Deathly silence quickly re-claimed the area, chasing off the last echoes of unwelcome sound as the thick haze slowly set back in, shrouding the forest in a cloak of concealment once more. I worked hastily: time was of the essence having spent few too many precious minutes recovering. Those shrieks had been absurdly loud, not to mention its felling of numerous trees. Despite the fact that creatures in this area tended to be somewhat few and far between, the battle was likely the most action this desolation had seen in who knows how long, therefore I wouldn't have much time before something came sniffing. The fabric on my right acted as a multitool, its shape and form twisting into any aid fit for hacking away at the animal’s thick hide. The putrid stench of ammonia burned like all hell: one whiff and I'm sure I'd vomit. I covered my mouth, a vile black liquid spewing from the elk’s strange anatomy upon tearing an artery that should have long since atrophied. The process was much dirtier than I was used to, yet I couldn't afford to waste time slowing down.

The eerie silence of the forest crept its way into my mind and played a symphony on my nerves, making each and every motion seem that much louder. I eyed my surroundings, near certain I was hearing noises not my own. I gave the area a thorough once over, watching as the mist twisted and turned ever so slightly with each small disturbance. It was impossible to discern between a slight breeze of wind and the movement of some unseen stalker. I pressed a dirty thumb to my DP, A small spherical object ejecting from my pack, rising into the air and adjusting itself to a fixed point. It would act as an extra pair of eyes and ears, still I made sure to stay wary of my surroundings. While it was capable of picking up most threats long before I'd ever see them coming, it couldn't detect everything that was out there...

I tore a chunk of cold, neglected hide from the elk’s flank, prepping the dead skin for transport using a thin film meant for encasing messy parts. The device on my wrist vibrated, a noiseless rumble that could only be sensed through touch, signifying the awaited approach of my vehicle. The broad, elongated Grav-cycle uncloaked, easing into view as it weaved through the woodland, leaves and fog dancing lightly under the dim blue glow of its mute propulsion. It slowed to a stop nearby, sliding doors on the hood giving way to a compartment large enough to fit a person, stocked with an assortment of different gadgets and equipment as well as many other miscellaneous field essentials. I reached in, unhinging my siphon from its dedicated carry space.

Cylindrical in form and light in weight, the small canister was fitted with a retracting, eight pronged needle at its base. I hurried back over towards the body, shoving the capsule into the carcasses side, the squelch of degraded flesh forcing a grimace.

With the press of a button my snare dislodged, wires loosening before quickly retreating back into the device. My brisk pace was brought to a halt: I hesitated, staring intently into the foreboding blackness of the elk’s socket. A quick shine of light revealed the space to be hollow. Unsure of what i expected i continued, salvaging whatever teeth were still intact before moving then to its antlers, what with great effort were indeed severable.

With everything prepped and loaded, all that was left was to recover my siphon and find out just how worth the entire ordeal had been. I revisited the device as it neared completion, glossing over the information splayed cross my DP. I disregarded the less important details, ignoring the array of different fluids and their corresponding data as I brought my attention to but a single substance. The yield was low, but that was to be expected. The amount only mattered in part, whereas the true value lies in...

(1%)

...One...

I stared at the number in disbelief and slight confusion. No no, that number couldn't be right. I refreshed the information expecting an error that I knew to be impossible, looking back towards the face of my kill when the dubious number didn't change. My incredulity was cut short, ears greeted by the faintest of sounds. It was a call, whose source and meaning I was oblivious to.

My brain struggled to identify the noise, yet I was given no time to dwell on the imminent threat. My DP rumbled violently, a single signature appearing from its screen's edge, quickly followed by another, then a third. My eyes widened: I had seconds (at best) what with the ludicrous speeds they were moving. Shadowy silhouettes darkened in the distance, their size and sound of step growing faster than my senses would have liked to believe. I mounted my vehicle and pushed it to speeds that only such, near perfectly flat terrain would allow, spotter darting to accompany me by flying overhead. The dash of the vehicle flashed to life, displaying with maximum convenience just how fucked I was.

Shhhit.

They’d somehow doubled in speed, as if now certain whatever they were chasing was worthwhile. I hadn't expected them to be faster than me on this thing.

I slowed up a tad, switching to autodrive and letting them close in, waiting as the soggy pitter patter of multiple feet grew louder. I spun, slinging my weapon from my shoulder and unleashing a volley of shots. The shadows were one, maybe two steps ahead of me, resembling nothing but a few dark blurs as they vanished into the trees before I had even fully turned. It left me short of breath, seeing just how dangerously close they’d gotten contrary to where I thought they were. A considerable amount of distance was put between them and I as they moved to run alongside me. It was easy to tell that this wasn't their first time: they were large enough to swallow me whole yet held a knowing respect for my weapon, fully aware of its potential to harm. They kept just enough trees between us to evade my shots growing closer between my divided attention, giving disapproving snarls and backing off whenever It was aimed at them. I looked to the dash, my spotter having finally managed to provide insight regarding my pursuers physiology.

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The vehicle shook: Its clearance couldn't keep up with the shifting terrain, not at these speeds. My next move would have to come quickly, it'd be a bit of a gamble but I didn't have much time till they decided to rush me all at once. I used nimble fingers to hastily tap away at the control panel while the fibers of my suit rushed to cover my ears. One of them took notice of my wavering awareness and immediately closed the gap at break-neck speed. It leapt, kindly treating me to a glimpse of my awaited death. Needle-like teeth lined its disfigured maw as long forelimbs built for speed lay outstretched. Its narrow, bony paws tipped with knife-like claws flexed, ready to aid in pinning anything the mouth managed to catch hold of. I could feel the shock of its forceful bite as its jaws snapped shut behind me. It’d missed my body by mere inches, head plowing into the mud as its large body tumbled in an ungraceful manner. The previously concealed ears on the other two unfurled, twitching in multiple different directions as they tried to locate their stripped sense of sound. One barked, a single hopeless shout that went unheard before being brought to an abrupt stop via ramming face first into a tree. The last eventually skidded to a halt, unknowing of what to do as it lost itself in a fit of mute rage.

…..

I gave my arm a whiff, wincing at the heavy hanging stench of death that clung to my person. I rummaged through the A-GC, picking out the necessary disinfectants required to properly cleanse the smell. The deodorizing foam swelled before evaporating and stripping whatever it touched of its scent, yet remnants of the nauseating miasma continued to waft from an elusive source, teasing my nose with its repulsive singe. I doused everything that had been even remotely close to the heap of rotting flesh before throwing the capsule back into the trunk out of frustration and leaning on the chassi. I sighed, recollecting my encounters and the unfortunate circumstances that led up to them. I could only hope things would be smoother from here on out, especially now that I was out of that megafauna favoring hellhole. It hadn't all been a complete shit show however, not only did I manage everything that I came for as well as a substantial amount of the good stuff; it was also the first time I'd seen a more... “traditional” looking cervid which were few and far between nowadays to say the least.

I sealed the vehicle shut. The AI within was responsible for maneuvering it safely through the lower levels of the forest while I traversed the trees, a task I knew I could comfortably entrust to it. Using the combined powers of cloak and noise inhibitors the entire vehicle seemed to disappear from existence. My spotter (which had been dutifully watching over me) descended, coming to a light rest in my palm. I took one last look at the map data, there was a lot of ground to cover and I would need to move quickly if I wanted to make good time.

…..

The Luxuriant Greenery of the forest was a familiar sight, a welcome one. I breathed deep, letting the dampness of its crisp air chill my lungs and ease my stress. The fog, while still present, had been reduced to no more than a light haze of thin clouds that peppered the biome, varying mildy thickness. A tangled mess of vegetation made up the understory below, keeping whatever resided beneath a complete mystery, parting only for large rocks, plentiful streams and river channels that weaved their way through the forest floor. Thick trees of titanic proportions enveloped my surroundings, swallowing up more and more residual light the further down you went. Broad moss covered trunks supported the towering structures as they stretched far beyond what was visible from below. They grew in strange and erratic formation, extending, twisting and intertwining with each other in ways that forged a vast network of strong branches one could traverse from a multitude of different angles. Each limb teemed with life, bark coated with countless variants of lush verdure growing from and on their main body. The beauty was irrefutable and its serenity calming, able to easily lull one into a state of unguarded bliss.

It was all nothing more than a gross deception enacted by a green hell...

I slinked through the jungle with adept precision, bounding from branch to branch and gliding down irregularly curved trunks, each maneuver producing only minimal disturbance. It was particularly quiet, though not nearly so as the last area. The sounds of rushing waters were nothing more than faint white noise at this height, beaten out by the rare squawk, chirp or howl that resounded from within the forest depths. Room for growth was limited and not without consequence: creatures here would be considerably smaller, yet that didn't make them any less dangerous; one could argue that this environment was much more treacherous than the last, and they’d be correct, however it was something I'd grown accustomed to in more ways than one. Most my gear was tailored to its traversal; with a decent enough understanding of the area, periodical use of my spotter, as well as taking multiple precautions, I was able to keep the task of navigation and avoidance of its many dangers just a few hundred steps under mundane.

I came to a stop, perching on a branch in response to the rumble of my DP, a familiar vibration, one that demanded my attention. It brought warning of a change in weather, advising that I hold position while it gauged the extent. Calm sky’s could turn to hurricanes in a matter of minutes. Foresight was imperative in such cases and I had no problem putting pause on my journey to do so. I released my spotter, watching as it ascended into the trees above, leaving me in wait.

Despite not feeling particularly drained, I decided now would be a good time to recharge. I fished out my supplement, a nutrient rich solution that provided 48 hours worth of the body’s necessary sustenance. Fibers parted, exposing the skin of my shoulder. The material that covered my body was synthetic in nature, allowing for alteration in its shape, color and hardness, though the region around my right was exclusive in its transformative ability, nevertheless the entire suit was capable of an adaptive environmental camouflage, keeping a pattern most similar to its surroundings, though while not the best of veil’s it was still better than nothing.

I prod the needle into my arm, waiting out what few seconds the fluids took to dispense. My heart contorted in its fleshy confines as leaves rustled and A small blur flew past the corner of my vision. I quickly looked to the overhanging foliage from which it had fallen, eyes scanning the trees above, searching for anything that would signify some sort of oncoming attack, yet as moments dragged and nothing happened I slowly began to question the existence of any immediate danger. Should there have been a threat I would have been notifi- It was off...

I mashed buttons, tapped the display, each attempt failing to elicit a response from my DP’s voided screen. I relented, pulling a diagnostics tool from my pack. My dread came in stages upon opening my hand to find the device to be just as unresponsive, progressing as I shuffled through the remainder of my gear, all of which shared the same lifelessness. A stark, terror filled realization struck me and I quickly peered down into the forest depths to where one of my most important pieces of equipment had fallen.