Not alone

I checked my compass again before I started to move again. It was strange aside from the giant house cat I saw my first day I hadn't seen any animal life whatsoever. It was making me nervous. Animals tend to avoid high traffic areas and spots that smell like predators, and considering throughout our surveys of this planet, we hadn't found any higher intelligent life meaning I could very well be on a predators land.

Honestly, I'm not sure if I'd prefer thinking I was still on the felines turf or if I'd stumbled upon something else's land. Either way, I needed to stay focused and move quickly.

When I first arrived, I was confused about how the forest could be this enormous, but seeing how quickly the trees grow, I was starting to think this must be a fairly young forest. And the trees aren't the only thing strange about this place, as I've been walking the foliage seams to almost move away from me as I walk. It's like it's avoided me, It's strange how it acts so alive.

I walked studying the life around me for another hour or so before the forest finally started to thin, I was almost out.

I had begun to move pick-up speed when I noticed it started to go quiet. The quiet chirping and humming from the smaller life around had suddenly died down into an ominous silence.

I was being hunted. I quickly surveyed the area for some coverage, careful not to make any sudden movement until I had a destination in mind. Finding a half uprooted tree making a unique small cave system through the roots, I darted toward my safe spot diving into the roots, hoping whatever was after me was too big to follow.

Once in, I swiveled around hunting for my hunter in a panic. Things only got worse the longer I looked, I started to lose my nerves as I couldn't find it, I couldn't find anything.

I didn't know what to do. If I left, and It was still there, I'd be in danger, but if I stayed, it was only a matter of time before something else found me. I couldn't think straight. Should I say or should I go, If I'm up against the cat, I think I'd prefer to have the coverage in a battle, but if I'm up against something larger I could be crushed under the roots.

I sit there looking for any movement, trapped in my own indecisive thoughts, until I notice the wildlife starting to speak again. I might not have been able to see the threat, but the other wildlife could. I waited another moment before finally creeping out of the roots and starting on my journey again, only far more skittish than the last time.

I was almost to the clearing. I was only about 25 minutes out, even at my slower quitter speed. The wildlife was still chattering, but I still needed to get out of the forest before whatever was in there could sneak up on me again.

I was now at the edge of the forest, moments away from the dark woods. I had finally calmed down. It would be easier for me to see what was coming for me, and even if that was a two-way advantage, I still preferred my chances out there then in here.

I had only taken one step out of the forest when the air stiffened and the terrifying silence returned. Before I could even react, I was pined to the ground, an enormous weight crushing down on my back. It had come from above, It had been waiting for me. I couldn't see what had taken me down, but that didn't matter. I wasn't going down without a fight. My movements were restricted, but I still had enough room to take my small pocket knife from my sleeve and blindly jabbing it behind me. I felt it scratch my opponent, startling them enough to let me adjust my position, grabbing for my larger Damascus hunting blade with my other hand and striking true as my knife sunk into their leg causing them to screamfrom the pain. I let go of my blade, leaving it in as I knocked them off my back and dashed for the clearing as they recovered from the shock.

I had started to run from the forest but felt fear well up inside me as I saw I was surrounded. There were 8 of them closing in all with spear like weapons, and what I could only assume where painted wooden masks. They were minimally dressed most only with pants and boots made from some kind of hide. Knowing it would be difficult to break through their barricade from the front, I glanced over my shoulder, hoping I still had a week spot past the guy who I had already stabbed. Having seen how they quickly patched that with 2 more armed men, I deliberated with the thought of attempting battle, but even with my gun, there were too many of them.

My last chance was an attempt at diplomacy. I let my head gun fall around my neck suspended by its strap as I raised my hands above my head before I started to speak.

" I know you can't understand me, but hopefully, you can at least understand that I'm sentient like you, so let's just try and settle this like intelligent creatures, OK?"

It was stupid, but I was hopeful it could at least stall them long enough for me to think of a better plan. The groups' demeanor seemed to change as I spoke, and a few words were shared. That was until the one I had stabbed barked out, What I could only assume was an order, and a few of the younger men began to approach.

As they came closer, I was finally able to notice their appearance. They were tall and well built, easily towering over my 5' 5" height. I wasn't considered thin per say I had a soldiers physique, but I was down right tiny next to them. there skin had cooler tones to them with a few, even having slight green or blue under tones visible in the light. They appeared rather similar to humans, and honestly, aside from coloration and size, there wasn't much I could see different about them.

My appreciation of their appearance was cut short. However, as the young men took my arm's, fastening them tightly together by a strange, smooth, rope like object. They then pushed me forward, yelling a short word at me as they did. Assuming they were telling me to move, I patiently obliged, moving forward as the men took a marching order around me with two in front two on either side of me and two people helping there injured friend behind me finally there were the two directly next to me.

I don't know where they were taking me, but at least they were taking me alive.

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