Sumit's eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the soft, dappled sunlight filtering through the thick canopy overhead. He found himself lying on a bed of leaves, their earthy scent mingling with the faint smell of smoke. Blinking away the last traces of sleep, he turned his head slightly and noticed the cat-man still seated by the fire, his feline eyes staring into the flames with a calm, almost meditative focus.
For a moment, Sumit's heart raced, but he quickly reminded himself that if the cat-man meant him harm, he would have done so while he was unconscious. This strange creature had watched over him, ensuring his safety through the night. Taking a deep breath, Sumit concluded that the cat-man must be harmless, at least for now.
Sensing movement, the cat-man turned his gaze toward Sumit. "You're awake," he said in a deep, soothing voice that seemed to rumble in his chest. "Are you feeling alright now?"
Sumit pushed himself up to a sitting position, still a bit disoriented but otherwise unharmed. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you," he replied politely. His curiosity got the better of him, and he added, "Where am I?"
The cat-man tilted his head slightly, as if considering how to answer. "We're in the forest," he said simply.
Sumit frowned, not entirely satisfied with the answer. "But where is this place? What's it called?"
The cat-man's ears twitched slightly. "This is the Forestia Ferra," he answered. "But you, where are you from? Which tribe do you belong to?"
Sumit hesitated, confusion clouding his thoughts. "I... I don't know," he admitted. "What do you mean by tribe?"
The cat-man's eyes narrowed as he studied Sumit more closely. "You don't know what a tribe is?" he asked, a hint of suspicion creeping into his tone. "A tribe is the group of people you belong to, the ones who call themselves your kin. Like me, I am from the Cat Tribe."
Sumit nodded slowly, trying to piece together what the cat-man was saying. He was about to reply, thinking it would be easiest to say he was from the "Human Tribe," when suddenly, a low growl echoed through the trees.
Before Sumit could react, something massive crashed through the underbrush. Emerging from the shadows was a monstrous creature that looked like a bull, but with a terrifying twist. Its body was covered in thick, green vines and leaves, giving it a camouflaged appearance as if it had grown directly out of the jungle itself. The creature's horns were large and twisted, adorned with sharp, thorny plants that jutted out dangerously.
Its eyes glowed with an eerie green light, and its mouth opened to reveal rows of jagged, leaf-like teeth. The plant-like creature exuded an aura of ancient power, as if it had been guarding this forest for centuries. The ground beneath it seemed to come alive, with small plants and moss growing rapidly around its hooves as it moved.
Sumit felt a chill run down his spine as the creature locked its gaze onto him and the cat-man, its nostrils flaring as if sensing something unfamiliar. The cat-man immediately stood, his fur bristling, and took a defensive stance in front of Sumit. The air grew tense, and Sumit could feel the pulse of danger as the plant-bull let out another menacing growl, preparing to charge.
The plant-bull's eerie green eyes locked onto Sumit, its nostrils flaring as it let out a deafening roar that echoed through the jungle. Before Sumit could even think to move, the creature charged, its massive hooves thundering against the ground and sending small tremors rippling through the earth.
Sumit's body froze in place, his mind racing but his feet unable to respond. The creature's gnarled horns, sharp and menacing, were aimed directly at him. Just as the bull was about to impale him, a blur of movement shot out from his right.
The cat-man leaped in front of Sumit, his body twisting in mid-air as he swiped at the bull's face with his claws. The impact was enough to deflect the bull's charge, causing it to stumble and skid across the forest floor. The bull let out a furious bellow, shaking its head as if trying to dislodge the pain from the cat-man's strike.
"Stay back!" the cat-man growled over his shoulder at Sumit, his voice filled with authority. Sumit scrambled backward, his heart pounding as he watched the two creatures square off.
The plant-bull, enraged, lowered its head and charged again, this time with even greater ferocity. The cat-man dodged to the side with feline grace, avoiding the deadly horns by mere inches. With a snarl, he pounced onto the bull's back, his claws digging deep into the thick, vine-covered hide.
The bull bucked wildly, thrashing its head and trying to dislodge the cat-man. Vines and leaves whipped through the air as the creature twisted and turned, but the cat-man held on, his claws tearing through the greenery with each swipe. Greenish sap oozed from the wounds, but the bull seemed unfazed, its fury only growing stronger.
With a powerful shake, the bull finally managed to throw the cat-man off its back. The cat-man landed on his feet, crouching low with his fur bristling and teeth bared. The two circled each other, each looking for an opening, their eyes locked in a deadly dance.
The bull suddenly stomped its hooves, and vines shot up from the ground, snaking towards the cat-man in an attempt to ensnare him. But the cat-man was too quick. He leaped into the air, avoiding the grasping vines, and landed a solid blow to the bull's side, his claws raking through the plant matter with ease.
The bull let out a pained roar, stumbling slightly from the force of the strike. Seizing the opportunity, the cat-man dashed forward, delivering a series of rapid strikes to the bull's legs, aiming to cripple the creature's movements. The bull faltered, its balance thrown off by the relentless assault.
Sumit, still watching in shock, noticed the ground beneath the bull beginning to shift. The plants that had grown around the creature's hooves were weakening, the once-thriving greenery withering away as the cat-man's attacks wore the bull down.
With a final, furious bellow, the bull made one last desperate charge. But the cat-man was ready. He sidestepped the attack with ease and, using the bull's own momentum against it, delivered a powerful swipe to the back of its neck. The force of the blow sent the creature crashing to the ground, its body convulsing as the life drained out of it.
The jungle fell silent, save for the cat-man's heavy breathing. The once-mighty plant-bull lay still, its green eyes dimming as the last remnants of its strength faded away. The vines around its body loosened, becoming lifeless and brittle.
The cat-man turned to Sumit, his breathing steadying as he spoke. "Are you alright?"
Sumit could only nod, his mind still reeling from the intensity of the battle. The cat-man approached the fallen creature, prodding it cautiously with his foot to ensure it was truly dead. Satisfied, he looked back at Sumit, his expression softening slightly.
"You were lucky," the cat-man said, his voice calm but firm. "The Forestia Ferra is full of dangers like this. You'll need to be more careful."
As Sumit started to respond, a sudden movement caught his eye. The bull's tail, which had appeared limp just moments before, suddenly sprang to life. It coiled like a serpent, moving with a speed and precision that neither Sumit nor the cat-man could have anticipated.
"Look out!" Sumit screamed, but it was too late.
The tail, tipped with a sharp, thorn-covered point, lashed out like a whip. It struck the cat-man in the back of the head with terrifying force. The cat-man's eyes widened in shock, his body freezing in place as the thorny appendage drove deep into his skull.
For a brief, agonizing moment, the cat-man stood motionless, his life ebbing away before Sumit's horrified eyes. Then, the bull's tail retracted, and the cat-man collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
The plant-bull, with its last ounce of energy, let out a low, triumphant growl. But the effort was its final one. The creature's body shuddered, and the light in its eyes faded completely, leaving it a lifeless husk on the forest floor.
Sumit stared in disbelief, his heart pounding in his chest. The cat-man, who had just saved his life, now lay dead before him. The reality of the jungle's dangers hit him with full force, a chilling reminder of how quickly things could change in this unforgiving world.
He took a shaky step forward, kneeling beside the cat-man's body. The creature had fought bravely, sacrificing his life to protect Sumit from the bull's wrath. Guilt and sorrow welled up inside Sumit, but there was no time to mourn. He knew he couldn't stay here—this jungle held even more dangers, and he was now completely alone.
Sumit stood up, his legs trembling but his resolve hardening. The cat-man's final words echoed in his mind: The Forestia Ferra is full of dangers like this