The Third Group
Hours had passed since they had entered Berkbiens Forest, after packing down their camp at the forest’s edge. The morning dew had started off crispy with a chill breeze blowing through them. Layers of clothing were soon taken off and packed away as the sun rose higher and its heat could be felt in patches through the trees. As they walked on and on, Sarah had tried to lighten the mood by telling a few jokes but after the first two hours, even she became too exhausted.
Then for the past hour or so, there hadn’t been much progress and Xavier was getting irritated by the insects who had decided to stick to his arms and legs.
Xavier swatted maniacally at his arms and legs. “What are we even supposed to do here?!”, he yelled out in annoyance, which didn’t draw him any attention. They were used to his stupid tantrums, which only made him even angrier. “Ugh, where is our leader? Maybe they would have known! Oh, wait, we don’t even have a leader! I think I would have made a wonderful leader if it weren’t for this useless, empty bottle and the f^cking cursed vase I got! Like, what am I supposed to do with this-” He paused and began swatting again, stomping his feet. “Damn insects!”
Alyce was ignoring her petulant young sibling by walking near to Sammael, trying to sneak glances at the tattered map they were carrying. Neither had spoken many words to each other though. They just kept walking, unbeknownst that they were walking in a circle repeatedly. She was distracted from her latest sneak peek at the map by the annoying Xavier, midpoint in their rant. She halted in her tracks, causing the rest of the group to do so too.
Turning slowly in irritation on the soles of her boots, Alyce retorted, “Maybe if you used your head a little more, you wouldn’t have touched that stupid vase. But by all mean, please, entertain us again by trying to unstick it from your hand. I don’t know what glue magic was used but it’s f^cking hilarious watching you try to get it off.” She then mirrored him smugly, folding her arms across her chest. “Why don’t you stop being the annoying one and try to be useful for the first in your life?”
“Shut up, Ally," he shouted, knowing full-well she hated that nickname.
“Don’t call me-”
But Xavier didn’t let her finish. "They just had to stick to me, not any of you! I didn’t touch nothing. It must always be ‘Let’s all annoy Xavier day’ because I have the worst luck!”
When the group stopped for Alyce and Xavier to bicker once again, Sarah sat down on a tree root that looped out of the ground. The hot sun beaming down on her. Listening to the argument, it seemed to be the same one they had had countless times; Xavier being incredibly annoying and Alyce making sure that Xavier knew this. Usually Sarah would laugh at her friend, who even she would sometimes butt heads with, scolding her younger sibling. But not now, not when they were lost.
Sarah gripped the root either side of her and stretched out her legs. “Hey guys, I don’t think arguing is the best option right now so maybe try being, I don’t know, Civil?” Then she turned to Xavier. “Especially you, you’ve been complaining this entire trip.”
“Maybe I wouldn’t complain if we actually had a leader to lead us,” Xavier spat back.
“Ah, really, Xavier?”, Ardyn sprung forward with a bounce in both step and voice. “Don’t you think that a leader needs to take charge, not complain. To be decisive and not follow the herd. To, you know, lead the group.”
“You don’t think Xavier has what it takes either then, Ardyn?”, Sarah asked.
“Well-”
“Hey!”, Xavier interrupted. “I would, just so you.” Xavier turned to Ardyn. “Who do you think would make the best leader of the group?”
- The First Group
- The Second Group
- The Fourth Group
0 voters
- Alyce
- Ardyn (themself)
- Sammael
- Sarah
- Xavier
- No one
0 voters
One user per question, anyone can answer them:
- Who do you think Alyce’s choice for a leader would be?
- Who do you think Sammael’s choice for a leader would be?
- Who do you think Sarah’s choice for a leader would be?
- Who do you think Xavier’s choice for a leader would be?