|Location: Wasteland, Campsite|
"Z-Zero… he fell." Nuk's voice trembled, breath uneven and ragged as his hands shook uncontrollably. His eyes darted wildly in every direction, but they kept snapping back to the yawning black pit at the cliff's edge. His mind flashed a fragmented memory of his sister's words, followed by a jolting ringing in his head.
"Trust him the frequencies are in his favor, I can see it." Nuk swallowed hard, holding his emotion in, as he felt some hope fell down along Zero.
Dia and Hansel both noticed—his attention was tethered to that endless void, as if drawn into its depths.
Dia instinctively took a step back, her mind struggling to grapple with the reality of Nuk's words. The situation felt surreal—like some cruel joke her mind refused to fully accept. A nervous, almost involuntary smile curved her lips, quickly hidden behind her pale hand, masking the swirling confusion and disbelief inside her.
But then she snapped out of it, her voice tinged with a disbelieving laugh. "What? Like he actually fell down?" The laughter was faint, more a nervous release than amusement, as if part of her was still trying to deny the seriousness.
Nuk stumbled over his words, his breath growing shallow and weak. "He… he just wouldn't stop running." His voice cracked under the weight of helplessness. "I could have—"
Hansel watched with growing concern as Nuk's panic deepened, his gaze locked on the abyss like it held the answer—or the horror. But before Hansel could step forward to offer comfort, Dia's hands gripped his shoulders suddenly, firm and urgent.
The unexpectedness of her action made Hansel's guard snap up. He took a cautious step back, searching her face for clues to the sudden shift, struggling to keep his own emotions in check.
"Hey. Calm down." Dia's eyes bore into Nuk's with an intensity that cut through the panic. "Why are you that worried?"
Nuk blinked, stunned—not just by her words, but by the sharp edge in her tone. He felt as if she was attacking him, questioning his fear.
Meanwhile, Dia's thoughts churned elsewhere—haunted by memory and dread. The fear, the strange changes they'd all been feeling—it gnawed at her. The thought of Zero joining their cause again stirred a deep, visceral repulsion she barely understood. Still, she forced a smile at her brother, a fragile mask. "We could always do what we planned before, brother."
Her words hit Nuk like a blow, bitter and unexpected. Without thinking, he shoved her hard, sending her stumbling backward.
The shock of the shove shattered Dia's emotional fog. She scrambled to her feet, rushing to her brother's side.
"Brother!" Her voice trembled with a mix of guilt and urgency. The weight of her words and actions pressed down on her conscience, though the reason for the turmoil remained unclear. "Brother, I think—"
Before she could finish, a loud, sharp voice echoed from the cliff below, cutting through the tension like a bolt of lightning.
"Ah! Ouch!"
The unmistakable sound pulled their attention instantly.
Nuk's body jerked upright, relief flooding him. "Zero?!" he shouted, heart pounding.
"I'm here! Wait!" Moments later, Zero appeared, landing beside Nuk with a grin, steadying himself by gripping Nuk's shoulders. "Hahaha, that shocked me!"
Nuk didn't hesitate. He pulled Zero into a fierce hug, then smacked the top of his head in a mix of relief and reprimand. "You! Why did you do that? Don't scare me like that again."
Zero blinked, confused by the sudden outburst but sensing Nuk's worry. His face softened, puppy-like, silently asking, "Why did you hit me?"
"Don't give me that face," Nuk grumbled, shoving Zero's gaze away. Standing, he dusted off his clothes. "You caused a lot of trouble today."
Zero shrugged, surrendering with a casual, "Fine."
Hansel watched the reunion with a knot tightening in his stomach. Everything seemed to revolve around Zero, and the thought of losing him was unbearable. He pushed the dark thought away but couldn't help voicing his concern, keeping a careful distance. "At least you're okay after the fall…"
Zero stood tall, hands moving animatedly as he explained, "Well, I didn't fall totally. I caught myself on a trunk jutting out from the cliff." He mimed grabbing and pushing upward. "Used it to climb back up."
Hansel's brow furrowed in disbelief. The notion seemed impossible. Dia noticed his doubt and gently patted his back.
"Don't ask," she said with a knowing smile, walking away. "You'll get used to it."
A cold wind rustled through the dead trees, carrying an uneasy silence that settled over us all. The cliff's abyss still loomed, a stark reminder that this place was unforgiving—and that every second mattered.
Dia could still feel Hansel's watchful gaze lingering on them, a silent observer of the tense exchange that had just passed between the siblings. But what she didn't realize was the weight pressing on Hansel's mind—a gnawing, restless suspicion that something unseen was twisting Nuk and Dia's emotions, pulling them like marionettes on invisible strings. Just moments ago, they had been on the brink of tearing each other apart, voices sharp and eyes blazing with anger. Now, as if a switch had been flipped, they stood side by side, their earlier fury vanished. Hansel knew the center of this storm: Zero. The boy was an unpredictable force, and Hansel's heart tightened with unease as he pondered what that might mean for them all.
Nuk finally drew a slow, steadying breath, his tense shoulders relaxing just enough to suggest he was ready to move forward. His eyes shifted quickly, setting his thoughts back on the goal they all shared—their camp. The very idea stirred a mix of emotions within him: determination, dread, and a heavy undercurrent of uncertainty.
"Let's just continue our way," Nuk said, shooting Zero a pointed look that spoke volumes, "Don't cause trouble this time."
"Okay," Zero replied promptly, voice light but obedient, masking the restless energy beneath.
Dia cut in bluntly, her tone curt and unwavering. "Let's just go."
With Nuk taking the lead, the group moved steadily downward from the cliff. Nuk kept a careful watch on Zero, ensuring the boy stayed close by his side. The air around them was thick with tension, silence heavy with unspoken thoughts and guarded emotions.
From where he stood, Zero could clearly see the camp's entrance—a looming gate just ahead, promising safety and respite. His excitement bubbled over, and he broke into a sudden run, eager to reach it. But Nuk's hand shot out, grabbing him firmly by the collar and halting him in an instant.
"Whoa, stop!" Nuk's voice was firm, controlled but urgent. "Where do you think you're going?"
Zero's eyes sparkled as he pointed toward the entrance, just a short distance away, his youthful eagerness impossible to contain. But like a trapped animal, he froze beneath Nuk's steady grip, unable to break free.
Their raised voices caught the attention of one of the guards stationed near the entrance. The man approached with a slow, knowing smirk—a familiar face whose presence injected a new wave of tension into the group.
"Well, what do we have here? Nuk. Hansel." The guard's eyes locked onto Nuk with feigned arrogance, trying to assert dominance, but his smile softened when his gaze shifted to Dia.
"Stop," Dia snapped, waving her hand dismissively, her disdain clear and unyielding. "Go away."
The guard chuckled, brushing off her rejection like a minor irritation. "Just take it as a joke," he said with a thinly veiled annoyance.
Nuk stepped forward, placing himself firmly between the guard and the others, his voice low but resolute. "Step aside, Fred."
Fred's eyes gleamed with recognition, a smug grin spreading across his face as he took in Nuk's stance. "Nuk! You're back, but where is she?" His voice rose theatrically as he scanned Nuk's frame. "I guess you finally did it."
The words hit Nuk like a sharp blow, bitter and unwelcome. His fists clenched, aching to retaliate, but he knew the dangers of escalating the conflict. It was a delicate balance between satisfaction and the risk of igniting a bigger fight.
"Shut up!" Nuk's voice was steel as he pushed past Fred, dragging Zero closer under his watchful eye. "Zero, let's go in."
Before they could move forward, Fred's hand shot out, grabbing Nuk's wrist—the very one holding Zero. His smirk widened, the challenge clear.
"Well, look at that, a new face with short ears too," Fred sneered, his loud voice drawing the eyes of more camp members. His mocking tone sought to provoke, turning the crowd against Nuk and his group.
Nuk tightened his grip on Fred's shoulders, voice low and threatening. "Hands off, before you regret losing an arm."
Fred yanked his arm free, massaging his shoulder with exaggerated flair. "Forcing your way, as always." He stepped back, eyes glinting with venom. "The chief will hear of this."
The mention of their uncle sent a chill through Nuk. His jaw clenched tighter, but all he wanted was rest after the grueling expedition.
"Don't bother. We're going to meet him anyway," Nuk said, hoping to end the confrontation.
Fred wasn't finished. "You'd better be, so you can explain how you killed your last competitors." His words dripped with malice.
That was the final straw. Nuk's restraint shattered.
"You don't know a thing about what happened," Nuk snapped, voice fierce and defensive.
Fred laughed, triumphant. "Right! And you expect me to believe your innocence?"
Nuk swung a fist, but Hansel stepped in swiftly, blocking the strike and urging calm.
"Let's just go. They're not worth it," Dia said, pulling Nuk away gently but firmly.
As they pushed through the growing crowd toward the entrance, the atmosphere shifted. Some greeted them with friendly waves, but many eyes were cold, watchful, filled with suspicion. Zero's heart lifted with the attention, craving connection after so much isolation. But Nuk's expression darkened—he knew all too well the undercurrent of hostility.
The tribe had never accepted him. Even as a child, whispers and warnings followed anyone who dared speak to him. No matter how hard he tried to fit in, his origins marked him as an outsider. He bit his lip, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles whitened, fighting the flood of anger and bitterness threatening to spill over.
At last, the large tent at the far end of the camp came into view—a beacon of temporary refuge. Nuk exhaled deeply, memories of his sister flooding back—her laughter, their shared moments, the carved stone toys they once made. The warmth of those memories was a sharp contrast to the emptiness he felt now, with only Dia by his side. Survival was all that mattered.
A sudden flash of that last moment with his sister pierced his thoughts—a painful reminder of what had been lost.
A wave of anxiety washed over him, the looming threat of their uncle's wrath pressing down. He steeled himself.
I need to focus. Nuk is easy, he told himself.
The solemn moment shattered when Zero sneaked up behind him, startling him. "What's easy?"
Nuk jumped but held back from reacting harshly. "Please don't do that." He managed a small hop. "Let's just go."
With firm resolve, Nuk pulled Zero toward the tent's entrance, ready to face whatever awaited them inside.
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