Plague! [KKQ/ Janjan]

Amelia yawned and opened her eyes to the sun beginning to rise. From her spot nestled into an improvised bed (which was simply leaves, twigs and an old ratty blanket she had found), she could already hear the creatures in the woods coming alive. She quickly stood up, stuffing the blanket into her backpack, strapping it on and heading off.

The woods she was currently trekking through was dewy and damp. She was wearing a baggy hoodie and thick cargo pants to ward off the freezing temperatures that threatened her during the night. She had been trying to navigate out of here for two days now, steadily getting turned around in circles and lost. She finally started to mark the trees and stones she passed to remind her where she had been. The last thing she wanted to do was freeze to death out here in the woodland.

She had found a lake not too far back, filling up her two canteens to the max. Her supply of food was running low, composed of two sorry looking apples, a few energy bars and some berries. She was hoping to find a way out of these woods soon and stumble upon a city where she could 'borrow' a couple of things before disappearing back into the shadows.

Her stomach growled loudly and she sighed, patting it. "Boy, it sure is hard being on the run." She mumbled, heading in the southern direction in search of food.

Resha walked out of her makeshift home, a small cave that went under. It was only luck that she came across it. She covered its entrance, making sure it blended with its surroundings.

She looked at the sight that greeted her - a lot of dying trees. But at least it wasn't snowing today. As she walked around, trying to find her way to the traps she put, if there were any animals she could still find in this place, she hoped she'd have more luck today. That's when she noticed a few marking on some trees and stones. That was unusual, she thought. "Someone must be here." She worried, thinking it was from the community. But then remembered they probably wouldn't wander too far, near the borders.

So in curiosity, she followed the markings, keeping her features as hidden as she could.

Amelia wasn't good at catching live food.

She was use to dead poultry, fresh vegetables and maybe the occasional wiggling fish but she had no idea how to catch the creatures that scurried around in the woods with her bare hands although it didn't stop her from trying.

She was chasing a raccoon, stretching her arms as far out as she could while the wily thing bounced back and forth, effortlessly staying out of her grasp. She was intently focused on her "breakfast" and didn't notice the pile of leaves inconspicuously punched up in the middle of the forest floor. If she had been paying attention, she MIGHT have thought twice about it.

Too little too late. One minute she was grabbing at the raccoon's tail and the next moment she was at least 7 feet deep in a hole, lying on her back, staring up into the sky. The raccoon made a quick dismissive glance from his perch above land and scurried off.

What was this, she thought with a groan, some sort of trap?

Resha walked on, following the markings. Eventually, she noticed a few forest animals scurrying about. As she continued on, she noticed her trap activated. She went forward and looked down. But what it caught was no animal.

She stared, and contemplated whether or not to help her out. After a few moments of an intense inner monologue, she bit her inner cheek. Still wasn't sure if it was a good idea but as she noticed it was a young girl inside the hole, much to her surprise, she made up her mind.

"I'll get you up," she said, looking down and went straight to find the rope she had on her and tied it to the tree. "I hope you're okay."