Blue sky, white clouds. I opened my eyes after seeing the blue light from the sky. Then, I could not believe what I was seeing. All I remembered from last night was that I was still watching TV with friends, but now I was in the unknown jungle.
The situation right now was unclear to me. I sat up and stretched my arms. I felt a bit sleepy from the poor sleep. Then, I stood up and started to walk around. It was obvious that I was alone here and isolated in the jungle. No roads. No buildings. Just a thick jungle stretching endlessly in every direction.
Far in the distance, mountains and large rocks were the only things I saw. Jagged mountains pierced the sky like teeth. Red flowering vines clung to the cliffs like arteries, pulsing with some unknown rhythm. It was beautiful, but not comforting. However, it was still a wonderful view to see. Next, when I moved further, I saw blue river water glittering with golden flecks beneath the surface. Besides me, flowers and trees here grew strangely shaped and were impossible to recognize their identity. "Just like alien plants." I muttered to myself. All this, to me, made me have a clear vision of myself: I was not in my homeland anymore, and this was an isolated jungle with many possible dangers lined ahead. This is the mocking answer that I did not want to think of or accept.
I swallowed hard. I did want to find a way home, but I knew it was impossible for now. I wanted to survive until the next morning, and that was what I should focus on.
I grabbed the axe, lying on the ground like a forgotten relic not too far away, and it seemed this was the only survival tool I had now. A simple, solid, slightly rusted axe but still serviceable. It would have to do.
I should properly build a tent for myself since I was not sure how dangerous it could be in this jungle at night. I needed two things for me: a shelter to stay for the night and dried wood for starting a fire.
With that thought, I was in a hurry to find rope, tree branches, and many leaves to make a shelter. I grabbed my axe and aimed at the right tree and started to chop. Rotated. Then chop again to collect them. The job was never easy at first since this was my first time using an axe to chop the tree.
"Phew, finally, this wood should be enough to make a tent…hopefully." I kept collecting all the chopped wood and settled in the clearing. First, I made a Y shape for my tent with the bigger branches, then I used rope, leaves, and other Y-shaped branches to complete my tent. Although it was not that good-looking of a tent, it was still enough for surviving tonight. I was not sure if it was a coincidence that the rope and leaves I found were not too far from the place I chopped trees.
Next is the fire; it should not be too far from my tent. I went out again to pick up the driest twigs I could find. During that, I was a bit clumsy to tie them together and brought them back to my tent. Once I put them on the ground, I checked and pulled out the old flint from my belt pouch, striking it against the axe blade until sparks showered down. The process of making fire was longer than I thought, but I did not give up yet.
Sparks flew. None caught. I tried again. And again. My wrist ached. Just as I was about to scream, a spark landed right, and smoke curled upward. I blew gently until a stubborn flame blinked to life. I was relieved and fed it with those twigs I found.
Sitting beside the fire, I felt more alive than I had in years. I grew up in a city. Comfort. Cafes. Noise. This was a primal kind of peace. The ache in my muscles, the blisters on my hands—it all made me feel oddly satisfied. I leaned back against a tree trunk, letting the warmth soak into my bones.
By the time the dark came, only light from the stars above, my tent, and my campfire were completed, and I could use this time to rest a bit. And I actually thought that. But peace doesn't last. I heard footsteps; they were light but confident ones. I knew these were not an animal's footsteps, but they were definitely human footsteps. Before I could react, she appeared from the tall grass and trees.
I was speechless when I saw her. She emerged like a dream out of the trees: long silver hair cascading to her shoulders, eyes as blue as the morning sky I woke to, but sharp and cold. Her presence alone froze me.
She wore tight leather armor, a dagger strapped to each hip, and a bow slung across her back. Everything about her screamed danger. And beauty. I was very impressed by her weapons and well-prepared clothes, unlike me. However, when I looked into her eyes again, I knew she saw me as her prey.
I still sat near the fire and put my axe down at my feet. There was no point to start a fight with this woman since she was armed well and looked skilled. All I could do now was wait for her to speak first and try to convince her somehow.
"So," she said, stepping closer. Her voice was melodic, almost teasing. "You built this by yourself?"
I nodded and grinned at her. "It took me almost a day to finish them. Not bad for a guy who usually struggles to assemble IKEA furniture, huh?
She did not reply to me right away. After a short pause, "No, I came to kill you and take your camp." The woman said.
That landed like a brick. I blinked at her, heart pounding, mind racing. My first instinct was to run. My second was to laugh at how absurd it all was.
"Well, that was a straightforward message," I thought to myself. I look at her calmly and start convincing her. "That would be a tragic waste. Of both of us, really. I mean, look at me"—I gestured broadly to my dirt-smudged face and ragged clothes—"I'm obviously invaluable."
She lifted her eyebrows and touched her dagger. "I don't have any patience left for your talking nonsense. Prepare yourself."
"Hey, just wait a sec. If you killed me now, you would be alone here and have to do all the boring work alone every day." I told her about the wearying work she might encounter.
"Imagine how much more cozy this place would be with two of us enjoying the fire instead of just one lonely soul freezing to death." I tried to use my logic and convincing skills to lead her to a nicer vision. "Besides, if we both stay together, I could help you a lot of things… You know, gathering wood, fixing the shelter when it collapses, and starting the fire again tomorrow. I'm sure a woman of your obvious... talents... has better things to do than babysit a campsite."
The woman obviously saw my point and hesitantly put her hand away from her weapon. She crossed her arms, looking at me. I saw the gear turning and gave her a final convincing. "Stay here. Let's share the fire. I promise to let you pick our foods first … when I figure out where to find them."
She now laughed and relaxed a bit. "You are either a fool…or brave enough to convince me. Very well."
She sat opposite me and relaxed with the shared fire. I chuckled and felt relieved when she spared me. "I may be both, like you said… My name is Kyle," tossing another twig onto the fire.
"You make a compelling argument." She glanced at the sidewalk. "But it does not mean I trust you completely… I am still watching you… and… Call me Kayla."
" I understand." I said. "Trust is for idiots and lovers. I'm just offering you a slightly better idea." Kayla said nothing, but she seems a bit more relaxed than before.
As I thought I can enjoy this quite night with my new company, Kayla, I felt something strange…this jungle…too quiet… Something was not right.
I looked at Kayla, wanting to ask what she thought. Then, suddenly, we both heard a loud noise from a huge creature. Its roar sounded like an injured ox in the middle of the night, and it gave me goosebumps and the pressure of whatever was coming.
I grabbed my axe and looked around to identify the location where the sound came from, then prepared for a fight. Kayla also did the same as she held her two daggers tightly and signaled me to be quiet and moved quietly to hide. I nodded and moved to nearby trees and observed the situation.
From the shadows lumbered a monster straight out of a nightmare. With loud and strong footsteps, the black creature had the massive physique of a bear, with muscles rippling beneath thick, armor-like skin. From its large head emerge a pair of fearsome horns resembling those of an ox: hefty, ridged, and sharply pointed.
Despite its bear-like appearance, when it vocalizes, the sound that emerges in the darkness is a powerful, resonant bellow of a buffalo, which vibrates through the humid air. Its presence is one of tremendous force and resilience, a monster seemingly unaffected by the perils of its surroundings, even on the most dangerous of nights.
I had never seen something like that before. And I was very sure I would not survive if I faced it alone. I gripped my axe tightly, waiting for a chance to strike.
The monster sniffed at its surroundings and ran toward my location to attack me. I immediately dodged to the other side from its attack, but I was not quick enough. I still got a scratch from the beast's claws, burning like fire.
Kayla shouted something, then an arrow slammed into the creature's ear. Then, she shot another arrow at the beast's eyes. The beast roared in furious and hurting voices, which made both of us cover our ears...
Kayla ran away and hid behind a large rock. I joined her as well, and my arms still hurt from the injury earlier.
"Although it has thick skin, its belly seemed able to attack...look at the scars on that beast's belly," Kayla observed and whispered to me.
I looked at the scars and nodded at her thought. "You're right. We only have one shot to kill it for sure. Let's work together." I said.
She smirked at my comments and teased me. "Don't fall behind, weakling."
Then, she grabbed her daggers and ran smoothly and fast toward the beast's belly and stabbed it. Meanwhile, I took my chance to chop right on its legs and make it hard to move. After the beast collapsed on the ground, Kayla shouted, "Finish it!"
I held my axe tightly and swung down to its head to kill the beast. The beast was dead.
After the fight with the beast, we were both exhausted and sat near its dead body to rest a bit. "We did it. Thank you for helping me, Kayla," I said in a heavy breath.
Kayla smiled and punched me on the shoulder lightly. "For a man who can't start a fire like you, you did well…. Great job."
I laughed and teased her: "So, you still want to kill me and steal my camp?"
She grinned and sat up: "Remind me of that in the morning, okay?"
"Come on, partner. Let's see if this thing has anything worth looting before more show up." She said. I chuckled and followed behind her and helped her to collect any useful things from the beast.
Then, we both got some rest later in the night and decided to enjoy our first victory later in the morning.
I did not know what tomorrow would bring. But at least for now, I was not facing it alone. And that was enough.