Secluded Discovery: First Encounter

You crack open your eyes, crusted with sand from the beach and the salt of the sea. You roll from your stomach onto your back with great effort, trying not to put any pressure on your injured hand as you do so. You look up into the sky to see the Sun blazing down on you.

…Where have you been?

You think bitterly to yourself. As you lay there, your mind pours over the events of the past few hours.

H… how could this all happen? ... Why? Why us?!

Sudden realization.

…Annabel! ... Where…

You feel panic begin to rise in you.

Fighting the urge to give up, you struggle to gain control of your emotions again. You try to move your limbs in an attempt to rise but your sore muscles along with your clothes, plastered to you and stiffened from exposure to the elements, prevents you from standing upright. Instead, you prop yourself up on your elbows to help give you a view of your surroundings, as a sunbather might. The beach stretches out to your left and right, a small strip of white sand with the ocean lapping at the full length which lays before you, just missing your feet. Scattered throughout the small dunes of sand are several large porous rocks, but nothing else.

She… she isn’t here…

You again do your best to suppress the welling anxiety that afflicts you.

I have to get myself together before I can even hope to find her…

Twisting your neck to look behind you, you just make out a tree line which encroaches on the beach.

This must be the island the pilot was talking about.

Having seen all that you can from where you are, you again try with everything you have to rise to your feet. In one final effort you are able to stand, though your legs are shaky. Cradling your hurt hand, you start stumbling down the beach in search of others. After what feels like around ten to fifteen minutes of walking you give up on that.

Well, plants grow here no question about that. Does that mean there's fresh water around? … Maybe they went inland searching for the source?

Looking at the forest which sprawls before you, you decide to enter and see what headway can be made there. You reach the first row of trees, just beyond thick underbrush, countless ferns and a tangled mess of vines can be seen. The rush of the waves on the beach behind you mixes with the songs of countless exotic birds, who hide themselves somewhere up above you in the thick netting which is the canopy. Rays of light from the Sun peek through in several places, providing just enough illumination to see. Stepping beyond, you clear away the branches and brush that bar your path, your good hand taking little nicks and scratches as you do so but you pay them no mind. The ground is covered with the dew of rain, vibrant and colorful flora spring from the earth all around, patches of green moss seem to carpet the surface of everything. Small movements can be heard in every direction, probably animals going about their business. The forest is alive with a buzz, a breeze rustles the foliage.

In any other circumstance I might’ve enjoyed exploring this jungle.

*zzZzzZZZZzzZTT*

You swat at a mosquito which lands on your neck. And then again at a second one which settles on your forearm.

…Given I had some bug spray…

Doing your best to ignore the little pests, you begin walking. After several uneventful minutes of this you emerge from the thicket into a small clearing. Deciding that now would be as good as any to stop for a short break, you take a moment to close your eyes and listen to the ambiance of the forest, hoping to hear any hint of running water that isn’t the ocean. What reaches your ears surprises and unnerves you in the ****. A distinct lack of noises. It had only taken a couple minutes, but an unsettling near silence has taken hold of the forest. The ocean having been left behind is no longer audible. The birds and animals who had been orchestrating the melody of the jungle are now noiseless. Only the occasional breeze and the ever present low drone of insects remain. You feel your pulse quicken, your heartbeat is uncomfortably loud compared to your surroundings.

...What is this?

Suddenly fearing for your life, you dash the several paces which separate you from the edge of the glade and crouch behind a large fern next to a tree, whose roots protrude from the ground providing you a small shelter.

There you wait for something to happen, for the silence to be broken, but it stretches on into what feels like an eternity.

I'm being irrational...

You think in embarrassment.

As you are about to stand once again, you halt, noticing a faint rustle across the clearing accompanied with a soft murmur.

Out of seemingly nowhere three figures step forth from the wood into the open air. Three dark skinned women walking in a triangle formation. They are garbed in soft tan-colored two piece outfits, comprised of a shawl which cuts off just before the stomach, exposing lean abdominal muscles, and a loincloth that drapes to their knees, tied at the waist by sashes of brown fabric. Their arms are not covered providing freedom of movement, though they do have metallic armlets which appear to be made from gold or bronze, fitted just below the shoulder but just above the bicep. The clothing of the two which trail behind are relatively plain apart from that, and they walk with crude sandals. The clothes of the one who leads them however, is detailed with ornate red stitching and embroidering. On her feet are elaborate sandals, with fastenings that climb her calves. About her wrists and neck hang additional accessories made from fine metals and sparkling jewelry. The color of their hair is a variety of grey shades, and cut to different lengths. Their nails are painted black. Even though they don't seem to be wearing any makeup, they are exceedingly beautiful. The women in back have curved but trim bodies, with noticeable breasts. They also look tall, likely a head or two taller than you, and incredibly physically fit. The one directing the group seems to be several years younger than the other two who exude experience. While still appearing to be fit, she lacks in height and voluptuousness.

They stand still for a brief moment to look around. The women in back wield bows, strung and with arrows nocked, while their leader holds an ornamental spear.

Should I reveal myself? They could help me!

As you consider the merits of this, you suddenly hear a twig snap a few yards to your left and all three of the warriors immediately pivot toward it with blinding speed, bows aimed and spear ready.

Your mouth gapes.

…Maybe I should wait until they’ve used their arrows…

The girl leading the group sneaks toward where the sound came from, then stoops over to pick up a pebble from the forest floor and launches it into the bushes, it crash lands a small ways behind you. You almost yelp, but bite it back. The segment of the jungle right next to you however, explodes with noise and movement. You hear a loud squeal as a wild boar comes barreling out from the brush and into the clearing. The two women swiftly loose their arrows, riddling the hide of the animal with various wounds. It stumbles a bit and falls down wheezing, shakily picks itself back up, and then collapses again. The girl, seemingly hesitant at first, approaches the boar and then quickly jabs it in its flank with her spear. The beast quivers one last time then dies. She turns to her companions, who look back at her nodding and smiling in approval.

One of the women, the tallest of the bunch, speaks to the girl in a smooth tone,

???: “That was excellent young Nala. A beautiful display of skill.”

The other more broadly built one chimes in with a laugh,

???: “Not bad for a first kill... even if we did do most of the work!”

This agitates the tall woman.

???: “Terra, show Nala her due respect!”

The girl bows her head in appreciation of the two.

Nala: “Thank you.”

Terra: “You shouldn’t spoil her Meges, she might turn out like me. You wouldn’t want that now would you?”

Terra grins.

Meges closes her eyes and thinks, then answers,

Meges: “You might be right about the last part, but as for the first, that is for fate to decide. For the time being however, you will show proper deference to the young Lady!”

Terra just shrugs this off and their conversation spirals into bickering, mediated by Nala.

They… They speak English! Oh thank God!

You rise up from your hiding place, with both hands raised to show your lack of malice. It is as you do so that their conversation turns.

Meges: “Terra, just go and collect the boar!... With that we should be able to have a proper feast tonight in celebration of Nala’s upcoming Ascension.”

Terra: “I know, I know...”

Terra grumbles to herself and begins walking over.

Terra: “...That witch's damn nagging is really starting to get under my skin… Why does she always have to put me in such a bad mood?!... After we eat tonight, I'm gonna need some quality time breaking in the new Cattle, and it's all thanks to her…”

Terra lets out a long low sigh, emphasizing her words with a sneer as she slowly shakes her head back and forth,

Terra: “...I can't wait to get started!”

Meges and Nala are talking back and forth by the edge of the clearing preparing to go, while Terra approaches to retrieve the boar, a distant look in her eye and a smile on her face. As she gets closer her eyes pass over you, then widen with recognition.

Terra: “H… Hey! There's another one over here!”

The others! Yes! YES! The others are here! I knew she’d be alright!

*THWUNK*

Your smile fades as you feel searing pain in your left shoulder. Looking over you see the protrusion of a gnarled arrow shaft, loosed by Meges who stands some distance away. You try to grasp and yank it out but your right hand, still injured from the detonation of the lifeboat canister, prevents you from removing it. You immediately feel drowsy and fall to your knees, then keel over landing on your back.

****…

That had to be it. Probably some form of sedative laced arrow tip. As you struggle on the ground trying to remain awake, the one called Terra proudly stands over you, a smirk on her face. As you lay there, she takes the opportunity to drive her heel into the backend of the arrow shaft, thrusting the tip of the arrow deeper into your shoulder and snapping the shaft in two. You hear clicking as the arrow tip scrapes against bone. You fight back tears of pain. With watery eyes you look up. Terra's posture, along with your new positioning on the ground, provides you with a new angle of observation: directly under her loincloth. The emotional reaction caused by what you see there supersedes your pain, fear and anger.

Utter bewilderment.

You don’t have time to consider any of its possible implications as, in the next moment, the combination of pain and sedatives overwhelm your senses.

The last thoughts that come to you before your consciousness fades hearken back to those that passed through your mind while still aboard the plane, soaring through the air,

It… It always turns out like this… Why?

You finally collapse in a crumpled heap.