Novels2Search

Chapter 3

Avakian had bidden a fond farewell to the casket that had been his entire life until his fated union with the ground, and was now travelling on foot. Where might you ask? Why forwards of course! Travelling backwards or sideways wouldn't make much sense now, would it? You'd trip over something!

He was content to simply stroll through the forest taking in the new sights and sounds. His vast repertoire of knowledge informed him that the tall things with leaves were called 'trees', and the stuff he was walking around on was 'dirt'. He knew the being he met with earlier was a 'bird', however he did not know what that particular bird was called. He resolved himself to ask it next time they met.

The air in the forest felt nicer to Avakian than the air delivered to him in the pod, he liked the cold feeling it brought him as it hit the back of his throat and entered his lungs. He was enjoying it so much he stopped looking around in order to fully appreciate breathing in the forest air.

"This is great!" thought Avakian.

Lost in the moment Avakian stumbled; he realised he was walking through a patch of mud, ahead of him was a brook, gurgling to its own merry tune. He noticed he was getting thirsty, another experience he had never had to deal with before, so he drank a few handfuls of the water before passing it by. On the other side of the brook was what appeared to a grassy plain, interspaced with yellow-flowering thickets that looked dangerously spiky. Avakian kept a few metres away from these bushes; being stabbed was decidedly his least favourite experience in his very short lifetime, so he promised himself he'd only do it in an emergency.

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

Avakian was almost getting close to being bored of walking when he spotted a large grizzly bear pawing at something on the ground, it also seemed like the bear had noticed his presence, as it nodded its head in his general direction. Naturally Avakian did the polite thing and wandered over to introduce himself, as the bear sat back onto its legs and opened its mouth in a yawn.

"Probably tired" thought Avakian. "Why hello there, I couldn't help but notice-"

CRACK

A sound shot out from behind Avakian, interrupting his greeting, and a man's voice started yelling warnings.

"BAH! GET! GET BACK".

The grizzly stood on its hind legs for a few moments before turning around and bounding away from the noises with long strides. Avakian turned to investigate the source of the voice, to see an oldish man holding an equally oldish rifle. He was tall and wiry, with round glasses and a short beard that was more grey than black. The man was garbed in alarmingly mustard khakis, and had a wide brimmed hat in a similar shade. Avakian personally thought his aesthetic lacking, but he was stark naked and covered in blood, so who was he to judge?

"Who are.... what did you think... " Spluttered the man.

The man struggled for a good few moments to think of the words that aptly described his confusion at the witnessed scenario. Avakian naturally took this as his cue to start talking.

"Do you want to talk about polygons?"

The man now looked even more perturbed, and simply pushed his glasses up to pinch the bridge of his nose, an expression Avakian would come to realise was exasperation.

"You had better come with me." Stated the man, it being clear from his expression that he would brook no argument.