NOVEL WEB Chapter 11: A Shared Quest
Alex rummaged through their pack with a grin. "How about breakfast burritos?" they suggested, pulling out tortillas, a small bag of powdered eggs, and some pre-cooked sausage links wrapped in waxed cloth. “Quick, and easy.”
I smiled, appreciating their resourcefulness. "Sounds perfect," I said, glancing over at Ana, who seemed curious and intrigued by the idea.
Sam was already setting up the camp stove, pulling out a small frying pan from their gear. "Powdered eggs are easy enough. We’ll rehydrate them, warm the tortillas, and cook up the sausage. Simple but filling," Sam said with a nod.
Alex carefully measured out the powdered eggs, dry milk, and salt into a bowl. As they added the water, I could feel my hands itching to help. Not cooking the meal myself felt strange—like I was giving up some sense of control. I wanted to contribute.
“Here, let me help with that,” I offered, stepping in and taking the fork from Alex. “You really need to beat these well to get the texture right.”
I began whisking the egg mixture by hand, the familiar action grounding me as the muscles in my arm strained against the effort. But then, just for a moment, I felt something—faint, like a ripple of energy coursing through me. I didn’t dwell on it, unsure if it was real or just exhaustion playing tricks on me.
As I stirred, my thoughts drifted to Alex and Sam, and a quiet contentment settled over me. Meeting up with them, forming a plan—it felt like things were falling into place. I had always believed that cooking could carry my intent, that somehow, the emotions I felt while preparing food would transfer into the meal itself. Today, I let that sense of calm and hope weave into the mixture, hoping it would nourish more than just our bodies.
The eggs were ready much sooner than I expected, smooth and frothy. I handed the bowl back to Alex, who took it with a slight pause, their eyes flicking to the eggs, then to me. There was a moment of quiet surprise in their expression, but they said nothing, just nodded appreciatively before turning to the stove.
Feeling a bit more at ease, I reached into our supply of foraged ingredients and pulled out a small bag of chanterelle mushrooms we’d gathered the day before. “How about adding some of these mushrooms?” I suggested, holding up the bag.
Alex’s face lit up. "Great idea. I’ve got some smoked paprika and a bit of cumin in my spice pouch," they said, reaching into their backpack.
"Perfect. Let’s also use a little wild garlic I found yesterday," I added, pulling out a small bundle of the foraged herb. The pungent scent of the garlic was unmistakable, and I knew it would pair well with the mushrooms and sausage. Now that I was more involved, the cooking process felt much more comfortable.
Sam unwrapped the sausage from the waxed cloth and sliced it into bite-sized pieces while I sautéed the mushrooms with the wild garlic in a little olive oil over the camp stove. The earthy aroma of the mushrooms and the sharp scent of garlic filled the air, and I could feel the tension in my chest easing.
Once the eggs were ready, Alex poured them into the pan with the sausage and mushrooms. “Low and slow is the key,” Alex said, stirring the eggs gently with a wooden spoon, making sure they didn’t cook too quickly. They sprinkled a pinch of their smoked paprika and cumin into the pan, adding a smoky depth to the flavors.
"Got some shredded cheese, too," Sam said, pulling out a small resealable bag. "It’s not much, but it’ll make these burritos a little more special."
As Sam warmed the tortillas on the side of the pan, we combined the fluffy scrambled eggs with the sautéed mushrooms, garlic, and sausage. The addition of the wild garlic and mushrooms gave the dish an extra richness, and the spices added a warm, smoky flavor. Soon, we had a small assembly line going. Each of us grabbed a tortilla, filling it with the eggs, bits of sausage, sautéed mushrooms, and a sprinkle of cheese.
The food was warm and comforting. The foraged mushrooms and garlic brought a fresh, earthy taste to the breakfast burritos, making the meal feel more hearty and special. Ana, usually picky with food, brightened up after her first bite, nodding in approval as she devoured her burrito. “Good, huh?” I signed to her, and she smiled, her earlier worry temporarily forgotten.
We ate in contentment, the combination of foraged ingredients and spices from our packs making the meal feel hearty and satisfying. After finishing, we packed up the stove, making sure everything was ready before following the green dots on our wrists, beginning the journey to find water and explore the next part of our adventure.
“We’ll head toward the water first,” I said, breaking the comfortable silence. “Once we’re stocked up, we’ll make our way to Gyrica. Maybe we’ll find something—or someone—there who can explain all of this.”
Alex and Sam nodded in agreement, both of them clearly eager to get moving. Ana gave me a small smile, still cautious but more at ease now that we had a plan.
As breakfast wrapped up and we began packing, a subtle shift settled over the group. The tension that had clung to us the past few days seemed to loosen, replaced by something quieter, steadier. It was as if the act of sharing a meal and making plans together had brought a sense of calm that anchored us all.
I glanced around, noticing how even Ana seemed more at ease, her movements lighter, her brow no longer furrowed with worry. Sam and Alex, too, had fallen into a quieter rhythm, their usual wariness softened by the sense of purpose that had begun to take root.
As I packed the last of our things, my wrist started tingling again—the now-familiar pulse beneath my skin. But this time, it didn’t bring the usual jolt of uncertainty. Instead, it felt like a nudge, a gentle reminder that we were on the right path, and for the first time since we arrived in this strange place, I allowed myself to believe it.
I glanced down, expecting the usual green dot that pointed toward Tyra, but something new appeared. Another green dot. A green light notification flashed in the corner of my vision, and the quest log popped up automatically as soon as I acknowledged it:
New Quest: Find a Water Source.
Ana’s eyes widened, and her hands flew to her wrist as if she had just discovered something magical. She tugged on my sleeve, her face a mixture of wonder and excitement. "It’s here! I have a green dot too!" she signed quickly, her hands almost trembling. My heart swelled with pride, but a flicker of concern stayed in the back of my mind.
My heart skipped a beat as I turned to Alex and Sam. They, too, were staring at their wrists, identical green dots now shining on their tattoos.
“It’s on all of us now,” Alex said softly, their voice barely above a whisper. Sam, who had been scanning their surroundings warily, nodded.
Ana swiped the air like I’d shown her, but nothing happened. Her smile faltered, and her brow furrowed in confusion. She tried again, but still, no quest window appeared. Her hands stilled, and she looked up at me, her earlier excitement dimming.
"Can you see your quest window?" I signed, feeling a slight unease in the pit of my stomach.
Ana shook her head. "No window," she signed back. "Only the green dot on my tattoo."
"Maybe you're still too young for it to work," I suggested gently, trying to hide my own worry. "It’ll come in time."
Ana nodded, her expression determined but disappointed. I squeezed her hand gently. "For now, just follow the dot. That’s enough."
While Ana fiddled with her wrist, I took a quick look at my own quest log. My breath caught in my throat as I noticed something new—four small names listed beneath the quest: Ani, Ana, Alex, Sam. We were no longer individuals on separate paths. This quest had bound us together in ways I hadn’t fully anticipated. Our names tied us to this mission, and I couldn’t help but feel both comfort and fear at the implications.
“Our names are on the quest now,” I murmured, more to myself than anyone else, but Alex raised an eyebrow.
“That must mean it’s shared,” Sam said, with a quiet but firm realization. “This is our mission now.”
I glanced over at Ana, and though she couldn’t access her full quest window, her wrist still glowed with that same guiding green dot. Whatever was ahead, we’d face it together.
“Looks like the game—this world—wants us to find water,” I muttered, still trying to wrap my head around what was happening. I swiped the air to dismiss the quest log and turned to the others.
Alex stepped closer, their green dot still pulsing on their wrist. “So, this is definitely more than just a coincidence. The dots are guiding us toward something. The water source is the next step.” Alex said, their usual no-nonsense tone softened by the realization of what was unfolding. Alex, ever the one to take charge, nodded with determination, but I could see the flicker of uncertainty in their eyes as they processed the implications.
Sam adjusted their pack, always the cautious one, their gaze scanning the treetops as if expecting something—or someone—else to appear.
I glanced at Ana, who was looking more fascinated than worried now. She had adapted quickly to the situation, almost as if it were part of the game I’ve known for so long. But this was more than a game. This was real, and there was no logging out.
I focused on the green dot, letting the sensation pull me in the direction we had already decided to go. “Alright,” I said, my voice firm. “Let’s get ready to head out.”
With the decision made, we finished securing our packs and double-checked our supplies. Ana gave me a small, encouraging smile as we all gathered at the edge of the clearing. I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
As we started moving toward the distant glint of light, I couldn’t help but glance at the tattoos on all of our wrists. The dots pulsed in unison, guiding us as one. For the first time since we’d entered this strange world, I felt a renewed sense of purpose—like we were finally on the right path.
“We’ll find this water,” I said, half to myself, half to the group. “And then, we’ll figure out what comes next.”
Alex and Sam fell in step beside me, and Ana walked closely on my other side. With the forest looming around us, the green dots glowing softly on our wrists, we pushed forward into the unknown, guided by a quest none of us had asked for—but one we were determined to see through.
For the first time in days, the uncertainty didn’t feel as overwhelming. We were no longer alone, no longer lost travelers in an unfamiliar world. Together, we were players in a shared quest, and that gave me strength. Whatever lay ahead, we would face it as a team.