Taking the cloth out of Cameron's mouth was difficult and rather awkward, considering he had to turn around and extract the cloth with his rear end dangerously close to her face. He issued a chuckled apology as he managed to finagle it out before leaning up against the dirt wall, slumping against it as he lowered himself to the ground. 
"Well, that went off as planned. Didn't know it was my plan all along to get us captured by these guys? It's all brilliance, really." He looked to the meager portions of food and water they had been provided and snorted.
"Well, I think that's a bit insulting, isn't it? I can't exactly use a knife with my hands tied behind my back." He rose, walking to the tray and then sat backwards, hands grasping for the handle, eyes cast backwards. 
"I would ask for help, but I suppose you're a bit tied up at the moment as well." He chuckled a bit at his own joke.
"I'm terrible, aren't I?" He managed to grasp the handle with his right hand, angling the knife upward and very slowly began to cut the cloth around his wrists. It was difficult and consisted of many grunts, but he managed to free himself of the bindings. As he walked over to Cameron and cut her bonds, he told her:
"I don't remember a thing after they knocked us out, but I do know that based on what we can see from above us is that we've been for several hours. That might actually help our cause, you know. With this slight detour, maybe our pursuers won't be as passionate in their search." He blew out a sigh as he brought the tray over and motioned for her to eat. 
"Then again, we'll need to figure out how to make this just a detour rather than our final destination." Justin ran a hand through his ash brown hair and felt some odd flecks on the back of his head, withdrawing the hand to find dried blood. 
"Wonderful." He brushed the blood off onto the dirt floor before looking up again, noting how brightly the stars shone out in this part of the state. It was a wonder to see. In the city, the ruins obscured whatever they could see of the sky, dimming the natural light of the stars. To think that was the canopy under which so much violence occurred...

His thoughts were interrupted by voices approaching the entrance to their makeshift cell. A couple of figures loomed above them, one of them kneeling down and removing the twig lattice before the figures descended into their space. The man from before was present along with a different woman. Her hair as illuminated by the torch looked a pale blonde, her hazel eyes examining the both of them closely. She didn't look much older than Justin or Cameron, but wisdom seemed to emanate from her very presence. She was also garbed in more clothing than the duo Justin and Cameron had encountered, a sleeveless shirt and shorts that came down to mid-thigh covered her slim figure, yet she still wore the same necklace. It was a few moments before she spoke:
"You both trespassed onto our Mother's lands. My people say that you have come to pursue our attackers. Is this true?"
"Yes. Yes it is. We're here to ensure that whatever those monsters did to your people will be avenged. They took many of our people away as well. We want them gone." The woman searched Justin's eyes, stepped forward and placing a tanned hand on his cheek, turning his head to the left before nodding in satisfaction.
"Your eyes seem to speak the truth. Is it just revenge you seek?"
"No, no...we...we want to save our people. With the Life-Giver." Her brow raised.
"The Life-Giver? It is a sacred thing that you ask for, yet you claim it is for others. Where do they belong?"
"The South." She clucked her tongue.
"A dangerous place. We explored there many moons ago. That is where we found some of the Life-Giver. We tried many more times, but our scouts did not return." She looked to Cameron with a smile, moving to where she stood in front of her.
"You are a beautiful reflection of what our Mother gives us, sister. Do you travel for the same reasons he does?"