"No need to be so edgy, jumpy. I just wanted to make sure you were human." She looked at his puzzled face and said. "I'm a student too."
'Another student? I guess that's to be expected.'
By now, she had gathered some leaves and was rubbing them on the dead carcass. "This particular leaf masks the scents of blood. The worst thing you can do is leave a trail of blood scent in a jungle. Ash Onyx, what's your name jumpy?"
Impossible.
"My name is Vanta Black, not jumpy. How are you alive?"
"What do you mean?" she throws him a frown.
"I heard every member of the black clan perished some years ago. I've searched for the truth but it proves elusive."
"I guess not all of them." She scratched the back of her head. "I don't know the truth either, but it's going to come to light."
Vanta felt a connection, but he also felt cautious around her.
"We'll talk about it some other time. First, I'm heading towards the river to the west. Want to come with me?"
"Sure, but I have something to do. Find a place to spend the night; I'll come to find you soon, but be careful; I feel a haunting presence in that direction," she said, walking away.
About fifteen years ago, the black clan vanished without a trace. The reason behind this was unknown. Some said they were wiped out during the war, and others simply said they were in hiding; regardless, Vanta felt a strong urge to uncover the Truth.
'Get your priorities straight.'
He had to focus on his current situation. After a while, he got to the flowing river. The sunlight glinted off the water, creating a shimmering path that led his eyes to the depths. The river was so clear that the bottom of the river was seen, even the few fishes that swam here and there.
He followed the river down and found a cave. The cave walls loomed above him, an oppressive silence broken only by the drip of water. He went inside, but what he saw sent a wave of icy dread through him.
Inside the cave was a mountain of bones. Some parts were stained a dark crimson, the blood of fallen victims. The stench of decay choked his nostrils. He stumbled back, gasping for fresh air.
'I need to leave this place fast.'
Something caught his leg. It was white silk, tough and sticky. A white thread wrapped around his hand, tightening with a chilling pressure. He looked up to see the source of the threat: an eroded spider, twice the size of an average human, perched high above him. Its body was black, its abdomen and legs adorned with a menacing red design. It let out a deafening screech, a sound that seemed to vibrate through his bones. With a swift, brutal movement, it flung him backward, sending him crashing into a tree.
Pain exploded in his chest, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. He scrambled to his feet, dodging a rain of web balls that came hurtling towards him. Without a weapon or his abilities, his only option was to run. But even that seemed impossible.
'Guess there's no choice than to bring down the bastard.'
He charged at the monster, evading its attacks, and landed a blow to its head. But it was like hitting a rock. The spider's skin was hard and rough, barely fazed. With a swift counterattack, it sent him flying through the jungle again.
One blow wasn't enough, but more of the same might do the trick. He ran again, ignoring the pain, dodging the web balls, each impact a searing sting on his skin. He slipped under the spider, jumped from the back, and landed another massive blow to its head.
'That makes two.'
Before his feet could touch the ground, the spider abomination struck him in the chest, a blow that sent him reeling. He blacked out for a few seconds, but quickly regained consciousness. He had to keep going. He noticed that the spider's movements were shaky, its attacks slower.
'One more.'
He rushed at it again. His body ached, his vision blurring, but he pushed through the pain. He ducked under the abomination, and delivered a punch that crushed its skull.
Blood poured everywhere, green and red, a gruesome spectacle. Then, Vanta realized he had been impaled through the chest by one of the spider's legs. They both fell to the floor, the spider's body twitching, its life force fading.