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    wahmbulance Chapter #3 wahmbulance


    For a few seconds, Naia was embracing Mitsuki's fingers before she found herself alone, in what appears to big a opening surrounding by five giant trees. And her hand touching nothing but sliver moonlight. Feeling stupid, Naia immediately put her hand down and dragged herself to the Underwood Tree. Though all the other trees where just as big, this tree stood out from its huge tree trunk and branches.
    After Naia managed to lean against the tree, she was far too tired to keep her eyelid up. Naia fell asleep but questions buzzed around in her head like an angry swarm of bees. This isn't Comester's garden. Where am I? How did I get here? Why am I here? That bird from earlier was squawking about it was my 'destiny' to come here...but what for? Am I the only one around here? Am I going to be stuck here in this forest forever?
    Many questions yet, there wasn't an answer for none of them.

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    The ray of sunlight of the next morning was subdued by an unexpected fog. The smell of the heavy air woke Naia with a start. But she didn't rise very quickly. The stiffness from curling up around her bag. She had to fight the thrill of exploring thrashed around in her chest and, kept in mind that she was whisked away to a foreign world overnight against her will. With no knowledge on how to get home. This is not the time to get excited like a kid in the candy store. She reminded herself. I have to remember I'm by myself here. Finding a way back is the first priority.
    But where to start? In every direction, there was an enormous tree blocking every turn. "Guess I'm just gonna have to pick one and go with it." Naia's stomach grumbled. She eyed the tree green limbs above for any sightings of fruits or anything considered edible, but the trees were bare. "And something to eat while I'm at it."
    A sudden movement in the nearby bushes revealed an overweighed squirrel, scurrying the forest floor for food. It looks too heavy to run very far. Naia estimated. If I could catch that with my dad's army knife, I could start a fire and cook the thing. Being extremely still not scare the squirrel off, she slowly moved her hand over her bag before she felt the familiar bump of her father's blade.
    After taking the pocket knife out, Naia mouth watered at the thought of the squirrel's meat she would soon devour as she crept closer and closer up to the unexpected prey. Even better, the squirrel actually scurried closer to Naia with its back turned towards her. It's like it's begging me to eat it!
    Just when she thought she was close enough to strike, a scream split through the morning fog. Alarming the squirrel up in one of the giant trees. Naia quickly realized that the screams were actually cries of help from human beings!
    Ignoring her empty stomach, Naia ran toward the ruckus coming from her left. She had to climb up and over some rocks and oversized tree roots bulging out of the earth, before she could put any effect into running on the uneven ground. Once again, her one strap bag whamming constantly against her thigh. But it was far from her current concerns. With one hand firmly gripped on the knife, and the other on the charm she had long forgotten she held on too, Naia was ready to fight if needed too.
    The cries continue to echo into the fog as Naia ran through bush after bush, after tree branch until she fully emerged from her tree prison.
    From that spot, Naia could smell the ocean and see waves ramming the beach's coast to her left. To her right tall grasses, much like the one's she had seen back at Comester Mansion, except, the grass over yonder was golden and brittle. It could easily catch ablaze and go on for miles if it did. And in front of Naia was a very deep grove fill with boulders and rock, yet beyond that was forest of ordinary sized pines and oaks. Not a road as far as the eye can see.
    As extraordinary as the sighting was, Naia's mind hadn't strayed too far from her main task. The shrieks emitted from the rock grove and that's where Naia headed for. The wind felt good running through Naia's long hair while she sprinted. It didn't take her long to reach the ledge only to just realize that it's a long drop down if she misplaced her footing in anyway.
    From where she stood Naia could see a little silhouette, possibly a child's, running at the bottom of the trench through the fog. But that wasn't all Naia was able to see. Though the misshapen, what appeared to be a wolf caught up with the child in a few strides. Knocking the child over. Frustrated snarls could be heard as the fearsome beast attempts to sink it's fangs into the child's neck was obviously being blocked by some foreseen weapon.
    Uh-oh. I need to get down there and fast! Naia carefully peered down the rocky slope and picked out several ledges that could support her weight. Kneeling down then swinging her leg over the wall, Naia slowly made her way down. Hang on! I'm coming!
    A sudden jerk from a rock underneath her foot gave away, sending Naia-and her shoes-sliding uncomfortably against the sharp rocks. A shower of gravel awaited her soon after she slammed at the bottom. Blood was oozing from the cuts and scrapes Naia had received and the pain was hard to ignore. But she had too, for the rock slide had distracted the beast long enough for the child to limp behind the safety of a large beast.
    The beast's target wasn't the hapless child anymore. It wanted the bigger meat. It wanted Naia. Seeing how she injury herself, the beast took no precaution upon its new target. It made one massive step after another towards her. Its red eyes gleaming menacingly through the mist but remained silhouetted.
    Naia was no fool. She steadily herself with her father's pocket knife extended in her hand. Just come any closer and I'll scratch your eye out! I'll have to make this count. I have to strike when the time is right.
    Faster the beast went. It was no longer taking small steps but trotting. Its tongue was lolling and its eyes shined more impatiently than before. While Naia propped herself on one knee, ready to attack.
    As soon as the beast's hot rancid breath met Naia's face, she plunged the knife into the muzzle before it swung its claw at her. It backed away followed by a quick, "KI-YA", most dogs do after you've given them a sharp whack to the nose. Before running away into the depts. of the fog.
    "Yeah?! Well don't come back!" Naia was panting hard, but the exhilarated rush from winning her first battle with the wild had distracted her otherwise. Wow! I won all by myself! Maybe that was a sign that proves I can survive.
    Suddenly her mind with back to the child behind the rock. And that kid must have come for somewhere, right?! Maybe they have food and shelter! Not wanting to scare him away, Naia tried to coxed the boy out instead. "You can come out now. That wolf is gone."
    "It's not a wolf. It is a Nightstalker. They're demons that stalk the nights of the waning moon. You didn't know that? I can tell you're not from around here." The boy stood up from behind the boulder. He was about 3 or 4 inches shorter compared to Naia height so, she guessed he was probably 4 years younger than her.
    He wore a long light blue leggings and fingerless gloves. Along with a dirty blue sweat shirt and a pair of shorts. He's wild brown hair was wrapped up in a head band imprinted with unusual symbols, and colorful bird feathers sticking out giving him an Indian look. Also dragging a tree branch behind him. He must've used that to fend off that thing. Feeling more confident, the boy ventured out while continuing to observe Naia with his big brown eyes.
    "I've never seen any tribes wear clothes as weird as yours."
    "That's because I'm not from a 'tribe'. I'm just trying to get by."
    The child didn't seem to have heard for he was now gazing at Naia's knife which was stained with the beast's bizarre blue-black blood. "Whoa! That's the finest blade I ever seen! Where did you get it from?"
    "From my father. He gave me this before him and my mom went away..." Naia didn't like bringing up her parents like this. Especially since she couldn't remember much about them. Only that they've given birth to her, and raised her till the age of 5 before they left town and never came back. Everyone assumed they were dead.
    The boy could surprisingly tell this was upsetting Naia, for he urgently asked. "My name's Crowprint and I just turned 10 newleaves a few days ago. What's your name stranger?"
    "My name is Naia Sha-."
    "Naia? That a nice name. Naia I need your help with something."
    "What is it?"
    "...That Nightstalker from before...ambushed me and my tribemate when we was on a morning walk together. I managed to get its attention and follow him here but, he mauled my friend pretty bad. He's probably didn't survive..." Crowprint croaked out these last words.
    Right after Naia stuck both her long forgotten charm and folded pocket knife in her pockets of her torn jeans, she laid one hand on his shoulders. "I'll help you find him. He can't be too far right? Show me where you last saw him."