The jungle seemed to breathe around Carmen, rising and falling like the bosom of a lover. Loose pollen drifted through the air, floating on an ethereal tide of moonlight. Flowers bloomed along the narrow, beaten path with more colors than Carmen even knew how to name. There were flowers that looked like bells, flowers that looked like birds, and flowers that reminded the young woman of miniature supernovas bursting along the base of trees. Yet at the same time as she marveled at the beauty all about her, Carmen held close the warnings of her Vakronian friend, for she knew that the jungle was an exotic but murderous temptress.
The singing of water reached her ears. She was near the river. The walking path ended on a muddy beach, where she had found Jora washing laundry earlier. Making her way downstream, she found the bend where Jora had indicated it was easier to cross. Sure enough, the water slowed its tumultuous descent, and widened out over a shallow bed of rocks.
Carmen picked her way across, carefully stepping on each slippery stone. The water soaking through her shoes felt refreshingly cold. Still, she found herself missing the protection of her boot soles. And my pants, she thought to herself. As if wearing a gown for Lwaxana's welcome dinner wasn't bad enough, now Carmen was forced to wear a skirt every day of the mission. While women in Almer wore sleeveless tops that were often cut midriff, it was still highly untraditional for a woman to wear trousers or shorts. Instead, they wore skirts comprised of several "fashionable layers." Fashionable and useless.
Despite her best efforts, the hem of Carmen's skirt had picked up a fair amount of water. It clung to her legs as she pressed onward, no more paths to follow. Remembering Jora's warning about blackweed, she tried her best to keep from shadowy patches and stayed within the blaze of moonlight that cut a swath across the jungle floor.
An ear-splitting shriek pierced the air, giving Carmen a start. Thrice more the beast called. Then, with a great beating of wings, it took flight from somewhere above. Carmen lifted her head, searching for its silhouette. With a faint shudder of awe, she spied a dragon-like shape etched out against the canopy of leaves and stars. It glided on silent wings, a long tail following in its wake. Carmen wondered what sort of diet a brute like that might require.
Suddenly a crashing sound ripped through the jungle behind her. Something was barrelling straight towards the young woman. She slid a knife from the band of her skirt and, gripping it tightly, squared herself towards the oncoming danger. There was no time to run, no time to hide. Swallowing her fear, she braced herself for whatever monster would emerge from the alien dark.
A creature burst through the wall of leaves, landing two paws square on her chest. Carmen fell backwards with a thud that knocked the breath from her lungs. Though the knife dropped from her hand, she made no effort to retrieve it, for she recognized the silver-dappled fur of her attacker.
"Silver, you k'pekt!" she shouted, relieved and annoyed at the same time. "I could've killed you, you know!" She shoved him off and sat up.
The dog wriggled happily, delighted by her attention. Carmen hauled herself to her feet, looking around to make sure the dog hadn't brought anyone with him. "What are you doing out here, anyway? I don't have time for your games. You should go back home, where it's safe." But Silver bounded ahead, pausing here and there to sniff at rocks or crevices. "Hey! Dog! That's the opposite direction of home," she snapped.
Then Carmen realized something curious. Silver seemed to be keeping close to a particular kind of tree, with reddish bark and mossy roots. Dozens upon dozens of little white flowers dotted the moss, glowing phosphorescent in the moonlight with an eerie, almost ghostly shine. They formed a wandering trail across the jungle floor, and it was this trail that the dog followed.
"Alright, alright," Carmen relented. "You can come. But keep quiet."
So dog and girl followed the little white flowers, which looked to Carmen like a trail of stars. They crossed several tributaries, further soaking her shoes and skirt, and through patches of muddy mire. They climbed over fallen trees that lay peacefully in death like forgotten soldiers on an overgrown battlefield. And as the night wore on, Carmen found herself grateful for the dog's company. He seemed to expect nothing in exchange for his companionship, nor did he burden the silence with trivial chatter. There was an inherent safety in his presence, for Carmen knew that she could trust him to steer clear of blackweed and the like. Eventually, the terrain began to slope upward and she realized that they were approaching a ridge that rose in the night like a dull and flat-topped mountain. Shadow Ridge.
"Silver, wait," she called. The little white flowers disappeared up ahead into a clearing of waist-high grass. A massive tree loomed over this clearing and cast shifting patches of shadow and moonlight. Somewhere nearby, she heard the tinkling of a small stream. A good water source for someone who wanted to pitch camp, she mused.
The dog paused, but not at her beckoning. The hair along his back bristled, standing on end. A growl rumbled from deep in his throat. The harrowing sound made goosebumps appear all the way down Carmen's arms. "What is it?" she whispered, creeping closer. Silver's attention was focused on something in the grass, and Carmen could see where it parted. Inching forward, the breath caught in her throat as she discovered a pair of boots.
The boots faced upward, pointing slightly to the side as though someone had fallen asleep on their back. But as the rest of the body came into view, it became apparent that something much more nefarious had happened. Carmen recognized the dull luster of death in his eyes and the waxen look of his skin. His gray tunic was stained with blood, the same gray tunic that Elion had been wearing, with the same strange emblem sewn onto one shoulder. Another agent, no doubt. And while a gun rested near his outstretched hand, no such gun had produced this mortal wound. This man had been killed by an energy weapon.
"Leave." A warning drifted across the clearing, chilling her blood.
Carmen crouched. Her hand slid towards the hilt of her knife. "Show yourself!" she demanded, scanning her surroundings for an enemy.
"Leave us alone, or more will die."
The voice sounded masculine, with a youthful timber to it. Though ominous, Carmen felt no malicious intent behind the message. Still, a defensive anger bloomed within her chest. "I'm here for Dr. Gardener," she declared. "So I'm not leaving until I have him."
"Dr. Gardener?" The voice flickered with surprise. "He is safe. Safer than you are."
Silver's barking rang out across the clearing. Carmen realized suddenly that he was no longer at her side. He hopped near the base of the massive tree, trying to reach something perched on one of its lower limbs. And there it was-a small shadow watching Carmen from between the swaying branches.
"Silver! Quiet!" the shadow whispered frantically.
Carmen darted through the long grass. The shadow gave a frightened squeak and then scrambled up further into the tree. Tucking her knife back into the band of her skirt, Carmen leapt towards the closest limb. Once she had gripped it in her hands, she swung one of her legs up, curling it around the gnarled branch. Then she reached for a higher hold.
"Stay away from me! Please!" the shadow begged. A volley of barks nearly drowned out his cries. Carmen pulled herself up onto a higher bough, every muscle straining with intent. Close. I'm so close.
"I'm not leaving without the doctor," she rasped. "And you're going to take me to him."
The shadow ceased climbing. He held fast to the trunk of the tree, a slight quiver in his breath. "I said please. Now this is your last warning…"
Carmen grabbed hold of the limb that his feet were planted on. But as she began to hoist herself up, a jarring pain jolted through her entire body. Her hands opened, unable to hold on. Branches snapped as she tore through them on her way down. The last thing she remembered was the sound of a sickening thud as her body hit the ground. And then the world went black.