The road to Otto Forest Reserve was long and winding, cutting through vast stretches of untamed land. As the group ventured further from the city, the air seemed to grow thicker with the scent of earth and damp foliage, a sharp contrast to the urban jungle they had left behind. Each mile brought them closer to the unknown, where the comforts of civilization would be exchanged for the rawness of nature.
Essel, seated at the front of the van, stared ahead, his keen eyes absorbing every detail of the passing landscape. His pulse quickened—not from fear, but from an eager anticipation. This was where he belonged, where the wilderness stretched as far as the eye could see and life thrived in its most elemental form.
"You look like you're already home," Biggie remarked from the backseat, his voice light yet curious.
Essel turned slightly, offering his friend a brief smile. "In a way, I am out here, everything makes sense. No distractions, no noise ,Just the world as it's meant to be."
Biggie adjusted his glasses, peering at the dense trees looming ahead. "I'll take your word for it. Personally, I wouldn't mind a few more distractions—Wi-Fi, for instance."
Jenny, seated beside Biggie, rolled her eyes but grinned. "Come on, Biggie, few days off the grid won't kill you, besides, think of all the 'research' you can do once we're back." Her tone was teasing, but her eyes flickered briefly to Alphonse, who was lost in his own reflection in the rearview mirror.
Alphonse, adjusting his shirt to ensure every muscle was perfectly outlined, sighed. "This place better have a decent shower. I can't be out here for three days without looking my best."
Carly, who had been silently gazing out the window, turned to him, her voice soft but firm. "You might be surprised, Alphonse. There's more to this trip than appearances."
Alphonse raised an eyebrow, smirking. "We'll see. I just don't get what's so thrilling about sleeping on dirt and getting eaten alive by mosquitoes."
Essel chuckled under his breath. "You won't be thinking about mosquitoes when you're standing face-to-face with a river full of crocodiles."
The remark earned a nervous laugh from Alphonse, though he quickly masked it with a confident shrug. "Crocodiles? Please, I'll charm them like I do everyone else."
"Sure you will," Biggie muttered, shaking his head as the van pulled up to the entrance of Otto Forest.
The moment they stepped out of the vehicle, a heavy silence descended upon the group. The forest loomed before them—vast, ancient, and impenetrable. The air felt different here, thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, as if the land itself held its breath, waiting for them to take the first step.
Essel was the first to speak, his voice low and reverent. "We're here."
Jenny looked around, her eyes wide with excitement. "It's… beautiful. I didn't expect it to be so… alive."
Carly inhaled deeply, feeling a strange sense of peace settle over her. "There's something about it. It feels… pure."
Alphonse, however, seemed unimpressed. "Pure? It's a jungle. Let's just find a good spot to set up and make sure nothing crawls into the tent while we're sleeping."
As they began unpacking their gear, Essel took charge, his knowledge of the wild immediately proving invaluable. "We'll set up camp by the river, close enough for water, but far enough to avoid any unwelcome visitors. Stay alert—this place can be unpredictable."
Biggie fumbled with his equipment, muttering under his breath. "I should've downloaded a survival guide before we left."
"Don't worry, Biggie," Jenny teased. "We've got Essel. He's basically our human survival guide."
Essel glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "The forest doesn't care how much you know. It only respects how well you adapt."
They moved deeper into the forest, following Essel's lead as he expertly guided them through dense thickets and over fallen logs. The further they went, the more the forest seemed to close in around them, its shadows deepening as the canopy overhead blocked out the sun.
Carly stayed close to Essel, her curiosity growing with every step. "You're really comfortable out here, aren't you?"
Essel nodded, his gaze focused ahead. "I grew up in places like this. The forest teaches you things. Patience. Humility. How to survive when you're alone."
Carly studied his face, seeing the calm confidence that radiated from him. "It's impressive. Most people would be terrified."
Essel's lips twitched into a small smile. "Fear's natural. It keeps you sharp. But out here, you learn to live with it, not run from it."
They finally reached a clearing by the river, its surface shimmering in the fading light. The group set about pitching their tents, each person absorbed in their own thoughts. Alphonse, predictably, was the least enthusiastic, grumbling about the lack of proper bedding as he fumbled with the tent poles.
Jenny, watching him struggle, smirked. "Need help, Alphonse? Or are you going to charm the tent into putting itself up?"
Alphonse shot her a playful glare. "I've got this. I don't need your help, Jenny."
She laughed, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "Suit yourself."
As night fell, the campfire crackled, casting flickering shadows on their faces. The vast wilderness stretched out around them, an endless sea of darkness punctuated by the distant calls of unseen creatures. The air had grown cooler, and the stillness of the forest seemed to magnify every sound—the rustle of leaves, the snap of twigs, the soft lap of water against the riverbank.
Essel sat by the fire, his eyes scanning the horizon. "This is when the forest truly comes alive."
Biggie looked up from his tablet, where he had been attempting to map the stars. "I was hoping for a little less 'alive.' Anything we should be worried about?"
Essel's face remained calm, though his eyes gleamed with something like amusement. "Depends. How do you feel about sharing your space with a few nocturnal creatures?"
Alphonse shifted uncomfortably, his bravado faltering. "You're kidding, right?"
"Nope," Essel replied casually, poking at the fire. "But as long as we don't disturb them, they won't disturb us."
Jenny leaned back, her eyes half-closed. "Sounds like life, doesn't it? Don't bother things that can bite you, and you'll be fine."
Carly, sitting beside Essel, glanced at him. "Do you think we're ready for this?"
Essel's gaze never wavered from the fire. "We'll find out soon enough."
As the night deepened, the weight of the wilderness pressed in on them, its silence broken only by the crackle of the fire and the distant, haunting cries of the forest's nocturnal inhabitants. They were here now, far from the safety of their campus, far from the lives they knew.
And with each passing moment, the wild seemed to watch them—waiting.