Chronicles of The Omniverse Archived The Veshrac Rainforest

as written by Tiko and Script

With an almighty creaking of wood, ancient bark began to shift and bend. The great trees of the jungle contorted, their branches flexing and twisting as a new life was breathed into them. Thick vines shot from the ground and the treetops to wrap themselves around the soldiers, tearing guns from hands and pulling their legs out from beneath them even as the trees themselves pulled their roots free and swung heavy branches at the intruders. From the grass that stretched upwards in an attempt to tangle and trip the steps of the soldiers, to the thorny bushes that slung their irritatingly spiked appendages at any exposed flesh they could find; it seemed as though all the flora in the area was converging upon the Aschen. That said, it did not appear that even the mighty trees sought to kill in their assault. They were satisfied with knocking the soldiers from their feet, to pin them with thick roots or vines and leave them incapacitated.

Over the explosion of splintering wood and snapping vines came the exhilarated cry of, "Woop!"

A shadow passed overhead as Tapu and Achak leaped from one writhing tree to another, skidding down a length of bark to launch themselves down into the midst of the fray. Claws tore into soft bark and the weight of the pair left the branches creaking dangerously, but they moved with the seasoned grace of hunters.

As they neared the four captives, Tapu leaped from the back of Achak and caught a loose hanging vine. "Yahoo!" he bellowed as he swung down to land among the trio of captive Mira.

He had a wide grin upon his face as Achak touched down beside him in a spray of dirt and mulch from the forest floor.

"Starting the fun without me?" he asked Kahl before shoving Achak towards the wounded Mira. "Go on, get him out of here, Achak."

The great cat shoved up against Kahl's side to get him back on his feet.

Meanwhile Makya grabbed hold of Jada's arm and started pulling her away as the opportunity for escape presented itself. "Come on, we need to get out of here!"

____

“Go on,” Ryth murmured under his breath, as though his allies within the clearing would be able to hear, though it was not the case. “Run now!”

Leonis grunted his approval as he rose back to his feet.

"Get the Shamana back to the village," he told one of the Mira at his back. "The rest of you with me."

“Leonis!” Ryth protested, turning to look sharply back at the older Mira. “I can still help! What if there are more?”

Leonis and the rest of the Mira warriors were already moving off into the jungle though. Ryth growled with irritation, staring after them for several long moments before the warrior who had been left behind coughed to garner his attention. The Shamana turned to him with a scowl, "Fine." he muttered, turning to follow the other Mira away back towards the village.
 
as written by barney_fife

The Aschen men began to move in, weapons at the ready to finish off the rest of the group, but suddenly the trees, the foliage and everything else began to come to life. Crackling and moving around them causing confusion among the soldiers.

One was suddenly swept off his feet with a loud shout he hit the ground, struggling against the foliage and shouting. This started chaos among the men as the trees moved in.

A branch wrapped around the feet of the Corporal, and he unleashed his weapon, a series of deafening pops followed as the Men started shooting at the trees, splintering them and setting them ablaze with their weapons.

The Sergeant was separated from his rifle, and branches had tangled themselves around his legs. He withdrew his pistol and fired up at the trees, blue bolts of light splintering their thick oaken trunks into fiery splinters that shot out in all directions. A fourth hurled a plasma grenade at one of the trees, which detonated and splintered the trees and set the nearby ones ablaze. But eventually they were overwhelmed and restrained by the branches. One of them however was not.

"Tango-Two One Seven, requesting Air Support on grid four nine seven carom one one nine!" He called out into his radio, struggling against the thorny branches that ripped at his flesh.

"Acknowledged Tango-Two One Seven, Apollos en-route for napalm strike." The Radio message was loud enough for all the Mira in the area to hear, and anyone familiar with modern weapons would have a very good idea what was about to come next.
 
as written by Gasmask

Kahl gripped the fur of the mighty cat and hauled himself vertically over the beasts back. The knee would take time to heal, but his pride was hurt beyond what time could heal. "Shut up." The hunter muttered, shaking his head and giving a brisk laugh. "Good to see you."

The wounded Mira patted Achak. "Good to see you too." and then he slumped himself over and gripped on for dear life. Kahl was going to kill that sergeant and his men, they would pay the blood price for what they had done to his pride and his knee, this was his new goal, his reason for being.

Vengeance.
 
as written by Tiko

As soon as Kahl was securely in place, Achak was off at a swift lope with Tapu not far behind. It would seem the Mira had no intents for more than a hit and run as the tribe scattered back into the jungle.

It was moments only before Kahl and Tapu came face to face with Leonis who growled out his ire as he took note of Kahl's condition. The temperamental Mira could be a handful at times, but he was one of Leonis' best warriors. An injury like that could well change that.

"They called for support," Tapu warned Leonis. "We have two maybe three minutes before this place is lit up."

"That's long enough. You two get to Naia, everyone else regroup at the river. Move."

With every second counting, Leonis wasted little breath on further words. Fortunately when it came to vanishing, the Mira were little more than ghosts. The dense undergrowth that might have left others hacking their way clear proved little obstacle to the local tribes who knew every nook and cranny of the jungle, and where the undergrowth became too thick to traverse they took to the trees with the same ease as they did the ground.

In the routine fallback, no one took note of the absence of one young Mira.
 
as written by barney_fife

The Aschen Sergeant had already ordered a retreat, and the Aschen were making it a point to clear out before the Apollos got in.

"Clear out! Let's go get free and clear out!" The Sergeant called out, while his men scrambled to get free of the roots and tree limbs and away from the whole area.

It was then a shriek could be heard. It was a deafening roar that was increasing in pitch and volume.

--

"Command this is Sierra One Seven Niner, approaching target." The Pilot said as he angled his Apollo to the right, six more of these angular fighters followed suit.

"All wings we're aiming for wide dispersal, maximize your area of effect." He said, and from below, one could observe the fighters as they split up in all directions, swooping around in a broad circle.

Suddenly, it was as if out of nowhere, the heat of a thousand hellfires engulfed the jungle in towering brilliant flames which began to spread violently in all directions. They were rumbling, roaring and pulling in a hot wind from all around, sucking in the oxygen and making it difficult for anyone caught in the blaze to breathe.

Trees began to crackle and splinter and the flames continued to spread while the Fighters burned away. A broad circle of fire engulfing and consuming everything around them.

As quickly as the fighters came, they had fled.
 
as written by Sentry

The days had crept past her since the crash. Since the fall. She hardly paid attention to night and day any longer. She just...kept...walking.

Miles behind she had left a shipwreck off shore. Unconcerned with the floating bodies that did not make their way out of the water, she had climbed to the beach, and kept going. Her skin and clothes were white in places where the sea water had dried and left the salt behind. Her hair was stiff with it. Still, she did not stop. She was a zombie without any concern, without any significant thought. Without a Voice.

Was survival important any longer?

The thought passed her mind, prompting her to stop in the middle of the jungle, turning her eyes skyward, up at the sun.
 
as written by Sentry

If one could view memories in the eye's reflection, the battle of the kingdom would be easily, clearly viewed. Bombs exploded, blades flashed, and the golden walls to a great castle were repainted scarlet. It had been dark that night, and the torches had been put out. It was nearly impossible to see with the moon eclipsed.

And then, finally, when the sun did rise...

Jurai flinched, as though stabbed with an invisible knife. Pain swept across her face: her eyes squeezed shut, her teeth grit, and her lips slid past them. She made a tiny, hoarse, yelp. The woman stood there for a long moment, frozen in her fright, feeling her heart pump through her whole body.

It took a minute for her to finally slump, look ahead, and keep walking.
 
as written by Tiko

The route wasn't easy as the jungle closed in around Jurai, and with the sun holding at its zenith for the time being, it was oft difficult to keep ones bearings and sense of direction in the thick of the rainforest.

Plants and gnarled vines grabbed at her legs and arms and more of the woman's energy was being expended into trucking through the undergrowth than making any substantial progress. The humidity was stifling and each step gained was more exhausting than the last.

It was perhaps this exhaustion that left her unaware of the thorny nature of the branch that caught on her sleeve and tore at the cloth. As she reached to pull it free the spines bit into the palm of her hand excreting a milky white fluid that was visible upon their now crimson tipped barbs - and the row of open wounds on her palm.

The wounds didn't hurt though - in fact the plant seemed to have a numbing property to it.

The secondary affects came only moments later as her pulse seemed thready and quickened from the hallucinogenic toxins that were making it through her blood stream. Perhaps it was simply paranoia and the jungle getting to her, but an underlying panic began growing in the back of her mind.
 
as written by Sentry

She took a step back, observing the cuts. She lowered her hand to her hilt as her breath became more shallow, more strained. Shrugging it off, she continued to walk, but without the normal deadpan. She was frowning.

Every now and again, she looked over her shoulder- there was a sound, wasn't there? But she would wait a while to make sure, and when there was nothing, she continued on. This continued for a minute, two, until the sounds became more than just a rustle of a leaf, the snap of a twig. They turned to footsteps, to a breath on her neck. She whirled around, drawing one of her swords.

Nothing again.

Her hands shook, her pupils dilated. She sucked in a terrified gasp through her teeth. Carefully, she walked toward a bush, hands moving the leaves aside, and as soon as she did, a blood-curdling scream tore from her lungs.

Jurai flung herself back, powerful legs pushing her off from the ground, and failed the landing, tangle her feet, and tripped onto her side. There was a crack. She groaned, but it was hardly any distraction from the bush in front of her. She swiped her sword in the air, but it was weak. She pushed back, but her arms were weak. The girl whimpered and pleaded, but it did nothing.

Fatigue washed over her like a tidal wave of steel, weighing her down. The sword slid out of her hand and thudded into dirt. Her head fell back, hair sprawled over her face. The world went black, then the world returned in a blurry mess. It did it again, and again. Jurai felt both panicked, and below that, a strange calm.

Death? Did this mean death?
 
as written by Tiko

Tapu gave Achak a friendly shove against his shoulder as he quirked a grin.

"Achak's just a big furry kitten when you get to know him," he told Lerot.

The big furry kitten as it would be was all but breathing down Lerot's neck with heated breath. Snuffling at Lerot's hair the cat gave a loud snort.

Makya continued to lead the way through the jungle with seemingly practiced ease, and Tapu fell back to take up the rear where he could keep a watchful ear on their surroundings.

"What sort of questions did you-?" Makya began before being cut off by the sharp sound of a woman's scream in the distance.
 
as written by Architect

"Looks like they'll have to wait." Lerot muttered quietly, before jogging right past Makya in the direction of the scream

Naive and unlucky as he may be, Lerot was never one to shy away from helping someone in need. Despite, you know, it getting him killed once already. It was a characteristic Fulmen absolutely despised, resulting in the most brutal of retribution at first, but after the stubborn mage refused to change through the years she had finally given up.

The only time she had ever been defeated. And it was that victory, that gave Lerot his courage.
 
as written by Tiko

"Wait! We don't know-" Makya called out, but Lerot was already off into the jungle at a jog. "Damn it."

"Achak," Tapu hollered.

The cat took off after Lerot at an easy lope as the two Mira split off in either direction to make sure the area was secure. Neither were inclined to walking into an ambush.

Achak reached Jurai first as he padded to stop and approached the woman with a rumbling growl. The woman was sprawled on the ground her eyes wide and her pupils dilated as she scrambled and flailed amid the jungle foliage until her sword slipped from her hand and she collapsed.

The big cat crept closer, his golden eyes only inches from Jurai's as he loomed over her from above.
 
as written by Architect

Lerot burst through the undergrowth soon after the woman had passed out, stopping at the sight of Achak hovering over her body.

"Hey! Bad...kitty." Lerot stammered, forgetting the name that Tapu had mentioned. "No eating. And for Fulmen's sake back up a bit, if she wakes up she'll probably pass right out again at the sight of you....no offense."

Lerot moved to the woman's side, sitting on his knees before placing two fingers at the side of her throat. He pressed the side of his head against her chest and listened closely.
 
as written by Sentry

When next the woman opened her eyes, she saw two very large yellow orbs staring back. At first, she did not react. She did not know what to do, or what was before her. When her vision finally focused, she realized that those two orbs were eyes. But not just two, but three and four and five, all of which opened up to bear sharp teeth.

Jurai took in a sharp breath, pressing herself against the ground, as if it would cause her to be able to run away and be safe from this monster. Her heels dug into the ground as she tried to back away, and her hands clutched at her sword.

Whoomph.

Then she was out again. Her pulse, when Lerot listened for it, was nearly quick enough to induce a heart attack. A beat was skipped. One could almost hear the blood rushing through her veins like water down a river. Her skin was coated with sweat and dirt, and her fingers were bleeding from the thorn pricks.

She awoke once more, and this time, the orbs, the eyes, the jaws of terror, were gone. She felt a weight on her chest. With all the strength she could muster, she lifted her head. The sight she saw before tore a weak, quiet wail from her. She tried to push the hairy golden beast gobbling at her insides off of her. But then, again, she went limp.
 
as written by Tiko

As the woman lost consciousness once more Achak huffed loudly and flopped down, half laying across the woman as he awaited Tapu's return. The weight of the cat seemed to have roused the woman once more, but the animal was far to large to dislodge in her current state and her efforts were met with little reward.

Nearby a whistle echoed, followed by a second to Lerot's left.

Makya slipped into view dropping next to Lerot to likewise check the woman's state. He was on edge though and had his bow in one hand while Tapu kept a watchful vigil a few paces away.

The woman's thrashing and cries would have attracted more than their attention. Either an Aschen patrol, or any manner of beast that walked and crawled in this jungle that would be happy to make a meal of the lot of them.

"Makya?" Tapu asked.

"I don't know, I don't see any injuries," Makya replied. He turned over her arm and caught sight of the wound in her palm which was inflamed with angry red lines lacing the veins of her hand and arm. "Do you know this woman?" he asked Lerot. His tone had turned grave.
 
as written by Architect

"No." Lerot shook his head as he removed it from her chest. "First time I've ever seen her in my life. Her heart rate is insane, it's like her blood stream is completely flooded with adrenaline....give me a second here while I try to figure this out."

The mage placed the tips of his index and middle fingers on the woman's head and closed his eyes. He focused on the electrical signals her neurotransmitters used to communicate throughout with the rest of her body. It took him a few moments, and he muttered quietly as he did so, but he soon opened his eyes and turned to face Makya.

"It seems there is a foreign substance in her bloodstream."
 
as written by Tiko

"It's Aya'gwarr thorn," Makya explained to Lerot. "We use it to commune with the spirits. If we don't treat her, the spirits will take her."

"We can take her to Naia," Tapu suggested.

"It's too far, she won't last that long," Makya replied. "We need to get her to the Shamana."

"You know its forbidden," Tapu warned Makya.

"And what of the Chief's teachings," Makya countered fiercely. "Is it not his words to serve the spirit of the law, lest we follow the path of Goliath?"
 
as written by Architect

Lerot looked between both Tapu and Makya, he only managed to guess at what they spoke of, but kept his thoughts to himself lest he look foolish.

"Um, well wouldn't the right thing to do be bring her to the closest place of treatment? I can't exactly do this myself, it doesn't sound as easy as just sucking poison out."
 
as written by Tiko

Makya stared long and hard at Tapu until finally Tapu sighed.

"Alright. Keep up," he told the pair of them as he approached. Achak rose from where he was half sprawled across Jurai's torso and Tapu hoisted her up and slung her over one of his shoulders. The burly Mira was well capable of toting the extra weight as he turned and led the way with Makya taking up the rear this time.
 
as written by Tiko

Some time later...

Tapu and Varden had strayed beyond the Mira's territorial range and well into the southern reaches of the Veshrac Jungle. Far from Tech Con patrols and logging efforts. Far from the skirmishes that had broken out across the northern reaches of the rainforest. Distance had brought new dangers with it though. The pair were weeks away from aid or ally, weeks from familiar territory.

The flora and the fauna ranged greatly, and though some of it was reminiscent to the wildlife they were familiar with, there were many dangers that were as foreign to them as they were to this land.

Their purpose out here was a dual one. The first was to scout the lands beyond their territories, in the event they had to abandon theirs. It was well beyond the ranges established by the TNG, but the Mira possessed little appreciation for such boundaries under the circumstances. They would do whatever was necessary to survive, as they always had. The second purpose... well that one was days off yet, at the coast where the a'karaptor's made their spring nesting grounds.

Despite the dangers that the jungle was wrought with, Tapu seemed jovial as always. In fact, he was currently lounging somewhat haphazardly across the back of Achak as he let the edgewere swampcat do the walking. And like owner, like pet, Achak seemed as oafish and laid back as Tapu as he padded along.

Tapu let out a lazy yawn as he righted himself into a sitting position atop Tapu.

"As far as scouting trips go, remarkably few things have tried to maim, maul or ingest us. Unless you count that wasp swarm three days back," he said to Varden with a quirky grin. "Didn't think Achak could run that fast."

He ruffled Achak's mane playfully, who gave a rumbling growf of contentment in return.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top