled.

A moment of silence prevailed.

Khestri had nothing to do but pout.

“Anyways-” continued Zahid and the opposing leader in unison.

“I will be fighting you and one more,” he said.

The opposing laughed at that. “You think you can fight another person along with me. I am the strongest here. I am Kashon! And I challenge you to a man-to-man fight.”

Kalil put his palm on Zahid’s shoulder, “Don’t worry, I will be handling two goons then. You go handle the boss.”

Zahid smiled back, “Thanks, bro.” Then he replied back to Kashon with a smirk, “Very well. I am Zahid! And I accept your challenge.”

Those two rushed to head-to-head towards each other while the trio targeted the opposite group with three members. The two besides the leader walked towards Kalil as Kalil walked towards them with a smile of confidence. Khestri just stood there disappointed and lonely.

The trio aligned themselves back to back as the other group of three circled them.

“Maybe they are boxers!” said Khalid.

“Their footwork suggests it,” added Walid.

“Their Philly Shell stance confirms it,” further added Sajid.

Suddenly a jab from a random position hit Khalid.

“Guard!” exclaimed Walid.

They took a high guard and rain of jabs fell on it.

Meanwhile, on Kalil’s side, the two kept jumping and kicking. Throwing a bit of punches too. But they couldn’t beat Kalil’s back sways and back steps. They must be taekwondo practitioners.

On Zahid’s side, he kept answering every attack of Kashon with flawless counters. Kashon threw a wide swing, Zahid stepped in and threw left straight, and pivoted out. Kashon threw an angry front kick, Zahid stepped back sprung forward to throw a right to the solar plexus.

None of Kashon’s attacks were hitting him but every of Zahid’s attacks hit Kashon. That is something that would defeat the spirit of a fighter in any ring, cage, or competition. Yet not only did Kashon not tire physically, but he was also throwing his attacks with high spirits.

Zahid couldn’t seem to identify Kashon’s style, so he decided to ask amidst the battle, “Which martial arts do you train in?”

“Martial arts?” Kashon smirked, “I fight in the streets.”