The rain came down in torrents, soaking everything unlucky enough to be caught outside. Shivering, Jack vainly tried to start a fire. Unlike Karyn further south, he knew how to start a fire, and was diligently attempting to rub some flint against another rock in attempt to get sparks. Unfortunately, the meager wood pile was too wet to light, and Jack had to give up in frustration.
"Well, that did about fuck all." Sam said from across the fire pit.
"Shut up, you. At least we're out of the rain." The pair had managed to find a small cave nestled in the cliff face, nearly invisible until you fell into it, which Jack had done.
"For now, at least." Sighing, Sam leaned back, exposing the dozens of red cuts visible all over her body.
It had been a harrowing night, desperately attempting to escape from the clutches of the enemy soldiers. More times than they could count they had been nearly surrounded and captured, only to fight their way out of that trap and into another one. Only the discovery of the cave had allowed them to hide.
"We still need to look at those maps." Jack said. "We need to find a town."
"Here." Sam tossed his bloodstained satchel to Jack. "Should be in there."
Using what little light trickled into the cave, Jack extracted the map and studied it carefully. The dark parchment was difficult to read in the limited light, and Jack's limited frame of reference didn't help either. Fortunately, Jack possessed a compass, and used it to figure out their relative location.
"Alright." He finally said. "I think I know where to go."
"Let's see." Sam leaned over.
"I'm pretty sure we're somewhere in this area." Jack pointed to a series of ridges on the map. "Now, if I'm right, this line here is a road or a river. Either way, it leads directly here-" he traced his finger to a round circle in the middle of the map- "What looks like some sort of major city. The maps also have some markings here that look like arrows. From what I can tell, these guys are going there, so if we go there as well, we can find Rachel."
"Looks good. We'll leave in the morning."
Grunting, Jack sliced through the thick brambles with his cavalry saber. It seemed like a waste, but it made him feel better, and that was what counted.
For the past twelve hours, he and Sam had been hacking through the deserted wilderness, moving as quickly as was possible through the impenetrable forest. For some reason, there seemed to be a strange lack of any sort of wildlife. The only thing they did see apart from the countless trees and bushes was the occasional native who would run away before Jack could even speak to them.
"How much further?" Sam asked.
"Just over this hill." Jack said for what seemed like the twelfth time.
One hill later, Jack triumphantly cut through the last thicket with his saber.
"I give you " He stopped and stared.
"Holy shit " Sam said.
