DISCLAIMER: READ CHAPTER 1.
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CHAPTER 14 - KNOWING ALL THE 'MONSTROUS' DANGERS IN THE WILD
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...LAST TIME...
Who knows what kind of unexpected surprises will come to this large survivor group--now known as the 'Voyagers'--might happen next?
Only the next time will tell...whatever fate might happen or the kind of coincidence will be happening at the time.
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THE TIME HAS PASSED BY...ABOUT ONE WEEK LATER...IN THE REMOTE FOREST REGIONS WHERE THE HIDDEN CABIN IS AND WHERE THE GROUP IS STAYING AT FOR THE TIME BEING...WINTER SEASON IS NEARLY FADING AWAY AND THE COLD SNOWY WEATHER IS ABOUT TO TURN WARMER...SOMETIME DURING THE BRIGHT DAYTIME ON THE SEVENTH DAY OR SO...
TOTAL SURVIVORS--38: Females--17 (12 Young Adults and 5 Children) and Males--20 (16 Young Adults and 4 Children) and Monster friend/pet--1; TYPES: Mages / Magicals--17 and Mundane / Normal--20 and Monster/Creature--1
It was amazing how time seems to fly by and pass since then when they discovered another group of survivors, have them join in and be accepted into the other group, and then stay in the cabin with them. Along with the sudden decision upon giving a name--or rather, title--to their group as they are called the "Voyagers" because of how long they had journeyed on and survived through the monster apocalypse and everything. And it's not just the name itself that describes what they went through in a sense of distance but also the harrowing ordeals and trials they had gone through and overcome since their survival through the apocalypse when it happened.
Since there are no empty journals, diaries, or even notebooks to record their stories of what they had gone through in their long voyage of survival through the monster apocalypse, as they were used only to burn for fire and warmth, they only had each other, thus the name seemed to suit the survivor group well, albeit the one fact that they all wanted to survive through this apocalypse and truly find a safe haven that will keep them secure and content from all the monstrous dangers that infected and spread out the entire world they're in.
Speaking of dangers--the Mages had shared to the new survivor group about their Monster Survival book and they were amazed upon discovering all of the knowledge concerning the mutated monstrous beasts and plants that were affected by the meteor, including the Unknown kinds, and they were also astonished upon finding out about the Friendly type of monsters that are out there, besides their Canine-Shifter friend Type.
None of the members of the new group had the chance on meeting a friendly monster face-to-face, besides the lovable monster friend they have in their group but all of them seemed nervous and wary to confront them when the time comes that they meet one by coincidence, Fate, or not.
Still, they were glad that the Mages shared the books with them so that they'll know the distinctive features and memorize all the creatures and plants that mutated and became monstrous, as well as knowing the friendly good kinds out there.
As for their usual outings like supply or scouting runs of the sorts, they are still doing that but only a few times since they found the cabin because there's not much to scavenge or hunt since it is still the cold winter season, even though it felt like it's about to get warmer or something.
Speaking of the outing runs, a few members of the survivor group, mixed of Mages and Mundane alike, are out on one. And that particular group that went out on the run, which is only a scouting job, are Draco, Neville, Murphy, Theodore Nott, Wells Jaha, and the young Spark teen siblings Jack and Jill.
The reason why they're on this particular scouting run, besides the fact that the cabin is securely fortified and safe by a magical barrier conjured by the powerful Mages, which Draco is a part of it on making it stronger since they're staying there longer than usual--was that they needed to double-check and make sure that the entire perimeter of the forest regions surrounding the cabin and private land itself is truly safe and secure, like checking if there are any monstrous dangers around or any hostile survivors that might be lurking about in the area.
Granted it was only Draco who's being too much on the alert and being overly paranoid about it, it was in agreement that it's best to scout around and double-check by Bellamy, Susan Bones, and Wells Jaha too since they believed that it's necessary to double make sure that there are no threats hanging around near the vicinity and possibly endangering their group to the point of forcing them to leave their temporary safe shelter.
And so they formed their group and now setting out to scout around the perimeter of the area, nearly a few walk-around circles over an hour or so, far away from the cabin in the deep thick forests surrounding it. And it was also a good idea to split into two groups to finish the scouting rounds.
Neville went off with Wells Jaha and the Spark teen Jack, while Draco is with the other four beside him as they went through opposite ends to do their walk-around the perimeter of the forestry area surrounding the cabin and the fenced-off land property there.
So far, they found nothing that is going to trouble their group in the cabin or anything out of the ordinary when they scout around and about the forests that are considered a danger or threat. But they're not letting their guard down in case something might happen or unexpectedly appear to catch them off-guard or something.
"Hey...is Wells going to be alright with Neville and that Spark kid Jack?" Theodore can't help but ask Draco about it.
Draco nodded, "Don't worry, your friend is going to be just fine with them. Although...I'm not so sure about Neville. If there's anything you should worry about--it's him."
"How so?"
Then Theodore blinked confused when Murphy and Jill started snickering soundly and Draco rolled his eyes as he calmly replied, "Neville seems to have this sort of bad habit of getting himself into trouble or trouble catching onto him. (shakes his head ruefully) You have no idea how many times he has been tripping over or falling down into holes when he wasn't looking and gets himself stuck until we get him out of it."
Theodore snorted and teased lightly, "I see things haven't changed a bit as usual."
"You don't know the half of it," Draco said sarcastically.
"Still--I'm surprised that Helen is pregnant in the middle of all this...I didn't think that you--OW! OY! What the bloody hell is that for?!" Theodore exclaimed incredulously when Draco suddenly slapped him on the back of his head.
"Get that disgusting thought out of your gutter-like mind! For your information, Helen was pregnant with a fertility potion by accident and--I'm not the father! I only see her as a sister, damn and blast you!" Draco snapped at him.
Then the blond man glared at Murphy who burst out laughing and Jill tried to stifle her giggling in amusement at him.
"Right--since everything seemed clear, I believe it's time to return to the cabin..." Draco said loftily but then he trailed off and his head turned slightly to the side like he suddenly heard something.
It turns out that the sounds Draco had heard were vaguely getting louder and then the others heard it too as it seems that someone is screaming like a little girl--and coming near them.
Then they were taken aback by surprise when Wells Jaha and Jack came dashing out of the trees and went right past them before any of them could ask or demand what's the matter with them, that's when Neville came out as the last and they heard him yelling in a holler. "RUN! Monster wasps!"
Neville just ran right past the others who were still in a shocked daze before Murphy broke the silence. "Did he just say...wasps?"
As one, they turned to look straight at the direction where the other three run away from and their eyes widened in shock and horror upon seeing a swarm of large wasps like the size about the length of their very arms and they can easily tell that they're very angry from the furious buzzing sounds coming from them.
Swiftly, Draco and the other four ran and followed after the three fleeing people who are all running back to the cabin.
"Neville--just what the bloody hell did you do!?" Draco cursed furiously, almost raging just like the angry monster wasps themselves as they try to outrun them and quickly reached into the safety of the magical barrier surrounding their shelter.
Before Neville was about to protest or deny that it's his fault, it was Wells who answered, "Neville accidentally hit the monster wasps' hive nest when he was showing off to Jack and me with one of those enchanted weapons of yours--that is a boomerang!"
"He missed it when it flew by him and it hit the nest--and then pissed off those buzzers chasing behind us!" Jack joined in as they kept on running and sprinting over any obstacles, trying to get to their destination which is their safe home.
"Damn it and blast it all, Neville! This is like--about the third time you had to mess up and anger some monster's nest again!" Draco ranted at him yelling irritated and angry.
"It wasn't my fault! Like Wells said--it was an accident!" Neville protested vehemently.
"Why am I not surprised!?" Murphy said sarcastically with an amused eye-rolling.
They managed to make it on time, crossing through the strong magical barrier and the swarm of monster wasps slammed against the invisible enchanted wall and buzzed around angrily upon this barrier stopping them from wreaking vengeance at their nest-destroyer.
They watched with exhausted panting breaths as the monster wasps flew and buzzed around and about, trying to find some kind of gap on their protective wall but upon finding nothing after a few minutes, they decided to give up and return to where they come from, somewhere in the forests. They were relieved to see the monster wasps instantly giving up and then going away before all of them turned to look at Neville as he gave a sheepish apologetic expression on his face but not all of them were mad at him, except only Draco obviously when he continued glaring at him.
It didn't take long for Draco to exact punishment that Neville deserved, even though he didn't mean it when it happened--and it was just a simple yet hard slap on the back of his head which Neville yelped comically and gave a pitiful look like a puppy being kicked, that did not phase Draco at all for doing what he had to do.
Then Neville slumped and blushed brightly in shame and embarrassment when the others snickered or laughed over his predicament and the kind of punishment he received, and they all went back inside the cabin to tell the others of their negative findings throughout their scouting run, as well as informing Neville's mistake once again over his 'accidental' mishaps at the time.
Neville blushed more when they had a good laugh after Wells and Jack told the others in detail over what happened and how he managed to make a swarm of monster wasps angry at him for hitting their nest because of the 'accident' but then he smiled too, joining them in the amusement over this, even if it's about himself.
After that, they all calmed down and relaxed, wondering what kind of days ahead in the future might happen next time and what other surprises might occur--but hopefully, it won't be anything bad or worse than that.
Such as Neville's accidental mishap with the angry monster wasps.
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