AJ shifted to the left—no. They couldn't fight, not like this. Not with him struggling to move and Lily outnumbered. They needed to leave, to get as far away from these men as possible.
Lily nodded, understanding. She motioned for AJ to follow, and they began to back away, moving slowly and carefully to avoid making noise. But as they retreated, Lily brushed against a low-hanging branch, sending a shower of leaves to the ground.
The men froze, their heads snapping toward the sound. "What was that?" one of them hissed, his eyes narrowing.
Lily's breath caught. They were too close, too exposed. The men began to move toward them, weapons raised, and AJ knew they had only seconds to act.
Just as the men stepped closer, a voice cut through the tension—calm, sharp, and unmistakable. "Looking for someone?"
Lily's heart leaped as Victor stepped into the clearing, his spear levelled at the men. Ethan was beside him, his large frame imposing, and Walter stood a few steps behind, leaning on a makeshift cane. The hostile group froze, their eyes darting between Victor and Lily.
"Back off," Victor said in a commanding tone. "Unless you want trouble."
The men hesitated, their weapons wavering. One of them muttered something under his breath, and they began to retreat, disappearing into the trees with hurried steps. Victor watched them go before turning to Lily.
"You alright?" he asked, his tone softening slightly.
Lily let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding. "We're fine," she said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline still coursing through her. "Thanks to you."
Victor's sharp gaze shifted to AJ, taking in the gelatinous form. "AJ," he said finally, his voice tinged with something like relief. "You've... changed."
AJ shifted to the right—yes. It was the best he could do to acknowledge the statement. Walter stepped forward, studying AJ's form with curious eyes. "Remarkable," he murmured.
Ethan clapped a hand on Victor's shoulder. "We can figure this out later. Right now, we need to find a safe place to regroup."
They moved upstream, putting distance between themselves and the hostile men. They found a secluded spot near the river, where the trees thinned and the ground was soft with moss. Lily and Walter gathered materials for AJ to consume, while Victor and Ethan kept watch.
Just as Lily was placing a handful of glowing mushrooms near AJ, a voice called out from across the river. "Well, this is a pleasant surprise."
Everyone turned, hands instinctively reaching for weapons. On the opposite bank stood Maria and Sam, their clothes ragged and their expressions a mix of relief and exhaustion. Maria looked across at them while Sam was already pulling off his boots.
"Sam, what are you—" Maria began, but Sam cut her off.
"We're crossing," he said matter-of-factly, stripping off his shirt and tossing it onto the riverbank. "It's shallow enough, and we're not staying on this side."
Maria's eyes widened as Sam continued to undress, his movements brisk. "You're just going to—?"
"I'm not letting my clothes get soaked," Sam interrupted, now down to his underwear. "That could spell disaster in our current circumstances." He bundled his clothes into a neat pile and threw them across the river, where they landed with a soft thud near Victor's feet. Without another word, he waded into the water, his movements steady despite the current.
Maria groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Of course. Why did I even ask?" She hesitated for a moment, then began to remove her outer layers, leaving her in her underwear. She folded her clothes carefully, her cheeks flushed, and tossed them across the river. "If anyone makes a comment, I'm throwing you in the water," she warned, her tone sharp.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Ethan grinned cheekily.
Maria shot him a glare before stepping into the river, her movements quick and deliberate. The water reached her waist, and she shivered slightly but didn't slow down. Sam, already on the other side, was shaking out his clothes and redressing as if nothing had happened.
As Maria reached the bank, Lily handed her a dry piece of cloth to wipe herself off. "Glad you could join us."
Maria nodded gratefully. "It's good to see you all in one piece."
They took a moment to share their experiences.
Lily recounted her and AJ's struggles—his transformation, their narrow escapes, and the challenges of communicating. Victor described their encounter with the shadow stalkers, his voice calm but expression dark with the memory.
Maria and Sam listened intently, their own stories spilling out as the group settled around their small fire. Maria spoke of their journey through the transformed landscape, the strange plants they had encountered, and the constant tension of being watched.
Sam interjected with observations about the new world's energy and the potential implications of the Wish Event. He also pointed out how they had all passed through that clearing in the woods at some point, wondering aloud if it was simply coincidence.
When Ethan asked how Sam and Maria had ended up on the other side of the river, Maria replied while nodding in Sam's direction, "This guy noticed an interesting plant on the other side, and there was a fallen tree that allowed us to cross."
Walter listened intently before speaking. "We've all faced challenges," he said quietly. "But we're here now. Together. That's what matters."
As the sun began to set, they continued their search for shelter. They followed the river until they found a small cave nestled in a rocky outcrop. The entrance was narrow, easy to defend, and the interior was dry and spacious enough for all of them.
Sam and Victor secured the area, setting up makeshift traps and barriers to deter intruders. Lily and Walter prepared the food they had gathered—berries, edible plants, and a small animal Ethan had caught earlier. The cave was beginning to feel like a temporary home.
AJ hovered near the back of the cave, his gelatinous form rippling with curiosity. He had been thinking about his abilities ever since he'd begun absorbing various things. He could break down materials into raw energy, and if his wish was truly granted as intended, he should be able to do the opposite—create something from energy.
He focused on a small part of his body, willing it to change. At first, nothing happened. His form quivered, the energy within him swirling chaotically. He tried again, this time imagining the texture and weight of moss. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, a small section of his slime began to harden. The surface grew rough, the colour shifting to a darker green. It was working.
But as the transformation completed, AJ realised something—the bit of moss was tiny, no larger than a pea. He had used a corresponding amount of his mass to create it, which in his current state was not insignificant, and the effort left him feeling drained.
He wobbled slightly, his form shrinking just a fraction. So the amount I can create is tied to my mass, he thought, his mind racing. If I create too much material, I'll weaken myself.
He subconsciously shifted to the left—no. This wasn't practical. Not yet, anyway. The little he could create wouldn't have any real impact, and he couldn't afford to waste energy. Frustrated, he let the bit of moss drop to the ground.
For a moment, AJ just sat there, his form rippling in what could only be described as a sulk. He rolled around the cave floor, his gelatinous body flattening and reforming as if he were sighing. The occasional ripple passed through him, a silent expression of his frustration.
Lily noticed and walked over, crouching beside him. "Hey," she said softly. "You okay?"
AJ shifted to the right—yes. But then he wobbled slightly, as if to add, But not really.
Lily smiled, understanding. "You'll figure it out," she said. "I'm sure of it."
As they settled in for the night, Walter's earlier words lingered in the air, a reminder of their resilience and determination. "We've made it this far," he had said. "Together, we can face whatever comes next."
Outside, the forest was alive with the sounds of the night—a reminder of the dangers that still lurked in the darkness.