Chapter 232: Famillar companion
The weary and exhausted group of villagers made camp near the tranquil and cold river, their spirits and bodies weighed down by the events of the day. The crackling of the fire provided a flickering light as they huddled together, their faces drawn and grim.
The things they witnessed, and the battles they fought weren't anything they were used to being normal villagers who used to work hard for their families, so this was an exhausting journey for them.
"We can't keep going like this," one villager murmured, his voice trembling with fear. "Without our leader, Garnt, we're as good as dead."
Most of the people shook their heads in agreement, while some showed anger as soon as they heard Garnt's name. Slowly, they started to lose their trust in him, which wasn't so surprising, since humans, no matter the era, always tend to forget the past quite easily.
The words of the villager hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the absence that loomed over them like a shadow. Rona, Unami, Gundo, and the others exchanged sombre glances, their hearts heavy with the weight of their leader's absence.
"We can't afford to give up hope," Unami said, her voice firm despite the doubt that gnawed at her heart. "Garnt wouldn't want us to lose faith in ourselves. He will come back and until then we have to be strong. He promised, he would come back."
Gundo nodded in agreement, her gaze steely as she spoke. "She's right. We've come too far to turn back now. We'll find a way to survive, no matter what. Beside, we have to show my son that we are not dependent on him. We have to survive no matter what."
But even as they spoke, doubt lingered in the air, a silent moment that whispered of their uncertain future. Without Garnt's guidance and expertise, they faced an uphill battle unlike any they had known before. Ever since the day Garnt left, their lives had been going downhill unlike their struggles which kept increasing.
"We need to think about our next steps," Rona said, her voice steady as she addressed the group. "We can't rely on guns that we used anymore, but we still have each other. That counts for something and our weapons that are built by our own hands."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the group, their resolve bolstered by Rona's words. Despite the challenges that lay ahead, they knew that as long as they stood together, they had a fighting chance.
"We'll have to rely on our wits and our skills," Gundo said, his voice echoing with determination. "We'll find a way to rebuild, to carve out a new life for ourselves in this unforgiving world."
Even though all these women lead the group showing confident looks on their faces, all of them had one thing in common which was how insecure they felt inside knowing their beloved man wasn't by their side.
As the night wore on, they sat in silence, the sound of the river providing a soothing backdrop to their thoughts. In the darkness, they found solace in each other's company, drawing strength from the unspoken bond that bound them together.
As they drifted off to sleep, hoping for a calm moment to rest, the forest began to rumble again with the sounds of dinosaurs groaning, spreading throughout the dark forest, causing all the young children in the village to tremble in fear.
With exhaustion evident on their faces, Rona and Unami woke up to the sounds and quickly decided to move since staying in the same place could be dangerous when the groaning sounds were so close to them.
As Rona and Unami hurriedly led the group away from the rumbling sounds, their senses on high alert, the forest seemed to close in around them, the darkness pressing in like a physical force.
"We need to move faster," Rona urged, her voice tense with urgency. "Those sounds are getting closer."
Unami nodded, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. "Keep together, everyone. We can't afford to lose anyone."
Their footsteps quickened, each crunch of leaves beneath their feet a stark reminder of the peril they faced. But just as they were about to break through the thick underbrush, a deafening crash shattered the night air.
The group froze, their hearts pounding as they turned to see the source of the commotion. Through the trees, they caught sight of two massive dinosaurs locked in a vicious battle, their roars echoing through the forest.
One of the dinosaur was biting the neck of the other and kept pushing it through the forest ultimately crashing it against a huge tree which broke from the force of their clash.
Fear gripped Rona's heart like a vice as she beheld the towering creatures, their colossal forms casting long shadows in the dim moonlight. Even Gundo, usually unwavering in the face of danger, looked visibly shaken. Simply because she knew they had no way of fighting against these things right now.
"We have to get out of here," Ayra whispered, her voice trembling while her body started to ache from the lack of rest, especially being a pregnant woman.
But before they could even take a step back, another bone-chilling sight met their eyes. A group of dinosaurs, their thunderous footsteps shaking the ground beneath them, came charging towards them from the opposite direction.
Panic surged through the group like wildfire, their hopes of escape dwindling with each passing second. Rona felt a cold dread settle in the pit of her stomach as she glanced around at her companions, seeing the fear mirrored in their eyes.
In that moment of despair, a name escaped their lips in unison, carried on a prayer of desperation.
"Garnt..."
The memory of their one and only leader hung heavy in the air, a reminder of all they had lost and all they stood to lose. They couldn't help but wonder how he would have faced this imminent threat, his courage a beacon of hope in the darkest of times.
But as the dinosaurs closed in, their chances of survival growing slimmer by the second, they knew that they could only rely on themselves now.
"At least let's die trying to fight these beasts, otherwise how could we make our man proud," Unami said her hands trembling from fear, her eyes on the verge of tearing up with a smile.
Her grip on the dagger that she was holding was tight, but the continuous shaking of her hand showed how vulnerable she was in this situation.
With a shared nod, they braced themselves, ready to make their final stand against the oncoming threat. But just as they prepared to lunge forward, a sudden rush of movement caught them off guard.
It was as if a wind passed by them that reeked of blood, and none of them had any idea what happened or what caused this until they started to hear the screeching noises from the direction they were facing.
To their astonishment, the dinosaur that had appeared from the front surged past them with lightning speed, its massive form barreling towards the creatures behind them. With a roar that shook the ground beneath their feet, it launched into a ferocious attack, its powerful jaws snapping at the startled dinosaurs.
The behemoth dinosaur, its sleek scales shimmering in the starlight, didn't rely solely on its fearsome jaws to engage its adversaries. As the startled dinosaurs behind it recoiled in shock, the colossal creature demonstrated its agility and strength in a flurry of motion.
With a deft flick of its muscular tail, the dinosaur swept it through the air, aiming to knock its opponents off balance. The tail, tipped with a bony club, struck with enough force to send smaller dinosaurs tumbling aside, or even to stagger larger ones.
Meanwhile, its limbs, thick and sinewy, became powerful weapons in their own right. One massive clawed foot lashed out, aiming to hook onto the flank of an approaching opponent, while the other planted firmly, providing stability and leverage for the impending clash.
Gundo's voice cut through the chaos, his tone tinged with disbelief. "It's a T-Rex!"
Though the darkness obscured their vision, Rona couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity that washed over her at the sight of the majestic creature. But there was no time to dwell on it as they seized the opportunity presented to them.
"Let's go!" Rona shouted, her voice filled with equal parts relief and urgency.
Without hesitation, they turned and sprinted away from the chaos unfolding behind them, their hearts pounding in their chests as they raced through the forest. The thunderous sounds of the battle faded into the distance, replaced by the rhythm of their own frantic footsteps.
As they ran, gratitude flooded their hearts, grateful for the unexpected intervention that had spared them from certain doom. But even as they fled, Rona couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the back of her mind.
What had brought the T-Rex to their aid? And why did it feel so familiar to her? Did it really help them or was it just a fluke?
With each passing moment, the questions only multiplied, but for now, their priority was simple: survive.
And so they ran, their determination unyielding as they pressed onward into the darkness, their fates still uncertain but their spirits undaunted.