Chapter Two: Under The Stars

Hannah and I make our way down the steep, rocky incline that separated us from the open plain nearly two miles below. It was fast becoming a hard and grueling task. When we made it to another, large outcropping of rock, there was still another half-mile to the base. The sun had began to dip beyond the mountains, and the entire valley soon became veiled in shadow.

"Kaz, I'm tired; I think we should just spend the night here on this ledge."

I look around, and nod in agreement. "One problem though: we don't have any supplies. No food, water, blankets - anything. And we don't know what the weather's like around here - it could get really cold."

She frowns. "I almost forgot about that." Then, in a sort of uneasy tone, she continues, "What are we going to do?"

I stop, and puzzle about our predicament. Then, it comes to me.

"What if we look out over the valley and see if there are any lights? If there are lights, then there are people - which means food, and water, and a warm bed?"

"That might work! Oh, I hope there's people here…"

So the two of us look out over the valley, and search for any sign of light or inhabitation. After about an hour, after the sun had completely set and the stars were alight, did Hannah see something.

"Kaz! Oh my god, I see something! There's lights, over there! We're saved!"

I give a second look, and I see them too - there are lights! And there seems to be a few more of them in moments.

"It must be a village - the lights are all ruddy red - like fires."

Excitement dawning upon us, we clamber down the steep rock slope, and soon find ourselves in a grassy field - ahead of us are dark silhouettes of copses, and in the distance, the location of the fires.

We run - taking short breaks to catch our breath - until we reach the edge of a large copse of trees which stands near the river. And beyond that…

"We're almost there! Just a little - AEEEE!"

"Kazuki!"

I trip over a large, unearthed root, right into a small pit. My body aches all over. Slowly, I pull myself up, and beat off the dirt from my clothes.

"Are you all right?" called Hannah from above.

"Yeah, I think so. Can you help me out of here?"

"Here - give me your hand." I pass her my hand, and she begins to pull. I dig my feet into the soil walls of the pit, and in the end, I am out. We lay there together, exhausted from the day's events. She was smiling, and I couldn't help but smile too. We just lay there, looking up at all those brightly glittering, alien stars. I almost completely forgot that we are far, far from home.