No time to Morn

I had been moving for half an hour to get as far from the smell of blood as I could before finally taking a moment to try and find a way out of the forest. Prior to this mission, we had sent bots to survey the area. I thought back to my study of this world and the several observations of this area, I go south, and I should find my way to an open area. With the drones, it's only an hour or so out, but I have no idea how long it could take me on foot.

I have to try, but just in case, if I don't see any signs an hour before dark, I'm taking shelter wherever I can. It might not be safeest plan, but it's at least promising. As I sort out my thoughts and align myself with the compass on the arm of my suite.

I quickly but quietly trudge through the thick forest, hoping to get out before dark and carefully listening for any predators. I felt like I was suffocating in the silence as those three and a half minutes ran through my head over and over again.

The anxiety had caused me to hyperventilate as I continued to push forward until breathing became difficult. The tank was out of air, pausing I moved to unseal the helmet and attempted to adjust to the denser air of Typhon.

Forcing myself to focus on breathing helped me calm down enough to think rationally first a moment. I needed to get out of the forest before dark. If I don't, I will have no chance against any approaching predictors. If I can hardly hear or see them now, I can only imagine how dangerous it will be in the dark. As I thought about my goals, thoughts of my team crept back into my mind.

I could have saved Nix if I had kept the felines' attention off the landing spot. If I wasn't so slow to adapt or if I had done more damage than maybe. They're all dead because of me. We never stood a chance. We couldn't even land a hit on that thing.I didn't even bury the dead because I was a coward. I failed the team, and now... now I...

I stopped myself from indulging in those thoughts. I can't afford to be in that state of mind right now. I can't afford to morn them right now. I need to keep moving.

I had been trudging through these thick trees that appeared to scrap the sky for hours, my body mind and spirit werI was on the tired beyond reason, but if I stop, I'll die. I pushed on for as long as I could and was now on the edge of collapse. The forest was rapidly growing dark, and I was hardly functioning. I was as far as I could get and unsure how much farther I had to trudge before making it out.

I needed to take cover for tonight. I'll have to finish my escape tomorrow. I began to hunt for a place to hide while there was still light to guide me. As I look, I noticed a large hole in one of the thick trees about 8 feet off the ground. It would give me coverage and keep me off the ground.

I get the lightweight reinforced climbing tethers and fire the wire into the trunk just above the hollow knot in the tree. I then carefully ascend to the gap where I set up camp. After inside, I detach the hook and cover the hole as best I can to further mask my presence in sent, sight, and sound.

Out off fear for being found out, I eat a bland ration that has hardly any sent. I can't risk making a sound or lighting this place up, or something could find me, so tonight, I have to go without a heat source. I take my sleeping bag and curl up in the crevice of the tree, sleeping lightly as I listen for danger.

I wake early just before the sun rises and begins to clean up and pack. After another bland meal, I consciously remove the tarp covering the hole in the tree to put it away.

As I remove the tarp, stop breathing for a moment as I stare down an almost 25-foot drop from my perch. The tree had grown nearly

17 feet in one night.

I panicked, but I didn't have the luxury of staying up here. Even if I did stay here longer, it would just make my situation worse as the tree continued to grow.

Finally, I shot the grapple into the back of the trees knot and shakily began my descent.

My grapple would only get me about 20 feet down, so as long as I didn't take too long, I could free climbing the last portion safely. The wire was fastened to my belt like harness, allowing me the chance to have a better grip on the tree as I climb.

I had been climbing for a while and finally came to the end of my rope. I'd have to detach the hook from my belt rather than dislodge it from the tree for now, or it could hurt me as it came down. I cut the wire carefully to keep my grip as I held to the large trunk.

The last leg of the climb was a challenge but was still possible. It was a pity I had to lose my grapple, but It was a small price to pay for survival. But it wasn't over yet. I still needed to get out of here.

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