The Third Breed

Food

“Thank you sir, we’d probably be dead if you didn’t arrive.” The smaller funny looking guy said, limping as he moved.

He just let out a groan, he couldn’t understand why the two have been following him. Normally they’d go their separate ways by now, but it seems these two were quite different.

Both were wearing the same type of clothing, which he’s never seen before. It had weird patterns like dried leaves and a well made black mask covering their whole face. The weapons they carry were also rare to find, still shiny, sharp and well made. It was like the ones his father would tell about, that were used by people from the fallen times.

One of them took off his mask, revealing a very pale looking man, almond shaped brown eyes, hair was properly shaved on the sides with a flat top, and was about his age.

“By the way, my names Lance Dullahan and this is Ariel Lee,” The guy smiles while gesturing a hand to his companion.

The smaller one also removed his mask, smiling as he waved at him. This kid was a bit younger, his eyes were sort of sleepy like, with hue of black, his hair style was almost the same clean cut, but with a spiky upper part.

The guy named Lance runs in front of him, making him stop. He eyes him, but makes sure he’s also aware of the other one behind. Where they pinning him down or did they want something else. He shrugs off the last part, knowing quite well he didn’t have anything valuable right now.

“We’re scouts from the Southern pearl colony, may I know your name?” The guy named Lance says smiling even wider, he makes a fist off his right hand.

His forehead creases but he stands his ground waiting for thee next move the two were going to make.

Lance just put his fist on his chest before bowing down to him. He can’t help but frown, was that some kind of greeting or gesture?

He also can’t help but wonder and get confused at what the person was talking about. He has never heard of such a place before, nor has he ever been to one with such a long name.

Thinking that they might leave him if he talks, he decided to finally answer. “Max.”

“Wow, that’s quite a name, Max,” Lance states again, his face was suddenly livelier now.

Again Max just lets out a low groan, then continues to walk. Carefully passing the stranger, he realized that he has encountered some troublesome people.

“So, Max, where are you from? Are there others as strong as you?” the younger one named Ariel asks, hopping to keep up with him.

Max gives him a glance before walking faster. He didn’t like the weird feeling the two were giving him. But the two kept on following him.

“Hey Max, wait up.” Ariel calls out, as he was now losing breath for the consistent hopping, making it hard keeping up with the two.

Max could not help but glare, Lance walks in front of him again, raising two hands to make him stop. Now he was getting annoyed at the man, yet this person still gave out a sweet smile, making him very uncomfortable.

“You know, we’ve risk our lives coming here, looking for survivors such as yourself. As per the orders of our council, we want to invite you to our colony. So, that you can live a peaceful and normal life, away and safe from the dangers of this place.” Lance says while doing a somewhat bow like motion.

Max could not help but raise one brow, he lets out a snort, trying to keep himself from laughing. Everyone knows there hasn’t been a safe place in the world for after the end days, specially now that the zombies have begun to change again.

He knew this for a fact, seeing as it was already the thirtieth straggler he had encountered within the mountains these past few days, something that was quite impossible before.

“What, you don’t believe me?” Lance states, lips forming a lines as his eyes grew wider.

Max just shrugs before moving again, though the two looked odd, he can tell they weren’t that weak. He knew it was better to avoid others as much as possible if he wants to stay alive.

“Wa...wait up!” Lance calls out again.

But Max does not bother and keeps on moving. It was getting dark and he still has a long way to go, before he gets to a safe part of the mountain.

“Lance,” Ariel finally gave up. He was too tired from all the jumping and chasing. He ended up kneeling at a nearby tree.

Lance ended up stopping too, he couldn’t just leave his friend, yet he was also not going to let Max just go away without hearing them out first.

“We...we have food,” Lance says in a loud voice, he was also panting from trying to keep up with their new found companion.

Max immediately stops, this got his attention. He hasn’t had anything to eat since this afternoon after fighting the zombies that were roaming around the mountain rangem making him turn to face the two.

Lance felt relieved he immediately put down his backpack and started rummaging it. “Yeah, we have dried fish, nuts, peanut butter and crackers .”

He wasn’t able to finish since Max was already in front of him, cautiously looking, but at the same time curiosity was etched at his creased forehead from trying to look at what was inside the bag.

Lance could not believe to actually find someone within the dead lands. Since, for the past years that their colony have been sending scouts, none has ever reported an actual encounter.

Ariel got what his friend was trying to do, he excitedly took out a plastic box container from the side pocket of his bag. “Here, you can have my rations for today,” Ariel says raising his packed lunch.

Max bends his head to look at the other guy who had some kind of container, his eyes transferred from one person to the other. He squints at the limp when the man opened the box like things.

There were several objects packed inside of it. There was a sort of dark colored square shaped stuff, it didn’t look like any meat he had eaten before and it definitely wasn’t a fruit. There was also a strange looking brown ball that had some shiny things on top, pieces of odd colored beans, several chopped brown vegetables, a long black tube like thing, but what really caught his attention was the white oddly shaped stuff in it.

“It’s really delicious,” Ariel says as he picks one of the food on his pack.

Max eyes grows wider as he looked how the limping guy slowly put the dark colored square stuff on his mouth, the guy looked quite satisfied and happy chewing on the said things, going as far as licking his own fingers.

Max stomach started to growl seeing how satisfied that person was from eating the odd food. It was like he could also taste the so called deliciousness.

“You can have it,” Ariel stretches his arms, offering his pack food to the man who saved them.

Lance was just eyeing the two, he stops to see what would be Max’s reaction. Deep in his mind he was praying and hoping that their new companion would just trust them.

Max couldn’t hold it any longer, his stomach was actually scratching his insides right now as it made louder noises, like a monster wanting to get out. He walks towards the limp guy stopping to see if they would do anything.

Ariel just smiled and bowed his head as raising his hands higher as if offering the box to Max.

Max swoops it away then walks a few steps back, before trying to open the thing, it had this clam like claws that made it a struggle. But in the end, he was able to force it open. Choosing the odd white stuff, he was surprise at how soft and squishy it was, making him smile. He sniffed it and was amazed at how sweet it smelled.

Again he looks at the two oddballs who were still looking moronic with their beady eyes and smile.

Sensing no danger as of the moment he decides to sit down, Indian style. He carefully puts the food down on the ground checking and smelling each of the things in there.

The dark colored square shaped stuff had a strong awakening smell, but was also somewhat ticklish on his nose, while the strange looking brown ball was a bit soft with a sort of dried grassy scent, the odd colored beans was a bit sticky when you hold it too long and of course the chopped brown vegetable smelled a bit stale and earthy, He ended up squirming when he smelled the long black tube like thing, it had this pungent fishy smell, like that of the sea.

Max takes one more look at the two, checking to make sure that they weren’t doing anything odd and dangerous. He was still cautious knowing full well that the two carried really sharp and useful weapons. When the two remained perfectly still and goofy, he then proceeds to pull down his scarf, like a weary dog slowly taking a bite of that wonderful sweet smelling soft white thing.

His eyes almost pop out of his head at the sudden attack of its flavor, the sweetness was nothing like he’d ever tasted before. The moment his lips touched the powdery like part, the thing immediately assaulted his tongue, he couldn’t stop licking his mouth until everything was clean, he then gobbled the thing up. The way it felt on his mouth all squishy and soft reminded him of the chewy large maggots he once had, only this time it tasted much, much better.

He tried the vegetable to see if it tasted the same but was amazed that it had a sticky and mushy feel on his mouth, with a sort of punch from the glittering thing on it. The dark stuff was way more better and really jolted him awake with a bitter sweet taste, he then took a bite of the brown ball and though it didn’t have much flavor, it had a savoring after taste on his mouth, he scrounge the pieces of different colored beans and shoves it all to his mouth and oh what sweetness and texture it had every time his teeth would sunk into it.

Max was breathing heavily, eyes rolling, tongue licking as he savored the remaining stuff on the box.

Was this the so called food of the old times that his father had talked about, if he was having it now, wouldn’t that mean that these two were telling the truth. That there was still a safe place from the zombies, were people actually live quietly and have these kind of things.

Just thinking about it made Max feel relaxed. A place with no monster to fight, lots of food to eat and sleep without having to worry about anything.

Lance and Ariel just looked at each other, with smiles. They were quite surprised at Max’s reaction.

Was the food that odd for an outsider or was the art of cooking non existent in these dreaded lands.

They were both holding off their giggle’s as they couldn’t help but feel astonish and happy at the same time. being able to share the things that they have to a survivor. Even though it was just a piece of bread, chocolate brownies, jelly beans, a roll of rice that they cooked a while ago, covered with sea weed wrap, french fries and a marshmallow.