Already in the morning when the light was just peeking out, I continued to move forward in the thicket of the bamboo-like forest. Apart from the Tangled Gazelle, I hunted yesterday, I didn't see another creature but the walking pace was slower than yesterday. The rain that fell turned the ground which was already full of earth and ash into soft mud and it was difficult to hold my feet firmly. Luckily for me at least Rosalina can pinpoint the best places to step on. Minutes turned into hours as the sun moved across the sky and I continued to make my way through the undergrowth cutting further and further through the vegetation if there was no choice. All that was left behind was a trail of footsteps stamped on the mud that began to dry in the harsh sun of my windows today and I only hope that I will reach the end of the forest that has formed between the ruins of the metropolis.

I felt exhausted from the whole journey so I decided to try my luck in one of the buildings that popped up in the middle of my path. There was nothing in it except a key that looked like a door was in it and I entered it. As in the previous times, it is empty and there is nothing in it that indicates human activity, in particular the building itself. But this was not the time to focus on what was missing before I found a dark corner and sat down in it.

"Rosalina, could you show the journey map you made again?"

At that moment the hologram of the map again appeared in front of me and with it, the route was created to try to lead me to the airport. I followed a route shown backward until I came across a point where I am supposed to be present at this moment. I played a bit with the holographic map until I saw the route I had taken until now. I was in two days of walking and found no remains of wrecked spaceships, no means of transportation, no mechanical activity, and no general mention of anything that could have helped me get through the journey quickly. But I focused on the length I was walking. My jaw dropped.

"We've only gone two days out of the three days you said before. But we're not even halfway there!" I complained while feeling exhausted from walking.

I took off my helmet and as a result, the map turned off. From the torn bag I was sitting on I took out the half-cooked and smoked piece of meat and bit into it.

"Indeed. Remember that this is an approximate route. I have no way of knowing because of the disconnection what things will stand in the way" she replied:

"The straw-bamboo forest is an unexpected obstacle and the mud created by yesterday's rain is not optimal for fast movement compared to an urban environment"

"I know I know" I answered her as I chewed the last bite of the meat.

"What's surprising is how this forest feels endless. Its tangles make it hard for your sensors to know what's in the way and I'm not ready to grab onto buildings again. I don't have the desire to climb like a gecko again not after it nearly killed me. I think like the previous building too Here the stairs disappeared like Houdini. I would have loved a jet suit here. Just like a jungle rising from the ashes."

I sipped the water I had stored yesterday before getting up and putting my things back in place and putting on my helmet

"I guess we have to keep moving forward" I said at the same time that I was moving in the other direction according to the helmet screen showing.

I went through the entire dark floor with the flashlight as the only one to show me my way and trying to find another exit I went through the rooms one by one. This building had no doors at all but ashes were scattered everywhere. In every room, I entered there was nothing empty in it as if Kirk had finished building it. Until I passed through a large corridor and a strong light came from one of the open rooms. I advanced towards it and when I got there I found a big hole facing down from the ceiling and with it the room was full of supply cells.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Like a child who received presents for his birthday, I began to open them one by one full of excitement that I was able to find something in this empty place. The first compartment I opened contained nothing. My face looked so disappointed that I could see the reflection of my disappointed self. I jumped right into the next one and it already contained something: many bags of printable food. I collected everything I could before I checked their expiration date.

"They are safe to use"

Rosalina confirmed and I tried to cram them all into my torn bag. From what it sounds like it didn't go well. I decided to try to open more compartments and each of them contained something different cables for connecting salt batteries and tools for mechanical work. This is my lucky day! But the problem is trying to fit everything into a broken thing and none of them solves the bigger problems for me either. I stood and tried to think how to try to transfer everything or to give up what is least needed.

"I think I have a solution for that" Rosalina offered.

She projected onto my helmet a video of a storage compartment tied with the cables and the torn bag, to create something makeshift for a backpack dummy. It doesn't look comfortable, but it's better than nothing. Thanks to the mechanical tools I found, something similar to an almighty penknife capable of creating solid air of the desired tool, I chose the most convenient tool and started trying to create it in one of the cells I had chosen. If I'm not mistaken, this is the same one I was disappointed with, but now I give it meaning. After quite a bit of work, I was able to create several holes through which I threaded the cables successfully. Following Rosalina's instructions, I followed them until I was able to create something that resembled a set of cells tied on top of each other and all connected by the cables. The torn bag is used as padding between my shoulders. The weight didn't feel particularly heavy, so I'd better declare its mission accomplished!

For each compartment I sorted for each type I found or stockpiled and in a short time, I managed to store them all in a back storage that was as big as my whole body and I started to lift it. The weight felt very heavy. It wouldn't hurt to have a mechanical exoskeleton to help me with support, but I couldn't find one and they are also prohibited for use during carbonic anesthesia, which I was under forever recently. I took my first steps and almost lost my balance but slowly I started to get used to the new weight and it started to fly like riding a bike. I thought for a second about trying to grab and go through the hole in the ceiling, but with the new weight, I think I'll give it up and leave the room instead.

I retraced my steps and made my way back to the entrance of the structure and back into the dense bamboo-like forest. The ground dried out during my stay in the building and walking in it was much more comfortable but the new thickness of the warehouse only made it harder for me to move, but I had to try to push forward and stepped further into it. It didn't take much time and effort until Rosalina alerted me:

"Colin, sensors point to the end of the forest and a wide opening in the way"

This is a happy message and I started to move forward faster and better while I ignored the light load that was created on my legs and pushed myself further until I see that the vegetation is starting to thin out and I pushed further! A few more steps and I was finally able to get out of this forest! But what awaited me ahead amazed me: a wide and large forest of large, green trees. I got closer to them and some of them had very large pink flowers that could be seen from a distance. Next to them, in their place stood different types of trees with climbing plants between them. Beautiful on earth in a Zen that I advanced deeply into. The ground was soft and full of bits of leaves and what looked like green discs.

I picked up one of them out of curiosity.

"Error! Unrecognized plant! Unrecognized forest!" Rosalina started showing data on each of the trees and flowers that appeared until I couldn't follow them.

"Hold yourself!"

I told her before she downloaded all the data and calibrated herself, that the map on the helmet should be turned off and with it the other things that were displayed. I think I lost her.