"We're almost out of ammo and weapons. What are we gonna do now?" Nick complained as they cycled out of the dry valley.
"That was a close call! I've never seen such deadly scavengers attacking like that. They looked huge, unnatural! Reminds me of Luca the dragon—the indigenous creatures that evolved around here," Elizabeth said.
"Yeah, you're right. What do you think caused such abnormal evolutions?" Nick asked.
"I don't know… maybe the spirits triggered it?" Elizabeth suggested thoughtfully.
"Imagine a hyena almost as tall as a human, well-built, like a giant! And that shameless laugh of theirs," Elizabeth added with a shudder.
"You should've seen those snakes and iguanas—how they jumped and hissed!" Jasmine chimed in.
"And those vultures flying in packs! If we hadn't reacted quickly, I don't think we'd be alive. They all just appeared out of nowhere. It's like an entire ecosystem exists in that weird place. Maybe we should go back and investigate why it's surrounded by such creatures?" William suggested.
"I don't think that's a good idea. The hybrids are chasing us! But it does hint at a nearby escape route—something related to migration patterns," John responded thoughtfully.
"Yeah, I agree with John. Scavengers depend on leftovers or sometimes hunt themselves. That valley is perfect for timing their attacks on prey passing through. Maybe these creatures migrated from a nearby habitat—iterative creatures moving in search of food and water," Lama added.
"Water? So you mean there might be water nearby?" John asked eagerly.
"That's the only reason they survive. Natural selection," Lama confirmed.
"Okay, then let's go for it! We desperately need water—to hydrate and maybe upgrade our weapons!" Nick urged.
"Speaking of upgrading, what are we waiting for? We have to find photovoltaic cells. How do we start, guys? The hybrids are closing in fast!" John said.
"We must find a village first. It's unreasonable to just stop and look for cells while the hybrids chase us," Nick said firmly.
"Nick, can you check your phone's GPS to be sure where we're heading?" Jasmine asked.
Nick took out his phone to check the map. They had just escaped Hell's Valley, but the route ahead was unclear.
"Guys! Network's lost!" Nick said anxiously.
"What do you mean?" Tiffy asked, worried.
"It means we're completely lost. We don't know where we're going, and the hybrids are gaining on us. We have to act fast or we're in serious trouble!" Nick confessed, his anxiety rising.
"Nick, you're the leader! What do you mean by this? It sounds like you're inviting a crisis!" Jasmine snapped.
"I'm not blaming myself or asking for pity. I'm just trying to be honest with everyone. I'm out of ideas!" Nick said, anxious.
"If the leader isn't confident, what hope do we have? You started the vote, now lead us out of this mess!" Tiffy snapped back, frustrated.
"The vote was a democratic process! The majority chose this direction. Why blame me? I'm not asking for pity over leadership!" Nick defended.
"My point is, you could've had better ideas than just initiating a vote. The leader is supposed to be smarter than the rest! Whether you like it or not, we blame you for this mess and won't pity you," Tiffy said sharply.
"Dramatic? I'm not being dramatic! You guys always make everything into a juicy spectacle and then blame me for it!" Nick retorted.
"Then finish what you started! You led us here, so lead us to safety instead of arguing!" Tiffy insisted.
"I'm trying my best. You're scared of dying, Jenny has a baby, supplies are running low, and the hybrids are on our heels. We all want to survive. Survival comes first, over leadership or missions. So blaming me or expecting pity makes no sense!" Nick said, voice rising.
"But leadership should provide a moral compass. How moral is your leadership?" Tiffy asked softly.
"Tiffy, I get it. This is personal because I'm head of the family. You panic more because you're expectant. I warned you this mission was dangerous, but you insisted on bringing your map copy. We accepted you into this mission willingly. Now survival is the priority," Nick replied gently.
"This is serious. We're going to die if we don't stop blaming each other and focus on surviving," Jenny said firmly.
"How's the baby, Jenny? Is the air conditioning trolley still working? I'm worried about Billy," Nick asked.
"Billy is fine. The solar-powered tech is working, but I can't share my photovoltaic cells at the expense of my baby. I'm not being selfish, just reasonable," Jenny said.
"No one will interfere with your baby's welfare. We'll find other cells," Nick reassured her. "The scavengers presence back there mean there's hope. Maybe we can find new habitats ahead—creatures adapted to this environment."
"I think I see an oasis ahead!" Lama said urgently.
"Oasis?" everyone said, skeptical.
"That's no oasis, stop joking!" Jasmine said.
"Maybe he's hallucinating from the heat," Tiffy added.
"The sun is making things worse. We should rest before we faint," Nick suggested.
"We can't stop! The hybrids are too close," Jasmine insisted.
"But what if we all faint? Is it better to be captured unconscious or recharge and buy more time?" Nick asked.
"It's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for us to wait for disaster," Nick said cryptically.
"Speaking of camels, do you think we might find some?" Tiffy asked.
"If we keep moving, maybe," John said.
"Here's my crazy leadership again! No blame this time. How many want to take rechargeable rests?" Nick asked.
"Are you saying leadership is shared equally?" Tiffy asked.
"At this point, I'd rather share the blame than have you expect me to be superhuman. It's democracy," Nick said.
"But you're head of the family! Does democracy apply here?" Tiffy pressed.
"This isn't home. This is a critical survival situation," Nick said firmly.
"I'm sorry to interfere with your home issues, but Nick's right. Leadership isn't easy. Even you, Tiffy, know the pressure of blame and emotional breakdowns. We have to share the burden, or he'll lose his mind," Elizabeth defended Nick.
"We're all losing our minds. If Nick chose to be leader, he must bear responsibility. I'm not discouraging him, just putting myself in the shoes of a complaining subject," Tiffy said softer.
"Okay, I hear you both. Everyone is greater than the individual now. The blame must be shared equally," Nick agreed.
"Fine. If everyone agrees, we'll all share leadership responsibility. If we survive, we'll elect new leaders as needed," Tiffy said.
"That's a relief. Let's continue the vote on rechargeable rests. Who's for it?" Elizabeth asked.
"Six to three. Majority wins," Elizabeth said after counting hands.
"We should lighten (unbutton) our clothes due to the scorching sun," Elizabeth suggested.
"Water, please! I'm so thirsty!" Lama said desperately.
"We're running low on water. Everyone, including Billy, needs it. The more we cycle, the more wasted we become," Jenny said.
They stopped, unbuttoned their shirts, removed shoes to cool off. They shared water sparingly, cooled their heads, and stayed alert for pursuers—all while remaining on their bikes to avoid the scorching sand.