Chapter 7: Finding Shelter.

The morning sun crept up over the hills, casting a golden hue over the rugged landscape. Ava glanced at Talon, concern etched into her features. His head, now wrapped in a makeshift bandage fashioned from her torn sleeve, was looking worse than she’d hoped. His skin had taken on a pale, almost ghostly shade, and he wasn’t quite as steady on his feet.

“Any idea where we are?” she asked, scanning the unfamiliar terrain. A river wound its way through the valley below them, its sound strangely calming given the chaos of the past day.

Talon squinted at the landscape, rubbing the side of his head. “Somewhere between hell and a hard place, I reckon. But don’t worry, I’m a scout. I know these things.”

Ava chuckled, though her eyes remained serious. “Yeah, I’m starting to doubt the whole ‘scout’ thing after you let an RPG hit us.”

Talon gave a pained laugh, leaning heavily against a rock before abruptly sitting down. “Alright, point taken. But in my defense, I can’t predict rockets, Blondie.”

Ava crouched beside him, her tone more serious now. “You’ve got a concussion, Talon. You’re barely standing.”

“I’m standing just fine,” Talon argued, immediately wobbling to his feet. His balance gave way almost instantly, sending him stumbling back down. “Okay, fine… standing might be a stretch.”

“Exactly. You're no good like this. Rest, and let me handle the thinking for a bit,” Ava said, standing up and looking around.

“Sounds good," Talon muttered, rubbing his head. "Go on, scout. Lead the way.”

Ava slipped her jacket back on, the fabric still damp from their swim through the river. She shivered as the morning breeze chilled her skin, but she ignored it, focusing instead on the task at hand. “We’ll follow the river south, into the woods. There’s bound to be somewhere we can hide and get you fixed up. I just need to keep you alive long enough.”

“Good luck with that,” Talon groaned, attempting to stand once more and leaning on Ava for support. “You sure you know what you’re doing?”

She shot him a playful smirk. “I’m sure I’ll figure it out. You know, since someone won’t be much help.”

“Hey, I’m plenty helpful!” Talon protested, though his legs nearly gave way as he spoke. “See? I’m still standing.”

Ava rolled her eyes, helping him steady himself as they began their trek. “Barely. And for the record, I’m still blaming you for the RPG.”

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“Yeah, I can feel the love,” Talon muttered, clutching his head as another wave of dizziness hit. “But you know, Blondie, I’ve been hit harder than this. There was this one time—”

“Save your stories, Talon. You can barely remember your own name right now,” Ava teased, guiding him down a small incline toward the riverbank.

They walked in silence for a time, the sound of rushing water filling the air as they followed the river's winding path. Talon’s pace was slow, his steps faltering, but Ava kept him moving, occasionally glancing back to check on him.

After a while, Talon pointed up toward the top of a very high bank. “Did you really drive us off that?” he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

Ava grinned. “Got us out of there, didn’t I?”

“You really are crazy, Blondie,” Talon laughed, shaking his head—then regretting it as the movement sent a sharp pain through his skull. “But I guess that’s why we make a good team.”

Ava just smiled and kept moving, scanning the ground for signs of danger. Talon, despite his injury, did the same, occasionally pausing to check for tracks.

After a while, Talon knelt down, tracing the dirt with his fingers. “Tracks. Five of them. They’re human, and they’re close.”

Ava crouched beside him, her eyes narrowing. “Raiders?”

“Most likely. But they’re looking for us,” Talon confirmed, standing back up slowly, his body swaying a bit.

Ava’s gaze hardened. “We need to find shelter and hide before nightfall.”

“Agreed,” Talon nodded, though his voice was strained. “Then tomorrow, we hunt them.”

“With what? You’re injured, and we have one knife between us,” Ava reminded him, her tone skeptical.

Talon managed a weak grin. “Everything we need is right here,” he said, gesturing to the forest around them. “Besides, you’re doing the hunting. I’m just setting the traps.”

Ava sighed. “Of course, you are.”

They walked for several more hours, Talon getting quieter as the exhaustion and pain took hold. Ava could see his strength waning, and her worry grew with every step. Finally, they stumbled upon an old oak tree with gnarled roots that created a small, sheltered alcove.

“This’ll do,” Talon said, leaning heavily against the tree. “I’ll… I’ll set up some traps… later.”

“No, you’ll rest now,” Ava corrected, guiding him down beneath the tree’s wide branches. “We’ll set traps in the morning.”

Talon didn’t argue, collapsing against the trunk with a heavy sigh. “You’re the boss, Blondie.”

Ava worked quietly, gathering leaves and branches to cover their tracks and build a small shelter beneath the tree. By the time she returned, Talon had managed to climb a few feet into the tree and was resting on one of the lower branches, his eyes half-closed.

“Tomorrow,” Talon mumbled, barely conscious. “Tomorrow we make them regret it.”

Ava looked up at him, her face softening. “Tomorrow, Talon. Get some rest.”

As the night deepened, they settled into their makeshift camp, the sounds of the forest slowly lulling them into an uneasy sleep. Ava couldn’t shake the feeling of eyes watching them, of danger lurking just beyond the trees. But for now, they were hidden, and that would have to be enough.

Just before sleep claimed her, Talon’s voice broke through the darkness. “Hey, Ava?”

“Yeah?”

“If I don’t make it through this, you’re driving off cliffs without me from now on.”

Ava chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Go to sleep, Talon.”

“Crazy, Blondie,” Talon muttered one last time, finally drifting into a fitful sleep.

And as Ava kept her vigil, her eyes scanning the shadows for threats, she couldn’t help but smile. They were injured, hunted, and barely hanging on, but they were still here. Still fighting.

And that was enough for now.