Chapter 18: Journey 1
In the heart of the vast forest, Hossam continued his exploratory journey, aiming to expand his knowledge about the creatures of this strange world. After finishing his study of the "Book of Primal Energy," he decided to make use of his time by exploring this mysterious environment. The forest was a natural masterpiece; its trees arranged in an artistic harmony, the chirping of birds weaving cheerful melodies, while the scent of flowers filled the air like a velvety perfume wrapping the atmosphere.
"What a beautiful place!" Hossam said as he gazed at the enchanting scene, a light sigh escaping his chest as if the beauty of nature had lifted the heavy weight off his thoughts.
Looking around attentively, he explored every corner he stepped into, trying to spot the animals that inhabited this forest. Hossam, who had loved animals since his childhood, found himself reminiscing about his old dream of raising pets—a dream that had been cut short by his mother's fear that it would distract him from school. So, he decided that after finishing his studies, he would build a pen and start raising the animals he loved. However, unfortunately for him, he was transported to this world before he could achieve that dream.
"No matter, if I couldn't fulfill this goal back on Earth—humph—I'll accomplish it here, starting right now!" Hossam said enthusiastically.
He ventured deeper into the forest, about two kilometers in, where he began to encounter unique creatures. The first creature he attempted to approach was a rabbit with two horns.
Hossam crouched closer to the horned rabbit, saying, "Hello there, little one." He raised his hand to pet it, but the rabbit's response was anything but friendly—it headbutted him with its sharp horn.
Realizing the rabbit's intent, Hossam quickly leapt back to avoid the attack and then scolded it: "Hey! Why did you do that? I didn't do anything to you!"
Unfazed, the rabbit ignored him and hopped away.
"Tsk! Cheap rabbit. If I see you again, I'll turn you into roasted rabbit!" Hossam muttered angrily.
"Well, no need to be mad, Hossam. We can tame something else," he said, calming himself down as he continued his journey.
As he ventured further, he encountered many creatures, most of them predatory or venomous. Sometimes, he stumbled upon scenes of hunting—bears catching deer or snakes preying on birds. Not wanting to interfere with nature, he preferred to avoid them.
After several hours of walking, as he navigated through the dense trees, Hossam noticed a faint movement in the grass. He stopped and looked closely, only to discover a small creature—a black cat. But it wasn't an ordinary black cat; its fur was as dark as a moonless night, exuding an aura of mystery, as though it were a piece of shadow that had broken off from the night to roam in broad daylight. The sunlight reflected off its golden eyes, making them resemble rare jewels with an enchanting brilliance that captured attention and sparked curiosity.
Despite its small size and simple appearance, the cat seemed to carry an air of enigmatic dignity that defied comprehension. Every move it made was calm and graceful, as if it moved with a royal confidence. Hossam was overcome with a mix of feelings—tranquility and fascination, as though its presence radiated a soothing charm that reordered his thoughts without him realizing it.
"What's this little one?" he murmured to himself, captivated by its beauty and the mystery it seemed to conceal.
"Hmm, just a cat. What else could it be?" Hossam said dismissively, continuing what he was doing.
"Come here, little one!" he called out.
The cat stared at him curiously, as if to say, "What's up with you?"
Hossam approached it to pick it up, but the cat leaped away with astonishing agility, leaving him stunned. He laughed lightly and said, "Oh, what an impressive jump! I think I'm in love with you already!" he added playfully.
Then he stopped abruptly and said to himself, "Ahem… I forgot I'm in a story. There must be someone watching and thinking, What the hell is this? Ahem, ahem… I'm sorry, dear viewer." Standing tall and trying to look dignified, he said in a deep voice, "Hey, little cat, come here. I have something nice for you."
Hossam pulled out a small piece of meat from his bag.
The cat stared at it skeptically, tilting its head as if to say, "What is that?"
"Huh, you don't like it? What do you want then?" Hossam asked, puzzled.
"Well, you're a little cat. You must prefer milk over frozen meat. Alright, wait here." He said as he darted off to search the area.
While searching, he spotted in the distance a majestic deer roaming with its newborn fawn. The deer was as large as a horse, exuding the elegance of a crowned queen, even without a crown. It stood firm and graceful, with the golden sunlight reflecting off its lustrous coat, giving it a regal presence that was unparalleled. Its antlers were intricate and elaborate, like a masterpiece of nature, symbolizing wisdom and majesty. Nearby, its fawn stood admiringly, as if it saw her as the protector and guide in this mysterious world.
Even the forest itself seemed to bow in respect to this deer, the forest floor adorned with golden sunlight filtering through the towering trees above. The entire scene resonated with dignity and refinement, as though the deer was the undisputed queen of the forest—a symbol of balanced strength and serene beauty.
Hossam murmured under his breath, "What a magnificent deer! Its majestic appearance makes me want to claim it as my own, too!" he said in admiration.
He thought for a moment…
"Alright, it's decided! But first, I need to tame it." he thought to himself and began to approach the deer and its fawn cautiously.
The distance between them was still considerable, but he managed to close it to about twenty meters. As he drew nearer, he sensed something strange in the air. The mother deer began to notice his presence, yet she didn't seem alarmed. Instead, she watched him calmly. Hossam, however, hadn't realized the situation yet and continued to approach while hiding among the grass.
Suddenly…
Bark!
"Huh? A dog?" Hossam was surprised. He thought the sound came from a puppy or a small dog, but he ignored it and continued approaching.
As he got closer, the barking grew louder.
"Damn it! Stupid dog! Why is its voice so close? I hope it doesn't ruin my plans!" Hossam muttered, frustrated.
When he reached a distance of four meters from the deer and its fawn, he stood silently observing them. But soon, the silence was broken by the sound of barking again. Hossam was stunned by what he saw—the sound wasn't coming from a dog but from the majestic deer itself! He froze in place, shocked, and exclaimed, "What the hell? A deer that barks?!"
The deer stared at him firmly as if warning him not to come any closer.
Not knowing what to do, Hossam stood frozen, staring back at the deer, unable to move.
"Oh!" Suddenly, a bizarre idea struck him. He said to himself, "I remember that male deer make sounds during mating season to attract females. Maybe I can try that to show my strength," Hossam said naively.
"Hey, why are you saying that? I'm not stupid! I'm very intelligent… V.E.R.Y. intelligent!" he said, looking up at the sky.
Taking a deep breath, he let out a faint roar, but the deer looked at him with clear disdain, as if to say, "What kind of nonsense is this?"
Seeing its reaction, Hossam could only feel embarrassed, but he managed to compose himself at the last moment and said, "Fine, fine! I understand, I was wrong! How can foolish animals possibly understand my meaning? I am the civilized human being!" he declared arrogantly.
But the deer wasn't intimidated by his words and retorted sharply, "Hey, you idiot! Who are you calling foolish animals?"
"Ah… What the hell? A talking deer?!" Hossam shouted in shock.
To be continued…