Kristo praised the fresh air and the cold winds that whiplashed occasionally at the high altitudes of Auroracrest Peak. The breeze twisted randomly pushing the trees to sway, whistles served as their music. Calyx on the other hand had a bitter mood, they might be deep in the mountain for two to four days just to collect blood samples. Calyx itched much on the actual war, raiding caravans from outward routes. Although mountain trekking could stray him from the war, he was eventually convinced that this endeavor held more bearing to achieving victory.
"It's a noble cause," Nica pointed out to them.
Auroracrest sprang a rainforest on the topmost part, making the winds cool below the cacophony of widespread trees providing minute space for the sun to reach the forest bed. Occasional snow frosted the mountain peaks but failed to reach downward.
"We are not going in the peaks, it's too cold. There will be no animals there," Luke said.
The camps trained him to hunt for animal blood samples that would provide him with mutation genes more than the Bugmen's blood could provide. According to Virologists, animals' genetic makeup tends to induce more gene points than humans due to the fact that these creatures live to survive harsh environments. The concepts of Darwin might apply to this argument.
"What do you think we will face here?" Nica asked.
"According to my training, maybe we will face bears, wolves, or wild boars. Anything that comes our way," Luke responded.
Luke carried his crossbow R15, fifteen intended to be the mag capacity of half-a-meter length arrows, hung on his shoulder by a sling. And 30 collection tubes on his opposite shoulder in a large knapsack that reached his shins. The three soldiers had their Precision V9 Snipers, mounted with infrared imaging and night vision.
One bullet could tear a skull in half a mile away. All of them were clad with fiber-carbon metal framed suits, easy-zipped type designs, that could withstand freezing winds and deflect animal claws and teeth, depending on the animal's jaw strength. Their suits, called camosuits, were painted with green, gray, and white camouflage. A soft purring of equipment could be heard when the temp systems on their back generated a desirable temperature inside the suits that comforts their bodies, regardless of the external environment.
Their jeep parked on the foot of the mountain unable to sneak through the monolithic hardwood season trees. They traveled on foot for about two hours now, gradually succumbing to the lazy sloped mountainside. The breeze and the ferocious gale suggested they had reached an altitude high enough that would discourage small animals and only larger animals would remain. The ones with thick skins and fur that would insulate them to freezing temperatures.
"How many gene points can you collect in one tube?" Kristo asked.
"300 to 400 gene points each. So, we can collect 6000 points after we fill these 30 collection tubes," Luke responded.
"How come we did not come across animals on our way here? We are walking for hours now," Calyx asked. His words still bathed with distasteful expression.
"These animals could smell us and could determine danger a mile away. When we reached this high, the cold winds and the harsh environment masked our presence," Luke said.
After three exhausting hours pressing further up, they halted and settled on a small clearing surrounded by towering trees. The trees grew much closer to each other, restricting trunks from growing wide. The four of them sipped on water from the jugs embedded in their suits, Kristo munched an MRE and gave a portion to Nica. Calyx opened a canned food of processed meat caldereta, Luke ate the same. The cold temperature growled their stomachs. Despite the exhaustive steep climb, not a single sweat on them, but their breathing became more pronounced.
"This is a good spot," Luke suggested. An outcropping rot concealed their presence, sunlight fingered through the meek canopy of leaves overhead, permitting a clearer view of the environment.
A deer probably would cross their sites. After their meals, they hid behind the outcropping, Nica started to scope on to where her sites could reach. Luke mounted his crossbow between a crack that the outcropping provided.
"Would you rather let me hunt with your bow?" Nica said.
"No, let me do this," Luke responded.
Luke's eyes battled drowsiness, training upon the misty area. About fifty meters, their eyes could only comprehend silhouettes beyond. Animal presence could only be determined by a slight blur movement through a dull white cottony fog that crept on the forest bed like ghosts. Their suit purred again battling the decreasing temperature. The onset of night time evident on the ocher skies behind the bended horizon distorted by the monolithic ranges.
After a few minutes, a silhouette appeared ominously. The shadow portrayed thorns on his head. A deer perhaps, crossed their sights. Nica called it.
"Luke, take the shot. Remember breath. Then hold your breath if you are ready to shoot," Nica reminded. "Thirty meters, the least. Mind the wind."
The silhouette moved about slowly, halting, and moving again with small strides. As it stopped and Luke felt comfortable, he squeezed the trigger of his crossbow. The arrow silently whooshed against the mist and disappeared right after. A perceptible thud loomed, and the silhouette dropped to the ground, assuming that the arrow had plunged its target.
They hauled themselves from the site and walked carefully toward their target. Nica was correct. It was a deer, jerking for a moment, and stopped. A wheezing pain was perceptible for a few seconds. Its eyes blankly stared through them, mouth agape, and a pint of blood-drenched its skin. The arrow plunged near the fore shoulder, towards its neck.
"Nice shooting," Kristo said and took out.
"It's not a fatal shot," Calyx said, his palm resting on the deer's belly. "It's still alive. How come it's not moving?"
"Neuroparalysis. These arrows contained a compartment that housed neurotoxin. I extracted these from modified worms we called Neurax Worm back at Command."
"Sneaky," Kristo said.
"I did not use poison or tranqs because it will diminish the gene points and probably would contaminate the blood. Of course, we can't eat it safely." Luke said. "However, this Neurotoxin can preserve the blood and flesh. Sneaky, that's the right term."
"So, you can evolve a worm also?" Nica said.
"Yes. I can. It's not that effective though for a biological weapon. But it can also be a weapon, we can even create zombies from it, however, to a great cost."
"Zombies? Aliens? What is happening in this world," Kristo said.
Luke plunged two collection tubes into the deer's body and suctioned the blood. It gave him probably 300 gene points each. The bigger the beast, the greater the mutation genes it could provide. Right after collection, Calyx and Kristo hauled the carcass back to the clearing. The ocher clouds vanished, invaded by the dark gray sky. Faint glittering stars sheepishly peaked through the cottony clouds.
Calyx assembled their tents, while Nica prepared wood for fire. Kristo and Luke prepared the carcass. Kristo bled the carcass dry and eviscerated its innards. Luke never butchered a carcass before. He only helped because he had nothing to do and Kristo conversed like they were long friends. Their memories of the year 2030 crossed their lips several times.
They skewed the carcass with a long branch the Calyx provided and barbecued it over the flames after Calyx stuffed its belly with aromatic leaves. Culinary skills posed an advantage in mountain trekking. The charred meat emanated a delectable smell, oil dripped on the flames, and the sight of it churned their stomachs. The crackling fire-eating wood and the crisp skin chewing overcame the distant crickets.
"We can eat this for two days," Nica said.
Their conversations turned to deep exchanges, revealing much each of their lives. Until a distant howl chilled the silent evening. The abnormality of the howl made it more dubious. A hoarse howl, a combination of sharp and bass, somewhat the wolf's throat gargled water.
"Wolves," Calyx said. But to Luke, it was different.