Strapping on my backpack I hopped inside one of the civilian APCs they prepared for us. On our journey we set off with other volunteers and some soldiers as protection. Before I hopped in my designated APC I took a glimpse at our caravan group. It consisted of four APCs carrying the volunteers and three military Humvees with mounted machineguns carrying the soldiers.
Our caravan was arranged from a Humvee in the front, one in the back, and one in the direct center splitting the volunteer vehicles apart. I was in the second APC from the back along with Yao Ya sitting next to me of course. We departed around 10 am into the new world.
The vehicle interior was quite cramped as we were always shoulder to shoulder with our seatmates and our legs were intertwined with the person across from us. In total there were 10 seats, all completely filled with passengers, with 5 on each side. There were two compartments being the passenger section where we were and the driver section which was sectioned off by a door.
Once the door closed on the APC the compartment we were in instantly dimmed. Not long after a red light above the driver's door lit up our section some. This was our only source of light at the moment since there were no windows for us to look through or for light to shine through.
The 8 other passengers inside along with us were 5 males and 3 females. After around 30 minutes of everybody doing their own things to prepare, fidget, or stare into the void one of the men tried to start a conversation with everybody.
"So... Why did you all decide to join in on the expedition?"
"It seems exciting." energetically says a man
"I still can't really believe what they said to be true. So I wanna confirm it." skeptically says man
"I wanna be one of first people to explore a new world. It seems like a fun adventure." I say
"Same here." Yao Ya says slowly trying to entangle her hand with mine, though I didn't notice.
"We're scientist respectively of geology, herbology, and, zoology. He's also here to accompany his girlfriend." one of the girls say while pointing to the other two girls next to her, afterword pointing at one of the men who hasn't spoken yet.
"I thought I might find something cool to bring home." the second to last one said
"Well since we're going to live here, I wanna see the beauty of it and show my friends at home. Plus if I find a beautiful place and bring a hot girl there I might increase my chances at getting laid.
What are your names? We're probably going to be on this journey together for a while might as well Know each other." said the initiator of the conversation.
"Zheng Li"
"I'm Zou Wen."
"I'm Ip Cheng and she is Yao Ya." pointing the girl next to me
"I'm Su Shu, the Geologist. I hope we get along"
"I'm Tao Mei, the Herbalist, Pleased to meet you."
"Wan Ting, the Zoologist."
"I'm Shen Bo, Su Shu's boyfriend."
"Xia Ah, I hope you all find what you came for. "
"I'm Shi Jun, Glad to know you all."
Everyone spoke according to the order they introduced themselves. Feeling something clutch onto my hand I look down only to find another hand that belonged to Yao Ya. Looking up a little at her face I see a sweet Innocent looking smile staring back. Blushing a little I look away.
'She's still acting like when we were in our neighborhood as kids, always holding my hand, even though I understand now what it could mean, I'll let her keep holding it if it makes her comfortable. As a plus I get to hold a hand of a beautiful woman who was my first crush.'
…
After everybody introduced themselves we all chatted for around an hour or so to get to know each other before it started to quiet down and everybody went back to their own devices. Its been around 5 hours and 30 mins since departure seeing the digital clock embedded on the wall. It seems that The day and night cycle of this world is the exact same as ours for now anyway.
As we were just sitting there and thinking of when we'll stop, the vehicle turned left and slowly decelerated until we reach a complete stop. Noticing we stopped everyone starts to prepare to go out and see the environment this new world offers as well as set up camp for the night.
After exiting the APC and taking a look around I realize that we didn't stop because of the darkness but because of what was in front of us. It was a huge thick forest and the vehicles we brought had no way to plow through it. We were on the edge of a plains biome we had just drove through.
Our transportation vehicles had made a makeshift barricade with the APCs forming a small circle and the Humvees creating a triangular shape with two facing the forest and one covering where we came from. Getting out I can clearly make out the other APCs unloading around us. It was like we all decided to unload our people at the same time.
In the distant horizon I saw as the sun was setting. It was pretty scenic as the clear outlines of the vehicles casted shadows upon the ground towards me.
"Damn! It's starting to get dark, I guess we'll just have to wait till tomorrow to see anything cool. I might as well start setting up my tent then I guess." said Shi Jun
"Did you guys bring your supplies?" The driver asked us from within the APC
"Yes" We all said in unison
"Perfect, you are all responsible for your own tents and food. We're only here to provide transportation and protection. Just remember that you all shouldn't leave this protective perimeter we've set up ok?" The driver responded
Walking around I find a little place that wasn't too crowded. As people around me set up their little tents I feel a tug on my shirt. Having a feeling it was Yao Ya I turn around and low and behold there she is.
She was in a little position with her hands on her back as her body was slightly tilted toward me.
"I..."
"Let me guess, you forgot your tent and want to sleep with me?" finishing her question and realizing I saw straight through her, she meekly smiles and blushes before giving me a nod.
"Alright you can come in."
"H.. How did you know?"
"I had a feeling you would do something like that. You would always make excuses so we would have to share things in the past."
"You remember that!? I thought you would have totally forgotten!" She showed a slightly shocked faced
"How could I forget? You were only of my few friends back then!"
Hearing that she put on a bright smile as she grabbed my hand, dragging me into my newly set up tent. After chatting a bit more and talking about our past memories for a bit more we decided to go to sleep.
…
Jolting awake sounds echoed around me. Continuous loud noises pierced the air as screams of terror and beastly roars come from every direction around me. Recklessly collecting my backpack and taking Yao Ya's hand we hurried outside.
It was Chaos.
As soon as we exit our tent we see dozens of other tents do the same. However the ones closest to the forest have already been shredded and covered in blood by beasts. Of the two Humvees guarding the forest one was flipped upside down as the other had its front engine on fire, immobile as one of the beasts rush towards it.
The two APCs acting as walls were pushed aside with noticeably huge dents appearing on them. The third Humvee is rushing over to help while kiting the monsters, but not noticing one of the bigger ones it gets hit directly on its left side and rolls over to its right side defenseless as the soldiers struggle to escape their now death trap, 10 of the smaller ones quickly rush over and drag the 5 soldiers outside to devour them. Not willing to continue watching the tragedy unfold I turn to see what else might be occurring.
Of what might of been 40 volunteers on this trip around 33% of the tents mostly from the front have been ripped to shreds not even 5 minutes had passed. It seems the soldiers were taken by surprise as the horde must of come from the dense forest without them knowing.
Tugging on my hand she snaps me out of my stupor. Not willing to stay in such dire situations any longer I run toward my right where another part of the forest is, holding on tightly to Yao Ya. Looking back to what used to be our camp I spot around 50 of those blurry beasts running around causing havoc.
Terrified of what happened I keep running into the forest until we see a cave and quickly hide inside for fear of any of them being nearby. I had already had a flashlight strapped to my chest to quickly I switched it on did a quick search of the cave.
The cave wasn't a shallow one, nor was it too deep of one and thankfully it was empty, There was a nice cubby hole that hid both Yao Ya and I. The adrenaline was starting to wear off though and as soon as we reached the little cubby hole I immediately fell asleep.