Jal yanked his clothes, belt, and boots on, grabbed a flashlight and weapon, and went out of the tent. Zalim wasn’t there; it was his turn for guard duty. As it moved the light back and forth, it didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. It walked between a few tents toward the fire.

“Zalim?” Jal called as it tried to remember who else was on guard duty. “Badas?”

“Hey, Jal!”

“Badas, what’s happening?”

“Nothing that I’m aware of.”

“Someone shouted.”

Together they walked through the campsite, then in a wider circle, thinking that someone had gotten up to relieve themselves. They met Zalim as he was coming out of the bushes.

“Did you shout, Zalim?” Jal asked. Zalim shook his head. “Did you hear anything?”

“No.”

“Let’s check the meat that was hanging from the tree. Maybe there was an animal there.”

They walked to the tree where the animal had been hung. It was gone. “Well, that’s just great,” Zalim muttered dejectedly. “Now everyone’s going to be mad at us.”

“The question is, what took it?” Jal said. It shone a light on the ground looking for paw prints or other markings. “I don’t see anything. I guess that whatever took it is enjoying it.” Jal sighed, “I’m going back to bed. Wake me if our visitor comes back.”

Jal slept uneasily the rest of the night, wondering if the group was being watched by an unknown animal. It hoped no one would be attacked if they got up to relieve themselves.

In the morning those who had been in the hunting party that had killed the hoofed animal were angry. “All that work for nothing,” one of them said.

“Let’s go out this morning and see if we can find anything.”

“Yes, but will we have time to process it and dry all the meat?”

“If we leave in just a few minutes and find an animal right away, we probably could. If a bunch of us are cutting it up, others can create drying racks that we can set over the fire.”

“We could have two fires. Maybe Jal would let us use that burning pit.”

A short time later, the hunting party went off, after talking with Dr. Gyasi and Jal. Jal filled the firepit it had created with wood. Other people helped after they had eaten, gathering wood and sharpening knives, so they would be ready when the group returned.

In mid-morning, the hunters returned. This time they were carrying two medium-sized animals that hung suspended from long poles. They spent the rest of the day cutting up and smoking strips of meat and cooking a few larger chunks for an evening meal.

Jal spent the night by the fire, making sure it kept going and sleeping only after the second set of guards came on duty. It woke just before dawn. Seeing that Zalim wasn’t in the tent, rolled out of its sleeping bag.

Jal knew that Zalani and Zalim were on the late guard shift and wondered where they were. It walked through the tents to the fire, but no one was there. Jal uneasily circled around the tents again, testing each one to see if the occupant had used a security charm. Half of the group had used them. Shaking its head and wondering what people were thinking, Jal made a bigger circle. There was no one around. The central fire was still smoking, Jal noted, but the one over the pit had burned low. The racks for hanging meat had tipped over and some of the meat was on the ground.

Jal went to Dr. Gyasi’s tent. There was no security charm in place and the entrance hung open. Jal put his head inside. No one was there. “Three people are missing,” it thought. “Maybe they walked down to the cove.” When Jal got there, it didn’t see anything, and returned to the campsite.

Again, Jal circled the camp. This time it looked for breaks in the brush indicating that someone had gone through them recently. There were two places that seemed to be fresher than the other places. Thinking that it shouldn’t go off without telling anyone where it was going, Jal returned to the campsite.

Luminary Dev was at the firepit, getting a fire going and looking through the supplies getting ready to prepare breakfast. “Good morning, Luminary,” Jal greeted him. “Have you seen anyone else this morning?”

“No. Golsho was on the second shift for guard duty but I’m not certain where he is.”

“I haven’t seen him. He didn’t go off to relieve himself?”

“I don’t think so. I haven’t seen him since I went to the tent last night.”

Jal touched its communicator, “Dr. Gyasi, please check in.” Jal waited a few minutes, then tried again. There was no response. “Zalim, Zelani and Badas, please check in.” Jal repeated its requests for the four to check in. After a third attempt and silence, Jal pressed its button for the Protectorate.

“This is Jal Jomari. I’m requesting a location check for four persons.”

“Please state their names and a general area of focus.” Jal told the security monitor the group’s present location.

“The four signals are about four kilometers west of where you are.”

“Are they close together?”

“They seem to be on top of one another.”

“Can you use a satellite to zoom in on their location, please? I just want to ensure that they’re safe.”

“It will take a few minutes, Jal.”

“I understand.” Jal tried again to contact the small group, but no one answered its request.

A voice came over the communicator. “It appears that the people you are searching for are in the center of an open area. There are several humans that are standing around them.” There was a pause. “Unidentified parties are about four meters tall, covered with long brown hair or fur.”

“Thank you.” Jal turned to the Luminary. “That means four of our people have either left the camp by choice or were forced to.”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“Have you awakened anyone? What do you think we should do, Jal?”

“I’d like to believe that they found something and are on their way back. But I would think they would tell someone where they were going. I’ll keep trying to communicate with them. If they’re not back within two hours, I think we need to send a small group of people after them.”

The Luminary joined Jal and they walked the perimeter of the camp. Jal pointed out the places in the underbrush that looked more recent than others where people had gone to relieve themselves.

They went back to the fire circle and Jal built it up so they could make some brew and tea. The other members of the group slowly joined them at the fire and began to cook breakfast. When most of them had gathered, Jal announced that four members of the group were not in the camp.

“I’m looking for someone to go with me to make sure they’re okay. I spoke to the scientists at the Protectorate and it sounds like they are with a group of Nemori. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad; I expect that this is a different group from those we’ve already met. I need three volunteers to go with me.”

“No, Jal,” the Luminary interrupted. “You need to stay with this group. You and Dr. Gyasi are the leaders, and if both of you are injured or killed, someone will need to lead. Now, who will go with me?”

Jal tried to object, but the others agreed with the Luminary that it was best if Jal stayed with the main group. Ladi, Sidi, and Chetan volunteered to go with the Luminary. “Maybe you should stay behind, Luminary,” Sidi suggested. “If they are being held against their will, it would be best if we had someone who had excellent fighting skills.”

“I’ll go,” Tomau stepped forward. “I’ll lead the group.”

“Are you sure?” Jal looked at the four volunteers. “Are you willing to do what Tomau tells you? Without questioning him?” They each said they would. The four went to their tents, gathered the things they needed, and gathered at the spot where the fresh opening had been made into the rainforest.

“I want you to stay in contact with me,” Jal said nervously. Tomau said that he would and followed the path where the greenery had been smashed, as if someone had walked on it.

The small group followed the trail that had been made, walking single file. In less than an hour, they slowed when Tomau whispered to the others that he saw motion ahead. They crept slowly forward, checking all around themselves, until they stood at the perimeter of an open area.

“We’re at the edge of their camp,” Tomau whispered into his communicator. “I see our people. They’re sitting near a fire. It looks as if their hands and feet are tied. The Nemori appear to be armed with long spears.”

“How many Nemori are there?”

“I see four. There’s a small hut. Someone may be inside.”

“We’re going to spread out and take them by surprise,” Tomau said. “Ending communication for now.”

After a whispered conversation, Ladi, Sidi and Tomau crept along the edge of the clearing. Three of the Nemori seemed to be busy with something near the hut and the fourth one stood facing the prisoners.

Tomau stepped from the underbrush. He leaped at the guard, knocking it off its feet. Both fell. Tomau landed on top, but was only there for a second, as his opponent tried to get to its feet. The two wrestled, first one was on top, then the other. When the hairy bipedal was on the bottom, Tomau pulled out his knife and held it to the individual’s throat.

There was an unusual noise in the bushes where Ladi was hiding, and a Nemori looked in her direction. It did not see Ladi, and she crept closer to the clearing. Suddenly, she raced into the open area, between the Nemori and the prisoners. “Where are their weapons?” she hissed at Golsho.

“Over there,” he pointed.

She sliced through Golsho’s bindings silently, and whispered, “Get their weapons!”

Golsho got up and dove for the spears. He picked one up and aimed it at the three Nemori.

Sidi and Chetan raced into the open area and stood opposite Golsho. Now the three were encircled. Sidi tossed her sword from hand to hand, then waved it at the three Nemori who had been focused on their task. Two of them advanced at her, and she prepared to attack.

At this point, the Nemori that Tomau was sitting on tried to escape, and Tomau pressed the point of his knife into his opponent’s neck.

“Where are your weapons?” Tomau called to Badam.

“In that building.”

“Is there anyone in there?”

“No.”

“Ladi, cut their bindings. Dr. Gyasi, go get your weapons,” Tomau said.” Again, the Nemori tried to move under Tomau and quit when he felt the knife blade. “We aren’t here to hurt you,” Tomau said to the Nemori. We came in peace.”

“Peace,” the Nemori said. “No fight.”

“No fight,” Dr. Gyasi said.

As Zalim, Zelani and Badas, were released from the braided vines that held them, they accepted a weapon from Golsho. Now the Nemori were outnumbered, eight to four.

“Now what?”

“Just a minute.” Tomau spoke into his communicator. “Jal, we have captured four Nemori and freed our friends. How would you like us to proceed?”

“Bring them back here,” Jal answered. It knew that that the four prisoners would be outnumbered in the camp. Hopefully they wouldn’t try to escape.

***

Once the twelve were in the travelers’ camp, they were surrounded closely by people with weapons.

“We have come in peace,” Jal said.

“Peace,” one said. “No fight.”

“Sha,” Jal answered. “No fight.” Jal pointed to itself, “Jal.”

The Nemori pointed to itself, “Nak.”

“Nak, we’re going to the Enclave. Cho eto.” Jal made a motion to indicate the dome. “We want no fight.”

“You no fight? Go cho eto.”

“Do you know Cade?” Sage Elvan watched Nak’s face.

“Sha! Cade!” The Nemori hooked his thumbs together. "Cade!" He pointed south. He pointed to his friends, then pointed east.

“Do you fight with Cade?”

“No fight. Cade Nak vinur.” He hooked his thumbs again. “Vinur.”

“I think he means ‘friend,’ Jal,” Sage Elvan said. “Let’s offer some food, and we’ll try to talk with them.”

The four Nemori quickly ate the food offered them and were given more.

Sage Elvan and Dr. Gyasi sat with them after everyone finished eating. “No fight,” Nak said. He motioned to the weapons and patted the ground.

“Let’s lower some of the weapons and back up a step,” Golsho said. “No fight.”

Sage Elvan, Jal, and Dr. Gyasi sat for some time trying to communicate with the Nemori. Finally, Jal said to Nak, “Is there a Risar around here?”

At this, the four Nemoris’ eyes became wide and fearful. “You vinur Risar?”

“No,” Dr. Gyasi responded. “No vinur Risar. If we see Risar we will hide. Haulpa and fida.”

“Sha,” Nak said, “Haulpa and fida.”

“Can you lead us to the cho eto? The enclave?”

“Lead?”

“You go. We go behind.”

Nak didn’t understand. Sage Elvan went to the fire and got a stick. He drew in the dirt. Nak still didn’t understand. “Jal lead,” Sage Elvan said to Jal. “Dr. Gyasi follow.” Jal took Dr. Gyasi’s hand and motioned for him to go behind. Sage Elvan repeated itself several times, before it seemed like Nak understood.

“Sha, we go cho eto! We lead. You follow. Sha, sha.”

Members of the expedition ran to gather their things and take down tents. When several of them had packed their things, they went to the meat racks and packed the dried meat into bags. Others gathered the cooking gear. It didn’t take long before everything was packed.

“Nak, we go cho eto. You lead. We follow.” Two of the Nemori stepped on the path that the group had taken from the Nemori camp. Members of the expedition followed, then the other two Nemori. Zemani and Verle were at the end of the long line. When they neared the camp, the two Nemori in front began to talk to one another. Golsho and Sidi whispered to one another, nervous that they were being led into a fight. They raised their weapons, ready for trouble. Several steps into the clearing, the Nemori stopped and turned.

They tried to grab Golsho and Sidi’s weapons but were unprepared for the fury that the two unleashed. Golsho leaped for Nak, then aimed Nak’s weapon at his stomach. “No fight!” Golsho shouted. The other Nemori was quickly overcome by Sidi and the people behind him. “No fight!” they all yelled. Once again, the Nemori surrendered.

Golsho, the Luminary, Sage Elvan and Jal had a quick conversation about what to do with the Nemori. Golsho was sent off to see if he could find a route in the direction of the enclave. On the far end of the clearing, he found an opening in the low-growing plants that was beaten down. He motioned to Jal, who followed. Before the group set off again, the four Nemori were separated. In this way, the group arrived at the enclave in mid-afternoon.

Dr. Gyasi took a few members with him to see if the security building was at all operational. It was, so the Nemori were pushed into individual alcoves. The force fields were turned on to keep them in place.

He and Luminary Dev went into the transport room where there was a communication system. After several attempts to make it work, Luminary Dev used his personal communicator. It wasn’t long before a security team was dispensed to the enclave.