I sat on the wooden log near my new home. It wasn't much, just an old empty concrete building. It had no windows or even a door, but the roof kept the rain out, and I had found some leather tarps that passed for curtains at the doorway that gave me some semblance of privacy. It was better than nothing. Pulling my legs up to my chest I groaned at the sight of my pants.
You can't even tell that these were white at one point, I thought to myself. I absent mindedly tried to rub some of the dirt off my leg but the stains were already set in. Its been nearly a week now since it was decided that we would stay with the forest people, and that meant nearly a week since I had taken a shower or changed clothes. Running my hand through my hair and over all the knots and tangles I groaned again - yup, that was going to have to change soon or I was going to be sporting dreadlocks like Nyko.
Speaking of who, today would be the first day since we landed that I wouldn't be spending with the healer. It had been decided that we would be coupled with our closest counterparts in their society to share our knowledge and learn how to survive, so that left me with Nyko most days. Lucas had taken to trailing behind one of their animal healers, apparently three healers was considered to be a little opulent, but from what he told me he seemed to enjoy the change in pace.
Others from our group had adapted well as well, already changes were being made in their crop fields and they had started rebuilding some of the structures that had caught fire when our pod landed. Relations were tense the first couple days, but we were making progress. The thought brought a smile to my face. Maybe this was do-able.
I grabbed my backpack that I had made a habit to keep nearby and shoved an extra blanket I had found inside as well. Today was my day off of sorts and I was going to make the most of it. I double checked my pack making sure I had everything that I thought I would need and made my way out east into the trees. One of the women from the camp told me about a lake that would be perfect to wash up in and I was determined to find it.
I moved at a leisurely pace, even though we had been here for days the forest constantly amazed me. Everything was so green and alive. The trees climbed high above my head and I found myself stopping more than once to admire the way a group of vines had spiraled up a tree trunk or to watch small animals jump from branch to branch overhead. So much better than the Arc.
I inhaled deeply, enjoying the simple, clean smell of the forest. I could also vaguely hear the sound of rushing water so I knew I must be getting closer. Good, I was eager to be clean.
A few minutes later I found what I was looking for. A crystal clear stream that was running into a wide lake that was another half a mile downstream. The water was moving slowly and looked deep enough to reach my shoulders so I set my pack down.
I took a quick glance around and didn't notice anything out of the normal. I grabbed the extra blanket I brought and laid it out on a rock near the water and then slowly started stripping out of my clothes. They'll be easier to wash and will dry faster if I just take them off I reasoned. I laid out my brown, but once-white-jeans and placed my tank top and over shirt next to them - their black color equally spoiled. I looked down as I stood bare in my bra and boy-short style underwear, they used to have a word for this when people lived on Earth nearly a century ago. I thought for a moment and then remembered the pictures we used to see in history class - bathing suits! I don't know why it changed from underwear to a bathing suit just because of what you were doing in it, but I was just going to go with it.
I slowly started to walk into the water, shit that's cold. Okay, just have to get this over with real quick I told myself as I moved faster out into the water until it was deep enough for me to dunk my head under the water. Nope, still cold.
I took my time as I floated in the water scrubbing the layers of dirt and grime off my skin, eventually adapting to the temperature. It felt nice to finally be clean again, though I was still unsure what I was going to do about my rats-nest of my hair. Maybe I could ask someone to borrow theirs when I got back home - thinking of some of the women whose hair was as long as mine. My first instinct was to ask Nyko, seeing as he was who I spent most of my time with but I doubt with dreads like he has that he would have need of a comb. Jaxon also came to mind, his hair was brushed out and neatly braided and brushed the day after we had all moved out from the healer's building, but I hadn't seen him since then and I doubted he would let me borrow anything even if I did ask.
I finished washing my clothes, semi happy that they now didn't look as filthy. When I stepped out of the water I wrapped the blanket around me, I would have to wait a little while until my clothes were dry enough to put back on comfortably. A snapping of branches to my left caught my attention though. Turning I looked into the trees.
"Hello?" I called out. I couldn't see anything moving in the trees, but I had been here long enough to learn that if these people didn't want to be seen then you would never catch a glimpse of them.
"Hello?" I called out again, wrapping the blanket tighter around me. Maybe it was just my imagination? I was about to turn back to my clothes when another branch snapping caught my attention, it was closer this time. My eyes scanned the tree line quickly still not seeing anything.
Okay, so deep breaths Cole. You have a few options here. It could be all in your head. Rustling bushes quickly pushed aside that thought though as I took a few steps back, careful not to get stuck in the water.
Water, I could always wade in deeper and hope that whatever it was couldn't swim. But then again I couldn't really swim well either, that would put me at a disadvantage. Or I could gather up my stuff and run back home.
As I ran through scenarios in my head my mind was quickly made up when a giant cat appeared out from one of the dense bushes lining the stream. It was half the size of a horse but as broad was one. It's fur was shaggy beige and looked like it would be soft, but its long claws and sharp teeth that extended past it's jaw made me wish that I would never be close enough to tell.
Yup. Running was good option. I could always come back and get my clothes. I looked back up at its snarling mouth, yeah, who needs clothes. I watched as it tensed and crouched down slightly. Shit.
I turned and ran, trying to keep the blanket near me without it tripping me or getting caught in the brush. I made my way back into the trees hoping that the obstacles would slow the animal down, but it did just the opposite. I could hear it gaining on me, and constantly having to weave around trees and over rocks was only slowing me down.
Another rush of fear rushed through my body as I realized that I should have already been back home by now, or least on the outskirts of town. I must have turned the wrong way. I cursed myself for not paying better attention.
As my attention drifted from my surroundings to my own stupidity I felt my foot catch on a rock. It was almost as if I fell in slow motion as I watched the ground rushing up to meet me. I tried to protect myself as well as I could, bringing my arms in front my face but as I rolled down the short hill I could feel every rock and bush scraping across my face and body.
Once I stopped rolling I tried to sit up but my head was still spinning. Groaning in pain I instinctively raised my hand to the source of pain. Gingerly touching my scalp just above my ear I hissed as I found the wound. I could feel my blood still gushing from the wound and the red coating my finger tips confirmed my theory on why I was having trouble seeing straight.
The snarl from the trees reminded me of why I was running in the first place. I tried to push myself to stand again but couldn't keep my balance with my vision focusing in and out. Shit. Not being able to get up I pushed myself back away from the sound until my back was flush against a tree.
"Help!" I yelled as the cat moved out from the trees. With my vision swimming I was seeing three cats weaving in and out of each other, I probably should have yelled for help before it was my last option I thought bitterly.
The cat just walked forward slowly, I was sure it must have smelt my blood by now. It knew I wasn't going to run anymore, and I knew that I couldn't.
"Help!" I called out weakly again. The cat just moved closer. I watched as it tensed and prepared to pounce again.
This is it. I'm going to die after a week on Earth, half naked because of a mutated cat. Not how I pictured that I would die. Anger started surging through me. If I was going to die, I wasn't going to go out crying and sniffling.
"What are you waiting for?!" I yelled at it as loud as I could. "Come on! Come kill me already, what are you waiting for?!"
I got what I wished for when it launched off its hind legs, its claws extended towards me. I closed my eyes and turned my head, bracing myself for the blow but it never came. I opened my eyes to see the cat laying on its side, regaining its composure with an arrow sticking out of it shoulder.
The cat steadied itself and roared in anger, its attention now turned back to me. It was snarling now, like I was the one who shot it. But surely whoever actually did shoot the cat would have another arrow, no one goes hunting with only one arrow right?
The cat pounced again, however a body met it half way. I watched as the man intercepted the wild cat, grabbing it by one of its paws and its throat sending it to the ground. There was a brief struggle before the man stood up leaving the cat dead. My anger faded and relief took its place.
The man knelt down in front of me, he looked oddly familiar. But there were also four of him sitting in front of me still. Their mouths were moving, was he asking me something? He must have sense my confusion because he turned away and called something back to the trees. Was there someone else there?
He stood up and him and all three of his clones, motioned for me to do the same. I just shook my head. Now there were only two of him, even injured I was able to piece together what was going on. I needed to rest and stay put until my concussion stabilized and I stopped seeing double of everything. The man had a different idea though as he wrapped his arms around my back and underneath my knees to lift me up.
I tried to say something but nothing came out. I could feel my eyes growing heavier as I adjusted to his gait. I nuzzled my head into the man's shoulder, gently grasping his dark green jacket in my hand to pull myself closer. He smells nice I registered. Like the forest, earthy with a hint of smoke. I thought how good it smelt before I drifted off to sleep.
I was awoke a while later, I felt like I had slept for hours but the lighting coming through the tree tops told me only a matter of minutes had passed. Where am I?
I looked around and noticed I was propped against a tree again with my blanket wrapped around me. I pulled it closer to me realizing again that I had left my clothes at the stream. Looking around I saw two people leaning against the trees across from me talking to each other in low voices. I wasn't seeing double anymore, that was a good sign, though everything was still slightly blurry. I rubbed my eyes and tried to focus on the scene in front of me.
To my surprise I recognized both of my saviors. As they talked Jaxon was cleaning his knife, wiping blood on some nearby leaves. Penn was situated close to him just holding his bow as he talked. I must have made a noise that alerted them I was awake because in an instant they both looked over to me. Jaxon was the first to react.
"What are you doing out here by yourself?" he questioned, his tone as demanding as his glare.
I'm feeling fine, thanks for asking, I thought sarcastically. I brought my hand back up to my head where I had felt the gash earlier. Now I could just feel the hardened dried blood in my hair. Ugh, and I had just washed it.
I looked back up to see both men still staring in my direction awaiting my response.
"I was washing down by the stream," I told them. "The cat snuck up on me, I would have been fine if it hadn't been there."
Penn snorted. I glared at him in response.
"There are other dangers in the forest," Jaxon replied. I was about to reply that I could handle myself, but the throbbing pain in my head reminded me how well that went the first time… Maybe I should have been more careful.
"Where are your clothes?" Jaxon questioned, not giving me time to fight him on the previous issue. I wrapped the blanket tighter around my body, suddenly more aware of how bare I was sitting in front of them.
"Uhm," I started to stutter. "They are still down by the stream. I was washing them and left them out on a rock to dry, along with some of my other supplies."
"Penn, go get them," Jaxon commanded, standing up.
"Why do I have too?" Penn asked as he lazily pushed off the tree he was resting on. Jaxon shot him a look before moving closer to me.
"Because I told you too," was his only response. Penn sighed and turned back into the woods, presumably in the direction I had just ran away from.
"You hit your head hard," he told me, his voice low and steady. He knelt down beside me and observed the cut on my head.
"Yeah I can feel that," I responded sheepishly. "I need to get it cleaned up, wash the dirt out, sterilize the wound - oh gosh, I might need stitches - and I need to figure out how to keep my hair out of the way, and…"
"You talk too much," Jaxon said, cutting me off mid rant. I felt my cheeks heating up as I blushed. I had a bad tendency to talk to much when I was panicked.
"Get up," he commanded, rising to his feet as well. I placed my hand on the trunk behind me as I steadied myself. I felt weak as my knees shook at my first step. Blood loss will do that to you I guess.
Jaxon moved slowly through the forest, staying ahead of me but being careful to not leave me behind. We walked for a few minutes before I felt sure enough that I could both talk and walk without falling.
"Where are we going? Back home?" I asked. He made a noncommittal sound and kept moving forward.
"Will Penn know that we moved? What if he gets lost? Those are the only pair of clothes I have, I can't walk around camp naked."
Jaxon stopped ahead of me letting out a deep sigh before he turned around and just stared at me.
"Oh, I'm talking too much again aren't I?" I asked. Jaxon just nodded once in affirmation.
"Sorry," I apologized, embarrassed yet again. We spent the rest of the trip back in silence. I just listened to his quiet footfalls in an attempt to distract myself, it was only when I realized they had stopped that I noticed we were back home and near the healer's building.
Jaxon just stood unmoving, staring in my direction. I guess this is where we part.
"Uhm, thank you for helping me today," I told him quietly, realizing that I hadn't thanked him yet for fighting off the cat. "Thank you for saving me."
It took a moment but he just nodded in response. I guess that was all I was going to get. Sighing I moved past him to walk into the healer building before I heard his voice behind me.
"Braid your hair," he called out, pausing for a moment. "It will keep it out of your cut."
And with that he turned and moved back into the forest.
I don't think I'll ever understand this place, I thought to myself as I moved into the familiar healer's building.
"Hey Nyko," I called out, startling the healer. "I uh, need a favor. Think you can braid my hair for me?"
He looked up shooting me a confused stare as he took in my bare legs and blanket wrapped body.
"I might also need stitches," I added cheekily. "I had an interesting day off."
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