Same Planet but Different Worlds

Chapter 5 Sight to See

Kaya's POV

I keep my eyes glued to the top because every time I look down I get a dizzy feeling shooting within me, so I will just keep my eyes on the ending of this escapade, and just hope I can get up there as quickly as I would like to be. But with each pull, I can feel the heat taking over my body while the sun beats down on it. The water that once covered me completely is almost dry after only a little bit, showing the true strength of the sun's heat. Crew pants, feeling the effects of the sun as I can feel the sweat dripping down my forehead. I swipe away the beads of sweat that I can before it gets into my eyes, and probably making this a much harder climb than it needs to be for me.

I see the top within my sights, and almost in arms reach, which is enticing as I start to get excited. I quicken my pace, taking each grip faster than I normally do. Before I knew it, my foot slipped out on a rock that crumbled under the weight, I squeaked out feeling my grip tighten on the wall as I froze in place, and just hoped it was enough to keep me attached on this wall, since I would hate to fall to my death. Terror is instantly shooting through my mind, the same mind which was once slightly distracted from the finish of this climb.

I held on tight, only glancing up for a moment to see that my friends staring down at me trying to figure out what to do to help. But there really isn't anything they can do without compromising themselves. "Kaya!" Tallulah yells at me and turns around while still looking down at me, as if she is about to attempt to climb down and save me, which I wouldn't put that action past her, because she would if given the chance.

"Tallulah, don't.. Please stay there.. I am ok.. and coming up." I stated as I swung my foot back up, wedging it into the hole in the wall that the rock just crumbled from, making a perfect tight hold around the tip of my foot. I let out a deep breath feeling Crew licking my shoulder. I think he is trying not to worry too much either. Or maybe this is his way of telling me he is scared but believes in me, like I do myself.. Either way, I appreciate his love in this stressing moment.

I keep stepping on one rock at a time, making sure to only grip and pull one rock at a time as well, going in unison like I have done so many times before, until the top is only inches away. I grip the top, but before I even have a chance to pull myself up, Tallulah and Orson are grabbing my fore arms and pulling me without hesitation to make sure I get up there without another hitch in the trip. I am plopped onto the ground as I gasp for air just hoping to calm my body after that terrifying situation.

"Kaya are you ok?" Tallulah asks me as she checks every inch of me that she can see, but I think she is panicking more than I ever did and I was the one that could have died. I push her hands away to give me a moment to breath, and hopefully get my body to stop panicking and realize that there is ground underneath me. But she keeps grabbing at me, as Soya tries to help get her away from me for a second to breath.

Soya I think sees that I just need a second before she says, "Tallulah, breath.. you're scaring her more than she should be. Even Crew can feel your anxiousness." Tallulah steps back taking her advice just for a second as Soya reaches down and unstrapping Crew from my chest, he hops off and runs away from the cliff side before coming straight back to lick my face, but I don't want him to stay by the edge, just as much as I don't want that.

When Tallulah sees that I am smiling while pushing Crew's insistent tongue away from my face, she takes that moment to jump back down at my side. "Kaya.. Are you ok?" she asks again as I let out a deep breath. "Yes. I am safe.. Thank you." I say, pushing her hands off of my arms as she nods before giving me a quick hug.

"You just had me worried." She replies as I nod in understanding. "I worried myself for a moment as well.. But I'm here and unscathed, at least for the time being." I said as I stood up with her help of having a tight grip on my hand, but she instantly uses her hold on me to pull me in, hugging me while she turned me around to bring me away from the edge. She lets me go as I backed away, walking further from the edge as I readjust my handmade quiver. It was strained around me in that moment so I make sure to check it for any tears I may have to weave shut. But nothing is noticed at least right now.

I look around at the nervous stares sent in my direction. To show them that I am fine, I walk back towards the edge of the cliff just to stare down at the waterfall. We take this moment to catch our breath and stare at the beautiful sight before us. It's all incredibly beautiful but seeing it from this point of view is something astonishing to behold. This scene never gets old for me and I bet it is the same for anyone else who looks at it. I would stare at it forever if I could.

"That took longer than I had expected, the sun is right over our heads.. So should we take a moment to eat before we head out?" I ask as I stare off the edge of the cliff area, before looking at the surrounding grounds, making sure there is nothing around since we have come to the surface, making ourselves exposed to anything around this opening. "I think it would be best to trek across the land, then take a moment to eat when we get to our traps." Orson states as I nod, I don't think that is a bad idea either since this will be a little bit of a long walk.

I looked around, seeing the others nodding with me as we jumped into action, wanting to get this going and probably get away from the edge of this cliff. At least that is the case for myself. I don't want to look vulnerable, but for now the closer I get to the edge, the harder my heart seems to beat within my chest. I just hope that changes soon before we have to make our way back down.. Unless I decide to go the long way which doesn't require me to climb down the cliff, I always consider that option, but maybe this time more than the others because of what just happened.

Atlas leads the way as we follow suit by starting the long walk we have ahead of us. It will take most of the day so we will be pretty tired and hungry by the time we get to our targeted area. We all know this and don't want to waste any time if we don't have to. So, one after the other, we head through the thick trees, keeping our heads on swivels while also keeping an eye out on anything useful for us or our colony.. or our biggest worry, enemies of any kind, of course.

We have done this so many times that we know that it is important to stay as silent as we can, so the only sounds that can be heard from us are our footsteps and breathing. We don't want to gain any outside attention if we can prevent it. But on a day like today, it doesn't seem to matter too much, since our sounds or movements are barely even noticeable through the howling wind, chirping bugs, and even the fluttering and cooing birds in the distance.

But with most of the dried leaves falling to the ground it is hard to avoid them, thus having our heavy feet landing on them as they loudly crackle under the weight. But still, at least for the moment, it doesn't matter how loud we are, because the wind covers most of our sounds up, when the breezes would normally carry them to anything willing to hear. The howling seems to make things hard for anyone to hear anything and that even includes conversation or instructions between ourselves. It's fine at least for the moment, because we all know where we will be going. But hopefully it will clear up so we can properly communicate in this enemy territory.

Even though the loud wind helps us travel without fear of being heard by anyone around, I can't say anything about our scents or even the view of us from a distance. But with the many trees around us, I am hoping they are able to cover us up enough to hopefully not be noticed. I stare out between the trees, not being able to see much since the greenery is thick and thriving. They are untamed and taking over everything around.

I pass a couple trees and bushes, looking through as best as I can until out bursts something black and white. Whatever it is flies past my face too quickly to see details, causing me to squeal as I jump back. With it being loud, no one in front of me hears my cry, but that thing is gone as fast as it took for that squeal to come from my lips anyways. I had instinctively jumped back, being startled by the bodies of something small, with only the loud cawing of birds to give me any indication of what that was. My eyes bounce around, trying to see some details but they continue to quickly flying through the trees besides us before they quickly flutter away trying to get away from us, their perceived threats.

I don't get to see birds very often, so this is always a pleasant sight, no matter how startling it seemed to be in that moment where we were both spooked. We do have plenty of small game and bugs where we live, and even bats, but we don't have much for birds whatsoever, so it's an exciting sight to see. We also don't have much for large games, we don't even have some other items we need on a daily basis to help us down there under the surface. That is actually why we have traveled around over here the many times before.

Our trips normally mean we will be collecting seeds, plants, protein or even items that look of use for our people that we don't see as much down there in the depths of our hideout. If each of us get something big, then it helps our colony for a little while. We make many things from their skin and bones and, of course, the sustainability from their meat is the best part for us. This always ends up being a fruitful endeavor every time we go back to the surface.

Those are not the only reasons I love to come to the surface though. It's also because this place is absolutely beautiful, putting me into awe every time my eyes connect with something new or something I don't get to see often. Sometimes I find myself wishing that we could occasionally stay out here for a longer period of time, but we all know why we can't do that because there are far too many threats threaded throughout the place to ever survive long without being noticed.

Or at least that is what I have to keep telling myself, since I haven't seen anyone with my own eyes, neither have any of my party. We have been told they are there by many. So, whether we have seen someone or not, doesn't mean the threats are not out here. But I have heard plenty of stories to scare me sufficiently into keeping my head up and on spinning as much as it can to make sure I am not surprised by anything around that could possibly be threatening.

Especially knowing that the men's compound boundaries are nearby. That is an intimidating thought. All the horrible possibilities for us if found. The men being killed or used for work.. The women being r*aped and used for who knows what besides baby-making. It's disgusting, so I won't let the mask of this beautiful place cover up the darkness from within, especially because I have never seen it. I know so many people who have far too many accounts of the horrors that happened here to ever discredit their stories. So I will stay alert and ready for anything thrown my way as I hope for nothing to happen at all, but with the nervousness running through me, I'm wondering if that will be the case.