Sumit was back in the forest, but something was different—eerily different. The trees around him were shrouded in a thick mist, and the air was heavy with the scent of blood. His heart raced as he scanned his surroundings, trying to piece together where he was. Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the mist, and from the shadows emerged the figure of the cat-man, blood dripping from his head, his eyes burning with a vengeful fury.
With each step the cat-man took, he cursed Sumit, his voice a chilling whisper that seemed to seep into Sumit's very soul. "Why didn't you save me? You left me to die..." The words hung in the air like a dark cloud, pressing down on Sumit's chest, making it hard to breathe. The cat-man's pace quickened, his curses growing louder, more intense, until he was standing right in front of Sumit, his face twisted in anger and pain.
"Why did you not save me?!" the cat-man screamed, his voice a thunderous roar that shook the ground beneath Sumit's feet.
Sumit jolted awake, his body drenched in sweat, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst from his chest. He looked around frantically, realizing he was still in the forest, sitting against the base of a tree. The nightmare had felt so real, but it was over now—at least for the moment.
He leaned back against the tree, trying to calm himself, but his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. It had been two days since he had taken the belongings of the fallen warrior cat-man. Two days since he had eaten the last of the fruit from the plant-bull. His stomach growled in protest, reminding him of just how dire his situation had become.
"I'm lost..." Sumit muttered to himself, the words barely audible. His hands trembled as he looked down at them, realizing just how weak he had become. The isolation, the hunger, the fear—it was all too much. He needed to get out of this place, to find food, to survive.
But the more he thought about his predicament, the more the panic set in. Without warning, Sumit let out a cry of frustration and began throwing whatever he could find—sticks, rocks, leaves—anything to release the pent-up anger and despair that had been building inside him. "I just want to go home!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the trees, only to be met with the mocking laughter of a group of monkeys.
"hehe hahaa heheee," the laughter echoed through the trees, shrill and mocking. Startled, Sumit looked up and saw them—plant-monkeys, similar to the plant-bull he had encountered earlier, perched on the branches above him. But these creatures weren't attacking him; they were laughing at him, their faces twisted into mocking grins. The plant-monkeys had vibrant green fur that seemed to blend seamlessly with the foliage around them. Their bodies were a fusion of wood and plant matter, with small leaves sprouting from their limbs and backs, making them look like living extensions of the trees they clung to.
Sumit recalled the plant-bull he had encountered, a creature whose very presence had been a blend of flora and fauna. The bull had been massive, its body covered in thick, mossy vegetation that gave it a camouflaged appearance against the forest floor. Its horns, long and menacing, had been intertwined with vines, and its eyes had glowed with a mysterious, almost mystical energy. The plant-bull's back was adorned with lush, green plants, some of which even had small, delicate flowers blooming from them. It was as if the creature had been born from the earth itself, a creature of the forest, with roots that ran deep into the soil.
But unlike the plant-bull, these monkeys weren't as intimidating—they were mocking him, their "hehe hahaa heheee" laughter echoing through the forest, each chuckle a stab to Sumit's already fragile psyche.
"Shut up! Leave me alone!" Sumit shouted, picking up a rock and hurling it at them. But the monkeys were too quick, catching the rocks and throwing them back at him, their "hehe hahaa heheee" laughter growing louder and more obnoxious with each passing moment.
Sumit's frustration boiled over. He began throwing more rocks, but it was no use. The monkeys were toying with him, making him feel even more powerless. But then, from behind him, came a second burst of laughter—deep and resonant, unlike the shrill cackles of the monkeys.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA," the sound was powerful, reverberating through the forest with an almost tangible force. The plant-monkeys froze, their "hehe hahaa heheee" laughter abruptly silenced as they looked past Sumit, fear flashing in their eyes. Without hesitation, they scattered, disappearing into the trees as quickly as they had appeared.
Sumit turned slowly, his heart pounding in his chest, and saw him—a towering figure, covered in thick, gray fur, with the body of a man and the head of a wolf. The wolf-man stood a few feet away, his muscular arms crossed over his broad chest, his mouth curled into a sinister grin. His eyes gleamed with a mischievous light, as if he had been watching Sumit for a while, enjoying the spectacle.
At first, Sumit felt a surge of fear but after remembering the kind nature cat-man, he calmed down and moved towards the wolf-man. The fear subsided, replaced by a cautious determination.
Summoning his courage, Sumit walked towards the wolf-man, trying to keep his voice steady as he spoke. "Do you have anything to eat?" he asked politely, his voice barely hiding his desperation.
The wolf-man chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Sure," he said, "but first tell me where you're from. Which tribe are you from? Are you here for the competition? If you tell me your story, I might just give you something to eat. It's been a long time since I had a good laugh, and I sense that today, you're going to make me laugh even more."
Hearing the word "competition," Sumit's mind raced. Was this the clue he had been searching for? Maybe this was his chance to find out more, to get closer to the truth. He couldn't let this opportunity slip away.
"I'm from the human-tribe," Sumit said, choosing his words carefully. "I come from a land far from here, and I'm here to take part in the competition."