The edge of the Northern Forest stretched beneath the midday sun, its towering trees forming a wall of ancient growth that seemed to extend endlessly into the distance. K-10 moved carefully between the trunks, scanning the terrain as he advanced. Seralyth and Tomand followed behind him, with Hazelthorn, Milfern, and Kimlorn maintaining their positions farther back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The forest was unlike anything K-10 had encountered on Earth. The trees appeared almost sentient. Their trunks twisted around one another, their roots broke through the earth like enormous fingers, and vines wrapped around trees and boulders until they formed natural barriers that made entire sections of the forest impassable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smaller creatures watched from concealed positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 noticed them almost immediately. They did not behave like animals he was accustomed to seeing. They watched him deliberately, following his movements and reacting to the presence of the group with an awareness that suggested intelligence and emotional complexity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth eventually moved alongside him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The plants and creatures are trying to determine our intent.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 continued scanning the forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Fascinating.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group eventually reached a clearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 stopped and motioned for everyone to gather. He lowered himself into a crouch, and Seralyth, Tomand, Hazelthorn, Milfern, and Kimlorn formed a circle around him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 unfolded a map of the Northern Forest across the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We’re going to establish a perimeter here before moving into the forest. Once we proceed, we’ll maintain a staggered formation. I’ll take point. Seralyth and Tomand will follow. Hazelthorn, Milfern, and Kimlorn will form the rear element.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The others looked at Seralyth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She translated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We’ll remain together. Kaiten will lead, Tomand and I will follow him, and Hazelthorn, Milfern, and Kimlorn will protect the rear.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“If contact occurs, we don’t break formation unless necessary. No freelancing. No chasing targets. No unnecessary escalation.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth translated again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Stay together if we encounter something. Do not pursue anything that retreats, and do not provoke a fight unless necessary.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hazelthorn looked at Seralyth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“What does he mean by freelancing?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Acting independently without orders.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimlorn frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Why doesn’t Kaiten simply say that?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth glanced toward K-10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“He does.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 continued examining the map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Our primary objective is reconnaissance. We gather intel, identify the AO, and determine the threat before making contact.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group stared at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth sighed softly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“He means we explore the area, gather information, determine what we’re dealing with, and only then decide whether to confront it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tomand looked at K-10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Does he have to speak like that?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth gave a small shrug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’ve traveled with him long enough.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 traced a route across the map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“From here, we’ll move north-northwest until we reach this ridge. Then we’ll reassess.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth translated the instructions for the group, and K-10 folded the map and returned it to his gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Questions?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No one spoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Good. Let’s move.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The expedition continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They entered another clearing, and K-10 abruptly raised a clenched fist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth immediately took cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The others hesitated only a moment before following her lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hazelthorn crouched behind a large root and looked toward Seralyth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“What did Kaiten just do?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Hold and take cover.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hazelthorn glanced toward K-10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He remained motionless, watching the forest ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 slowly lowered his fist. He raised two fingers and pointed toward his own eyes before directing them toward a section of forest ahead. He then hooked his pinky around an imaginary shape and finished with a thumbs-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimlorn stared at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“What in the gods did that mean?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth studied K-10’s gesture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Kaiten has seen something ahead. It’s a large creature, but it’s alone.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Milfern looked at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“How do you know?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth kept her attention on K-10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’ve known him long enough.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 then pointed toward Seralyth and indicated a high branch overlooking the clearing. He formed a circle with his index finger and thumb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tomand stared at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“What in Tharsis does that mean?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth understood immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“He wants me to get to higher ground, prepare an arrow, and kill whatever comes into the clearing.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth moved quietly toward the tree while K-10 and the others remained concealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She climbed to the designated branch and prepared her bow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A moment later, a large figure emerged from the trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It slithered into the clearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Its body was long\u2014far longer than any creature the group had encountered in the forest. Black scales covered its serpentine form, but the darkness seemed to go deeper than its hide. Tendrils of shadow oozed from its body and drifted around it like living smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Its forked tongue slipped from its mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It tasted the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tongue disappeared before emerging again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The serpent’s slitted pupils slowly scanned the clearing, searching for prey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hazelthorn’s eyes widened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It’s a Shadow Serpent. Very dangerous.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 did not move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Neither did anyone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
High above the clearing, Seralyth drew an arrow and placed it against the bowstring. She channeled her Light Affinity into it until the arrow’s physical form seemed to disappear, replaced by a brilliant lance of concentrated light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She held it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Shadow Serpent continued slithering deeper into the clearing. Its tongue flicked through the air again as it searched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 waited until the creature reached the position he had selected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He raised one hand and tapped the side of his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth released the arrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lance of light crossed the clearing with astonishing speed. The Shadow Serpent had no time to react before the projectile struck the center of its head and pierced straight through. The force carried the arrow into the ground beneath it, where the remaining light dissipated in a brilliant flash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The serpent’s head separated from its body and fell heavily to the ground. Its enormous body writhed briefly before collapsing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Silence returned to the clearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 stood and took point again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth descended from the tree and followed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The others began moving after them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 stepped over the Shadow Serpent without slowing. Seralyth did the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tomand stepped over the corpse next, but his eyes lingered on the creature’s enormous black body. Hazelthorn tried not to look and failed. Milfern quickly caught up with the others, while Kimlorn stopped for half a moment to stare at the serpent’s lifeless slitted eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He swallowed before continuing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group ventured deeper into the forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They encountered more creatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each time, K-10 stopped, assessed the situation, and issued his instructions through gestures. Seralyth quickly learned to interpret each signal and moved into position without requiring an explanation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The others began learning as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A raised fist meant to stop and remain concealed. A pointed direction identified an area of interest. A gesture toward elevated terrain meant that someone needed to take position there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When K-10 motioned toward Tomand, the Darvenim would move into position with his axe ready. K-10 would indicate where the creature would enter, and Tomand would wait until the appropriate moment before stepping forward and taking its head with a single swing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At other times, K-10 positioned Milfern and Kimlorn on opposite sides of a path. A brief gesture told them when to prepare. When the creature entered the space between them, the two soldiers attacked simultaneously, ending the encounter before the beast could react.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hazelthorn was often given a different role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When K-10 motioned toward her, she would prepare her magic and erect a barrier between the group and an approaching creature. If the creature could pass without detecting them, there was no reason to fight. The group simply remained concealed until it disappeared into the forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The expedition developed a rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 observed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He gestured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They moved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group began understanding his signals without waiting for Seralyth to translate them. What had initially appeared to be incomprehensible hand movements became a functional system of communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The further they traveled, the more coordinated they became.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eventually, they reached the deeper portion of the Northern Forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The trees were closer together here, their canopy blocking much of the sunlight and casting the forest floor into a dim green shadow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 suddenly raised his fist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone stopped and dropped low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The familiar signal was immediately understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 remained motionless for several seconds, his attention fixed ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then something changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead of advancing, K-10 doubled back toward the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He crouched beside them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“There is an anomaly.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth looked toward the others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Something is strange up ahead.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 studied the forest for another moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Everyone stays except support and mage.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hazelthorn blinked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Huh, me?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 was already moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth followed him, with Hazelthorn quickly crawling after them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The three moved quietly through the undergrowth until K-10 found a suitable vantage point. He stopped and pointed ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hazelthorn raised herself enough to see over the vegetation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She removed her hood, adjusted her spectacles, and focused her eyes on the forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A red mist covered the trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It hung between the trunks in an unnatural haze, drifting low across the forest floor and curling around the vegetation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hazelthorn studied it carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“That’s not natural.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 remained silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hazelthorn continued examining the mist, adjusting her spectacles as she followed the movement of the haze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The concentration appears relatively consistent. There are no obvious signs of combustion or ordinary smoke.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She paused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I have a theory.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 waited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hazelthorn pointed toward the red haze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This could be what is causing the beasts to become enraged.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth looked toward her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“What is it?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I don’t know yet.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hazelthorn narrowed her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It could be an airborne compound, something being released into the atmosphere and affecting anything that breathes it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She studied the mist for several more seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Or it could be a curse.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 stared into the red haze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Can you determine which?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Not from here.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth looked deeper into the forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The red mist seemed to stretch endlessly between the trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 remained focused on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The creatures they had encountered had not been the source of the disturbance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They had been reacting to something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And now, the expedition had found the first indication of what that something might be.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The edge of the Northern Forest stretched beneath the midday sun, its towering trees forming<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4668"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4668\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4669,"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4668\/revisions\/4669"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}