Rise of the Fallen

KORA

I woke up, yawning and stretching my aching muscles. The ground beneath me was hard and uncomfortable, even with the thin fur blanket I had for cushioning. It wasn’t the best, but it was better than sleeping in a tree.

The firepit had dwindled down to mere embers, but a sliver of light managed to sneak in through the cave entrance. The air was filled with the fresh scent of rain.

I got up and walked over to the entrance, pushing aside some vines to peek outside. The sudden brightness had me squinting and shielding my eyes as they adjusted to the day. The suns were high in the sky, the rain clouds had cleared, and everything was wet and sparkling with dew.

From the safety of my cave, I took in the sight and found myself smiling. The smell of rain was soothing. It reminded me of Earth when I was a child.

But the moment of peace was short lived as my stomach growled in protest. I looked around, and my heart sank when I saw the canteen I had left out last night had been knocked over.

Just my luck.

I hesitated, glancing down at my lack of clothing before deciding to just go for it and step outside to retrieve my canteen.

It’s not like there’s anyone around to judge me.

To my relief, there was about half a bottle’s worth of rainwater left. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing. I went back inside, drank the water, and let out a satisfied groan as it soothed my parched throat. After finishing the water, I put the canteen back in my bag and moved toward the firepit.

I fed the fire some sticks to keep the embers alive and then turned my attention to my suit hanging on the rack. It was torn in several places thanks to those pesky lizards. I doubted it was even worth wearing anymore.

I grabbed my now dry rucksack and pulled out the spare clothes. I was grateful they were dry, even though I would never be caught dead wearing something like this back home. It was just a simple pair of khaki shorts and a long sleeve men’s blouse. How stylish. But at least they were clean. I put on the sneakers that came with the clothes, and once I was dressed, I slung my pack over my shoulders, ready to leave.

Time to find some food and water.

I stepped outside and paused, unsure of how I would find my way back. I needed to leave some sort of marker as I traveled to help me find my way back. With that thought, I took out the knife from my bag, walked over to a nearby tree, and carved an arrow pointing toward the cave. That should do it!

With my plan in place, I started my journey through the forest, marking trees as I went. The ground was muddy, so I had to be careful not to lose a shoe.

Walking through the dense vegetation, I was struck by the vibrant colors of Xanadis’s forest. I was so used to the dull concrete streets of Krosa that the bright colors were almost blinding.

The forest was a sensory overload. The more I looked around, the more I realized just how wild and beautiful the forest was. The trees were enormous, taller than a two-story building, with large roots jutting out of the ground and vines with little white flowers growing up the sides. Moss was a common sight at the base of the trees, blending in with the greenish-blue grass and the ferns and bushes I passed by.

One plant in particular caught my attention. It had giant leaves that hung just above my head. I pushed one of the leaves aside and was promptly drenched by a shower of rainwater.

“What the hell?”

I noticed that several of the giant leaves had collected rainwater due to their cup-like shape.

I quickly took out my canteen from my rucksack and unscrewed the cap. Carefully, I tipped one of the leaves to pour the water into the container. I repeated the process with a few more leaves until the canteen was full.

Water, check. Now to find food.

After about an hour of searching the forest and marking trees, I noticed something strange on the ground. It looked like a giant purple ball or…a coconut?

I moved closer to inspect it and saw a few more scattered around the base of a tree. Looking up, I saw several more purple coconuts hanging from the branches. The storm must have knocked some of them down.

I walked around the tree and found a few coconuts that had been cracked open. The insides were almost completely eaten, probably by animals, which meant they were edible.

I picked up a plump coconut from the ground, cleaned it off, and put it in my rucksack. I was about to head back to the cave when I heard the sound of branches snapping to my right.

My heart started pounding, and I quickly hid behind some ferns. The sound of twigs snapping and bushes rustling grew louder. Whatever was coming was definitely not a small tree lizard!

I crouched down, trying to control my breathing, and peered through the bushes. To my surprise, a man dressed in what looked like a military-grade suit ran past my hiding spot. He looked panicked and kept glancing over his shoulder as if he was being chased. He disappeared into the foliage, running away from me.

What the hell?

I was stunned.

There are other people here.

I had assumed that everyone who had come to this planet was dead, but that man was clearly alive. He must have been a convict, but I couldn’t remember how many people had been sent here recently. He had survived this long?

My thoughts were interrupted by a more pressing question. The man had looked terrified, constantly looking behind him as he ran. What if something had been chasing him?

As if on cue, I heard a thud and looked through the bushes again. This time, I saw a humanoid monster standing in the clearing. I instinctively shrank back, even as I continued to stare at the creature. I was paralyzed with fear, a chill running down my spine as my heart pounded in my chest.

The creature had dark gray skin and was massive, even while crouched on all fours. Its head was turned away from me, but I could see long black hair and horns that curled back from its forehead. The most striking feature was the long tail with a blade attached to the end.

Oh my god.

The creature stood up, and I couldn’t help but gasp at its height. He’s huge! Two more creatures appeared, carrying spears and knives. They were barely clothed, wearing only animal skins that barely covered their bodies. Their tails whipped back and forth as they inspected the area.

They spoke to each other in a language that sounded both smooth and harsh. One of them pointed to the man’s footprints on the ground. They inspected the ground before quickly heading in the direction the man had run. They moved swiftly and deliberately, disappearing from sight. Were they hunting him?

I stayed hidden for a few more minutes to make sure they were gone before coming out. I walked over to the open area and looked at the footprints left by the man. I was relieved that I hadn’t left any myself.

I looked for any tracks left by the creatures and found only one. And it was huge. They seemed to have used the rocks and roots to move, leaving little trace behind.

Suddenly, I heard a loud bang from the direction they had gone, and I let out a small shriek. Was that a gunshot?

I decided it was time to leave. I followed the creatures’ example and tried to avoid leaving any tracks.

I didn’t know why they were hunting the convict, but I had a feeling they wouldn’t hesitate to do the same to me.

The prospect of confronting one of those beasts was downright terrifying. They towered over me, standing at a staggering seven feet. And those tails, sharp as daggers, looked like they could slice through human flesh without breaking a sweat. A theory I wasn’t eager to test.

After what seemed like an eternity, I found myself back at the cave, a new thought gnawing at me. Those creatures had spoken. They’d actually communicated with each other. They had weapons, they wore clothes. They were intelligent, capable of hunting and tracking. Could this cave be their home?

I stood at the entrance of the cave, my heart pounding in my chest. I tiptoed toward the entrance, reaching out to part the vines and peek inside.

To my relief, the cave was empty, just as I’d left it. I let out a sigh, casting one last glance at the forest.

Yeah, I think I’ve had enough adventure for one day.

“Damn it!” My voice echoed off the cave walls as I slammed the purple coconut I’d found earlier against a stone. I’d been trying to crack this stubborn thing open for what felt like forever, and I was starving.

My knife hadn’t made a dent in its tough exterior, despite my best efforts. I’d even climbed a tree and thrown the coconut down, hoping the impact would crack it open. But it remained intact, not a single crack or dent.

I wedged the stubborn coconut between my knees, aligning my knife over it. With my other hand, I picked up a rock, took a deep breath, and hoisted the rock high above my head.

“Open sesame!” I slammed the rock down onto the knife’s handle. The blade nearly broke under the pressure, leaving me both stunned and livid.

You’ve got to be kidding me!

What was this thing made of? I flung the knife away, booting the infuriating purple coconut into the fire pit. I wanted to yell, but instead, I slumped down onto the furs, pulling my knees to my chest and glaring at the coconut. I needed to distract myself before I completely lost my cool. My thoughts wandered back to the happenings in the forest.

I was filled with questions. How long had the convict been surviving on this planet? Were there other humans here, or was it just us? And those humanoid creatures that had been chasing him… Were they natives? Why hadn’t I heard anything about natives on Xanadis? And that gunshot… Had the convict managed to sneak a gun when he was exiled? Or was it something else?

My stomach rumbled, breaking my train of thought. I grimaced at the sharp pain, then sighed. I softened my glare as I lay down on the furs. I’m going to starve to death at this rate. So much for proving those corrupt officials wrong.

I turned my back to the fire, curling up into a tight ball. I shut my eyes, ready to give in to sleep. It was hard to accept this was my reality. As I pondered on everything that had transpired, I felt a wave of anger. Anger at Krosa and their hollow promises. Anger at the government and their corruption. Anger at this hostile planet. Anger at myself for being so gullible.

God, I’m so tired of fighting for my life, both mentally and physically. Where was the happy ending everyone always raved about? My Prince Charming and a home filled with people who loved me?

I must be really exhausted if I’m thinking like this.

The world around me began to blur as the warmth of the fire coaxed me to sleep. I was drifting, barely conscious of my surroundings as fatigue took over.

I was so far gone, I didn’t even register the cracking sound coming from behind me.