Wilderness Untamed

by Butler, J. M.

  Something else.

  Behind her.

  Stiffening, she kept the gun trained on the cat and hinged her gaze to the side, relying on her periphery. Something large and grey moved.

  The striped cat's ears laid back against its head, its eyes narrowing.

  It wasn't looking at her.

  A loud clicking and chirping sounded behind her.

  She dared to glance back. Her eyes widened. A giant praying mantis with silver and black stripes along its enormous foreclaws stood at the edge of the tree line, mere feet from her.

  "Elonumato, help me," she murmured.

  The praying mantis drew closer, angling its head first to the right, then to the left. The large cat crouched, its striped tail lashing back and forth angrily.

  Once more her elmis pulsed. There weren't specific instructions within the warning. Only instincts.

  She lunged to the left as the cat leaped forward and the mantis reared up. The large cat landed directly between the formidable foreclaws and tore into its face.

  As the two beasts fought, she pushed herself up from the ground and ran. She didn't know where she was running. All that mattered was that she get out.

  As she reached the top of the first cresting hill, she glanced back. The large cat was up on the mantis's back. Green liquid oozed from the mantis as it shrieked and struggled, one of its wings broken and dragging and one of its legs entirely severed.

  She ran to the lower end of the ridge, then jumped. The adrenaline that now pounded within her veins and throbbed in her ears drowned out all but the vaguest notes of the pain.

  She raced as fast as she could, listening and noting the sensations in her elmis.

  After breaking through a thick stretch of grey brush and creeping green plants, she reached a higher rock wall that herded her toward the north. She slowed to a trot, remembering to pace herself.

  Neither the large cat nor the mantis followed.

  At least that she could perceive.

  For all the good that did. Her gut warned her that if it wanted to, that cat at least could disappear.

  The rushing gurgle of liquid combined with the fresh scent suggested that there was a river close at hand. She slowed even more, nerves prickling as she strained for any sound.

  Predators often stalked fresh water sources.

  Besides, who knew what lurked within the waters themselves? But just as all prey sooner or later had to risk it, she too would have to go to the river's edge. Just not right now.

  She urged herself forward, climbed another hill, and looked down over the top. A short distance below was a clearing. Eight strange creatures stood at the base.

  They were taller than Clydesdales but they looked more like gorgonopsids with their massive oversized jaws and strongly muscled bodies, closely resembling the creature Naatos had beheaded for her at their ceremony of the veskaro. The saber-like teeth that cut down from the upper jaw were easily longer than her arm, tinged with yellow. The other teeth that the grey-green lips exposed were clearly of the carnivorous order as well. Their bodies were covered in a thick scaly soft-grey or dull-brown hide with patches of close-growing, darker-green fur at random. Large dog-like feet jutted out from their massive legs. These were black or dark grey. But their eyes had no color. They were entirely opaque as if blind. Yet as soon as she had stepped on the top of that hill, they all turned their heads to look at her.

  She swallowed hard. She had been so quiet. They couldn't have heard her.

  Yet, as one, each of the eight creatures stepped forward. Deep wet growls shuddered from their massive throats.

  I remember these. Not only had she seen a dead one at the party, she'd read about them while in the temple. They were besreds. Fast. Blind. Cunning. She could never outrun them. They tracked their prey primarily through vibrations but also through sound and scent. The one advantage she had was to get up into the trees.

  She edged to the side, moving toward what looked like a great maple.

  The largest of the besreds advanced, his strides slow, purposeful. His growls intensified.

  She cast her gaze about her surroundings as she holstered her weapons. Outrunning these creatures was out of the question as was fighting them off. Even one could easily overpower her until she knew how they fought and attacked.

  Climb! That was the only other option. She stepped back, angling toward the nearest tree.

  More growls followed as the entire pack now drew closer.

  She bolted to the tree, launching herself up to the nearest branch.

  The lead besred lunged at her. His jaws snapped with a thick, hollow crunch. Another snatched a smaller branch in its mouth.

  Its hot breath steamed the back of her leg. She scrambled up higher and higher, thrusting aside the thick leaves and small diamond-shaped nuts.

  Down below, the besreds howled and shrieked. Some reared up and thrust their forelegs against the tree trunk. Their voices wove and trembled with tremulous notes deeper than an overactive bass.

  She clung to the branch, peering down through the leaves.

  The cat that had been chasing her bounded into the clearing. It too froze when it saw the besreds, its hackles bristling.

  The besreds all snapped their attention to it, dropping to all fours and snarling. The cat backed away. It kept its head low to the ground and swished its thick tail back and forth. Then, its muscles tensing briefly, it leaped up onto one of the long branches.

  She inhaled sharply and pressed herself closer to the branch. But the cat had already spotted her. Its hackles lifted again, its orange eyes narrowing.

  "Hey, hey," she said, holding out her hand. "There's room for both of us up here. You don't need to be getting nasty."

  The cat stalked forward on the broad branch, moving as easily as if on the ground.

  "Stay back." She reached up to seize a better handhold, but the bark did not match her expectations. It had cylindrical ridges instead of coarse grooves. Almost at once, it moved, creaking and hissing as well. A twelve-foot centipede arched its head in front of her, its long antennae brushing against her cheeks. It opened its multi-jawed mouth, antennas and mandibles rattling.

  She strained away, scooting along the branch.

  The cat leaped up higher, snarling with rage as it disappeared into the leaves.

  The centipede moved closer.

  "Stay back," she said again, louder this time. She adjusted herself, the branch wobbling.

  Was her gun powerful enough to kill something like that?

  What if there were more like it in the tree? What if shooting this one woke the others up?

  What other choice was there really? She moved toward the gun but immediately grabbed the branch above as the besreds resumed attacking the tree.

  The centipede, unbothered by the thudding vibrations, scrabbled forward, numerous legs clicking and clacking on the branch.

  "No, no." She moved hand over hand back. Somewhere up above the large cat lurked. Its low growl occasionally penetrated the shroud of leaves and branches.

  The only good thing was that the centipede seemed more curious than hungry. Its antennae brushed her foot.

  "Oh perfect." Amelia scooted back farther, curling her toes away, annoyed even more to be without her shoes. She slid over to the next branch, trying to find a sturdier spot to defend herself. The centipede crossed over with even more ease. It moved a little faster now, swiping its head and antennae about as it signaled its approach with skin-crawling clicks and tocks.

  "You're probably one of those creatures that tastes with its mouth. Not so great for me, but hey, what am I gonna do?" She slid farther away. This time she pressed another smaller branch down as she went, pushing it directly into the centipede's face.

  The centipede angled its head to the side, then shook it, hissing. It lunged forward and chomped down on the branch. With surprising strength, it tore the branch free and cast it aside.

  She thrust herself back against the crook of the tree and
seized her gun. She fired directly between its eyes. The belch of gunfire resounded through the wilderness. The air trembled, but the centipede remained stationary.

  Only a faint black mark scarred the top of its shiny red-brown head. Obviously it hadn't penetrated the exoskeleton, but perhaps the blow had been enough to stun or even kill. It stared at her.

  She watched it, heart racing, ears straining. It was too quiet now.

  The centipede hissed. All of its ridges bristled as it reared back, swaying like a serpent.

  She gritted her teeth and aimed again, this time in its mouth. The shot entered perfectly.

  The centipede fell back, an odd clicking howl emanating from it as it thrashed. It then whipped about, more spines emerging around its head.

  So this creature didn't have a brain large enough to allow for a kill shot this way. She gripped the gun tighter. Something had to kill this creature.

  Suddenly the large cat leaped down, landing squarely on the centipede's back. The centipede shrieked and coiled back. The cat dug its thick claws in between the plates on its back, tore through the seams, and then leaped back up to the safety of the higher branches.

  Before the centipede could even recoil, the cat slumped down and slammed its massive paw into its head. The centipede crashed through the branches and struck the ground.

  The besreds attacked at once. They devoured it before the last clicking shriek faded into the air.

  She glanced down, terrified at the power of the besred's jaws. Her gun had only angered the creature, and yet the besreds had torn it apart like paper.

  The large cat's throaty growl rumbled once more.

  She swallowed hard as she met its gaze again. The dark orange eyes remained wide now, the pupils dilating. Then, silently, the cat withdrew to the larger branches.

  She watched its departure with rapt attention, uncertain whether this was better or worse or even how she was going to survive an hour in this place, let alone possibly weeks.

  2

  The Wilderness

  Amelia watched the canopy of leaves and branches with rapt attention, but the large cat did not show its face again. Nothing else appeared.

  Time passed slowly, the seconds eking by. She remained tense and watchful for the next hour.

  The besreds stayed below, baying and barking at odd intervals. Several times they thrashed against the trunk. Her muscles ached, and her limbs burned. But when the large cat did not attack and nothing else arrived, she concluded that she was reasonably safe. At least for now.

  Once another two hours had concluded, she relaxed against the tree trunk a little more. She still jumped and tensed at every crack and rustle, every whisper of the wind within the branches. But there was no reason for a predator to avoid attacking her at this point.

  If only her mindreading skills allowed her to analyze what all was within the tree around her.

  The besreds keeping watch below eliminated any possibility of moving into another tree. But once they left, she would climb down and look for shelter.

  Shelter.

  She shook her head as she massaged her neck. In this place, she wouldn't risk crawling into a cave or hiding anywhere without light.

  She searched the branches again. Nothing but green, brown, and bits of azure sky. The sunlight remained strong, even if it had a redder quality than that on Earth and Reltux. Hopefully this meant she had plenty of time before the sun set. If this was what day was like on Ecekom, she shuddered to imagine the night.

  At the very least though, she now had time to read the notes in her pocket once more. She had already disregarded several of the warnings, but there had truly been no other apparent choice. Perhaps she could determine a safer course after figuring out what she shouldn’t do.

  With one more careful glance around, she pulled the pages out. She also removed the fan and kept her gun in the other hand.

  Not that either does much good. But it felt better to have both ready rather than sit there entirely defenseless

  The crumbled pages contained a long list in what was clearly Naatos's handwriting. Once more she felt the comforting warmth that came from knowing that she was, in some respects, supported in this place. The hastily scrawled letters were sharp and angular with deep swoops and stems. It read:

  Your weapon and its pieces are on your person as well as the fans. Amelia smiled slightly. That had been a nice gesture, even if it had not done much good.

  I do not know how effective it will be against any of the creatures in Ecekom. At best the gun will wound the spiders, centipedes, and mantises. Any of the arachnids or arthropods, hopefully. But you will have to shoot straight down their mouths or through the narrow joints, and you should not expect kill shots. At best, you will cripple and maim, so you will have to be quick.

  A series of shots down the gullet so long as it is aimed downward and not upward, may cause sufficient damage to stop an attack or at least slow it enough for an escape. Aiming upward will be much less likely to succeed. Your gun will be worthless against the mammals, reptiles, and birds.

  The fans are present as well. They are bladed and strong, far stronger than your daggers. But they are best when used defensively. Avoid directly attacking with them if you can but use them to shield yourself if you are attacked.

  However, there are other things which you absolutely must refrain from.

  Do not climb the trees.

  She glanced up, smirking. "Perfect," she muttered. "Well, there really wasn't any other choice, Naatos." She rested her chin on her fist and continued reading.

  Do not enter the rivers or lakes.

  Do not go underground in the earth.

  Do not go out in open spaces.

  Do not go through the tall grass.

  Do not try to befriend the animals.

  Do not pick up baby animals or eggs.

  Do not climb into holes.

  Do not play dead.

  Do not swim.

  Do not draw attention to yourself.

  Do not eat any of the fruit or the roots.

  Do not dig.

  Do not sleep.

  Do not go into caves where you cannot see the back.

  Do not follow any lights.

  Do not let anything lick you.

  Do not crawl under bushes.

  Do not fight to save your hand or your leg if something bites you. Cut yourself free and run.

  The list went to comical lengths, but she found no humor in it this time reading it. She scowled, hunching forward.

  The rest really was nothing more than a list of things not to do. It was no longer so comforting.

  Even through process of elimination, she wasn't sure what she could do to survive.

  Apparently she needed to find a location with shelter that was not made of trees or underground. A cave with a back so she could see, with a route that did not take her through tight spaces, tall grass, or open territory.

  She grimaced, a sharp pain spiraling up her back. It faded after two breaths.

  Groaning, she closed her eyes. The medicine Matthu had given her was no longer as potent. Such a bad time. The discomfort dipped back beneath her awareness. Soon it would be raging, screaming through her nerves and her mind and across her shredded flesh. She pressed her hands to her back. So far the waxy bikro bandages had held. Libyshan medicine wasn't the most advanced in all of creation, but it was effective and powerful.

  "I probably have another six hours before the medication is gone entirely," she said softly. She made her way through the tree until she could get a better look at the sun. Most of the besreds continued their warlike bellows and howls.

  The sun, far larger than Eiram's or Reltux's, hung over a rough dark mountain range. It was a dusky orange-red, harshly outlined in pale yellow. "Four, maybe five good hours." Sighing, Amelia cradled her head. Her limited medical resources in the satchel weren't likely to provide her with much aid given how extensive her injuries were.

  Everything was going to get muc
h worse about the time everything went dark. She'd give the besreds another hour to leave. Otherwise she'd have to risk jumping into the next tree and facing whatever lurked there. Unless she came up with a better plan.

  She inched back to her previous location and situated herself as comfortably as possible. Another wave of pain cut into her, then disappeared, reminding her of her hidden wounds. But the pain of her own worry struck her far harder. There had to be a way out of this tree and to a safer location.

  Time passed slowly, yet even so she uncovered no other solutions.

  The besreds remained fanned out. And movement stirred within the other trees. Occasionally chirrs and hisses spread out. It sounded like scissors moving in the trees to her right and left. Then it stopped.

  The besreds stopped their snarling. Their attention moved upward.

  She tensed.

  The tree shook. Something had climbed into the uppermost branches. The scissor-like sound continued, whispering and muttering far above her head. It moved beyond her into the next trees, yet new waves of the bizarre sound continued.

  She remained motionless and silent. Whatever was passing through the canopy had fully captured the besreds' attention. They stood with their heads cocked to the sides as if to better hear, opaque eyes staring sightlessly to the side.

  Tension radiated up her spine, prickling and tingling. All sound ceased.

  Something was behind her.

  Her breath caught in her throat. Slowly she slid the golden fan open. In the reflection, she saw her face, the branches, and… a massive mantis.

  * * *

  Naatos blinked as the light faded from the Tue-Rah. He, his brothers, and Vorec stood in a forest, surrounded on all sides by cracked grey boulders with shaggy moss and speckled lichen, broad-leafed deciduous trees, and thick, sticky vines with shaggy bark. No distinguishing or prominent features identified their location. This could be almost anywhere within the northern hemisphere west of the Alpak Mountains.

  Faint hisses, whirring wings in the distance, cackling birds, and chuckling lizards hummed on the thick breeze. The damp air was rich with the scents of moist soil, rotting trees, and mountain-fed rivers. Blood, congealed and fresh, also scented the wind. They were downwind from at least one recent kill, cabiza or miscroph, Naatos guessed. Definitely not Neyeb, so clearly not Amelia.