Finally, after a moment of thinking, Murky slowly closed his eyes, giving in to the comfort of nature, the shining sun, the gentle breeze, and the sounds of birds and insects.
The world around him disappeared, and he let his mind wander, finding peace in the depths of his thoughts. And then, as if a switch had been turned on, his eyes suddenly opened wide, a spark of determination lighting up within them.
"I'll move on my next awesome plan!"
He said with a demonic smirk, speaking softly, barely heard by the air around him.
With firm steps, he went down, his boots hitting the ground loudly with a thud!
The sound echoed through the air, breaking the previously calm atmosphere.
It was as if the very essence of the wind cracked under the weight of his purpose.
No longer caring about the silence that had covered his every move, Murky now seemed to embrace a newfound recklessness.
It's as if the world became his canvas, and he intended to make his mark on it.
Sensing that the noise was proud enough for him, Murky tried to look left and right, and then he looked up to the tree.
"And now, I go up!"
He declared, his voice filled with excitement and adrenaline.
With the agility of an experienced climber, he climbed the tall tree in front of him, his hands and feet moving easily.
Murky's familiarity with climbing was evidence of his past experiences as a soldier in a war-torn developing third world country.
The military had taught him the strength and resilience needed to overcome such physical challenges, but not mentally tough, his training in his past life wasn't enough.
Still, with the help of his Draugr warrior form, he did it easily.
As Murky climbed, his muscles strained but he persisted undeterred.
The branches and leaves became his partners in a graceful dance, responding to his every step.
The world below started to shrink, replaced by the vast sky above.
Murky felt a surge of triumph as he reached a secure position.
From this high point, he suddenly shifted his gaze and observed the ground below, his eyes scanning with unwavering concentration.
"Are they here?"
A drop of sweat ran down his face, evidence of the physical exertion and the heat clinging to his body.
Yet, his determination remained unwavering, as if he possessed an inherent understanding of what he was waiting for.
It didn't take long before a strange and high-pitched bark pierced through the dense forest, its echo spreading through the air like a warning.
Kachachacha! Kachachacha!
Murky tightened his grip on the small tree he had been holding onto, his knuckles turning pale from the pressure.
It was one of the many small trees he had strategically pulled earlier, as if transformed into an improvised weapon in his hands.
"BARK! BARK BARK!"
The peculiar bark echoed once more, indicating the presence of an unseen entity.
"They are here!"
Murky's senses sharpened, his eyes narrowing with anticipation. He knew that whatever awaited him was about to reveal itself. And just as he suspected, a creature emerged from the depths of the forest, slowly becoming visible.
At first glance, it looked like a furry dog, but its features hinted at a more sinister nature.
Grrr… Argh!! Argh! Grrrr…
Its mouth resembled that of a goblin shark, with rows of sharp teeth.
However, the most distinctive feature was its elongated nose, solid and menacing, as if it could penetrate through anything in its path. And it wasn't alone. Murky's gaze swept across the scene, revealing the presence of three more of these monstrous creatures, each as huge as a bear.
Grrr… Argh!! Argh! Grrrr…
The three tried to bark at each other in a low intense tone.
Argh! Argh! Argh!
"Nematoceran hounds," Murky whispered, his voice tinged with both curiosity and fear. "In simpler terms, a dog that looks like a mosquito... or maybe the pet of the ancestors," he added, his words filled with a deep understanding of their origins.
He watched the Hounds' movements carefully, their way they move was different from a normal predator that's aware of the important role they played in maintaining the delicate balance of the planet's ecosystem.
Murky could understand, because they are not from here.
In movies, these Nematoceran Hounds were often shown as scouts sent by their blood ancestors to explore planets, indicating danger and providing guidance in decision-making.
But how did Murky acquire this knowledge?
The answer lay in the beginning scenes of a movie, a memory that had been deeply engraved in his mind.
It portrayed the journey of a young male warrior from Athens, the only survivor of a brutal war against savages that had destroyed his once-powerful army.
In those initial moments, the young warrior had come across a fierce battle between a creature that could transform into a different form called Weremorphs and a young blood progenitor, their clash a chaotic and destructive spectacle.
The odds seemed impossible to overcome, with the creature Weremorph almost emerging victorious.
However, it was the young Athenian warrior who became the unexpected savior, his intervention delivering the decisive blow that changed the course of the battle.
As the movie progressed, the true identity of the young progenitor was revealed.
She was a female, deeply moved by the young Athenian warrior's courage and unwavering determination. Love blossomed amidst the chaos, and she invited him to join their civilization, to become one of the ancestors.
Fueled by a thirst for adventure and the chance to surpass his mortal limitations, the young Athenian warrior eagerly accepted her proposal.
In their subsequent conversations, the female ancestor revealed the complexities of their ongoing conflict against the shape-shifters and other rebellious ancestors. She shared details of their missions, their struggles, and their relentless pursuit of peace and order in the universe.
The young warrior, captivated by her words, fueled by a newfound sense of purpose, and her profound beauty, he pledged his loyalty to their cause, vowing to fight alongside her as a warrior.
Throughout their discussions, the movie also showed glimpses of the older generation of Progenitors using the Nematoceran Hounds as part of their reconnaissance efforts.
These creatures served as the Progenitors' scouts, exploring potential planets and evaluating the dangers they might face.
Murky, relying on his memory of the film, made the connections and understood that the presence of the Nematoceran Hounds indicated the involvement of a high-ranking Progenitor in testing this particular area.
It was because of the race, he is a spartan, and the movie showed him the progenitors showing these Hounds in the forest of spartan during the new leader selection of Spartans.
"These newborn Hounds have the strength and abilities comparable to creatures with mutated human or Draugr warrior bloodlines of significant intensity, neither surpassing nor falling short of my own capabilities," Murky thought, his mind delving into his knowledge.
The presence of three of these hounds with five class intensity indicated the involvement of a powerful elder Progenitor.
With the pieces of the puzzle falling into place, Murky focused his attention on the hounds before him.
"Come on!"
Murky mumbled while salvaging.
Soon, the dog's instincts kicked in, and they began to explore the surrounding area, their sharp senses attuned to the subtle details of the forest. They sniffed the air, their furry bodies tense with anticipation.
Yet, as they took deep breaths, their movements froze, and the hair on their backs stood on end. It was as if they had caught a hint of something threatening, a presence that sent chills down their spines.
Without hesitation, Murky seized the opportunity. In one quick motion, he threw a clean, thin log through the air, landing it with a loud thud near the hounds.
The log effectively blocked their escape route, confining them to a smaller space.
"No way am I letting the three of you go!"