Chapter 2

Survival

The sound of the feminine voice calling out his name repeatedly, emanated through his deep sleep, until he awoke and jolted up- right. She stepped back, as she realised that he was in a bewildered state. Connor scowled at her and wiped his hand across his face.

"Are you FUCKIN' CRAZY!?" He blurted out. Furious, from being pulled out of his deep slumber. She smiled and tossed a shirt at him.
"Sorry... but waking you up is a real BITCH!" Madison says teasingly. Her grey-blue eyes sparkled like shimmering aconite against her deep, olive skin tone. She stepped back to allow him space, as he got up.

"Madison!? Do you MIND?" He asks clearly irritable by her hovering presence.
"I just need to make sure you actually STAY awake, and BE on time." Madison smiled and turned to go out of the tent.
"Are they all together?" He asks, flipping his jacket over his shoulders.
"Yeah ... everyone's there. Except YOU!" She points out deliberately and he rolled his eyes at her.

The weather was cool and crisp. The sun was hidden amongst the heavy puffs of cloud. The greyness in the air, gave the camp an even more dreadful atmosphere than usual. They made their way past all the tents, to the inner circle, where most of their daily activity took place. All the men and women were gathered together, silently waiting to be addressed. Connor's father Jack, stood at the front facing the group, patiently waiting for their late arrival. He gave Connor a scathing glance and then cleared his throat. Everyone's attention were focused on him in that moment.

"Good morning everybody! It was a very cold and dreadful night. I am sure that all of you are tired and would have preferred more sleep. BUT! Unfortunately, there is NO time to postpone the inevitable..." His father's face became bleak and tense. Suddenly, the grey in his hair and the length of his long beard made him appear much older than what he was. He was worried.

"We have been happy here in this cove ... But our time here has come to an end! We have been discovered and we can NO longer remain here!!" A raised murmuring was heard from the group, upon hearing of this shocking news.

This was news to Connor too, who had obviously been kept in the dark of this new threat. He pushed his way to the front of the group, to face his father. He clenched his fists, staring hard at his father, who just raised his brows questioningly.

"You did not tell me!??" Connor said with audible trembling anger.
"I informed you now ... did I not?" His father's nonchalance made his blood boil. He turned around and stomped off, going back to his tent.

"He could at least have told me! I am his son!!" Connor said to himself, feeling the disappointment seep into his heart. He kicked the crooked chair at his desk and plopped himself down upon his bed. He ran his trembling fingers through his thick, dark, chocolate colored hair and sighed heavily.

"You should keep your temper on the LOW, Connor." Jane said softly. He looked up and saw her standing at the tent entrance, arms crossed over her chest.
"I don't think your father deserved that. He knows what he's doing. Perhaps by telling you first, it could've given the people the idea ... that he undermines them .. and favors you above them?"

Connor's head shot up as he was about to give out to her, but changing his mind, he bit his lip and swallowed down the lump of anger. In some way she was right and her calming gaze made the turmoil within him subside a little. He let out a deep breath. She drew near him, reaching out to touch his chin. She smiled and her eyes sparkled a little. Her heart shaped face and curly blonde hair, formed a perfect image. She bent down and placed a soft kiss on his lips. The hunger of rising desire crept into his stomach and he reached for her hips.

Time stood still. An enticing moment, which was rudely interrupted when Jack unceremoniously swung open the tent flap. They parted quickly, moving away from one another and his fathers eyes darted knowingly between them.
"FUCK!!." Connor said under his breath.
"Sorry about that son. But, we need to talk." Jack said firmly and Jane wasted no time in making herself scarce.
"We need to put a team together for scouting. We MUST find a better AND safe place soon." Jack picked up the chair Connor had previously kicked over and sat down upon it.

"You should've told me ... or something." Connor added half heartedly, drained of anger.
"Yes. Perhaps! But now you know. We've got to put a team together, ready to go in the morning. And ... I need your help." Jack said and stroked his beard slowly.
"Fine ... But I am NOT staying this time." Connor said firmly, rising to his feet in an effort to project a serious demeanor. His father stood up and dusted his hands.
"That is not a good idea son." He sounded weary. "It's dangerous!"
"I'm very well aware of that! But, I will not let my fear keep me away from doing what is right either. I have the skills to get the job done."

Jack kept quiet as he measured his son's words, and then he sighed deeply. Letting him go meant he could die. On the other hand, keeping Connor here, would put their relationship under even more strain or eventually, cause a big enough rift between them. Although ... that would be a better choice than letting him die. Jack knew that this time around, they needed more help and Connor could help.

"Fine! Just come back! Walking on your own two feet." He said dryly and slipped out the tent.
Connor was surprised by the easy defeat, and in convincing his father.
Satisfied, he smiled by himself and decided that he should make his way over to the courtyard, to assist with the necessary preparations in getting the team ready for their scouting mission.

Jane shivered when she saw Connor, joining the group selected to scout for new ground.
She truly wished he would not go! That his father could have persuaded him to stay... but he didn't. Connor is going and he won't let the opportunity slip him by. She sighed with clenching anxiety and a heaviness within her heart. She resumed her task in putting the medicine pack together for the team. They would need it and luckily Connor has enough understanding of medicinal practice.
"Are you ever going to tell him?" Rosa's voice came from behind her, making her jolt and spill the herbal tincture.
"Good lord!! You will scare the crap out of me Rosa!!!" Jane exclaimed and tried to scoop the liquid back up.
"Tell him, Jane!" Rosa pressed and placed a gentle hand on Jane's back.
"NO! Now is not a good time." Jane said stubbornly. Rosa sighed with exasperation.
"Very, well....."she said defeated and turned away from Jane.
Jane trembled slightly as a cascade of feelings ran through her body.
Losing Connor was the worst thought she could ever imagine. The feeling of that perceived loss is overwhelming.

Connor scanned the group of people gathered within the makeshift courtyard and found some of his father's choices might be questionable. He shook his head and walked closer. He realises that they have stopped their chattering when they saw him.

He looked down at the woman next to him, blinking rapidly.
Alley was...strange. But her handy skills made up for it. She fixed everything alongside her father Bob. Who admittedly, had a good sense of humor ... he just talked too much. Connor was not a chatterbox. Being much taller than most of the men, Alley backed away as if to get a clearer angle of his face. Bob stood up from the wood stump he was resting on and smiled at Connor. He did seem overly happy in having him here. To rephrase that ... BOTH Bob and Alley were strange. No one ever just appreciated Connor's company.

As for the other three men. They had the usual glare of disappointment oozing from their faces.
Reed ... above average height, black scruffy looking hair and probably not too unattractive. He was always covered in dirt and had a knack with weapons and all things that could go, BOOM!

Warren's obviously the muscle guy. Tall enough with enough muscle to scare any normal person. Except Connor, who just dislikes Warren.

And then there was Darren. Lean and toned, with a half shaven head of hair, who made most of the girls go weak at the knees. Covered in his creation of tattoos, which would be even more painful to obtain nowadays, than it was before, since such grand facilities no longer existed. He was the tracker and hunter. The best at it too... and that's all Connor would give him credit for. He sniggered when he looked Connor over with a critical, disapproving eye. Connor felt the tell tale muscle twitching in his neck, as a heat of irritation unexpectedly rolled over him.

Madison suddenly appeared from behind the men and flashed Connor a brilliant smile. He was surprised to see her and shook his head disapprovingly.
Not her! Please DO NOT let her come with! He begged to himself and felt a pang of worry creep into his chest. Madison was like a sister to him and this was too dangerous. Of course, she always made him feel even more worse, when she did things like this, putting herself in harm's way.

"I am coming with YOU BITCHES!!" She shouted a little too enthusiastically for someone walking straight into impending death. The other three log heads, seem to find her amusing and fist pumped her.
Aagh! Fucking idiots!! Connor thought to himself and felt his muscles strain against the restrictive fabric of his cotton shirt. He scratched the untamed stubble on the side of his face and rested his body against a pole.

Jack rounded them up and each member were tossed a large supply bag.
"I do not have to go into much detail of how this works. You go! Find a place that is safe. Get back! Anything that is useful to us, that you find on your way, you can bring back with you. Other than that, STOCK is not our main concern."
"Darren! You stick to the route I have marked out. Do NOT go into cities ... And DO NOT head inland! We need to move to the coasts. RIGHT!?" Jack said firmly and handed Darren a makeshift map.

"Connor! You will be getting an extra supply bag loaded with medicine ... if needed. Jane will bring it to you tonight at your tent. You will be leaving at the crack of dawn." Jack's face became shadowed with dark emotions and he took a steady breath. "We need this mission to be a success. You will do whatever it takes to come back and save our people. We need YOU to survive. We need you for OUR survival."

__________________ end of Chapter 2