“[Iron Wall]!”

Three wolves rushed Ivan, pouncing upon his shield and snapping at it with reckless abandon, their typical hit and run tactics forgotten. They didn’t stop even after distant arrows pierced their hides or Sam slashed at them. It’s as if what little critical thinking the beasts were capable of vanished the moment Ivan yelled out those words.

A recently developed skill according to the man. Sam didn’t know what to make of it after seeing it once more, but there was little point contemplating something that made things easier.

For now at least.

In no time flat the wolves were killed, left in a bloody pile.

“My level went up again.” Ivan said as he lowered his shield, focused on the window that no doubt hovered in front of him.

“You shouldn’t pour all your attribute points into strength this time.” Sasha said, jogging over to them. “You draw so much attention with your skill, so you should put some points into endurance to be safe.”

“Hmmmmmm, what do you think Sam?” Ivan asked.

Levels and attribute points. More game like mechanics that Sam lacked. He’d thought all of them were in the same situation but it’s slowly become evident that he might be worse off than everyone else. If others could improve and bolster their abilities by killing things it wouldn’t be long until he fell behind. So far he’s managed to throw off their questions about his own stats and skills with half assed answers and shrugs but how long would that last?

“I think the both of you need to keep your guard up.” Sam said as he kneeled down and carefully extracted the intact arrows. “We’re lucky that we’ve only come across wolves. Who knows what else is in this forest.”

And it was true too.

Healthy thick trees that rose higher than most Sam had ever seen and foliage that held a dark vibrant green; the place would've been beautiful if it weren’t the fact that the greenery surrounding the small clearing they stood in could be hiding any manner of beast. The oddest part, according to Sasha and Ivan, was how quiet the forest was. No chirps from birds or squeaks from smaller animals. Did only monsters infest this place?

He stood couldn’t believe that they’ve managed to avoid others beasts if that turned out to be true. How long would that streak of luck last?

“Aye captain.” Ivan said much to Sam’s annoyance.

“R-Right.” Sasha retook the arrows and bowed her head, her short blonde hair bobbing.

The respect these two showed him was widespread throughout their recently established camp. A detail as useful as it was troublesome.

With Sasha’s keen eyes keeping watch of the area, Ivan and Sam gathered up the fallen wolves. The former slipped his shield onto his back and flung one onto each shoulder. Sam returned his sword to the sheath tied to the belt loop of his pants by a small length of thick rope and laid the wolf that remained across his shoulder blades. Mai soon joined them, the snap of sticks heralding her return. She stepped into the clearing, dragging a pair of clean kills behind her.

“You hurt?” A stupid question but Sam asked anyway. Mai was the only among them who’s clothes remained fully intact, the rest of them sporting tears and rips that grew in number by the day. He might be the unofficial leader of this little hunting party but he refrained from bogging her down with orders other than sticking close to them due to her skills. It’s not like he could do anything if she went against them. Luckily she hadn't been the source of any problems.

If only that rung true for everyone else back at camp.

“No.” Mai said blankly.

The four of them began their careful trek back to the camp, Ivan leading the way and Mai bringing up the rear while he and Sasha remained between them.

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Just over a week and it wasn’t any easier to wrap his head around all of this. He should be back in his dorm room studying, maybe indulging in some risk-free hobby if the opportunity presented itself. Instead he was deep within a vast forest, forced into a constant state of alert, wondering if tomorrow would be his last.

Sam refocused. There wouldn’t be a tomorrow if he got so deep in thought that something got the drop on him today.

Soon, the dense greenery and its ominous rustles gave way to a flowing river that separated the forest behind them from a towering mountain range. The current of the sparkling blue water held enough strength to trip up the unprepared. A circular wall of wooden planks held together by strings and fiber awaited them, a pair of their fellow survivors on guard outside the entrance.

They leap across the river via the odd stone here and there, jutting out from running water.

One of the guards, a middle aged woman with red hair, brightened as they approached, hopeful. “You’re all safe. Did you…Did you find anything?”

Sam shook his head and her eyes fell.

Hunting wasn’t the only responsibility they shouldered. The group of four doubled as the search party for the survivors who fled during the first day’s chaos. Ex-survivors if you asked him. During the first day or two maybe there’d been a chance of rescuing those folks but with well over a week gone Sam would be surprised if they came across anything aside from gnawed bones.

He kept those thoughts to himself. The hope that they’d be reunited with a lost loved one was all that kept some of the people here in one piece. More deadweight couldn’t be afforded.

“Don’t worry. We’ll find your husband.” Ivan assured the woman.

“Y-Yeah. Miss Mai is really strong so if they’re in any danger, I’m sure we’ll be able to save him.” Sasha joined.

Faced with the siblings optimism, the woman couldn’t help but smile. “Right…well I won’t hold all of you up any longer. I’m sure you need your rest.” The guards stepped aside and allowed them past the rickety gates.

A somber mood pervaded the camp.

Spread across different small campfires, people sat quietly, void of hope. The interconnected cave mouths that lined the back end of the camp -all thoroughly searched- housed more, all likely moping in their shared sleeping areas. A few practiced with the weapons provided to them but it was more out of frustration than any intention to be useful. Not a single one of these people dared to venture further than the stream.

He could understand them.

If it were up to him he wouldn’t be swinging around a sword and putting his life on the line for a bunch of strangers, but idling around wasn’t any better. To be solely dependent on others for your continued survival was like building a house out of glass and then acting surprised when the weakest of storms shattered it.

They delivered the wolves to the stockpile and gathered around their own campfire, Ivan and Sasha on one log while Sam and Mai took up the other, enjoying their own cooked but entirely unappealing slabs of meat.

He missed seasoning.

Ever the talkative one, Ivan broke the silence within the first minute. “So Mai, what’s your deal?” Sasha gave him a look but he continued on. “Me and my sister here are a pair of old country bumpkins. Sam was a city boy. It’s about time you share your story, yeah?"

It looked as though Mai ignored the inquiry but she eventually answered. “Swordsman.”

“Obviously, we’ve all seen you fight. There’s got to be more to it than that. What were you training to do? No swordsman I’ve heard of in my world can do what you do.” Ivan said. Sam silently agreed, paying rapt attention to Mai.

Another thing they’ve learned is that none of them seemed to hail from the same world. No one knew what he was talking about when he brought up his home country or even Earth though there were enough similarities that, as long as no specifics weren’t brought up, conversations flowed like any other.

“Survive.” A depressing answer if ever there was one. Sam couldn’t say he envied her strength with that bit of information. If she came from a place where someone with her physical capabilities struggled to get by he couldn’t begin to imagine how tough life must have been there for those lacking similar strength.

“Well, I’ll say you managed to do more than just that.” Ivan said, growing tension dispersed by his hearty laugh. “Two country bumpkins, a city boy, and a swordsman. We make quite the odd group. If only I had my guitar, the song I’d create would be the stuff of legends.”

“You play guitar?” Sam found himself asking in disbelief. Would one stay in one piece in the man’s hands?

“These bad boys-“ Ivan flexed an arm, earning a slight exhale of the nose from Sam and an eye roll from Sasha. “-did get in the way but it’s nothing a little practice didn’t fix. We all got to have a hobby or two. When we get out of this place, I’ll play you something.”

“If.” Sam muttered.

“Yeah, you’re right.” Ivan reached over and squeezed Sam’s bicep. “Look at this string bean you call an arm. We’ll need to put some muscle on you to make sure you survive this captain.”

He didn’t fight the bigger man’s manhandling, Sasha watching them with a giggle while Mai’s face remained blank.

The situation here wasn’t great but it could be worse. Hopefully they found some trace of those missing survivors. It might be the only thing that could truly to bring a pulse to their stagnant camp.