Ben: You ever think about time, Mr. Major?

Mr. Major: All the time. But what exactly are you pondering?

Ben: Well, it's just... what is time, really? We always think of it as this linear thing, moving forward. But what if it's not? What if time is like an infinite void, stretching in all directions at once?

Mr. Major: An infinite void, huh? That's an interesting perspective. Time is an endless expanse rather than a river flowing one way.

Ben: Exactly! Like, maybe we're just floating in this vast, timeless space, and what we perceive as the past, present, and future are just points we navigate through. Maybe they're all happening at once, and we're just experiencing them in sequence because our brains can't handle the chaos.

Mr. Major: A bit like being in a dark room with a flashlight, only seeing a tiny part of the whole picture at a time. The rest of it is there, but we just can't see it all at once.

Ben: And what if this void, this infinite everything, is filled with all the possibilities, all the choices we've made and didn't make, all existing simultaneously?

Mr. Major: So, every moment, every decision, every potential outcome, it's all there, waiting to be illuminated by our little flashlight of consciousness. Makes you wonder about fate and free will, doesn't it?

Ben: It does. Maybe our choices are like threads weaving through this infinite fabric. Each thread is our path, but the fabric is already there, complete, with all its intricate patterns. We're just tracing one line through it.

Mr. Major: And the more we try to grasp it, the more it slips away, like trying to hold water in your hands. The infinite void of everything... it's a humbling thought.

Ben: It is. But also kind of comforting, in a weird way. Like, no matter what, we're part of something vast and boundless. Our little lives, our moments, they all add to the tapestry.

Mr. Major: So, time isn't just ticking away. It's an infinite canvas, and we're the artists, painting our strokes, adding to the masterpiece.

Ben: Yeah. Makes you think differently about what's important, doesn't it?

Mr. Major: It certainly does, Ben. It certainly does.

Timmon: No, the fuck, it's not comforting! How the fuck are you two gonna say nothing matters? Do you even know what time it is? If you wanna talk about something that matters, let's talk about what we plan to do when we get back to the settlement.

Ben: Whoa, Timmon, relax. We were just having a philosophical discussion. No one's saying nothing matters.

Mr. Major: Indeed, Timmon. It's about perspective, not nihilism. We're just considering different ways to understand our existence.

Timmon: Well, while you two are contemplating the infinite void, I'm worried about the here and now. How do we survive this and get back to the settlement in one piece?

Ben: Fair point. Surviving and getting back should be our top priority. But sometimes, thinking about the bigger picture helps us keep our sanity. Plus, what the fuck is thinking about the settlement going to do for us now? We've been walking for however long. Time. So what's so wrong with talking about it? Would you rather I talk about destiny because it could get dark?

Mr. Major: I Agree with the first half. Balancing our immediate needs with our existential reflections can give us strength and clarity. But you're right, Timmon. Let's focus on our plan.

Timmon: So, what's the strategy? How do we navigate the rest of this forest, avoid more Fern Panthers, and ensure we get back safely?

Ben: We just need to follow the goat, its sense for danger and avoiding it is super scary. Also now that we're on the topic of the goat, which is hella smart, I had another thought. If we were stronger back when we first entered into the forest, would we be able to approach one of the goats when we did or would it have ran away from us?

As a few more hours of walking, resting, and walking some more had passed, the talking had died down. The team had entered a section of the forest where the canopy above gradually opened up, letting in more light. Tall grass grew among the trees, swaying gently in the breeze. According to the position of the sun, they realized they had been walking through the night without noticing. It was a serene scene, with long, bush-like plants dotting the landscape.

Mr. Major glanced at the goat, hoping for a signal about whether the plant was dangerous. The goat remained calm, and with no reaction from it, Mr. Major cautiously inspected the tall plants. The team had established distinct silent signals with the goat: danger nearby meant the goat would crouch, danger just ahead would be indicated by the goat shaking its head up and down, and immediate danger by a strong predator required the goat to instantly turn in the opposite direction and run.

Among the tall grass, Timmon and Mr. Major noticed that Ben was starting to struggle. His skin had turned pale, and he was visibly out of breath. Each step seemed to drain more of his energy, and his movements grew sluggish.

"Hey Ben, you alright?" Timmon asked, concern evident in his voice. Ben nodded weakly but didn't speak, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other.

Mr. Major frowned. "We should take a break. Ben, you don't look so good."

Ben shook his head stubbornly. "I'm fine. Just... just need to keep moving."

The goat, sensing Ben's deteriorating condition, started to act strangely. It crouched low to the ground, its signal for nearby danger. Mr. Major's eyes widened as he realized what was happening.

"Guys, the goat's sensing something," Mr. Major whispered urgently. "We need to be careful."

Timmon's worry deepened as he watched Ben stumble. "Ben, we need to stop. You're about to black out."

Ben's vision blurred, and he swayed on his feet. The goat began shaking its head up and down, indicating danger just ahead. Mr Major's heart raced as he scanned the surroundings, trying to spot any immediate threats and escape routes. If they just ran away, they would get lost, but if he could leave a mark so they knew where they would be coming from, then it would be worth it. We still have time, so maybe I could.

"Ben, sit down. Now," Mr. Major ordered, moving to support his friend. But before Ben could respond, he collapsed, his body giving in to exhaustion.

The goat suddenly turned and bolted in the opposite direction, its signal for immediate danger. Timmon and Mr Major's instincts kicked in as they grabbed Ben and started to follow the goat, their adrenaline surging. But a mist raised like a veil from the grass engulfed them.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Timmon: What is this? Not this again! Fcuk it, GT; what is this?

This miss brought back memories and before they know it they were all waking up to the sound of banging off in the distance.

Mr Major: What the fuck just happened?

Timmon: I can't remember. Maybe we've been transported back to Earth.

There was a moment of silence before Mr Major turned to Ben, who was looking even worse than before was awake but so weak.

Timmon: What should we do? I can hear noice coming from that direction but should we check it out. It could be natives, if they do exist or a group of animals.

Mr Major: We shouldn't take the risk but if it is danger then we should see what it is chances are whatever it is will eventually kill us because we are weak and weaponless. And if i'm being honest I haven't noticed the goat react so I'm more convinced that its worth checking out.

As a few more hours of walking, resting, and walking some more had passed, the talking had died down. The team had entered a section of the forest where the canopy above gradually opened up, letting light in gradually. Tall grass grew among the trees, swaying gently in the breeze. According to the position of the sun, they realized they had been walking through the night without noticing. It was either that or they had time-travelled because of where the sun was from the last time they checked. It was a serene scene, looking at the assortment of plants and small birds in the area; standing out among them were some plants that resembled Typha. With its long straight stem, tough and elastic-like leaf blades, and its blood red flower head, these bush-like plants dot the landscape among the trees and grass.

Mr Major glanced at the goat, hoping for a signal about whether the plant was dangerous, but the goat remained calm walking with the box still on its back, nibbling on the tall grass around it. With no reaction from The goat, Mr Major cautiously inspected the tall plants. After some time, Mr. Major started to cut the plants with his dagger, and an idea formed in his mind. It wasn't sinew or basswood, but it would serve his purpose. Along their arduous journey, the team had established a distinct understanding with the kid goat—a silent language of sorts. The goat used its body language to signal if it sensed something dangerous: crouching meant danger nearby, shaking its head up and down indicated danger just ahead, and an immediate danger signal required the goat to instantly turn and run in the opposite direction.

Even though their senses were heightened, Mr Major could gauge the disparity in strength only after laying eyes on a creature. Timmon would be aware of the danger but often too late to avoid it, leaving him to react defensively or offensively. Ben's sense could usually pick up on intent, but it wasn't always accurate. The goat, however, was capable of sensing all these things with an acceptable reaction range. If a predator had speed that surpassed the goat, then it was surely going to die, but the only animal that seemed to have the speed to put the goat on defence was the Snider, as far as they could tell.

Among the tall grass, Timmon and Mr Major noticed that Ben was starting to struggle. His skin had turned pale, and he was visibly out of breath. Each step seemed to drain more of his energy, and his movements grew sluggish.

"Hey Ben, you alright?" Timmon asked, concern evident in his voice. Ben nodded weakly but didn't speak, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other.

Mr Major frowned. "We should take a break. Ben, you don't look so good."

Ben shook his head stubbornly. "I'm fine. Just... just need to keep moving."

The goat, sensing Ben's deteriorating condition, started to act strangely. It crouched low to the ground, the signal for nearby danger. Mr Major's eyes widened as he realized what was happening.

"Guys, the goat is sensing something," Mr Major whispered urgently. "We need to be careful."

Timmon's worry deepened as he watched Ben stumble. "Ben, we need to stop. You're about to black out. There's something here that could be affecting you. And if thats not the case here and it's something else entirely different then we need to locate it and avoid it."

Ben's vision blurred, and he swayed on his feet. Then the goat began shaking its head up and down, indicating that there was danger just ahead. Mr Major's heart raced while his mind remained calm and focused as he scanned the surroundings area ahead with a practised eye, trying to spot the threat or threats while hiding among the tall grass, noting every potential hiding spot and calculating the best angles for attack or defence. He motioned for Timmon to crouch and stay low to minimize his profile and to keep an eye on Ben while he positioned himself between the team and the perceived threat. If he could see it, then he could formulate some level of strategy on how the treat could potentially attack or chase them all while gauging the likelihood of them escaping or fighting.

"I haven't seen anything just yet, so it must be something small. Let's just hope its not fast. We already know its deadly enough to make the goat worry." Mr Major said. But just as Ben was going to respond, he collapsed, his body giving in to exhaustion or whatever was happening to him.

At the same time, the goat suddenly turned and bolted in the opposite direction; that signal meant immediate danger. Timmon and Mr Major's instincts kicked in as they turned and then grabbed Ben. Holding either side of his arm, they ran after the goat, their adrenaline surging. The aftermath of this encounter will be rough on Ben since they were sprinting while dragging him through the forest. All they could hope for was that he didn't hit his spin on something during this escape, and everything else would be acceptable at this point. But suddenly, the goat stopped and fell over as a mist rose like a veil from the grass, engulfing them. This wasn't a mist that was new to the team. To be more exact, this wasn't your ordinary mistake. This was black mist.

Timmon's voice trembled with a mix of frustration and fear as his mind was recalling and suppressing something. "What is this? Not this again! Fuck it GT. What is this? I've seen it, but never seen it!"

The mist brought back memories not for everyone, just the goat and Timmon, and before they knew it, they were all waking up to the sounds of a distorted banging just off into the distance as a fog slowly lifted on their mind.

Mr. Major groaned, disoriented. "What the fuck just happened?"

Timmon looked around, trying to piece together their situation. "I can't remember. Maybe we've been transported back to Earth."

There was a moment of silence before Mr Major turned to Ben, who was awake but looking even worse than before. He was so weak that he could barely keep his eyes open.

Timmon spoke softly, his concern evident. "What should we do? I can hear noise coming from that direction, but should we check it out? It could be natives, if they exist, or a group of animals."

Ben, despite his weakened state, focused on the sound in the distance. "If those are natives, it would be a big discovery. Finding intelligent alien life would explain the box we found."

Mr. Major considered their options, his expression grim. "We shouldn't take the risk. It's clear we're not back on Earth because of these plants around us. Look at that shit. It's so alien. Plus if we are about to meet aliens, both sides will be on high alert. Chances are whatever is causing that sound will or could eventually kill us. We are weak and weaponless. I'd rather avoid a problem before it becomes a bigger one. If they're hostile, it won't end well for us or the other the humans we came with who are somewhere in this forest."

Timmon nodded, glancing at the goat for any sign of danger. "But the goat hasn't reacted. Maybe it's worth checking out or maybe the goat isn't afraid of intelligent beens."

Mr. Major sighed, weighing the risks. "Alright, but we proceed with extreme caution. If there's even a hint of hostility, we get out of there fast. At all cost."

Ben: "You have my permission to leave me. If they kill me, then you'll know what kind of intelligent aliens they are. If I manage to stay alive after the fact, I'll gather as much information as I can and hope I can regain my strength and form a relationship with them. Plus, I've always wanted to fuck an alien, so I hope they ain't evil or ugly.

As they neared the sound from within the forest, they could see an open field. As they exited the forest, there were signs that logging had taken place, trees cut and felled. Looking off into the distance, they noticed a large white object and a large wall still under construction. As they got closer, they started to see triangle-shaped buildings and people. "Dig it deeper!" I need more rope."

Mr Major: Was that Engdarin? I can understand the alien language. Why? That doesn't make sense.

Timmon: Nah. I hear it, too. But how? Our language is a blend of the two dominating cultures on our planet. There is no way it's the language of the universe.

Ben: May… Maybe it was just a coincidence. Or the knowledge was implanted into our minds like the knowledge of the latent combat abilities our muscles remember.

Timmon and Mr. Major realized this was the settlement. How long had they been lost in the forest? Had it really been five days since they left the crater's wall? They looked out over the horizon at the snow-tipped peaks.

A man working on the wall construction noticed them and started yelling at someone behind the wall. Soon, more people began to gather, watching them. As they stumbled under Ben's weight, their fatigue became apparent. Seeing this, the onlookers poured out into the open field to meet them. The field between the forest and the wall was vast, and the imposing size of the wall hinted at the extensive compound beyond.

Passing through the gap in the unfinished wall, they caught sight of the compound's layout. For a moment, they forgot they were on an alien planet. The person in charge of the design had truly outdone themselves. They really put their foot in the pot when they were cooking up this look. The A-framed log cabins looked impressive, and the buildings seemed to shrink as they ventured further in. They were clearly standing on business in a place meticulously planned and executed.

Person One among the crowd called out, "Did any of you contact Harry, Webber or the council? We need at least Harry to meet us over in zone owl."

Person Two approached the trio. "Let's get them up off the ground and take them to the research lab. This one is not looking too good. Plus, he's covered in Gel plants, so it's going to be a serious matter if any of the plants are carbon or calcium miners. We should take them off before we get there."

Person One nodded, his expression serious. "It's gonna hurt, but just take the gel and leave the plant to the doctor. Actually, on second thought, let's get this thing off. He could die if the roots aren't pulled out, the doctors could probably take out the rest."

Ben's agitation was palpable as he exclaimed, "Hey! What are you doing? Don't you dare steal my belt from me! Hey! Stop that! What the heck kind of welcome and help is this?"

Timmon's voice was a calming presence amidst Ben's frustration. "Ben, calm down. Whatever that belt means to you they do not care for it. Look they just dropped that shit on the ground. I don't think they care about it at all."

Ben's retort was laden with weariness. "I really don't have the energy to give a fuck right now. I just need my specimens. Their dumb asses probably can see the value in it."

Mr Major's response offered reassurance. "Maybe you are right and these people see no value in the plants, but clearly they know something about it that you don't. I'm sure they will be here when all is over."

Ben's concern shifted back to his belt. "What about the gel from my specimens, though? Hey, don't you hear me talking to you? What about my gel? My gel! Dammit! My belt and my gel!"

Despite the team's dire state, the settlers' indifference held a glimmer of hope that they would be tended to. With care, the injured team members were transported to the medical research building in an area they called Zone Owl. The attending doctors and nurses diligently addressed their wounds, revealing the gravity of Ben's condition. Among the trio, it was evident that Ben's body was even more depleted of vital nutrients than initially assessed, raising concerns.

The nurses began to examine Ben's body meticulously, searching for any signs of burrowing marks. To their astonishment, they discovered that his lower abdomen was threaded with fibrous protrusions resembling hair.