Revision made on 12/11/25
Inside an abandoned building, in a bathroom, a strange noise begins to sound coming from one of several stalls.
The sound, persistent, lasts for a few minutes, when something emerges from one of the toilets; with some difficulty, a small rodent jumps from its edge.
Soon after falling to the floor, it walks through the abandoned room toward the door, reaching a long corridor.
On one side, shining strongly, the sunlight indicated the building's exit, while on the other, the corridor led to the interior of the structure, enveloped in darkness.
Looking at both sides, it chooses a path, heading toward the interior of the structure, when something makes it stop — a light and sweet odor that enveloped it — following it with its head, the rat turns to the opposite direction it was going.
Changing route, it begins to traverse the wide corridor in search of its source.
While following it, the closer it got to the exit, the stronger the odor became, to the point of almost tasting it, however, upon arriving near a door, it noticed that the trail led into one of the rooms.
The room, although close to the building's entrance, where the sun shone strongly, without any window, was plunged into the most absolute darkness.
In its search, it began to enter, but, hearing something, it stopped at the entrance.
"Hhhnnng... Fsssss..."
Sounding from inside, a slow and heavy breathing, slightly raspy, came from the darkest part of the place. Feeling its fur stand on end, for a moment, the rat thought about turning back, however, feeling the sweet aroma that came from there, which had already dominated its senses, it couldn't resist.
Silently, it entered that darkness while dodging some obstacles, feeling lost, because the smell that guided it began to confuse it, but that's when it stepped on something wet.
Without wasting time, it licked it, feeling a wonderful taste invade its palate; it was from where the smell came. However, even though it was spread over a large area, it began to search for its source.
Walking on top of that puddle, upon reaching an open wound, it bit it.
In response, with a grunt of pain, the creature began to move — startling, the rat tried to pull away — when a large hand fell upon it.
The floor, not withstanding the force used, broke into several pieces, followed by a loud crash.
The creature, with a faster breathing, although still heavy, kept its hand sunk into the ground for a few moments. With difficulty, lifting the hand, it checked if it had killed it, but, jumping from the hole, the rat fled.
***
Near the heart of an abandoned city, surrounded by hundreds of buildings, a large clearing interrupted a decaying urban landscape. With a few kilometers in extent, it was covered by a green-colored grass, which hardly exceeded knee height, but which was swayed by the strong currents that passed unimpeded there.
But, in the center of the place, dissonant from the surroundings, there were thin and tall plants, of a gray slightly greenish color, that occupied a good area around a large lagoon. However, although tall, they were not the largest there; occupying that position, there was a strange tree.
"I wonder how this formed..."
Right in front of it, Seven observed it while holding some pieces of clothing.
It seems to be ancient, very ancient. Contradicting its size, the deep marks on its trunk showed its age.
Just like the skin of an elderly person who performed hard functions for years under harsh weather, it was quite wrinkled and of a coarse appearance. In addition, there was a large formation of roots that, dissonant from its small canopy, grew above the ground forming a wide structure around the trunk.
Climbing onto it, Seven began to walk over that tangle.
I wonder if it was here when the city was still inhabited... Seven had always lived in that city with his family, at least as far as he remembered, so he knew that place had been abandoned for a long time.
While thinking, upon stepping on one of the roots — Crack — he felt it giving way under his weight.
Stopping, with a complicated expression, he looked around.
In that pile of roots, since they were not united to each other, there were various gaps between them, with some of those spaces, due to their size, forming small tunnels that entered that pile.
I have to be careful... if I slip, I could injure my leg... Walking there bothered him, but he knew there was no other place to go besides there.
Choosing the roots he stepped on, he approached the trunk, while dodging some branches, with a few yellowish leaves, since the canopy was low.
Using one of the branches within his reach, he hung the pieces of clothing he carried, before returning.
...
Far from the lagoon, Isis was sitting on a large rock drying herself in the sun. With a distant gaze, she observes her younger siblings working, when a strong current of air blew across the plain.
Upon being hit by it, she quickly shrank, wrapping her arms around her body.
What a cold wind! Wearing light clothes that were still wet, she felt the freezing wind afflict her, making her shrink even more.
But, after a few minutes, it ceased.
— Achoo!! —
I don't want to get sick...
"Sniff."
"Bless you!"
Hearing Seven's voice, she turned to him.
" Thank you..."
Stopping beside her, he commented:
"I already hung your things, I believe they should dry soon."
"... I hope so...." Rubbing her hands on her forearms, Isis tried to warm herself.
Meanwhile, turning her attention back to the lagoon, she observed Mia entering and exiting the midst of the vegetation loaded with herbs, to store them in the backpacks.
...Seven isn't going to help her?
Glancing discreetly to the side, she saw Seven standing there.
Since she fell into the lagoon, he had helped her by hanging the clothes and checking if something she carried in her pockets had fallen, but now, even though he had already finished, he remained beside her.
Mia seems overloaded, since Leon and Victor are harvesting... Returning to her sister, she became thoughtful.
"You —
Upon turning to him, a piece of clothing flew into her face.
Surprised, she exclaimed:
"What?!!"
"You're cold, aren't you? Put it on, or you'll end up catching a cold."
While holding the blouse, looking at her own hands, Isis noticed they were trembling a lot, even though she had tried to warm them.
"But what about you? The clothes you wear aren't so different from mine, even if they're dry, they're still light."
"No problem, I've never caught a cold." With a proud smile, he showed a flexed arm.
"..."
With a slight smile, Isis accepted.
"Thank you."
Waiting for her to finish putting on the blouse, Seven asked:
"So, why did you fall into the lagoon? Did Leon scare you?"
Seven didn't know exactly what had happened; as soon as he arrived there and saw his sister in the water, he prioritized getting her out, as it was dangerous for her to get sick.
"What?"
"If that's the case, even if it's an innocent prank, I have to call him out, because it wasn't the moment to do that. Even if she wasn't hurt, pranks at the wrong time can cause many problems."
But, shaking her head, Isis denied it emphatically.
"No, that's not what happened, that wasn't his intention. When I saw him, just surprised, I didn't get scared, because I quickly realized it was him, and also that he wanted to show me something — lowering her tone of voice, she continued — I thought it was the helmet because it caught a lot of attention..."
It was a very strange helmet.
It was some junk he found amidst the vegetation, already quite deteriorated. When he saw it, right after opening space between the vegetation, he got scared by its appearance to the point of starting to prepare the bow.
Should I call him out for putting it on his head? That didn't seem like a good idea...
"But, how did you fall into the lagoon?"
Isis, a bit red, took a while before continuing.
"... he opened the coat... and the frog jumped toward me.... to not let it touch me..."
Hiding her face between her legs and torso, she stayed silent.
— Ah.
She had thrown herself into the water.
Being on the edge of the lagoon, there weren't many places to dodge, so she preferred to jump into the water rather than let the frog touch her.
"Hmpf!"
Although that didn't help much in the end.
"Are you laughing?!"
"Of course! You preferred to throw yourself into the cold water than let a frog touch you..."
"I thought it was disgusting! That thing could be slimy even with scales, just like a real frog!" Disconcerted, Isis tried to justify herself.
"No problem — Seven said, raising his hands — if that's how you preferred it!"
Picking up some pieces of branches and small stones, she threw them at Seven.
"Hha — Ow! — Hhaha..."
"Why do you keep laughing?!"
Still angry, after running out of ammunition, averting her gaze, Isis fell silent.
"...I'm sorry, sorry, I stopped..." noticing she would remain sulky, Seven tried to apologize, although he still had a slight smile on his face.
During this period, surprising both, another current of wind passed, but much stronger than the first.
Seven, feeling the colder wind, took a deep breath.
"Wow! It seems winter will arrive earlier this year."
As for Isis, she quickly wrapped her arms around her body and closed her eyes, but, differently from before, she didn't feel any cold.
"Warm..." — Isis murmured —
"Hmm? Did you say something?"
"..."
"Ah. Aren't you going to help them?!"
"... I can't, I have to stand guard."
"I... — Raising her gaze, she turned to Seven — can't I stand guard in your place?"
"Well..."
Isis is the second in leadership, and she also knows how to use a bow..., but...
"No, you can't."
Disheartened, she asked:
"...Why not? I'm trained just like you, besides being a year older..."
"You're still drying off, as you're without a good part of your clothes or boots, if something happens, you wouldn't be prepared to face a threat."
The clothes they wore were not just to keep warm, they were thicker to protect them if they were attacked by something. Standing guard was not just observing, but also, upon finding or identifying a threat, being the first to confront it to protect the others.
"But, if you leave them alone, won't it end up taking a long time?"
"Hmm... Even if it might be a bit more problematic, I know they're responsible and won't get distracted easily..."
Although they were young, they were all more responsible. They might take a little longer due to inexperience, but that's all.
"I believe that —
"Come back here!"
Leon, coming out from the midst of the vegetation, began to run after the frog, which was moving away from the lagoon. Victor, coming right behind Leon, surrounding the animal, jumps on it to capture it.
"He escaped!"
Observing that scene, Isis said with a smile:
"I'm seeing the responsibility..."
Seven, with a sigh, placing his hand on his head, completed.
— Maybe it will take a little...
Still fleeing, the frog, with a head that resembled a snake's and covered by small red scales, a bit flashy, continued jumping over the grass — disappearing at some moments — while the two chased it and Mia watched them.
Analyzing the small creature, Isis, noticing something, with a more serious face, asked:
"That... is a beast, isn't it?"
"Yes, a small one, but still a beast."
"Wouldn't it be dangerous to let them play with one? It seems to be a mixture of a frog with a snake, besides being quite colorful, isn't there a risk of it being venomous?"
"No, due to its size it's harmless, ...maybe it bites, but there's no risk of it being venomous or even poisonous, because beasts don't have poison."
If there was some type of classification, I believe it would be based on size and diet. Something so small, even if strange, offered no threat.
"I got it!"
Jumping on it, Leon finally captures it.
"Why does it keep trying to escape?"
"I don't know, maybe it's cold?"
Nearby, Leon and Victor talked, when they were interrupted.
"Don't dawdle like that, we need to finish soon!"
"Yes!"
Hearing Seven, both returned to work. While returning, Leon quickly placed the animal inside his clothing and closed it.
Seeing that, Isis froze for a moment before asking:
"He... isn't thinking of taking it home, is he?"
Smiling, Seven looked at Leon's backpack. It seems he also wants to take the helmet he found, since it's next to the —
Stopping, Seven turns quickly toward the buildings.
— What was that sound?
Although low, he had heard something like a crack or boom.
Isis, noticing Seven's sudden reaction, turned to him, who, with a serious expression, observed the wall of buildings that surrounded the plain.
Seeing that expression, her heart froze for a moment.
"Did something happen?"
Still attentive to the direction from where the sound came, he waited some time before answering.
"... It's nothing, no need to worry..."
It must have been a piece of some building falling...
...
Gathered, Mia, Leon and Victor were in line, with their backpacks right in front, while Seven checked them.
They filled them all. Stuffed with wet plants, Seven, with a bit of difficulty, closed the last backpack.
But it's a pity in the end not much remains, since in the end all this will turn into a handful of medicine...
"Big brother..."
Hearing Mia call him — waking from his thoughts — he looked forward.
Upon seeing his siblings, a small smile escaped him. Perceptibly anxious, they couldn't stay in the place they were while watching him.
Already knowing why, Seven stood up.
"Well, let's see..."
Looking at the sky, he began to check the sun's position, to calculate how much time they still had.
It took a little longer than I expected..., but — with a satisfied look — they did well...
Anxious, his younger siblings waited for an answer.
Subtracting the safety margin, there should be left....
"...You have twenty minutes."
"Woo-hoo!"
Celebrating, without wasting time, they ran to explore different places.
Leon, curious, went toward the tree and the tangle, while Mia and Victor went toward the lagoon, but, before they ended up dispersing more, Seven gave them a warning.
"Don't mess with Isis's clothes or things and don't stray too far!"
"YES!!!"
Isis, distant from Seven, seeing her younger siblings disperse, descending from the rock where she was, went toward him.
While still approaching, he noticed her.
"Have you dried off?" Looking back, he checked her.
"Not completely, my clothes are still damp, but they should dry soon."
Isis, stopping beside Seven, observed with him her younger siblings. Leon, exploring the tangle, balanced on top of the roots, while Mia and Victor, entering the plants, disappeared.
But, holding tightly the edges of the coat, she had an uneasy look, that jumped from her siblings to the sun.
"...Are you sure we have all this time?"
"Hmm? Yes, less time than before, but we still have it."
Looking at the wall of buildings, for a moment, Isis opens her mouth to say something, but stops suddenly.
"..."
Without her noticing, observing her from the corner of his eyes, Seven asked.
"...Could you help me keep an eye on them, since your clothes are drier?"
"What? Yyes!"
"Keep an eye on Mia and Victor, I can't follow them in the midst of that bush..."
Looking there, all he perceived was the movement of some plants, murmurs and muffled laughter sounding.
"..No problem!"
Turning her back, Isis left from there, while she moved away, Seven noticed that she swung her arms, with her shoulders a bit lighter.
"Brother!"
"Yes?!"
Shifting his gaze, he turned to Leon, who called him near the tree.
"There's some animal here!" He said, while pointing to one of the gaps between the roots.
Surprised, frowning his eyebrows, Seven stopped for a moment.
"...Animal?"
Isis, who was about to enter the midst of the vegetation, upon hearing that, stopped and turned back.
Seven, running to Leon, began to search.
"Where did you see it?"
"Right here...."
Pointing through the roots, he indicated the entrance of a tunnel.
"...it's right at the bottom."
Crouching near the entrance, searching inside, he saw something moving.
It's small...
Isis, who had changed route, approached him cautiously.
"What is it?"
"I don't know...."
Even though there were spaces between the roots for light to enter, he couldn't identify what it was, due to the depth it was at.
It doesn't seem dangerous...maybe it's another small beast...
With the bow in hand, Seven loaded an arrow and pointed it at the creature, aiming at its chest.
Seeing that, Isis and Leon backed away a few steps.
"..."
Finding an opportunity, Seven released the arrow, which flew at high speed toward the shadow, hitting it and with the animal stopping to move.
But, suddenly, it moved running out of the burrow, jumping toward Seven.
"Darn!"
Scared, by reflex, he hit a punch on the animal, throwing it far, while dodging backward.
"Ahhhhh!"
"Brother!"
Scared, Isis and Leon backed away upon being surprised.
Falling to the ground, Seven quickly turned to the animal, widening his eyes upon finding it.
You!!!
A common white rabbit that, after being hit, fell to the ground and rolled a few times before starting to run again.
" You won't escape!"
At this distance....
Seven, trying to stand up to catch it, felt his hand slide over the grass, upon looking at it, he froze for a second.
Blood?!
But, with a quick check, he found no wound at all. However, looking forward, the rabbit had already moved too far away.
"...Isis! Take the others to the nearest passage!"
"What?!"
Surprised, she turned confused to Seven.
"Leon, you come with me!"
Obeying, without questioning, he ran to get the two backpacks.
Climbing the tangle of roots, Seven went to the trunk and grabbed his sister's coat that was hanging.
It's still damp, but it'll have to do!
Jumping from there, while putting it on, he began to run.
"Wait Seven!"
Stopping for a moment, he looked at his sister who was visibly confused.
"I'm sorry Isis, but I can't let it escape! Not this time!"
"What? Let who?!"
The way back is easy, I'm sure you'll arrive safely!
"We meet there!"
Picking up his backpack, which Leon handed him, he turned his back.
I'm finally going to catch it, sister!
"Seven! Wait!!"