Zayan’s heart rate finally slowed down and became calm. The forest also returned to its unnatural quietness, but Zayan knew that danger was still lurking. The locals were gone for now, but he couldn’t afford to stay in that tree for too long. He needed to act, and every decision had to be well thought out.
His mind drifted back to the survival strategies written in his diary, recalling the steps he had memorized for situations like this. He could picture the page as if it were in front of him.
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If hostile locals are met in a thick forest.
ESCAPE FOREST
1. Remain hidden at all costs until the threat has passed. Do not engage.
2. Observe the environment and map out the area mentally for any paths or obstacles.
3. Evaluate the locals behavior—determine their level of danger and hostility. Are they hunting? Searching for something?
4. Always be calm.
5. Stay near natural cover (trees, bushes) and move silently. Do not disturb the wildlife.
6. If the locals remain in the area, wait for nightfall. Darkness is your ally.
7. When possible, retreat in the opposite direction of the locals. Avoid confrontation.
8. If escape routes are blocked, look for high ground to hide or escape.
9. If spotted, run only when necessary. Remain calm, and use natural cover to lose pursuers.
10. Trust your instincts. Do not second-guess the plan.
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The point he remembered the most was the fourth one: Always be calm. Zayan inhaled and exhaled slowly, focusing on that simple directive. It had been drilled into him as this point was on almost every page of his diary. Panic would only cloud his judgment.
But now, the situation demanded more than just calmness. He had to adjust his plans based on his surroundings—adapt the plan to fit his situation.
Zayan knew that water was his best chance at finding a way out of the forest. Rivers flowed toward lower ground, which meant following one could eventually lead him out of the dense forest. But there was an important detail he remembered from his diary—rivers attract life.
Civilizations tend to flourish near rivers, and where there are people, there is always potential danger. There was no guarantee that the locals near the river would be friendly. Worse, animals also moved toward the water in search of nourishment, which meant that while the river offered a path out, it also posed additional risks.
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Zayan would need to be extra cautious. His plan would have to account for these new factors. He couldn’t simply follow the river without considering who or what might already be there.
Zayan decided that walking along the bank would pose too much danger. He would keep a safe distance—far enough to avoid being spotted by potential locals or animals, but close enough to follow its direction.
He reminded himself of a technique to minimize noise while walking. This technique was to shift his weight to the balls of his feet, walking with soft, controlled steps. This technique would work on soft ground only. For the hard ground, he had to take help of the classic—tiptoeing. This would help him avoid startling any animals or giving himself away to locals.
Zayan decided to constantly scan the forest, keeping an eye on any movement or sounds. He had already witnessed the giant wolf-like creature being hunted down—there could be more of them, or other predators, roaming around the woods. His eyes would remain on the trees, bushes, and shadows, always ready for a sudden shift in the environment.
Zayan realized that if backtracking or retreat was necessary, he would have to keep track of distinct landmarks—trees with odd shapes, rocks with unique markings—anything that would help him know his position.
The modified plan was now ready. Zayan picked up two of those apple-like fruits and tied them up to his sides with his t-shirt, reserved as emergency food in case he didn’t find any of these edible fruits again while roaming in search of the forest’s exit.
It had been some time after the locals had left Zayan’s range of vision. As Zayan climbed down from the tree, he took a deep breath, repeating the important point in his mind: Always be calm. Every muscle in his body was tense, but his mind was clear. He couldn’t let panic affect his actions.
His foot touched the ground lightly, and Zayan immediately crouched low, using the thick underbrush to conceal himself. He focused on every tiny sound he could hear and heard a faint sound of flowing water in a faraway distance in a direction towards his right. That’s where he would be headed, but he wouldn’t rush—patience was key. Every step had to be calculated to produce as little sound as possible.
With the balls of his feet planted softly on the ground, Zayan moved like a shadow. The forest floor was littered with muddy but dead leaves and twigs covered the mud, but he carefully avoided stepping on anything that might give him away. The silence was frightening, but it allowed him to stay focused.
After walking like this for what seemed to be an entire hour to Zayan, He finally saw the river, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He couldn’t afford to get too close but he saw the direction toward which the river was flowing. It was towards his left. Zayan turned in that direction and continued to walk again sticking to his plan.
With each step, he reminded himself: Always be calm.