[Backlog] "The Jungle" Part 1/2 | CSEC | Arrain Maec tr'Verelan

Posted on 241506.07 @ 1:04am by Arrain Maec tr'Verelan

Mission: Agua Mala
Location: Ch’Shrrh
Timeline: Several years ago

[Ch’Shrrh]

Thunder ripped through the treetops as the driving rain dribbled through the umbrella of leaves. Maec wrapped his arms around a thick branch hugging tightly the slick and slimy moss covered bark. Beneath him he could hear the beast pacing through the underbrush but could make out nothing save for the snakelike shadow of its tail whipping through the cloud of moist haze. How long would it wait? He slowly uncoiled his left hand from around the branch and reached into his pocket. Wrapping his wet fingers around the small folding knife in his pocket he pulled weapon out while staring cautiously at the mist. The thin coiling silhouette flickered out from the mist and swirled around the tree’s trunk before flowing back into the white oblivion. Pulling himself forward on the slick branch he tried to remember where he had dropped the Kaleh but was finding it difficult to concentrate under the current stress. How much longer would he last? How much longer would he have enough strength to fight off the beast? This entire affair was immensely tiring. The creature seemed to know. Was it reading his mind? No…but certainly it could be smelling his stress, his fear. Biding its time until exhaustion took hold and he fell into the mist- an easy meal for this fearsome beast. No. He couldn’t let such morbid thoughts occupy his mind. Giving in was the fastest way to death. But what was the solution? He looked around finding nearly everything obscured by the tropical haze that dominated this rainforest. Even so he could see slender lines against the blanket of white- tree trunks patterned like the bars of some prison. The Kaleh. If he could just find the Kaleh…
His mind went blank as a fearsome shriek echoed out beneath him and blinded his ears momentarily into a fit of ringing. The serpentine shadow of the monster’s tail lifted from the mist like a periscope and whipped around wildly. The creature seemed to be losing patience. Could it get to him? He pulled himself further along the brank and surveyed the fog. Nothing. He could see nothing beyond that foul beasts roving tail. How much longer? He gripped tightly on the folding knife and jerked the blade out of its recess. Below him the tail was moving erratically as it jerked and circled. It knew where he was. Could it reach him? He wrapped his legs tightly around the branch and freed his left arm readying the blade. It was sudden. From the depths of white a giant shadow lifted up and burst through the mist sending a cascade of white all around him. The creature extended its claws and reach upward for him and his fingers locked around the blade in preparation. It swung its massive claws towards him and missed by a foot before falling back into the mist. Close. Too close. His breathing and heartrate increased as his mind began to quickly analyze his surroundings in a vain attempt to find an escape point. His thoughts were becoming a jumbled mess. Don’t panic. Calm down. His attempt to silence the flurry was resisted by his mind’s incredible reluctance to die. Below him the shadow leapt out from the mist again and this time with greater height. Uncoiling his legs Maec pushed up just as the creature’s claws raked the base of the branch causing the entire tree to rattle sending a torrent of water droplets and leave down upon him. Slipping hazardously he fell back onto the branch and wrapped his legs around it before twisting underneath and dangling precariously towards the beast like a morsel tied to a rope. He tried to swing himself back up but heard a sudden crackling noise. His eyes widened as he realized that the branch was beginning to split apart where the beast’s claws had raked it. Looking down he found that periscope slithering upward and without a second thought he reached out in desperation and grasped it tightly while uncoiling his legs and falling down. Surprise. The creature seemed startled by the sudden pressure against its tail and bucked heavily whipping Maec around until his grip slipped and he was hurled onto the forest bed rolling over rocks and brush until he hit the base of a tree. His breath escaped him for a moment and he recoiled trying gasp for air. He could hear the beast shrieking and beating its paws against the earth in fury. He fumbled around for his knife but found only dirt in his palm. Panic. What to do? Run! Run! His mind screamed for him to run.
He twisted up and turned past the tree stumbling across the wet ground as he went. Finally pulling his feet beneath him he crawled up and began sprinting through the fog pushing through brush and branches. Behind him he could hear the massive creature’s footsteps pound against the brush as it gave chase. His breathing hardened as he tried to keep pace. Where am I going? Am I going to die? He ran harder and faster using his hand to part the shrubs. His fingers burned with pain as the thicket full of briars and thorns viciously lacerated them. Still he could hear the creature pounding through the forest bed just behind him. He could almost hear the violent pulsating of its blood thirsty heart. Suddenly he felt the ground began to curve downwards and started to slow until his mind reminded him that the creature was just behind him. The wet earth provided little traction for his boots as the land sloped and he lost his footing and slipped into the foliage. His momentum carried him tumbling down the hill through a thicket of foliage until he finally landed on the shallow shore of a narrow creek. His entire body ached as he tried to sit up. There was a slight clearing of leaves above him as the rain poured down unimpeded and flashes of thunder reflected off the moist leaves that crowned the space. He slowly turned his head and looked up the hill from where he had just fallen. About twenty meters above him he could see the glowing eyes of the Kaa’hhz staring down at him as its protruding teeth riddled jaw seemed to grin maliciously. Its massive head cocked to one side and then it disappeared darting into the foliage. Maec watched in horror as the leaves and brush parted in a line that was moving directly towards him. He tried to move but was only able to vainly craw deeper into the creek. He looked back to see a massive blur leapt out from the foliage at him and closed his eyes turning away.
A gust of wind accompanied by a sweet perfume brushed past him. He opened his eyes and turn around to see an obsidian cloaked figure slam its shoulder into the belly of the pouncing Kaa’hhz sending the predator tumbling midair until it landed slightly down creek and splashed into the water. The shadow pulled away the cowl revealing shoulder length hair and emerald eyes “foolish losing your Kaleh!” His aunt wore an angry grimace as she peeled back her trench coat pulling out a glinting blade before tossing it into the water next to him “the Kaa’hhz is only stunned. He will soon come to finish you. I suggest you do not lose your weapon this time.”
Maec nodded without speaking and reached through the creek bed until his fingers touched the hilt of the sword. Pulling it out of the water he turned his head to find his aunt gone. Looking down the creek he watched as the Kaa’hhz rose out of the water and shook its body sending droplets into the brush and cascading into the creek water. It made a low gurgling sound and then clucked before turning those demonic eyes back on him. Lowering its head it leapt in for the finish.

[To be continued…]