Naive...

That's my first impression of the boy, who introduced himself and even offered a handshake to a stranger, who may be dangerous.

But looking at his short black hairs and brown eyes on his charming and smiling face, though his height was a little short a sentence rang through my mind...

Prince charming.

Let's see how prince charming would react to blood.

Not bothering to wipe my hands I took his hands and shook them with my bloody one.

Looking down Gautam kept his head down for some time before lifting it, locking his eyes with mine he said...

"You should clean your hands there's still blood on it."

Direct...

"Anyways you killed those wolves on your own?"

He asked with admiration as he looked behind me.

"It does look that way, what do you think?"

I asked back maintaining our eye contact.

"Wow. You are amazing. I mean you took down five wolves on your own!"

He said with admiration and continued...

"To think that the first person we would find beside our group would be so strong. Don't you feel the same way guys?"

He finally broke our eye contact looking behind him.

I observed the two people beside Gautam. Black hair reaching down her shoulder with brown eyes and a face identical to Gautam, the cute girl looked at me with curiosity.

"Wow! Brother Tommy must be strong."

She said after feeling my gaze.

Giving her a mysterious smile I looked at the last person of the trio.

Short brown hair in military cut, with reddish-brown eyes the man's body was packed with muscles, I had to admit he was the dream body of every teenager who loved muscles.

The man was looking warily at me, holding his club in a battle stance, ready to spring in action at any moment.

Looking at him I smiled putting my spear on the ground. Understanding my gesture he did the same with his club, though he was still holding its end.

Just then people started appearing behind the trio all with their sticks raised high ready for an attack.

"Guys this is Tommy. Tommy this is our group."

Gautam said as he waved at the group of around 50 people looking behind me in surprise.

The people were broken from their astonishment by Gautam, who I presumed to be the leader of the group. Resting their weapons one by one, they looked at me with curiosity.

None of us spoke a word silently observing each other.

"Why don't you accompany us?"

The sudden proposal from Gautam put an end to our starting section.

As he asked, a small frown appeared on the faces of the little girl and the big guy behind him. Though he didn't seem to notice it just looking at me with anticipation.

"Oh! And why should I accompany you?"

He seemed ready for my question, as he walked towards the big guy.

"Well, we have food, a strong brother."

He said patting the pouch followed by the shoulder of the big guy. A small smile appeared on the big guy's till now wary face. Gautam then moved to his left...

"A cute and smart sister."

He patted her head, a smile appeared on her face as well. He then walked behind arriving in front of the group...

"Two uncles who always complain, but are very caring.

"A guy who loves anime."

He started introducing every member of the group with a special remark, walking past them. What he didn't realise however was each time he walked past someone a smile would bloom on their face.

"And most importantly we have a family. So what do you say Tommy, want to be a part of our family?"

He asked me with his ever charming smile.

Native, charming, smart, and an amazing speaker. I see why so many adults are willing to follow a kid.

He is a natural leader, I don't know if his Nativity is an act or not but... It's dangerous! It invokes the feeling of protecting him, like a small brother unaware of the cruel world.

"Well, who am I to refuse such a unique family, of course, I would like to accompany 'your' family."

I made sure to put special emphasis on the word 'your', it was my way of drawing a line between us, I wanted to make it clear that I was just a travel partner not a part of their family.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Oh! That's great. Welcome to the family Tonny."

Though it looks like my message wasn't delivered to the dense guy.

"Sigh..."

As a sigh escaped my mouth surprisingly it matched the timing with two others. I looked at the sources of sigh.

Well looks like some people got my message. Cute and smart sister, and strong brother, they seem to fill the shortcomings of Gautam. A good team.

"Now that you know about us, how about you share something about yourself as well brother Tommy, so that we can introduce ourselves, by our names of course."

The little girl asked me looking at her brother with a cute pout, that instantly earned smiles from the group.

Oh! Smart girl. Phrasing the question in a way that it sounds like a question from a curious child, but if you go over it again she is saying that 'First answer our question only then would we give our names.'

"I was part of a group. We had yet to start our journey when we were attacked by a pack of wolves. It was chaotic, everyone had to run for their lives, I too being one of them. Unfortunately, I have been travelling for a while and haven't come across any member of the group."

Pausing for some time I looked at the ground with depression clenching my fists.

"I was moving to the safe zones when a saw some wolves, fighting among themselves... The fight had reached its conclusion and since there was only one wolf left that too with injury, I decided to take it down."

I said as I looked at Gautam and the group with an apologetic smile.

The latter just looked at me with pity.

"Oh! So you didn't defeat them yourself?"

The anime guy asked me, with a little disappointment.

"What, you thought I took down five wolves twice their original size, alone? Not to mention with a wooden spear. And came out victorious without a single scratch"

I answered in amusement.

"Yeah, if you had done that I would think of you as some superhero."

The boy scratched his head in embarrassment.

I don't think you need to be some superhero to do that, just set some traps familiarise yourself with their behaviour and you can do it.

"That makes sense."

"Yes indeed, and here I thought that he killed them alone."

"He doesn't even have any injury."

"But you are brave, boy."

The people in the group nodded their heads in understanding.

"There doesn't seem to be any bite mark on their bodies, it's just wound from a spear."

"Oh you are right big brother they don't have any bite marks, could it be that brother Tommy is hiding something from us?"

Looks like not everyone brought the story. Looking at the confused little girl and the big guy, I nodded my head inwardly.

I looked at the carcasses with anger gritting my teeth, I said.

"I made sure these damn monsters are dead, never getting up to wreak havoc on another group. But, looks like I went a bit overboard."

I grabbed my forehead giving a desperate smile.

"Come on guy, stop interrogating Tonny."

Thankfully my knight came to my rescue.

"Let's not waste our time it's getting dark, we can have all the talk we want in the way."

Gautam scolded the duo and suggested the group continue the journey.

I wouldn't have gone to such extremes just to travel with a group, but...

I looked at the yellow barrier in the distance, the barrier has changed so I need to change my strategy as well, I am not sure if the safe zone has the same function of healing or not.

Besides I have a feeling that this time, things are bound to be different.

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"So, basically you guys think that we would be taught something in the Tutorial."

"Don't you think the same?"

I pondered for a moment looking at Gautam and the group behind. As we were walking the group asked me many questions like 'How did you get a spear?' 'What is your favourite anime?' and more, finally done they decided to continue their discussion.

How did they come to such a conclusion? But then again anyone who hears the word tutorial would think of it as some kind of course, but...

"In my opinion, we wouldn't be taught anything, but rather would have to learn things on our own. And the thing we would most like have to learn is survivability."

The group behind me stayed silent neither voicing their approval nor their disapproval.

"My name is Tanya Kumari, let's get along."

The silence was broken by the little girl whose name was Tanya.

"Of course, we would get along."

"Suraj."

The muscular man just gave his name, I nodded at him.

"My name is James. I love anime, if you ever need some suggestions or want to discuss who is the best waifu? I am ready for a conversation."

After the peculiar introduction of James, a long naming section took place where all the members of the group told me their names.

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.

.

This is strange.

As we were nearing the safe zone I felt something off.

When I was travelling alone the number of wolves kept increasing, that too was one of the reasons I decided to join a group but...

From the moment I started travelling with the group we haven't encountered a single wolf, and judging by the relaxed and luxurious way of the group they don't seem to have encountered any before either.

Could it be that wolves don't attack groups? No, that's not the case, these wolves don't have intelligence they attack the first human they see without any thought, then how?...

Suddenly my eyes landed on Tanya who looked tired even though we were walking at a normal pace. For some odd reason, I felt like she was the reason behind this. It was difficult to put my fingers around this feeling, it was like some kind of sixth sense.

Looks like the group is more interesting than I thought.

About fifteen minutes later just when the sun was disappearing in the west, our group reached in front of the safe zone.

Within the dark forest, a yellow pillar rose to the sky, and most surprising despite the darkness around it the clearing inside was brightly illuminated like some hidden sun was shining only for it.

I looked at this impossible phenomenon with shock, scenes like these were the thing that reminded me that I was no longer on Earth, but somewhere entirely different.

The people of the group looked at each other with surprise.

After some exclamation and shock, Gautam suggested that we look around the barrier to see if there was anything different or dangerous.

Not so surprisingly it was concluded that the inside of the barrier was the same as the green one. Now it was time to decide whether to enter the barrier or not. Which I had no interest in taking part in I was ok with both of the choices, and I wanted to see the way Gautam would take a discussion.

"Alright everyone, time for the voting those who are in favour of entering raise their hands, by the way, I would suggest we enter the barrier since it's all the same."

Surprisingly almost all the people were in favour of entering the barrier.

"Come on Gautam, since you are in favour of entering of course we would follow you."

"Yes, he's right."

"Well, I am in support of Gautam's decision."

"Likewise."

I followed the majority raising my hands, and I was not the only one doing it.

"Well it's decided then, let's make this clearing our temporary home."

Since it was decided Suraj entered the barrier first, followed by Gautam and Tanya.

As Gautam waved his hands from inside, the group too entered one by one.

When all of us were inside and Gautam was about to open his mouth...

"Oops! Wait a minute Gautam, I dropped my legendary sword let me pick it."

James said raising his hands which was met by the annoyed look of people.

"Sorry guys."

Scratching his head he ran to the barrier...

*Bam!*

"What the, hey man can't you look-"

Before James could continue his complaints he was left silent because there was no one in front of him.

The people too were silent trying to process what had happened.

"Guys I can't pass through."

James said as he pressed his hands at the translucent barrier.

Immediately the people sprung to the barrier pushing it, kicking it, even punching it to no avail.

Just when people started their unease discussion, I got near the barrier squatting down I looked at its base...

At that time I knew...

"Guys the barrier it's..."

Saying out loud I looked at the base which was...

"Moving!"

Things were about to get ugly