Same Planet but Different Worlds

Chapter 11 Observing

Kaya's POV

Tallulah's comforting embrace is making me feel better. She knows that I hate hurting anything but will if I have to and food is essential, so I was more than willing to do so, especially since we didn't have anything in the traps. "We need to start setting up for camping overnight at this spot.. there is no way I am taking my chances further into the forestry and closer to the men's compound. The further away we are from them, the better." Atlas states as we all agree, not wanting to get remotely close to that side of the surface.

We have heard for many years about the torturous nature of those beings and how they were raised to not only kill but torture anyone who is not from their compound. It's scary the tales we have heard from other people's experiences, making this a tense situation for all of us. We haven't ran into anyone from that compound, luckily. We have only had to tread lightly in certain areas, keeping one eye open on anything around. I think that ideal has always put me on edge to the point that some may say that I am paranoid.. but I would rather be paranoid than dead... or worse.. tortured.

I start going around the edge of the camp as they set up the fire. I start stringing up the little traps that Atlas has helped teach me to make. They are easy for me and very effective because it looks almost camouflaged, and can catch almost any size of being just depending on the branches you attach them to and around here there are many tall and strong trees that I will use to my advantage. I just hope this will be enough to keep whatever eyes I seem to feel on me at bay or captured for us to have some meat in the morning when we are leaving to head back.

We can always use the nourishment. But I feel weary knowing something is looking at us, but I can't see what. I can feel the intense staring and just wish I knew where it was coming from. The last time I felt this, it was from a wolf wanting to make me it's dinner. obviously that didn't work out in its favor. I just hope that is the same result this time around. So for good measure, I lay out as many traps as I have the materials to make, even using some of Atlas' materials and he doesn't seem to mind. He knows what I am doing with it and I think he is just proud knowing I am using one of his methods to protect us.

I circle the entire camp, lying out so many traps that I forgot to count how many there were, but enough to ease my friend's minds, but I can't seem to get peace of mind no matter how many traps I made, so I guess this will just have to do for tonight. I sit down and lean back against the tree for support as my suspicious eyes ping back and forth to everything that moves. The leaves in the wind, the bugs on the ground, birds flying by, anything that moves, I am watching it. Because of this I am not sure that I will be getting any sleep tonight.. but maybe we will see after I have put something into my system.

I see Crew circling the camp before sitting down beside my friends and chewing on the stick he has in his mouth. I can smell the fire burning the wood my friends collected in the time I was making traps. I keep my eyes glued to the perimeter as they prepare to start cooking the little bit of meat we had brought with us, plus the rabbit they are skinning. The fruit also comes out without hesitation as my friends whisper back and forth keeping the tones down but not the mood of the group. Things feel upbeat as we make casual talk back and forth with one another, just keeping it hush hush to hopefully not grab any attention of threats that are out in the forestry.

The light conversation seems to bring my attention away from the surrounding area, helping me feel at ease even if it's just for a moment. We eat and chat.. and before we know it the food is demolished by us and the exhaustion has set in. We tossed the little bits of bone to Crew to give him something else to chew on as we set the skin out to dry so we can use it for ourselves. We never let anything go to waste when it comes to any type of sacrifice.

I notice everyone relaxing a lying back as they snuggle up to the ones they like. I don't mind having to lay down by myself at all, just as long as I stay warm. The fire is at least helping with that. Crew is the first to fall asleep right next to the fire. I think being exhausted from the long day. But I am feeling the same way as my muscles feel as if they are turning to mush after finally having a chance to relax.

"We should take shifts of who will stay up while the others sleep." Tallulah states as I nod. "I will take first watch." I declare as they nod getting comfortable before falling asleep almost effortlessly. I wish I could fall asleep that easily. My mind seems to always be running, making falling asleep a hard ordeal to get through. My friends know this since I normally take the first watch and by the time it's the moment to switch off shifts, I'm pretty tired and finally ready for sleep. So let's get this started because my body is exhausted and wants sleep. That means that my mind needs to catch up so my body won't be depleted by the time the sun rises, and we need to head to the next trap we have set up.

Flynn's POV

Roy and I keep walking looking for any signs of big game, but I don't see tracks or anything. That is until we freeze hearing something in the distance. I can't tell what it is, but at least I know that I am not insane because Roy heard it as well. We silently signal each other to continue on but slowly and under the cover of plants to make sure we are not seen. I see Roy slowly stand to get a better look before he squats back down to the ground just as quickly. He is pointing over there and then to his eyes, saying he sees something.

I nod and slowly inch up to get a look as I see something I never expected. I see a woman standing up and walking like we do, and not only that, she is holding a dead rabbit but slowly walking up to the men that she is with and handing it to them as another woman comes to her side and puts her arm around her back, leading her away. But that woman keeps turning around and looking back as I keep my eyes locked on her, not being able to pull them away.

This might sound unheard of, but I pinch myself automatically to make sure I am awake. This can't be real can it? I must have fallen into some sort of dream world to see a woman who is looking more angelic that I could have ever imagined. She is the most beautiful creature I have ever seen in the entirety of my life. Her eyes glow with intensity but there is care in them as well. I watched as she curiously looks around before the other woman leads her out of sight. What to do next? This was nothing I ever expected to see.

I am in shock and awe thinking about the fact that there is not only other men here, but women here as well and that they look nothing like the women we have at our compound. When she looked around, you could see the thoughts running through her head. She looked curious and observing of her surroundings. It makes me want to just jump out of these bushes and get to know what she knows. Maybe she doesn't know much at all, but she knows more than the women at our compound because she is not acting like a beast.

This makes me want to know who she is and what she does know or even where she lives. This sight has gotten my mind running at full speed, but I can't just jump out there, I have to slowly ease my way in, so I won't scare her.. Right? I am not sure what to do.. but the one thing I do know is that we can't tell Octavious because he would destroy those women just for being a woman and there is no way I would let that happen.

Roy sneaks over to me as he softly says. "I will go back to the compound and get more men to help take down these intruders." He declares as I instantly shake my head. "No.. you can't.. Octavious would just destroy them.. Let's figure out more information before we go running to any conclusions on what their intentions are.. besides, we are our of our territory so it's not like they are on our lands.. yet." I state this with all the authority and logic that I can muster as he instantly nods his head in understanding.

In that moment we both hide hearing movement on the other side of the bushes we are behind. I slowly peak my head up and over the bush to see that it is her again, giving me a better look at her. She looks healthy with curves I have never seen on a woman before. She is wearing some sort of hand-made cloth, but it accents her curves even more. The leather on her legs hugs them tight with every move that she makes, keeping my eyes glued to her every move.

That is until I realize that she is doing something, but I can't see what she is doing. I get down on the ground and to my knees as I slowly slip my gun off and place it on the ground as I see Roy shaking his head at my actions, but the gun makes too much noise to be sneaky with. I peak my head around the side of the bush to get a better look. She has her back to me, covering up more of her task then I would like. I just want to know what she is doing.

I try to inch forward until I realize that she is backing up. I panic as I start to back away on my knees until she sits up on her right in front of me. I hold my breath just hoping she won't notice me as she intricately ties some plants to twine she has. I don't understand what she is doing but it looks like there is a lot to it. I find my eyes glancing from her hands then to her skin that looks so soft and lightly tanned under the sun, causing it to look as if it is shining under the glow of the fire her friends have created.

She smells sweet, causing my mouth to water as I slowly inch closer to her. Her hair is soft and dark as it tickles over my skin. I reach up as my hand slowly inches closer to touch her hair, but before I can, she stands up and moves to the next area apparently to do the same thing. I want to get closer to her, to pick her brain at what she is doing with all of these things and why she is putting it around the edge of the little camp they have made.

There are so many questions running through my head that there is no way I could pick just one. I follow her around the camp as she ties over and over again. I just wish I knew what she was thinking, because it seems like these things have a lot of thought behind them. I don't know what to do just to talk to her without seeming like a threat, but I have to do something, I have to try to communicate with her.