Young Writers Society

Jerica took another bite, willing it to turn into fat. Eve was right. They had been at a disadvantage from the very moment they woke up. And it didn't look like that was going to change any time soon -- although now they at least had a weapon and some food. To keep them alive. For whatever sick game this was supposed to be. "I wish they'd just kill us already instead of making us go all the way down the dragon's path."

82 words

Evaline narrowed her eyes at Jerica, wondering if there were layers behind what she was saying. She decided to not overthink it, but she did slide a loaf of bread towards Jerica since it would have been smarter for her to eat that instead of all the low-calorie fruits.

"They're toying us," she said back. She didn't know who 'they' were, but decided to play along with it. "Don't entertain that thought since that's exactly what they want you to think."

"Mm." Jerica vaguely remembered her professor saying something about bread making people fat -- she'd never seen it, but he claimed it was true -- and took the loaf that Eve was pushing towards her. Jerica took a big bite, then shrugged and talked past it, "They're just gonna kill us once we get there anyway." She looked down at the quiver by her leg. "I mean if there's only one sorcerer we might have a chance. But they take a lotta arrows to kill."

83 words

Evaline continued to stare at Jerica, now lost. What was she even going on about? There had no clue what she was saying.

"What are you talking about?" she asked with furrowed brows. "What sorcerer?"

Jerica took another bite, this time forcing herself to chew it more slowly so it would last longer. She wasn't sure what it was that Eve wasn't comprehending. It seemed obvious to her. "I don't know. Whatever sorcerer that's behind this -- sending these boxes, toying with us? Clearly, it's someone powerful. Hopefully just a sorcerer though."

56 words

Evaline was far too tired to make sense into what she was saying when she couldn't even make sense of what was going on.

"Yeah. Okay," she said with a sigh. "It could be. I don't know what awaits us, but it's the only path forward."

"Well..." Jerica looked around. "Technically, it's one of four... but I don't want to get pelted with hail again, so, yeah, I guess.

23 words

Evaline stared at her, unamused. She really didn't feel to be in a joking mood right now, so she shifted her attention back to her sandwich. "Yeah. Neither do I."

Jerica fell into silence as she nursed her loaf of bread as long as she possibly could. It was going to be painful, carrying along rations with full knowledge of the fact that she couldn't eat them. But it's not like she hadn't had worse situations in the past. Finally, she finished eating and took another drink of water, then put the jar back in the basket. "Well... that's it, I guess."

Evaline nodded, brushing the crumbs off of her clothes and then packing up everything in the basket. When ready, she picked it up and carried it, walking back over to the first aid kit and whatever else Jerica may have left behind.

She was just glad they didn't need to eat the dead wolves.

"Let's pack up our things and follow the dragon's path, then," she said.

"Yeah," Jerica agreed lamely. She stood up and slung the quiver onto her back, then slid the bow over her arm, ready for however long of a trek it was going to be. "How fast can you move, realistically?"

Evaline swooped up the first aid kit, inserting it in the empty space in the basket. She shot Jerica an odd look when she asked her question.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I mean, this is going to be a long trip." Jerica shrugged. At least, she thought it was, considering how far they'd walked yesterday without getting anywhere at all. The map didn't have any sort of scale to be able to tell for sure. "There's no point in turning this into a pissing contest that exhausts both of us -- we need to find a sustainable pace. But no point in going slower than that if we don't have to."

Evaline walked at a steady pace by Jerica's side, and she tried not to glare at her again, but it showed when she glanced at her. It wasn't like she saw Jerica as an ally, but it was obvious they were here for a reason, and right now their chances of survival was increased together.

"Sure," she said, not fighting it. "That's fine. Whatever pace you go is fine."

"This is exactly what I'm talking about," Jerica sighed. "We need to find the pace that works for both of us, not just the one that works for me, and I'm not convinced your ego will let you ask to slow down if I pick one that's too fast."