Hours passed, and the team lost all sense of time as the relentless howling of the wolves reverberated through the forest, a haunting backdrop to their arduous journey. The wolves, unknowingly, had cast a sinister shadow over the forest, curbing the movements of other creatures that might have crossed paths with the weary team. It was as though their predatory presence had imposed an unsettling stillness on the forest, disrupting the natural rhythm of its inhabitants. The team pressed on, each step a testament to their resilience in the face of adversity
What the wolves failed to comprehend about humans was that when faced with a life-threatening challenge, they could transcend their physical limits for survival. With unwavering determination and a single-minded focus on their objective, they walked for hours, fatigue masked by their sheer will to endure.
The terrain began to shift beneath their feet, transitioning from the plush moss of the Spunnies' nesting area to a forest floor carpeted with dry leaves and dense thickets. It was a subtle change in the landscape, but it marked the end of one challenge and the onset of another.
Tobi, struggling to maintain control over his mind, muscles, and nervous system, lagged behind the rest of the team. The effects of the slime weighed on him, a burden that gnawed at his psyche. He couldn't help but dwell on the regret that had brought him to this dire situation – his impulsive act of abandoning the team when unity was most crucial. He felt isolated and used in the worst way, a stark contrast to the camaraderie he witnessed among his companions.
While they pressed forward, lending a helping hand to one another as they navigated the treacherous terrain, Tobi was unable to offer the same support. The nature of the slime forbade physical contact, leaving him isolated in his struggle. All he could do was watch as his teammates extended their hands to each other, offering support and encouragement whenever their legs grew weak.
During those painful moments of rest, the team cast a watchful eye back at Tobi, who struggled to catch up. This was a unique luxury Tobi had been denied. They weren't resting simply because they were tired; they were waiting for Tobi. He watched with a complex mix of gratitude and frustration as his companions reclaimed the little energy they'd lost, knowing that as soon as he arrived, they'd be ready to move again, offering him no respite.
Despite the restrictions imposed by the unforgiving slime, Tobi's determination burned even brighter. He understood the unpayable debt he owed to his teammates. Despite the disruptions he had caused, they had never considered abandoning him, and he was resolute in his determination to transform from a liability into an asset, determined to prove himself in the days to come.
Timmon: We're in dire straits, and Tobi's condition is getting worse. Look at him back there, all quiet and gross. Plus, we need to prioritize securing water and food. This is about more than just our mission. It's about sustaining our strength for the journey ahead.
Ben: I agree. But do you think we are not keeping a watchful eye for food and water? You keep reminding us as if this ain’t the reason we came out here for. The only other food option we’ve seen were the frogs, spunnys, wolves and the eggs. We just need to tread carefully with the vegetation here. We can't afford any more mistakes. The food and water has to be available, this forest feels like a rain forest. This is my contribution to the search, I’ve read somewhere that some signs of determining edible plants are their heart-shaped leaves, even though meat might be the best option, its not the only option, we need a diverse diet to stay nourished.
Mr Major: Right. A balanced diet includes protein. We've got to set snares along game trails. I'm not sure about you guys, but that's something I know how to do well. I've been hearing small game-like animals running around, despite the wolves influence. But they move too fast to see clearly. There could be rabbits and squirrels around. Who really knows? With patience and strategy, we can secure meat to aid our recovery, but that also includes taking an extended break to hunt and set traps in one area.
Scott: Squirrels and rabbits? The last rabbit we saw was a monster. This is an alien planet. Not because some of the plant life might be like Earth gives us the right to start thinking that the animals are the same. In addition to sustenance, we can't ignore the potential threats. This forest harbours diverse wildlife, some of which could be dangerous. Our alertness, observation, and readiness for confrontation are non-negotiable.
Ben: Guys, we keep worrying about food, but that is not important. To be honest, it is more risky than not eating. We can go at least a week without food, as mentioned in old history and survival books. All we need to focus on is getting water. Plus, why waste time on the uncertainty of plants? Timmon mentioned before we entered the forest that if it's colourful, assume it's poisonous. Does that apply to fruits and berries or just flowers? I need to know. Look at that plant right there. It looks like wild kale. I know they're safe to eat and packed with vitamins, fibre, and probably some other shit like manganese and blah blah. They'll boost our immune systems, which is essential in this situation. But can my Earth knowledge even be dependable here? Moreover, we need protein.
Mr Major: For securing protein, we're going to need to build effective snares. Small game can be elusive, but the traps must be designed for success.
Scott: Listen. Thats easier said than done, All that is important is that we can't forget to keep a lookout for tracks and signs of wildlife. I know Timmon is trying to create a mental map, and he's using the stones to create a trail of the path we've travelled. However, I’m not sure how he's using the stones to find a water source, but I have to trust that he knows what he's doing. Just like Mr Major, I’ve heard and also managed to glimpse small forest rodents scurrying from time to time, probably because I tend to walk ahead of the team at times, but whenever I go to investigate the rodent sighting, they leave no trace behind. At least nothing that I know I should be paying attention to, at this moment everything is alien to my hunting knowledge. The ability to evolve to this environment by understanding how important it is not to leave a trace or a trail for survival is incredible. These animals are skilled, and it's actually frightening. What kinds of predators are forcing the weaker to evolve like this? And what does this mean for us?
Mr Major: Whatever it is we are faced with, as humans, we will prevail.
Ben: This ain't VR TV. This is the real world. Humans evolved after countless losses of life over periods of generations. Let's just focus on what to do when we find water. Boiling or purifying the water is non-negotiable to avoid waterborne diseases.
Mr Major: We just need to keep pushing and keep an eye out on Tobi. He's strong, but he's dying. If securing a meat source is hard, plant is the only other option. For starters, we need to find out if the wild kale is edible. Tobi's in bad shape, and he could help us all. I don't want to force it on him, but perhaps he'd be willing to give it a try.
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Ben: I understand the urgency, but I can't agree with using Tobi as a test subject. It's ungodly and wrong to put someone's life at risk like that. There must be another way, one that doesn't involve compromising our ethics.
Mr Major: Compromising our ethics? He compromised our safety and our lives. I'm not suggesting we force him. It would have to be his choice. Tobi's strong, and he'd do it for the team. We just need to approach it with care and respect for his decision.
Ben: This isn't right. I can't condone using a person, especially someone as unwell as Tobi, to test something so uncertain. There's too much at stake here, and we should explore other options first.
Mr Major: Don't you believe in your skills and knowledge? You said this was wild kale, and it might be edible. What are the odds of it killing us? Won't it be less than 50%?
Ben: NO, I DON'T BELIEVE IN MY KNOWLEDGE OF PLANTS ON A FUCKING ALIEN PLANET! Listen, it's not up to me at the end of the day, but this will be a manipulation of his mind if you do this.
Mr Major: I don't like the idea either, but desperation can cloud judgment. Maybe I'm wrong, who knows? But we should see if we can find a safer way to determine which plants are edible. We have to respect Tobi's well-being and our principles.
Ben: Trust me, if we go down this path, we might find ourselves fighting each other along with the forest and its contents. We'll figure this out without compromising our morals. Tobi's well-being and our principles must guide us, even in the toughest of times. This is just the beginning; it will get more tough as we move forward.
Timmon: Alright, calm down. There's no need for you two to get worked up. Something might hear us besides the wolves, or worse, we’re driving the food sources away. Save that energy for running away when we need to. Now that we've discussed our approach, let's start by looking for those heart-shaped leaves. We can gather nuts and berries when we come across them and feed them to any small game that we'll capture alive, that way, we won’t have to food test on a live and sick person.
Ben: Agreed. We'll carefully inspect the vegetation for what we think is safe. We will have to find the ideal place to hunt, which will dig into our time spent in the forest. The snares that we'll build will have to be monitored. They won't yield results immediately, so we'll have to rely on whatever we can get our hands on.
Mr Major: True, we can't underestimate the wildlife. As we search for sustenance, we must remain vigilant for any signs of danger. Scott, from what I've seen, your skills might be needed here.
Scott replied, I'm on it. I'll keep a sharp eye out for tracks and other signs of wildlife. We can't afford any surprises out here.
Timmon: We should also discuss gathering edible insects if we can find them. They're a valuable protein source, and I've never heard of poisonous bug meat.
Mr Major: If you never heard of it, then it's because you ain't listening. I know I was military and that we're built differently, but your mother must have been a man if you think that I, Mr Major, am going to eat a bug. Do I look like a blasted animal?
Ben: Well, now that you mention it.
Mr Major: Shud up, Tobi.
Scott: Wait a minute! Ha! Ha! Tobi didn't say anything. He can't even speak anymore. Look at him behind there. Leave that man alone.
Ben: Listen, insects can be our lifeline, but we must be cautious about their identification. We don't want to ingest anything harmful within the bugs, plants or animals categories. Let us be smart about it and not pussy around what it takes to survive. Once we can put some fire under whatever we wanna ingest, I think it’s going to be okay.
Scott: Don't worry. I'll look for signs of insect and animal activity while learning to set up the snares with Mr Major. I hope we can find some big, juicy larvae or beetles if we're lucky. I wanna see you guys squirm. In case our foraging and trapping take longer than expected, let's discuss building a makeshift shelter. It'll protect us from the elements and any unexpected rain.
Timmon: Shelter's a good call. We need a fallback plan, especially with Tobi's condition.
As Ben listened to them talk about traps, camps and fires, a curious thought came to his mind. Turning to Scott, he asked; “Hey, quick question. I'm thinking about water. Could we consider following the animal tracks if you do come across them? If we can manage to get to fresh water, we could get some fish and mussels in streams and rivers.
Mr Major: Good idea, Ben. Mussels are a reliable source of good food. Boiling the water is key, so I'll handle making a fire from now on.
Scott: Why take that away from me? I suggested taking on the role of our fire marshal, our groups fire starter.
Mr Major: I just want you to focus on scouting only. You have a good sense and intuition. A skill that is top tear for survival. I just don’t want to place to much on your plate.
Ben: Fuck all this noise and ass kissing! I'm tired of talking and walking now. The way this hunger just hit me as you guys were talking, it should be a crime! I'm reporting somebody for this abuse of the mind, and gut. I'm hungry. I'm Thirsty. And I also want some dick and vagina with a side of tittes. When I get back to that field of over 2,000 people, I'm definitely cheating. Then again, if I follow prison rules, it's not cheating, right? It's just prison. My family will understand they know how much I love filling up on sex. It even gets rid of my gas sometimes. I'm so fucking hungry.
Tobi: Why are we whispering?
Mr Major: Shut up.
Tobi: Why did Ben say titties like that?
Mr Major: I said Shut up, Tobi, this is forest shit. That's what we do. Talk softly in dark bushes.
Ben: That's gay, by the way. Just wanted you to know.
Timmon: Are we gonna stop yelling? Inside voices, please, and thank you.
Scott: Okay, enough of that. We have a multi-pronged approach: forage for edible plants, set snares for protein, keep an eye out for insect sources, build a shelter, and locate a water source. It's all about balance and adaptability. I know we can do this. We are the smartest Earth has to offer. Just from the look of all the people who arrived on the planet that I've talked to, I can tell that the world we build will be better than the world we left behind. At least 60 faces among the 3,000 people looked impressive. If they can survive till we make it back to Earth, I know they are going to be kings and queens with unrivalled influence and strength.
Mr Major: Yeah, speaking of strong. A monk like figure, and another guy were sizing us up as we disembarked. And it made me uneasy. I didn’t feel threatened in any way but they felt capable of becoming a problem in the future. Besides the appointed General guy that asked us to go on this mission, those two were strong, really strong.
Ben: If you have the energy to talk, you guys carry me or something. I don’t have time to think about that Gemski guy. I didn’t realize till now but they sent us in here to die. No matter how I look at things, a larger group should have been the solution to entering into the forest. Our death is a political play to get people to fall in line! I can feel it in my taint. So it has to be true!
As they walked and talked, their human limits became painfully clear once again. Exhaustion and aches gripped their bodies, and Timmon could see that they were on the brink of breaking. All five of them were right at the edge of their final limit, and Timmon could see it, and surprisingly Mr Major wasn’t making a suggestion. Was he as tired as everyone else, or is he not paying as much attention to the team as he once did at the start of the journey? Before the tables turned and Mr Major could beat him to the punch, Timmon quickly decided to issue a rest period. It wasn't a life-or-death dash, so there was no need to push the team this hard when energy maintenance was the game. And this rest was a desperate need, like a lifeline thrown to drowning sailors.
Scott and Mr Major, shadows of their former selves, sped up and began scouring the alien terrain for a good place for refuge. After some time, their eyes, sunken and weary, eventually fell upon a tall kapok-like tree with large enough roots that twisted into a protective C-shape.
There, in that new eerie sanctuary, they made their stand for survival. With tired, trembling hands, they draped their slime-soaked garments near the entrance as a barrier.
Ben and Timmon worked together, collecting branches and moss for bedding, ensuring their team would have some comfort during the night.
Mr Major chose to focused on setting up snares, a crucial task to secure food for the group. Scott, on the other hand, gathered an assortment of materials, including vines, pieces of sticks, stones, and bones, presumably to be used for various purposes.
As the group dedicated themselves to these tasks, the mysterious whispers of the forest seemed to entwine with their exhaustion. The forest's eerie lullabies sounded like the creaking of trees, the wind blowing through the canopy leaves, and the singing of night birds. As it played, it began to envelop each member of Team Uno. Despite the unknown dangers lurking in this alien world, the embrace of slumber eventually overtook them, offering a temporary escape from the haunting uncertainties of this enigmatic planet, plunging them into a world of darkness, into the abyss of dreams.
But in a moment that shattered the tranquillity of their respite, the forest was cleaved asunder by a blood-curdling scream, an ancient cry that slashed through the silence like a vengeful spirit. Panic ignited like wildfire among the exhausted team. Their hearts raced like wild horses on the brink of a stampede. Adrenaline coursed through their veins like a surging river. Eyes snapped open, pupils dilating in anticipation of the ominous enigma that had violated their uneasy rest. The very forest, it seemed, recoiled in fear as though even the land itself shivered in response to this sudden intrusion, an omen of dread that gripped them all.
As the screech reverberated through the ancient woods, an ominous transformation swept over the once-peaceful forest. Shadows deepened as the atmosphere got brighter, and the dormant creatures lurking in the night stirred with newfound vigour as they ran through the forest away from the creature, all while triggering the snares Mr Major and Scott had set.