Whether I survived, this has nothing to do with how you make me feel. You killed me many times more than the stabbing could ever make me.
- anonymous 

The light slipped through the window making me wince as my face got fre sunbathing, early in the morning. I pulled my legs out from the navy green blanket, trying to have some breezes to cool me down. 
However, a voice made me jolted awake. Sitting upright on the single bed. 
Yes, I forgot the fact that I was here as a guest. However, honestly, that was a good sleep I had for some while, at least as far as I remember. My body barely ached, and my head stopped pounding for good. 
I swing my legs out of the bed. Stretching out, I wonder if I could sleep this well in the future. For now, I'll make good of those experiences I may never have. 
I open the door as quietly as I can. As a habit, my tongue slipped out a little in an attempt to be slick and quiet. Will they get angry if I show up late? Will they wonder if I am lazy? Did they second think of their choice now? Will they kick me out for good? Should I just come and act as if nothing happened or should I apologize for being la-
"What are you trying to do? Don't tell me you trying to be as slow as a sloth on the tree now that you're not in your tree?."
I stared at Dylan who was just standing across my room. It took me some moments before I fell into my knee, asking for his forgiveness.
" Forgive me for being so late, sir."
He laughed. How can I forget his laugh is like thunder?. Ringing your head like being in a huge bell and someone knocking with metal out the bell, it stays inside your head and makes you spin. That's how his laugh is.
"Do you think this some boot camps or something? Are you a soldier?." 
He joked, coming closer before he pulled me up to my feet. 
"I uh- I am not sure if I am one of the soldiers."
He freezes. 
"I am sorry. I don't mean... What about coming with me for the day?."
He said as he led towards the other side. On the right side of the room, there a stairs lead down to the kitchen while the other side leads down to the small living room with couches lined up to the wall opposite from the stairs and a table, wide enough to have five people dining at the corner of it.
"Come on."
Dylan urged me. I took long steps to come closer to him before he went to the neighbor's house. He gave a few knocks before the wooden door was opened by a tall dark dark-skinned man. He has a thick eyebrow and a bald clean head. But a piercing eyes. I could see those eyes trying to peel my skin out like an orange. 
"Who's this kid?."
His rough voice accusingly asked Dylan who had his way to the couch and me standing in front of the door. His finger pointed to me as if I was a stray dog being brought in and he wasn't pleased. Well, the latter seems right. 
"I found him in the tree."
I sighed, can you stop calling me that? Seeing my reaction he laughed, making the bald man twitch in his place. 
"Dylan!. Can you please be more careful!. How many times do you want to regret it for the same reasons? You lost your boy for that same mistake."
Dylan's laugh halted at that. Just as his laugh was sudden and loud, his empty stare also made me surprised at how they can change, the empty dead eyes were loud enough. You didn't need to ask how he felt, the stare on the floor, while his body went stiffly rigid was a sign of pain. 
I looked over at the bald man, and he noticed the same. He sighed and tilted his head, signaling me to come inside. He then walked to Dylan's side. 
"Hey buddy, I was just joking?."
Silence...
"Bud?. Are you dead already?."
He gave a huge slap on the poor man's back making him jolted to the front. The bald man laughed while Dylan fixed him in his stare. The annoyed emotions vibrated strongly in those eyes. 
And while Dylan's laughing is the thunder, this man's laughing is a roar of madness, the lava mountain's explosion. I see how they can be a friend and how that relationship goes. 
"What is it you need now Dylan? You just don't bring this boy to me without any reason, do you?."
He strongly accused. That tone he gave was like ' You know I don't like this, but you better give me reason for me to tolerate this' type. He hadn't laid his eyes on me after he took a glance when we arrived. 
Eh?. Did I do something wrong in the past? 
"This boy... I just found him in the tree."
Oi oi, old man. Can you just stop? 
What can I do? He doesn't even know my name. The boy from the tree, now that's my name from now on. Not that I want to complain when I don't even remember my own name.
"Anyway, I received some information from black ace. That boy has built his outpost. And the strong one at that. He said the notoriously dangerous men in by his side, Brian, vect, dragon, and Lucy. "
That bald man took a seat at that coffee table next to Dylan. I just stared not knowing what this conversation had to do anything with me. So, I just stay on the couch at the corner. The bald man seems to have a complicated thought before he rubs his shiny chin, lost in his thoughts.
"Those guys... Aren't they the guys from The Eagles? They are the strongest next to Michael, isn't it? And that Lucy is the strategist lot more wicked than Natalie."
"As far as black ace's information goes, they are."
The bald man paused. As his smooth forehead wrinkled deeper. Dylan looks composed and calm, yet the raging thoughts playing behind his eyes. Who they were talking about? I seem to be lost in this conversation. 
"But they aren't a match when it comes to the raven."
Dylan ruined the silence. A deep rooster noise was heard. Oh, that might be a good chicken fried. Hmmm, I can't forget how delicious that thigh would taste despite having no other memories. 
I laughed inwardly. 
"But, the falcons already fall. There's no confirmed information on who survived those falls. All they caught was, that the place was attacked by a sea of zombies, a blood moonbat, a mother monster, and a giant corrupter. But, it's also said, it's too many, that almost all the mutations are there including advanced mutations like that mother monster and giant corrupter. If they don't survive, what about us?"
That bald man snapped his head towards Dylan. His piercing eyes took offense in his last sentence. 
"I don't believe that naive guy died. He is hard to kill. Not after all the experience he has. He survived those bioweapons, the mutated organisms. He will come back I just know it. I believe he is somewhere, lurking behind the darkness to seek for his opportunity."
The bald man uttered dangerously. I gulped. His stare is so terrifying, more terrifying than the big guy I met in the forest. 
Dylan nodded and agreed to his statement.
"That kid, Reznor... He saved many people back then. And he will do this again. As long as the raven shelter still stands strong we have some hope for humanity."
They went quiet at Dylan's reply. Probably remember that Reznor. Whoever that is. They talked like he was powerful enough and even put hope in him. 
Reznor.
Reznor..
I shall remember your name, may you be our saviour in the future. Whoever that is. I doubt these two know what Reznor looks like. They talked like a tale that needed to be remembered. By the sound of it, he did get remembered.
"And what you want me to do with this kid? He looks like he will drool the longer we talk."
The bald man started. 
Eh?. Why are you looking at me? Who will drool? Nonsense... I'll not drool-
I wipe the itchy flowing water from the corner of my lips. Oh...
They both laughed harmonically. Like the death angel harper sounds which could end all the humanity in this world and even end the world. 
It took them the whole two minutes to calm down. As they wiped the 'happy' tears from the corner of their eyes. 
Just how many times do I need to be humiliated, again?
"I am sorry young man."
Dylan started as he still had the remaining small laugh, probably trying to hold him from laughing again. The same goes for the bald man.
"This man right here is Blythe Nyma. He will now on will be the one who protects you no matter what happens."
"What?. I don't agree with this!."
Blythe, the bald man interrupted. He was seething angrily.
"As your chief, I command you to do so."
That shot something to me. What the fuck?!.
He has been the chief this whole time!
When the guard shouts. "Chief!. Open the gate!." He means this chief is coming, is that right? What do you mean this white beard, cowboy looking is the chief?!.
Realizing I have my jaws dropped I try to pick up myself together as I see the intense eye staring competition. Who's intimidation will intimidate the other first?
Will it be Dylan, the cow- I mean chief to this place? Or Blythe the shin- I mean the... Whatever his position is?
"I am the commander, your right-hand man. It is absurd for me to be a babysitter!."
Ah yes, the commander... What is there to be surprised anymore? I mean he has that built muscles, looks too piercing, eyes that can kill... I am almost shocked to hear that. But, I already have many shocks to be shocked anymore. At least for now.
"That's why I told you so. If anything happens, I don't want this kid up in the tree, scared for his life. Screaming to survive."
Don't be aggravating the fact you found me in the tree, old man. I don't scream!...
Blythe sighed as deeply as could go. 
"After receiving black ace's information, I just know, that boy will never leave us alone, he will cook something up. If something happens, this kid doesn't deserve to be left to die here, he deserves to at least live in the raven shelter."
Dylan spoke softly. I wasn't sure if I wanted to be mad. Or not. In this world, what have trust has become? 
"I shall not leave you, old man, not after you tell everyone possible that you found me in the tree. I shall let you live so I can prove to you I am more capable than climbing a tree."
I claimed confidently. I patted my chest, trying to show how capable I was. Honestly, I don't like this talk. I don't want to lose the person who took me in when the world doubted each other. 
Dylan's laugh intensified. It's all I need. I need to be stronger. And better. This village will be a place I protect.
"Aight, kid. I will take you under my wing. From now on, you will come with me hunting and cleaning the surroundings for your training, you got that, boy?."
Blythe voiced sternly. Looks like I can't be unserious with him, he will trample my hope and double the training instead. He just looks like that.
I nodded, determined to help, even as small help as I could give. I will give my all.
___________________________
Somewhere in koller mines. 
The light from the wide screen illuminated the dark room. There a round table filled with the most gloomy mood ever fall. The big muscles tan man, the lean and sturdy, the next man is less muscle than the tan man, but equally tan, a dark hair lady, tall and charming, with a man who is thinner than all of the men, but a lot more influenced than all people in the room.
"What's the current situation?."
Asked the thinner man. 
They shifted in the place. Become a lot more serious. 
"The falcons have fallen as you wish. And the small fries in the misty jungle, the former Laketown villager, will be handled by the reivers."
The less muscled man informed which received a smirk from the thinner man. He crossed his hand on his chest, seemingly satisfied.
"The reivers has taken a bait. They thought the former Laketown villagers were a nuisance."
The lady added. That made the man smirked further.
"We should start with redwood forest the n. Now the Falcons have gone. The raven and the eagles next."
He laughed, as menacingly as he can be.