After writing his letter, Noor decides to leave, he still has a bit of hope. Noor crawls out of the hole he had hid in and begins to look for someone. He knows that humans are hard to come by, but keeps his hopes up and crawls through the jungle.

After a couple of hours, Noor is exhausted. He just wants to give up, but his brain keeps saying no to him the whole time. The man just keeps going.

IIIII

Ari had given up on finding her house, she built her own in the middle of nowhere over a couple of months. She really put in the work and managed to build a huge farm with a lot of animals. The farm wasn't the biggest Ari had seen, but was nice, given the fact that it was built and kept by a single person.

Ari didn't want to build a house, so she dug a hole in a mountain and furnished it.

There is a routine to follow on the farm. Collect the wheat, carrots, potatoes and berries; go feed the cows, then the chickens, sheep, pigs, horses, and donkeys; take leftover crops to the composter, build a bit, fix what was already built… Every day is filled with work and physical effort, but it pays off.

IIIII

Noor finds a bit of energy to walk and manages to get further, he finally comes across a clear area with a pen filled with sheep. Noor goes around it and sees more pens and different buildings around, there is a clear sign of life.

There is a person in the distance. Noor's efforts were worth it. He walks, almost falling at every step. He gets close enough for the other person to see him and then falls to the ground in relief, he is exhausted.

Ar: Oh heavens! What…?

N: Don't worry, I'm good, just need to lay down for a bit. I'm probably dead already anyway.

Ar: Oh no! You need help, what do I do?

N: That was supposed to be a pickup line about me being in heaven and you looking like an angel, but I'm really not… Being able to think of a pickup line right now.

Ar: I don't get it.

N: Forget it. You do go kinda hard though.

Ar: Fine. Listen… Who are you, and where are you from?

N: Oh, yeah. Hey, I'm Noor, I'm from the Shattered Savannah Town in the northwest quadrant. Please don't tell my parents that you found me.

Ar: Oh, so you're one of those troublemakers, you messed up real bad and decided to run away?

N: Nah, my parents are just terrible human beings. I just want to stay away from now.

Ar: Yeah, kids are always like this about their parents.

N: My guy, I'm 25. If my parents were doing the things they do for my well being I would have figured it out by now, trust me.

Ar: Uh huh.

N: I became a professional explorer just so I could get away from them and the people that never did anything to me and why am I sharing so much? I'll just shut up. How about you?

Ar: My name is Ari Shepherd. I got taken from my family and never found them, so I decided to just assume that they will be fine.

N: Wow. Like, you got kidnapped, or what? Was it legal?

Ar: That's enough for now, let's get inside and fix you up.

N: I mean, if it doesn't bother you…

Ar: Do you think you're ready to get up? I think you've been on the grass for long enough.

IIIII

Ari helps Noor get up and walk to her hole in the wall. She decides to end her workday earlier to help him.

Noor cleans himself and goes to the living room while Ari finishes her work. They both stay in silence while Ari takes care of Noor's wounds, there really isn't anything to say. Noor is a bit ashamed that he ended up this way and keeps rethinking some of his choices. Ari is just being cautious, you don't just take a stranger into your house just like that. She is just paying attention to every movement Noor makes.

The clock in the kitchen goes off, Ari finishes bandaging Noor's arm in no hurry.

Ar: Alright, we're finished. You just need two more things and you're good to go.

N: What is it?

Ar: Not two, it's three, actually. But I won't tell you until we have to do it. Come on, let's eat.

N: Eat? I'm… You know what? Not even gonna say anything, thank you so much.

Ar: Aw, it's just some basic hospitality.

IIIII

They both go to the dining room and eat rabbit stew.

N: So… you live by yourself.

Ar: Yes.

N: Oh, yeah, you said you don't really wanna talk about it.

Ar: Corect.

N:...

Ar:...

N: I was tryna make small talk, but there's nothing to talk about, i'll just finish my meal and go as soon as possible.

Ar: No, it's dangerous outside.

N: Huh?

Ar: You'll sleep here and leave after breakfast. I mean, you can leave if you want, but I recommend you don't.

N: Oh, that's nice. I'll stay then, there isn't anywhere for me to be now anyways.

They both finish the meal and go to sleep. Noor sleeps in the living room on a makeshift bed.