The morning arrived not with the familiar warmth of a yellow sun, but with the soft, silver light of one moon setting and the bluish glow of another still hanging in the dawn sky. After a restless night, Kenzo decided that staying put was a more dangerous option than facing the unknown.
He stepped out of the hut, breathing in the cool, clean morning air. The forest around him felt alive, filled with the sounds of strange insects and the songs of foreign birds.
[Your biological system requires nutrients,] Prometheus reminded him in its flat tone. [Prioritize finding a source of food and clean water.]
"I know," Kenzo replied internally, his eyes scanning the surrounding vegetation. His empty stomach agreed with the AI.
He walked cautiously, avoiding any bizarrely colored plants. After a short while, his eyes caught something familiar: a low bush covered in dark red berries, strikingly similar to blackberries from Earth.
He picked one. It felt firm between his fingers.
"Prometheus, analyze this."
[Scanning... Molecular structure indicates high levels of fructose, glucose, and water. No toxicity markers detected in my database. It is likely safe for consumption.]
With a hint of doubt, Kenzo popped the berry into his mouth. A sweet and slightly tart flavor exploded on his tongue, a profound relief. He quickly gathered a handful, eating them greedily. It was his first small victory in this world.
As he was enjoying his meal, a faint sound cut through the forest's silence. Crying. The sobbing of a small child.
His first instinct was caution. Could it be a trap? But the crying sounded so genuine, so full of despair. After a moment's hesitation, his human side won. He couldn't ignore it.
Kenzo moved slowly toward the source of the sound, his steps light. In a small clearing, he saw her. A little girl, perhaps five or six years old, with tangled brown hair and simple, coarse-spun clothes, sat on the ground hugging her knees. Her face was wet with tears.
Kenzo stepped out from behind the trees, slowly raising his hands to show he meant no harm. "Hey," he said softly.
The child jumped, startled. Her large, green eyes widened in fear. She immediately stopped crying and scrambled back a few steps.
"It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you," Kenzo said again, knowing his words were likely meaningless.
He tried to speak to the girl, to ask what was wrong, but all he received were confused and frightened stares. Their languages were completely different. The words that came from her mouth were alien, with soft vowels and sharp consonants.
Frustrated, Kenzo knelt to match her eye level. He pointed to himself, "Kenzo," then gestured to her with a questioning look. She just stared back, still wary.
Seeing his efforts fail, Kenzo looked around. He noticed tiny footprints in the slightly damp earth. The pattern was clear: one set of tracks belonging to a small animal, and right behind them, following every twist and turn, were the child's footprints. The scenario instantly formed in his mind. The girl had gotten lost while chasing an animal. As the realization of her situation seemed to hit her again, her lip quivered, ready to cry once more.
"Prometheus, what do I do?" Kenzo thought, feeling helpless.
[Facial expression and body language analysis of the subject indicates high levels of stress and fear. Calming physical contact may be beneficial. Her heart rate is elevated.] Prometheus reported. [Furthermore, the ground here is damp. The footprints she left are still very clear. Following this trail in reverse is the most logical course of action to find her starting point.]
Kenzo nodded internally. He slowly extended a hand, not to touch, but as a peaceful gesture. He then offered a small smile the first genuine one he'd shown in this world. Somehow, it seemed to work. The fear in the girl's eyes lessened, replaced by curiosity.
Kenzo pointed to her footprints, then gestured back the way they came, and patted his own chest, trying to convey his intention to help her get home.
Suddenly, a shout echoed from the distance. Not a cry of panic, but a call. The little girl's head shot up, her eyes brightened. She shouted back in a high-pitched voice.
Soon after, several adults emerged from the trees. They carried simple staves and lanterns, their faces etched with worry. The moment they saw the girl, their expressions flooded with relief. A woman, likely her mother, ran forward and hugged the child tightly.
They all then turned to Kenzo. There was gratitude in their eyes, but also confusion and wariness. Kenzo's strange clothes and foreign appearance made him stand out.
A man who appeared to be the group's leader stepped forward. He spoke a few words in a friendly tone, but Kenzo could only stare back in confusion. Realizing Kenzo didn't understand, the man smiled knowingly. He then switched to gestures, patting his own chest while saying something that sounded like a name, then giving a slight bow. Kenzo returned the gesture. Their communication now relied entirely on body language. He then made an inviting gesture, pointing toward a faint path between the trees.
They wanted Kenzo to come with them. Despite the risks, it was his best chance. Being surrounded by people who seemed relieved and grateful felt infinitely safer than being alone in the wilderness.
Kenzo nodded in agreement. With a wave of their hands, the villagers beckoned him to walk with them, beginning the journey out of the forest.
At first, Kenzo felt immense relief. The safety of being in a group was an invaluable luxury. However, after a few minutes of walking, something felt wrong. His stomach, which had only been hungry before, now began to cramp. His head grew dizzy, and his vision blurred at the edges.
'Prometheus, what's happening to me?' he thought, trying to fight off a sudden wave of nausea.
[WARNING! Foreign toxin detected in your bloodstream. Central nervous system is beginning to be affected. Source... likely the berries you consumed.]
'What? But you said they were safe!'
[Initial molecular analysis detected no toxicity markers present in the Earth database. This is an alien poison. Its biological effects were unknown and unpredictable.]
The cold report from Prometheus felt like a death sentence. His small victory had been a fatal mistake. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Every step became heavier.
The villagers, walking ahead of him, noticed his slowing pace. The leader of the group turned back, a look of concern on his face.
Kenzo tried to signal that he was fine, but his body betrayed him. An overwhelming wave of nausea forced him to double over at the side of the path. He vomited violently, expelling the remains of the dark-colored berries. The world spun around him. He heard the panicked shouts of the villagers. Hands reached out to support him.
[Motor system failure... consciousness rapidly declining...]
The last report from Prometheus sounded distant, before darkness completely swallowed him and he finally collapsed, unconscious.