Harbingers of Civilization

The forest was quiet, the kind of silence that made every creak of a branch or crunch of a leaf feel deafening. Dappled sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting soft patterns of gold and green on the mossy ground. The group lay low in the underbrush just outside a small clearing where a pond glimmered under the midday sun. The water was still, save for the occasional ripple caused by a lazy dragonfly skimming its surface.

Darius had one massive hand clamped firmly over Rice's mouth, his expression one of intense focus. His other hand was pressed to Rice's shoulder, pinning him down to ensure he stayed silent. Rice's wide gray eyes darted between Darius's face and the pond ahead, his muffled protests nothing more than faint vibrations against Darius's palm.

"Shut up," Darius whispered, his deep voice barely audible, his dark eyes scanning the clearing for movement.

Ryden crouched nearby, his dark hair blending with the shadows of the trees, his sharp gaze flicking between Rice and the pond. He arched an eyebrow in Rice's direction, his expression deadpan but with a hint of amusement. "looking great Rice" he muttered, keeping his voice low.

Rice's muffled response sounded suspiciously like "I'll remember this," but he quieted when the brush near the pond rustled faintly.

A deer stepped cautiously into the clearing, its slender legs moving with the delicate precision of a creature born for survival. Its fur was a soft, tawny brown that almost seemed to glow in the sunlight, and its large, liquid eyes scanned the area for danger as its ears twitched, sensitive to the slightest sound. The deer moved toward the pond, pausing at the edge to dip its head and take a tentative sip of water.

Rice, finally released by Darius, propped himself up on his elbows, his mouth slightly agape as he stared at the animal. His silver-gray eyes lit up, shifting from their usual playful brightness to something sharper, more calculating. His fingers twitched as if imagining the weight of a knife, and a slow grin crept across his face. "Venison," he whispered almost reverently, his voice filled with wonder. "I could roast it with wild herbs… maybe a glaze… oh, the flavor…"

Darius shot him a warning look, and Ryden smothered a laugh behind his hand.

Arika, crouched at the edge of the group, turned her head sharply at Rice's whisper but didn't speak. Her dark eyes met his for a brief moment, a flicker of amusement crossing her face before she gestured silently toward Jarik.

Jarik, who had been lying flat on his stomach a few feet ahead, gave a predatory grin. He looked back at the trio, his red-and-orange-streaked hair catching a ray of sunlight, and nodded once, the gesture sharp and deliberate. Arika mirrored the nod, her hand moving to the spear strapped across her back.

Both Toquiri warriors began to circle the clearing with the fluidity of shadows, their movements silent and deliberate. Arika moved to the right, her spear raised slightly as she kept to the cover of the trees, while Jarik crept to the left, his grin fading into a look of laser focus.

The trio stayed put, watching with bated breath as the two tribal members positioned themselves, closing the circle around the deer. The creature continued to drink, blissfully unaware of the trap being set.

Finally, Arika raised her hand, a silent signal. The group tensed. On her second signal, everyone sprang into action.

Arika darted from the shadows, her spear slicing through the air with a sharp whoosh as she aimed for the deer's flank. At the same time, Jarik lunged from the other side, his spear poised to block its escape. Darius, Ryden, and Rice followed suit, bursting from their hiding spots with varying levels of grace—or lack thereof.

The deer reacted with lightning speed, springing into the air with a grace that made all of them look like clumsy amateurs. Arika's spear missed by inches, embedding itself into the ground with a dull thud. Jarik's spear came closer, grazing the deer's haunch, but the animal twisted mid-leap and bolted toward the opposite side of the clearing.

Darius lunged, trying to grab the deer by its hind legs, but it kicked out, narrowly missing his face as it bounded away. Ryden attempted to block its path, only to trip over a root and land unceremoniously on his side with a grunt.

Rice, meanwhile, stood frozen for a moment, staring at the escaping animal like his dreams of venison stew had just been shattered. "No, no, no, come back!" he shouted, flailing as he made a half-hearted leap toward the deer. He missed by a mile, landing face-first in the dirt.

The deer darted into the woods, its white tail flicking as if mocking them before it disappeared entirely.

For a moment, there was silence, save for the sound of heavy breathing. Arika stood with her spear still embedded in the ground, her jaw clenched, while Jarik stared after the deer with wide eyes, disbelief etched across his face.

Darius sat back on his heels, brushing the dirt from his hands with calm precision, while Ryden remained sprawled on the forest floor, groaning softly as if the humiliation of their failed hunt weighed as much as the deer they'd failed to catch. Nearby, Rice finally lifted his head, bits of leaves and twigs sticking out of his white hair like nature itself was mocking him.

Arika strode forward with purpose, yanking her spear out of the dirt in one smooth motion.

"Jarik you too slow" she said muttering a complaint against him

She gave the weapon a cursory glance, then turned toward Jarik, her expression hard. "The balance is off," she said in her gravelly tone, holding the spear out slightly to demonstrate. "Stonehead is too heavy. Throws weird. Pulls down when I aim high."

Jarik tilted his head, considering her words as he reached out to test the spear's weight. His lips pressed into a thin line as he rolled it in his hands, his sharp eyes narrowing in thought.

Meanwhile, Darius's ears seemed to perk up at the conversation, his gaze sharpening. Though he said nothing, his posture shifted slightly, and a spark of thought flashed behind his dark eyes.

Rice noticed the subtle change immediately. His gray eyes flicked toward Darius, a grin spreading across his face as realization dawned. "Ohhh," he murmured under his breath, wiping some dirt off his cheek. "Big guy's cooking up something…"

Darius didn't react, his focus still locked on Arika and the spear. His fingers idly rubbed at the dirt on his palms as if working through the mechanics of an idea forming in his mind.

Arika didn't notice the quiet exchange. She turned sharply, gesturing toward the ground where faint tracks were pressed into the soft dirt. "We follow the trail," she ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Deer not far."

The group fell into step behind her, moving swiftly but cautiously through the forest. Arika led with her spear in hand, Jarik at her side, his wiry frame tense with anticipation. Ryden, still dusting himself off, muttered something under his breath about "dumb animals," while Rice trailed behind, his usual humor subdued as his eyes darted toward Darius now and then, clearly itching to ask about the idea simmering in his friend's head.

The forest grew denser, shadows stretching longer as the sun dipped lower in the sky. The air was thick with the earthy scent of moss and decaying leaves, and the faint rustle of unseen creatures echoed through the trees.

Then, a sudden, sharp yelp pierced the quiet.

The group froze.

From ahead, somewhere deep in the forest, came the unmistakable sound of a deer in distress, followed by a low, guttural growl that seemed to reverberate through the very earth beneath their feet.

Arika's head snapped toward the sound, her sharp eyes narrowing. She raised a hand, motioning for Jarik to scout ahead. "Go," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Jarik nodded, his usual grin replaced by a mask of tension. He moved quickly and silently, disappearing into the trees with the ease of someone who had done this a thousand times.

The group waited in uneasy silence, every crack of a branch or rustle of leaves setting their nerves on edge. Arika gripped her spear tighter, her jaw clenched, while Darius stood perfectly still, his eyes fixed on the spot where Jarik had vanished. Rice, for once, didn't say a word, his earlier grin now replaced with a look of quiet worry.

Minutes stretched on like hours, and then—suddenly—Jarik reappeared, sprinting toward them at full speed. His face was pale, his wild hair plastered to his forehead with sweat, and his voice was frantic as he shouted, "RUN!"

Behind him, crashing through the underbrush, came the source of his terror.

It was a monster—something born of the forest's darkest corners. It moved like a wolf but was far too large, its muscled frame rippling under a mangy, dark gray coat. Its elongated snout was filled with jagged, yellow teeth, and a pair of glowing yellow eyes burned with hunger. But the most horrifying feature was the third eye, positioned squarely in the middle of its forehead, larger than the other two and glowing a sickly green. It swiveled independently of the others, locking onto the group with an unsettling, unblinking stare.

The creature let out a guttural snarl, its breath steaming in the cool air as it barreled after Jarik with terrifying speed.

Arika didn't hesitate. With a sharp shout, she hurled her spear, the weapon slicing through the air with deadly precision. The spear struck the creature's flank with a sickening thud, burying deep into its side. But it wasn't enough. Arika had aimed for the head, and when the beast twisted mid-charge, her strike had missed its mark.

"Damn it!" she spat, her voice laced with fury.

The creature skidded to a halt, shaking itself violently as blood seeped from the wound, staining its mangy fur and splattering onto Arika's feet. It snarled again, its glowing third eye narrowing as it fixed its attention on Arika.

"Move!" she barked, grabbing Darius by the arm and shoving him forward. "Run! Jarik will lead!"

Jarik didn't stop running, his voice trailing back as he called out to her. "GO! I'll distract!"

Arika didn't look back. She pushed the three outsiders ahead of her, her movements quick and decisive. The group sprinted through the forest, the sound of the monster's snarls and crashing footsteps fading slowly behind them as Jarik led it in the opposite direction.

By the time they reached the safety of the camp, all of them were gasping for breath, their faces slick with sweat. The Toquiri warriors nearby stopped what they were doing, their eyes widening at the sight of Arika's blood stained feet and the tension etched across her face.

Minutes passed in tense silence as the group huddled near the campfire, their ears straining for any sound that might signal the monster's return.

Finally, Jarik emerged from the forest, his steps uneven and his leather harness streaked with blood. He grinned faintly as he stumbled toward the group, one hand pressed to a claw mark across his chest. "Not… so slow now, huh?" he said with a breathless laugh.

Arika stepped forward, her sharp gaze softening as she grabbed his shoulder and steadied him. "You did well," she said simply, her tone carrying a rare note of approval.

Jarik flashed a tired grin before collapsing onto a nearby log. "Next time," he panted, "you run first."