Chapter 11
Most of the day had passed by uneventfully, my shoulders were sun kissed, and I hadn’t crossed paths with anyone. The farther I traveled through the woods, the more I doubted my decision to follow the elf Vepar’s suggestion. The only sign of life were the insects that kept chewing on my skin, and I swatted another one on my arm.
Jitters lingered in my gut as I contemplated backtracking, taking the other path, except I’d come too far and going back meant I’d never reach the destination in time. So, I had to believe this was the right direction. Please let it be the case.
Mountains soared overhead like giants. Shadows already stretched over the landscape from the two suns dropping behind the hills. My stomach growled, but I checked my map for the tenth time for a river that should be around here. Finally, I emerged from the woods to an open cleared land, overshadowed by a sheer cliff where the most stunning crystal waterfall tumbling into a river.
A brilliant tranquility fell over the place despite the roar of the water.
Dying of thirst, I rushed forward, dumped my bag on the bank, and quickly scanned the crystalline purplish water for any creatures, finding it all clear.
Maybe I underestimated how easy this test might be. I stepped into the cool water, the pebbles under my feet were slippery. I dove in at once, the water crisp against my skin, a refreshing sharpness awakening me.
I swam toward the edge of the fall, water splashing everywhere and I found my footing soon enough. I cupped my hands to collect the chilled drink and sipped it at first, then gulped it feverously. I’d watched enough survival shows to know a waterfall was safe to drink.
A sudden explosive cry came from behind me, and I jerked around, choking down the mouthful of water.
Out of instinct, I dipped under the water, just my eyes and top part of my head visible, and I stared at a massive boar trotting toward the river’s edge. The animal had three eyes, the center on the bridge of the nose. And he was purple. If it wasn’t for the four inch tusks and razor teeth, I might have found it cute.
High pitched battle cries burst out from the forest. Four of the female Vepars charged into the area, brandishing blades, targeting the pig.
The animal unleashed a sound that sounded more like someone plucking the strings on a guitar on the same note, over and over, merging together into a weird sound that confused me. The boar spun and scratched the ground, the back of its neck frizzing.
I watched in horror as the animal charged after them, kicking dirt in his wake.
The women, suddenly realizing this may not work out so well, yelped and darted in three different directions, the boar chasing after them.
I laughed quietly to myself.
But this meant I wasn’t so alone in this area after all, and maybe this was the right direction in the first place. When no one returned after a long wait, I rushed out of the water and grabbed my stuff, noting a dead red fish on the shore. I ran past it. As much as I’d love to eat something, I wouldn’t starve for a couple of days and refused to make myself sick by eating something that had been rotting for who knows how long.
The cold settled in fast, and being wet, the chill had me shivering.
Another snarl came from up ahead, and I skidded to a stop, clutching my bag to my chest. I gasped for air, glancing left and right. I jolted sideways, deeper in the woods, the ground stabbing my feet with each step.
Another growl came from that direction too.
Panic strangled my chest, and with instinct taking charge, I rushed to a nearby tree with a low hanging branch. Threading the bag’s strap over my head, I threw myself upward and snatched the branch. I climbed the tree with my feet, then drew myself up and swung onto the branch, my heart pounding. But I was too close to the ground, so I scaled higher, finally taking a seat fifteen or so feet off the ground and trying to catch my breath.
I scanned the grounds only to see the purple boar dart past the tree, making his musical notes, which seemed so wrong. No signs of the other females.
Another growl sliced through the afternoon, and I shuffled closer to the trunk, clutching it, convinced whatever made that sound wasn’t the boar.
Night crawled over the sky, and howls continued along with numerous other animal cries and noises. I made the decision to spend the night in the tree, even if I had to stay awake to avoid falling out. Better to take my chances up here then down below.
Settled with my back to the trunk, I shifted until I found the most comfortable position and slouched back, my legs straddling a thick branch. The bark pinched my ass and here I was spread and naked out in the open. I ought to be mortified, but my only worry was that no bugs found me.
Staring up through the canopy, I found three moons, two of them so close, it felt like I could reach up and touch them.
Despite the beauty of this place, a sense of emptiness swept through me. Here I was on an alien planet, so far from my home, but the irony was that I never felt at home on Earth either. Not since losing my parents. With the Vepar’s reaction to my presence on their planet, it told me all the missing people from Earth couldn’t have been brought here, so where were they? Were Mom and Dad still alive somewhere?
Please be alive.
* * *
A half snort,half musical sound shuddered me awake, and the first thing I saw was the ground swinging toward me as I was falling out of the tree.
Panic gripped my heart as I frantically grasped for the branch, my body lurching sideways. Adrenaline soared through my veins and I let my legs swing outward while I gripped the tree, dangling there, my body swinging back and forth.