The night forest was very dense. The sound of insects ringing, and the cold pierced the bones. You were separated from the climbing group, and now, you are completely alone.
Footsteps could be heard from a distance, but not ordinary human footsteps. Something, or someone, is approaching. Suddenly, from behind the bushes, appeared a figure of a woman in purple clothing, wearing a mask that covered the bottom of her face. In his hand, a pair of sai daggers gleamed sharply in the moonlight.
His wild eyes are staring at you hungryly. He slowly advanced, his steps light but full of threats. "Who are you?" he asked in a terrible hoarse voice, "And who do you work for?"
Cold sweat dripped down your temples. Behind Mileena, you can faintly see the silhouette of another woman wearing a blue patterned outfit.
Mileena prepares to attack, but before she has a chance to act, you shout, "Wait! I'm lost, I don't work for anyone! And... please be careful with the woman behind you!"
Mileena froze hearing your warning. He slowly turned his head.
Me : Milena?
Mileena slowly lowered her sai dagger, but her eyes remained narrowed suspiciously. He was not used to a stranger who recognized his name in the middle of a remote forest like this.
"How could an ordinary human like you know my name?" he hissed. His voice sounded strange, like there was a layer of fangs clashing behind his mask.
The figure in blue behind him stepped forward into the moonlight. It was Kitana. His face seemed calmer, but his hands still grasped the folded sharp fan.
"Calm down, Mileena," Kitana said in an authoritarian but gentle tone. "He looked frightened, not a threat. Look at his clothes, he's neither a warrior from the Outworld nor a scout from the Lin Kuei clan."
Mileena snorted, then turned to you in such a fast motion that her face was only inches away from yours. You can smell the smell of iron and forest soil from his body.
"Luckily for you, 'my brother' is in a good mood," Mileena whispered, as her left hand slowly touched the hem of her mask, as if tempted to reveal what was behind it. "Otherwise, this forest will be your final resting place."
Kitana approached and stood beside Mileena, providing a faint sense of security amid the tension. "What's your name, young man? And how did you get to this dangerous territory?"
Me : I'm zak, I'm lost here..
Pov : Soon Jade will be here.
The atmosphere of the forest that was once tense suddenly felt denser when the leaves above your head rustled violently. A green shadow glides down gracefully, landing right between you and the two sisters.
It was Jade. She grasped her bō wand which glowed a faint green, her eyes instantly fixed on you before turning to Kitana and Mileena.
"Kitana, Mileena," Jade's voice sounded wary but calm. "I heard a foreign voice. Who is this young man?"
Mileena snorted roughly, looking a little disturbed by Jade's sudden presence. "His name is Zak. He was 'lost', he said. But she knows me, Jade. Strange, isn't it?"
Jade stepped closer to you, the tip of her wand touching the ground with a steady thud sound. He notices your clothes that seem unusual to the inhabitants of their world. "Pocket... You look pale. This forest is not a place for ordinary people to walk around without weapons."
Kitana took a step forward, placing a hand on Jade's shoulder to calm her down. "He warned Mileena about my presence earlier, Jade. He doesn't look like an enemy."
Now, you're standing in the middle of a circle of three of Edenia's deadliest fighters. The wild Mileena, the majestic Kitana, and the protective Jade. The cold of the forest is still felt, but their gaze on you is much sharper than the night air.
"So, Zak," Jade twisted her wand and leaned it on her shoulder. "If you're really just getting lost, where did you come from? And how can a young man like you know who we are?"
Me : I played a game and bounced here
Hearing the word "game", Jade and Kitana exchanged glances with furrowed foreheads, while Mileena chuckled—a sound that sounded like a restrained growl.
"Game? What game can throw one across dimensions to the heart of Outworld?" Mileena approached, the tip of her sai dagger almost touching your chin. "Is this the new magic of Shang Tsung? Or maybe Quan Chi's new toy?"
Jade immediately stepped between you and Mileena, the tip of her stick blocking the aggressive sister's advance. "Take it easy, Mileena. I didn't feel any black magic in him. He seems... Honestly, even though the story sounds crazy."
Kitana stepped forward, her face looking more concerned. As a princess who has seen many wonders of the world, she tries to understand your position.
"Okay," Kitana said softly. "If our world is just a 'game' to you, then you know more about us than a foreigner should. It could be a blessing, or a curse that endangers your life here."
Jade nodded in agreement. He turned his stick very quickly and then slid it back onto his back. "This forest is not safe to linger on. Shao Kahn's army—or worse, the hungry Tarkatan—could appear at any time. If you really bounce here, you're our responsibility now."
Mileena snorted, crossing her arms across her chest. "Responsibility? I'd rather call it 'bait' if we meet a forest monster later."
"Enough, Mileena," Jade cut firmly. She then looked at you deeply. "Come with us, Zak. We're heading to a hidden camp. But remember, one suspicious move, and you'll know how fast my stick can break bones."