Soldiers of Fortune
"Into the Wild"
What's the difference between human flight and Na'vi flight? Man had to build his wings while the Na'vi were given wings to fly on.
Leon dropped to one knee and took a closer look at what appeared to be a footprint in the mud. It was unlike anything he had every seen before in a forrest that he had never been in on a planet he had just set foot on.
The creature was most likely heavy set because of the deep impression left in the mud. The ground was cold but the footprint was slightly warmer. He looked for another set of footprints in the mud. He found others just like the first he had seen father down a small trail made by whatever this thing he was tracking.
He looked over his shoulder to make sure that the scientists following him were still alive and following his trail of bread crumbs and that they were far enough away as to not interfere with his tracking. He stuck a red marker in the ground this time. Signaling for them to hold back a minute.
Leon crept off of the trail and took cover by some trees. The wind was almost nonexistent in this part of the forrest which made things seem easier for Leon without the worry of having his scent picked up by what ever he was tracking. But that also let him build up a false sense of security. Leon quietly slithered through the trees being careful to make as little noise as possible.
His heart began to race as he saw a large dinosaur like creature grazing as he peered carefully around a large tree. It was as if someone had crossed a hammerhead shark with that of a rhino. It also had a distinct head crest which it probably used to display as either for intimidation or mating, Leon wouldn't have enough time to study it.
To his left he heard an audible snap. Leon began cussing with unspoken words as he saw a human head poke his head from behind a tree. He could only hope that the beast didn't notice. But it was already too late. The beast blinked its eyes at the human that had just interrupted its grazing. It then flared its large crest at the scientist who was slowly backing away from the creature which was now lowering its head and pawing at the ground. It issued a low growling sound which was its last warning.
Leon shouldered his gun and fired several shots at the beast to get its attention which was quite successfully done. The beast was now turning towards Leon's position and gave no warning, except for the shaking ground as it charged forward.
Leon fired again but the bullets appeared to have no affect on the creature of this size. He ditched his gun and ran for his life.
He dove off to hide behind a tree to the side and barely got out of the way of the charging beast. He looked up to see the other scientists cowering behind the same tree.
"Why did you throw your gun away?" asked a scientist. "Why don't you shoot that thing?"
"If you wanna piss it off some more be my guest," growled Leon as he quickly got back up on his feet.
Leon didn't wait for the other scientists but began running in the opposite direction the beast had just charged through. And he didn't want to stick around this place after the large commotion that they had just made.
A loud roar caused the scientists to quickly catch up to Leon who was now hunched over trying to catch his breath. He wanted to take off the Exopack to catch his breath but remembered how toxic the air was to them.
"We shouldn't stay here," Leon told the scientists as they were trying to catch their breath as well. "Its probably a herding animal."
"How do you know that?" asked a scientist between breathes.
"First, remember that crest it was flaring when it charged? Probably used against other males. Second, it was a pretty large animal and didn't appear to be too skittish when you guys surprised it. Third, that," said Leon pointing behind the scientists.
"You've got to be kidding me."
A small herd of those hammerhead like creatures formed a large solid wall of gray, each of them flaring their colorful head crests.
"What now?" asked the scientist asked the mercenary.
"You know where the extraction zone is?" asked Leon.
"Yeah," said the scientist.
"When I tell you to run, you run," said Leon to which the scientists nodded in reply. Leon slowly extracted a frag grenade from his vest and pulled out the pin. "Run!"
He tossed it at the herd, exploding at their feet. The creatures reared on their hind legs and looked even more agitated than ever. They all bellowed and followed their matriarch as it charged.
He could see the extraction zone in sight. "Go go go!" He saw the pilot nod his head as the Samson slowly lifted off the ground. The scientists ahead of Leon jumped into the craft, barely making it in. Maybe it was the deafening sound of the twin rotary blades of the Samson but Leon swore he couldn't hear the beasts' thundering charge but he didn't want to turn around only to find them on top of him.
He leaped into the craft as it elevated higher and higher off the ground. He crawled over the scientists to get closest to the door to the cockpit. He rapped on the door signally for the pilot to put on his mask. He looked around at the scientists who were having a good laugh after almost getting killed. He'd have to have a word with this head doctor of theirs'-.
"Shit!" yelled the pilot. The others turned to see death staring back.