Laying in a warm bed of soft grass, I drill away at the broken fang while casually watching Koko bound whimsically about the clearing. One second, he is rolling through the leaf litter, the next he disappears into a nearby copse. Constant rustling within the shrubbery gives me all the inclination I need to follow his tracks, all the way to the top of the tallest bush where he pokes his head out like a little scout.
For now I leave him be to enjoy his return back to his natural environment, after he was stolen away by that storm. Rather I look towards that which fills my soul with a mysterious sense of longing. Up high, an emerald green canopy spares precious few windows to glimpse upon the grand blue pasture beyond. A realm far beyond my reach given my current state, but for now I am satisfied. Just having the ability to look towards the cloudless sky with nigh a rock in sight does wonders for my moral.
Abruptly, I feel the tip of my talon breach through to the other side of the fang. With only a few steps remaining, I decide to focus my attention on finishing this little project for now. Flipping it over, I carve out the other side to provide a smoother hole. Then, when that's done, I can finally loop the cord of my necklace through the brand new hole and secure it in place.
Before I don the necklace once more, I suddenly realize that its purpose has been fulfilled, now that I have escaped. When I hold it up, the three trophies of my past come into clear view. The incredibly durable scale of that… unique… lizard. I guess I can consider him the first creature to interact with me, if you exclude the fish I caught. Then there's the latest edition, a trophy to remember my most dangerous encounter so far. But more importantly, to me it represents physical, tangible, proof of my resolve. Last but not least, who could forget the enigmatic gemstone that inspired me to create this necklace in the first place? Now that I'm thinking about it, it's almost funny that the most important quality that I attributed to it is probably the by-product of its main miraculous function. Here is an inanimate object that effortlessly absorbs essence like a sponge. Rather beautiful to look at as well, a spectrum of bright colors that change constantly as it dangles in the air.
As fun as it is to reminisce on my journey so far, I put it back on and spend some time taking in the rest of the scenery.
Something that catches my eye are marine flowers that dot the many tree trunks that surround us on all sides. Upon closer inspection, I get an eerie feeling of déjà vu from my time in the caves.
Thrumming with life, the specimens are more closely related to moss, or some fungus of sorts, rather than what I previously thought to be flowers. From the large central mass, several wiry vines proliferate out akin to a complicated web. Upon the ends, they penetrate into the umber bark of the tree, leaving the surrounding area decayed, possibly even dead.
Out of morbid curiosity, I hold up my opal to see what would happen. Sure enough, I can see a immediate reaction. New wire-thin growths emerge from central cluster and reach greedily for my stone. I've seen enough, and I back away from the blue parasite. But that's not all. After I withdraw, the heart of the plant begins to bubble outwards into a veiny collection of bulbous sacs.
At this point, I am thoroughly disturbed and back off even further than before.
All of a sudden, one of the engorged sacs explode, releasing a cloud of nearly transparent spores. If that were all, I would have been a bit disturbed, but I would be fine. However, all the other growths spread throughout the clearing begin to boil with newfound life in similar fashion to the first one I messed around with. One by one, I hear the popping explosions of spore pods all around me. I'm absolutely not sticking around to find out what's happening here, this is setting off every alarm in my head.
CYIIIII!!!
At the sound of my cry, Koko sticks his head out of a bush and starts looking around. He must have been too distracted with his shenanigans to notice what was happening, a mistake that is quickly rectified.
Chi! Chi!!
He comes running over, his eyes bulging with clear expression of fear. Seeing that he is following me now, I try to find a path through the woods that is clear of these exploding spore pods and get to running.
Thum
I stop in my tracks and look back. What the hell was that?
Thum
Again that same sound echoes throughout the forest. All around I hear the fluttering of birds that were hiding in the upper boughs, fleeing in chaotic unison. As if the entire world was now in turmoil, the forest erupts into an uproar of commotion. Creatures all over are howling and screeching in cries foreign to me.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Thum
The ground tremors ever so slightly even though the source of the fear-inducing noise is so far away. The steady pacing reminds me of my battle with Big Jonas, the titanic footfalls that chased precariously behind me. Surely there isn't something larger than that behemoth of a creature. Right?
Thum
You have got to be kidding me. I pick up the pace, doing my best to ignore the cries of protest coming from my chest. At this point, Koko is already well and ahead in front of me. I focus on his fleeing form and follow suit through the underbrush.
Thum
Thum
Thum
Thum…
After thirty minutes of painful running through the forest, the noise that heralded disaster is behind us for good. Much to my delight, those crazy blue growths thinned out as we ran, and now there isn't a single one in sight. Good riddance.
I hurl myself towards a patch of grass and try to get my breathing under control.
The escape through the wild twists and turns of the forest trails were far from ideal ground to run on. several times I had nearly tripped over roots hidden beneath the clutter of the thicket. Other times, Koko would dash through the lower branches of copses of shrubs and bushes, a privilege for creatures of his size, a luxury that I did not have in common. Instead I would either force my way through if I could, or find another way around.
Honestly, it's a miracle that I didn't lose Koko, and while I'm not sure if it was intentional or not, I'm grateful that he got us somewhere safe and free of those blasted things.
Just as I'm thinking that, I hear a rustling from above me. Then another. I try to push away my exhaustion to try and track what is moving around up there. As soon as I think I catch a glimpse, I hear more branches stirring unnaturally from behind. Snapping my head to my six reveals nothing.
Okay I'm starting to freak out here. I don't have the energy to escape from another unknown threat, I'm spent here!
Quickly I try to look around for Koko but he's nowhere in sight.
Koko?
Fear begins to sink in when I confirm he is nowhere near me. Just moments ago he was right there at the top of a grassy mound I was resting against.
Cyii?
Nothing.
I stand up and back myself up against a tree. Forcing what remains of my mental reserves into my senses, I desperately look around for the unknown threat. Emerging from the depths of my consciousness are thoughts of doubt and regret. Why did I ever leave the protective confines of that cave? I should have taken it slow and easy but instead I chased Koko through the jungle and now I have no idea where I am with no shelter to be had anywhere in sight.
Commotion from all around shoos away my thoughts and I desperately search through the boughs of the forest for any of these hidden enemies.
My nerves are at their wit's end. Where are you, you bastards!
Not wanting to stay in one place for too long, I rotate 180 degrees around my tree, all while scanning the horizon. When I make it to the other side, I race past a few trees before finding a new one as wide as myself, and in similar fashion to the one before, put my back to it.
In response, more commotion erupts from all around me before settling in. I think I catch a glimpse of something gray in the shade of the canopy, but it's hardly a useful clue. After all, I hardly recognize any of these creatures I've seen so far. Sure the impression is there, but as for actual species of all these things? Not a clue.
Right now, I would almost prefer the colossal, ominous, threat that came after those spore pods exploded. I could at least get a sense of direction and reasonably flee from it. These guys though? For all I know, they could ambush me at any point, but for some reason they remain just out of sight. Not knowing why is torture.
Again I try to reposition so I can thwart their plans of ambush. As I race through the trees, I am brought to my knees when the pain in my chest grows to be too much. Now exposed out in the open, I turn over to lay on my back, wincing and heaving from my over-exertion. The precious few seconds that I can scrape together between my haggard spasms of pain is spent trying to spot the enemy, an effort made in vain.
Something falls from high above and lands lightly behind me. A thought surfaces, making me aware of a choice here. Distraction? Or enemy?
I take my chances and look behind me.
Laying in a pile of cluttered weeds is the a snapped cord with a large scale inscribed with four crudely carved letters.
A complicated collection of emotions arises, and for just a moment, I lose my grip. My body freezes, unable to move, act, or think.
Before I can collect my fractured composure, something large lands on the ground behind me with absolute crushing force. Finally one of my hidden adversaries makes a move, yet I am unable to react.
I feel the grip of something large grab onto my frame and shove me to the ground. Immediately, I hear whoops and hollering all around me, breaking the silent tensions that prevailed this entire time. With what remains of my physical reserves, I try to break the hold over me, but to no avail. Rather the grip tightens and presses me harder against the earth. I can't even get my head to tilt over and see who is attacking me!
An audible snap rings out as both my necklaces are torn savagely from my neck. I try to sound out my protest but it goes completely ignored.
The act seems to have stirred the crowd, as now the rapturous cries in the canopy explode with renewed enthusiasm. While I have no idea as to what is going on beyond my immediate danger, I get the impression that I'm being mocked, and my blood boils with anger. Again I struggle to free myself from whatever grip is keeping me pinned so mercilessly, and again, I gain no ground.
In complete control of the situation, I feel more weight press down upon me and I catch a glimpse of a large shadow of the one so easily keeping me restrained. Next, I feel the feathers on my back pull up slightly as it gives me a good sniff. My feelings of foolish anger are replaced by trepid fear as I anticipate what is to come next.
Sure enough, the last thing I feel is a crushing impact against my skull.