Everyone gave her a look
It was the, "really, that's the question you wanted to ask?" look.
Why were they judging her? It was a valid question, because who the hell names their kid, especially a male child, "Kiki"?
"It's a nickname we gave him," Xavier said wryly.
" By "we," he meant himself."
Kaelyn added
"What's his actual name, then?" she asked. "Kaden," Kaden said, as if reading her thoughts.
"Let's rest for a while and figure out what to do next," Audric suggested.
Everyone settled into their resting positions, agreeing with Audric's suggestion.
Sierra layed down, gazing up at the cave. She noticed the "branches" they had seen earlier and the "fruits" they bore. "Those 'fruits' are probably cocoons for the insects," she thought to herself.
The cave exuded an eerily calm with it's dark hue. The branches were covered with the same dark hue but bore vibrant fruits that shimmered in ethereal colors, creating a mesmerizing contrast.
As Sierra gazed at the cave's surreal design, her eyelids grew heavy, and she drifted off to sleep, lulled by the mystical ambiance.
Sierra woke to a sudden whoosh, her eyes locking onto Kaelyn's frantic attempt to grab Xavier. His fast reflexes allowed him to dodge, but Kaelyn's anger fueled her pursuit. A swift kick landed on Xavier's thigh, sending him stumbling back. Sierra rushed to help, concern etched on her face, but Audric's firm grip held her back.
"Don't mind them," he whispered. "It's nothing serious."
Kaelyn's fury still simmered. "That's okay, you've given him enough beatings for today," Audric said, his tone calm.
Xavier pushed Kaelyn away, his face twisted in anger. "Get your hands off me!" Kaelyn retaliated with a venomous curse, but Xavier remained silent, shoving her away.
Astrid intervened, her voice measured. "What did you do, Xavier?" This time
Xavier sidestepped the question, hiding behind Astrid. "Nothing serious. She's just overreacting."
Kaelyn's anger flared. "Except he soiled my shoes! Now they're going to itch me!"
Astrid sighed, her expression a mix of exasperation and resignation.
"An apology will be appreciated, now xav." Astrid suggested.
Xavier scoffed in response that meant; as if that would ever happen.
Xavier's response was stubborn. "No."
Kaelyn's anger boiled over. "Let me at him so I can break his skull!"
Before the argument escalated further, a loud thud echoed through the cave, followed by an unsettling silence. A massive rock lay on the ground, Audric dusting his palms with a satisfied smile.
"Finally, I can hear my own thoughts," he said. "Now that we've rested, let's focus on our way forward."
Audric gathered everyone around him. "Here's the plan: we'll leave this cave and venture out to find a place to stay."
Everyone looked at him expectantly, waiting for more details. When he fell silent, they exchanged confused glances.
"That's it?" Kaelyn asked. "The plan is just to venture out without knowing where we're going?"
Kaden stared at Kaelyn, who spoke up, "Kaden, this is serious! We can't just go out there blindly! We don't know what is out there!" Kaelyn defended her point when she noticed Kaden's scrutinized gaze.
Kaden's response caught her off guard. "Have we been here before? Are we supposed to know anywhere around here?"
Kaelyn's words caught in her throat as she realized the validity of Kaden's point. The group continued voicing out her opinions until they were interrupted.
"Guys!" Sierra called out, drawing their attention. "Look at the cave walls."
Astrid walked over to the cave and inspected them closely. "There are inscriptions here, like someone wrote them." Astrid said with a tone of curiosity and discovery.
The group's eyes widened as they realized the implications. "That means people were here before us!" Kaelyn exclaimed with realization.
Xavier ventured deeper into the cave, the dim light cast eerie shadows on the walls. "What are you looking for?" one of his companions asked, their voice barely above a whisper. "Skulls," Xavier replied, his eyes scanning the ground. "Why?" The question hung in the air, and Xavier's gaze lingered on the dusty floor. "To see if anyone died in here," he said finally.
The group fanned out, searching the cave's nooks and crannies. After what felt like an eternity, Xavier stood up, brushing off his knees. "I don't see any skulls," he announced. "Maybe the people who died were outside." The group's eyes met, and a collective shiver ran down their spines.
With a shared nod, they decided to leave the cave behind and explore the outside world. As they emerged into the bright sunlight, they were met with the same desolate landscape they had left behind – ravaged and barren, with nary a sign of life. "Let's move forward," Kaden suggested, his voice laced with determination.
The group trudged through the wasteland, their footsteps echoing in the stillness. Hours passed, and the sun beat down relentlessly. Just when they thought they would never find anything of significance, they stumbled upon a gate overgrown with vines. The gate seemed to loom over them, its eerie silence punctuated only by the sound of wind rustling through the plants.
"Should we go in?" someone whispered, their voice trembling slightly. The group exchanged nervous glances. Audric hesitated, then reached out to push the gate. To their surprise, it creaked open by itself, as if inviting them to enter.
Cautiously, the group stepped inside, their eyes adjusting to the new surroundings. They found themselves in a courtyard surrounded by statues of people frozen in dynamic poses - some were talking, walking, it seemed they were stuck in time. The statues seemed to tell a story, their faces etched with a mix of determination and sorrow.
As they stood in awe, a mysterious voice echoed through the air, "Why have you come here?" The group's heads swiveled, searching for the source of the voice. But there was none. The voice seemed to emanate from the statues themselves, or perhaps the very walls that surrounded them.