Early in the morning, at the entrance to the underground, Sun'i and Anakh, accompanied by three other men, prepare themselves for their journey deeper into the forest. A crowd of onlookers stands behind them, some watching with curiosity, while others are filled with worry.
"Alright, you need to be aware that we're going to venture deeper, right? So, first things first, you must listen to me. Second, don't stray too far. If one of you runs away, it'll only make us vulnerable. And lastly, don't die!" Sun'i imparts these rules to the other men. Their eyes convey not determination but rather a sense of desperation. They understand that this is a task that must be undertaken.
"Be careful out there, Sun'i. Having a stock of food is important, but losing people to obtain it isn't worth the cost," one of the elders voices his concern. Other elders also express their anxieties.
"I understand... Don't worry, I'll come back," Sun'i reassures them.
With these farewells, they set out on their journey, fully aware that the chances of survival are uncertain and appear to be leaning toward unfavorable outcomes. Nevertheless, they proceed with their mission.
...
Outside the forest, a black mist emanates from within, and intermittent roars echo out. It's not their first time within the forest, but it is their initial foray into its deeper reaches.
"You know the rules, and... there's no turning back," Sun'i says with a hushed tone.
They prepare their weapons: axes, spears, and wooden shields, anything that can potentially extend their lifespans before they advance into the unknown.
In the outer fringes of the forest, as expected, no beasts appear, and their usual prey is conspicuously absent. Yet, this unusual state only heightens their vigilance.
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"Something must have happened here... I can find no fresh traces of the beasts or their blood," Sun'i's mind races as he attempts to discern a plausible explanation.
"Let's go deeper..." Sun'i's voice is hushed, as though he fears something might approach them silently. But in this heightened state of vigilance, where focus is paramount, his words ring clearly in their ears.
They venture deeper into the forest, surpassing the area they had previously marked as safe. Their progress is slow and deliberate. The thickening fog poses a hindrance to their vision, but not an insurmountable one.
Once inside the forest, they realize that an eerie silence prevails. No sounds reach their ears, which only serves to ratchet up their tension. They refrain from speaking to one another.
Rustle
The voice startles them, causing their bodies to tense up in readiness for a potential attack.
"Abhy... check it," Sun'i instructs. Abhy, a man in his thirties with a relatively healthy body and few deformities, takes on the task. However, he has had trouble with speaking since childhood and eventually lost his voice.
Holding his spear, which is, in reality, a long metal pipe, Abhy cautiously prods the grass with the spear at the source of the sound. He uncovers a creature chewing on something in its mouth. The creature is small, black in color, possesses two dark eyes, and sports a horn on its head.
Suddenly, the creature takes notice of Abhy and without warning, it leaps toward him.
Stab
Abhy is unable to shield himself in time, and the creature's horn pierces his arm. Fortunately, the creature is small, and the injury doesn't have a significant impact on his robust body.
He seizes the creature, slams it onto the ground, and mercilessly stomps on it, swiftly ending its life. The sequence of actions unfolds rapidly, and before the others can react, the creature is already dead.
"Are you okay, Abhy?" Khar inquires. Khar is one of the elders accompanying Sun'i on this expedition, primarily because of his advanced age, which means losing him wouldn't greatly affect the colony.
Abhy nods his head, but he notices that the wound on his arm continues to bleed. Although it doesn't hurt much, the bleeding appears relentless. Frowning, he tears a piece of cloth and wraps it around his arm, but the blood still flows from the wound.
"Is it serious?" Abhy nods in response to Khar's question.
"Can you continue?" Once again, Abhy nods his head.
"Alright then."
Meanwhile, Sun'i, Anakh, and Al'an examine the creature. Al'an's role is to act as the carrier, responsible for transporting their loot. Consequently, his weapons consist of only a shield and a small dagger for self-defense rather than offensive purposes.
"Small, fast, with a sharp horn... potentially useful for weapons. As for the meat, its edibility remains uncertain. Threat level? Low... or perhaps medium?" Sun'i assesses the creature's attributes and potential danger.
Rustle Rustle
Once more, they hear sounds emanating from the underbrush. Their bodies tense up in high alert. Unbeknownst to them, they are already encircled.
The same small creatures from before now surround them, their black eyes resembling dark voids fixed upon the group. They stand ready to charge. The group of five swallows hard, acutely aware of their dire situation.
"Run! " ....
...