[Time remaining : 11:23:07]
Twelve hours had passed, twelve long and insufferable hours. Each hour was a torment as Kale fled alongside Captain Hyun, their small band of sixteen had been lucky so far, whatever had disturbed the birds had drawn the goblins away, buying them time.
"It's quiet."
"Finally, we can rest."
"...I just want to go home."
Captain Hyun turned to look at those that had stopped, going against his words keep moving. They had stopped as the hounding beat of the drums grew quiet in the distance, they had begun to think themselves safe, already many were beginning to sit down as fatigue set in and the adrenaline of escaping wore off.
"Up. Do not stop."
Captain Hyun's words were ignored, everyone was too tired to listen, too scared to see reason. They were not used to this kind of forced march with no food or water, how were they to continue on when they had no energy, panic and terror had already driven them well beyond their own limits.
They couldn't go on any longer.
Kale himself wanted to lie down and sleep, to stop and rest his tortured body but he resisted and focused on Captain Hyun's words, it was the best chance he had to survive. Kale doubted that it would all be so easy, that the goblins hunting them would stop to allow them rest.
Even now he could see how tired Captain Hyun was as sweat dripped off him, despite being nearly double Kale's age he was in a much better condition. Captain Hyun wasn't overly muscled but he was toned and healthy unlike Kale who had some bulk to his otherwise wiry and lithe frame, just his height of just over 6ft allowed him to keep up and match Captain Hyun's shorter steps.
Wiping the dark hair out of his face Kale ignored his shaking legs as he continued to pace around, refusing to let himself rest, otherwise he would grow stiff and slow. This small action had earnt him an appraising eye from Captain Hyun, the rest got the scowl he was so well known for in the army.
"We cannot stop, we must not let them catch up. None of us are in any condition to fight them."
Captain Hyun had been holding out his hopes for some kind of night on this planet, but the two blue moons continued to hang high as they mocked him with their persistent glow, illuminating the swaying purple grass.
There appeared to be no night to help them hide.
Captain Hyun was already debating just leaving the rest of them and continuing on his own, that way he had more chances to survive, but would he be able to live with himself after? Shaking his head to himself Captain Hyun looked up to Kale and beckoned him over. The youth definitely wasn't a local of the Free World Union judging by his pale skin and tall build, but he had been the only one to listen to his words.
Captain Hyun wanted to save at least one person.
Walking over Kale followed Captain Hyun as was ushered away, why did he want to talk to him in private. They were watched by the others but no one bothered to stand or follow as they disappeared amongst the trees before them, they only wanted to rest and be free from this nightmare.
Walking further beneath the persistent carpet of trees and purple grass Captain Hyun stopped and addressed Kale, peering into his face closely, his spear clutched firmly in his hands.
"If I leave will you follow?"
Captain Hyun was a direct and simple man, his words followed suit. Kale was confused by the question, did the Captain plan on abandoning everyone else? Even after spending hours nurturing them and pushing them onwards.
"We cannot survive as we are, at least one of us must return to let Earth know what is happening here. This is bigger than any of us, if I have to bare the sin of abandoning these people then so be it. It is a small price to pay for our home."
"I…."
The words were lodged in Kale's throat as Captain Hyun stared at him with strong eyes, waiting for his answer.
"… I will follow."
Kale grasped his spear tighter in his hand and felt the cloy blood of the slain woman staining the wood, he didn't want to be like her and die helplessly, he wanted to live, he wanted to survive. Placing a hand on the young man's shoulder Captain Hyun was impressed by the lads resolve.
"What is your name?"
"Kale Moore."
"Kale, we leave now."
There was no pause in Captain Hyun's words as he silently stalked away, no farewell for those left behind, Kale realised he was right, he too wanted to survive regardless of the cost.
Following as best he could Kale followed Captain Hyun's steps, treading lightly and carefully, despite the tiredness that gnawed away at his bones he knew he couldn't stop until the drums did, and they were slowing growing louder.
The pair of them disappeared through the purple grass and vivid trees as they heard shouts in the distance, it was the shouts of the others crying out for them, wanting them to return and help. Crying for the only source of comfort that they had taken for granted.
Captain Hyun kept on walking even as he shook and repressed his feelings, this went against all the morals that had been ingrained into him, but what would his morals be worth if he died and accomplished nothing for his home. Kale himself felt guilt as they continued to walk, he couldn't help but think that he too might have been abandoned like them if he didn't keep going.
Could he afford to be weak?
[Time remaining : 10:31:15]
Captain Hyun and Kale had travelled far enough that the drums and cries of their former party had faded well into the distance, their fates unknown.
Kale was struggling to walk as he used the spear like a makeshift crutch, his legs felt like lead as he breathed out harshly every time his foot landed. Captain Hyun himself was struggling as he found himself leaning on more and more of the trees, barely able to sum up the energy to move on again after.
Finally, Captain Hyun called for a stop.
"We need to rest Kale, neither of us can go on much longer."
Merely grunting in response Kale collapsed against a tree and slid down its bark exterior, too used to the scrapes and bumps that he received from it in turn. Collapsing next to him was Hyun as they both tried to garner what energy they could.
"We need to find food or water, something must be edible in this place."
Kale once again nodded his head. too tired to respond. He had been wondering the same thing, what did the goblins eat? Through all the hours of walking he hadn't seen so much as a drop of water or food anywhere, how did the animals on this planet survive?
They couldn't even prey on any of the two beaked birds they came across for fear that it would reveal their location to the goblins hunting them.
Staring at the youth next to him Captain Hyun knew that something had to be done, he was barely holding up himself, his survival training was all but useless here. He had tried gouging at the trees to peel off the bark but had instead split his hand on the spear, the trees here were incredibly tough and he had no tools to help. Captain Hyun didn't even have the energy to climb and get a good look at his surroundings. This planet was just a large perpetual canopy, highlighted by the strange chirping of alien birds.
Kale could see the worry flash across Captain Hyun's face and knew they were in dire straits. Questioning his previous life choices Kale didn't know why he hadn't looked after himself better, to do something with his body rather than just waste away in his small crappy apartment and job. Clutching at the soil Kale uprooted the purple grass as he tossed it away, even that drained his final reserves of energy.
Despair was slowly creeping into Kale's mind, threatening to take over.
Trying to shut his eyes Kale started to grow annoyed at Captain Hyun, why did he keep on touching his fingers, shaking his hand slightly Kale opened his eyes and jumped away in fright as he rolled forwards, startling Captain Hyun with his sudden movements.
"What the F*ck is that?!"
It hadn't been Captain Hyun touching his fingers but what appeared to be a grossly swollen and pulsating maggot the size of a small rat, covered in long purple strands. Looking at the ground where he had torn away at the grass Kale grew horrified and couldn't help but retch as he saw that underneath the grass the ground was pulsating with these maggots as they flowed and wriggled ceaselessly. Their pale bodies rubbed together like jelly as they moved, grinding onto each other with short sloppy sounds, like that of slurping soup.
The grass itself was just the hair that had grown from these maggots backs, all along they had been walking on thousands if not millions of maggots, explaining the soft springy texture of the planet.
Wanting to vomit in disgust Kale watched as Captain Hyun poked at the maggot with his spear.
"Kale… I think you've solved the question of how the goblins survive on this planet…"
Looking at each other Kale and Captain Hyun were both filled with nausea at the thought of eating this strange grub that had no discernible head as it turned in on itself and stretched in two directions at once.
It truly was disgusting.
"Should we.."
Kale stopped talking as Captain Hyun fearlessly picked up the maggot and bit into its soft springy tissue, with a pop it emitted a high pitched shrill as it covered Captain Hyun in a strange white goo, still chewing Captain Hyun forced himself to swallow, failing to repress his bodies shudder.
Resisting the urge to throw up Captain Hyun slowly felt some energy entering his tired body, it was a strange feeling of warmth in the pit of his stomach as his body felt rejuvenated again. Nothing he had ever eaten before had this effect.
Silence passed for a moment until Captain Hyun spoke again.
"We should eat."
Wordlessly looking at Captain Hyun, Kale used his spear to fish out another maggot, Kale aimed for one that wasn't moving as much, but it still disgusted him at the thought. Shutting his eyes tight Kale brought the maggot to his lips as brushed away the purple strands, a mixture of watery goo oozed down his throat and settled in the base of his stomach. Doing his best to keep it down Kale could feel an odd heat rising from his stomach that revitalised his drained body.
Their source of food decided Kale and Captain Hyun slowly dined, It was too late to concern themselves with whether or not they were safe to eat.
All that could be heard from the pair eating was the eerie pop of bloated maggots as they emitted ear-piercing shrills, before long the hole in the ground had disappeared and the pair had their fill.
[Time remaining : 10:01:49]
Kale heard it first, the sound of panicked and angry drums, the goblins were approaching. With newfound strength Kale and Captain Hyun dashed off, leaving empty husks in their wake, neither of them wanted to carry such nauseous creatures.
Or even see them again.