298 Youngster

A youngster in his mid-twenties walked along the desolate highway infested with weeds with a large army green backpack strapped to his back. He carried a sharp knife in one hand and a water bottle in the other.

Potentially due to lack of grooming over a long time, the youngster wore long and untidy hair. This was complemented with uneven patches of stubble around his lips.

He was not a particularly fast walker. He walked slightly slower than the average walking person. Each time he took a step, his eyes full of caution would dart across his surroundings.

With the given context, this was not a particularly peculiar behavior, just common practice of a scavenger in a wasteland. What was truly eye-catching was the macaw the size of half a forearm perched on the youngster's shoulder.