Chapter 6: A Curious Connection
The sound of a whistle broke the fragile quiet of the morning, followed by the sharp voice of their math teacher, Mr. Grant.
"Rise and shine, everyone! Breakfast isn't going to eat itself!"
Lucas groaned, dragging himself out of his tent with all the grace of a zombie.
The first rays of sunlight spilled across the campsite, casting a golden glow over the makeshift settlement.
Around him, other students were rubbing sleep from their eyes and stumbling out of their tents, muttering complaints about Mr. Grant's enthusiasm.
"Does he have to yell every morning?" Lucas grumbled, running a hand through his messy hair.
Leo, already half-dressed and adjusting his shirt, shot him a wry smile. "He's the only one here who actually likes being awake at sunrise. I think it's his secret revenge for all those late homework submissions."
Lucas chuckled despite himself. They joined the sluggish crowd heading toward the center of the camp, where a few mats had been laid out for their meals.
Mr. Grant stood by a stack of rations, doling them out with a practiced efficiency that made Lucas wonder if the man had some secret survivalist past.
"Come on, take your portions and sit down," Mr. Grant called, waving a ration pack at them. "The sooner you eat, the sooner we can start the day's tasks."
Lucas and Leo each grabbed their food and found a spot on one of the mats, sitting cross-legged with their meals.