the forest is dark and eary, the leaves block out most of the sun leaving the forest floor covered in shadows, and the undergrowth even more spooky.
my eyes dart everywhere and my ears are listening for every little sound, my grip on my knife tight like if I let go something bad might happen.
sammy notices me on edge and smirks.116Please respect copyright.PENANAM7jFJl6cHe
“whats wrong desert boy? not your hunting grounds?”
he grins like he thinks this is funny…
I don’t answer right away. I just keep looking into the trees.
“nah…” I finally say, my voice a little low. “just feels wrong.”
greg sighs.116Please respect copyright.PENANA2V3fEToqcI
“look kid, it’s your frst time here. your gonna be on edge, but nothing is gonna happen.”
he says it like he’s said it a hundred times before…
lilith leans in and whispers to harrow,116Please respect copyright.PENANAX7V5sUtNw2
“why did you have to bring the kid.”
I roll my eyes.116Please respect copyright.PENANADePemzq1mE
“I can hear you, you know.”
sammy lets out a short laugh.116Please respect copyright.PENANAdrBe2bTClf
“oh yeah, he’s gonna fit in just fine.”
then I see it…
a small scorpion crawling up the side of a tree.
my heart starts racing. before I even think, I move—knife down quick.
stab.
the thing drops to the ground, twitching. Everyone just kinda… stares at me.
sammy blinks.116Please respect copyright.PENANAAixXQFFmHr
“…you serious?”
I look back at them.116Please respect copyright.PENANApVsCbkEZVO
“what? those things’ll kill you.”
greg lets out a breath and shakes his head.116Please respect copyright.PENANA3D9wuiSNgX
“kid… this ain’t the desert.”
sammy laughs.116Please respect copyright.PENANAExGdBIFF2j
“man really just declared war on a bug.”
lilith whispers to herself.116Please respect copyright.PENANAI4Q7D6A9xy
“god i hate this kid.”
harrow says in a stern voice.116Please respect copyright.PENANACpePs9O4p8
“thats enough lilith.”
I get a bit upset and walk a bit ahead trying too cool off. something jus doesn’t feel right too me but i’m starting to think it’s just in my head.sammy comes up and we walk in silence for a bit, a slight smile touches my face. the silence is defening.as we walk there is some smoke in the distance, I slow down… sammy sees it too.we move forward quiet, low, careful.then—a war cry cuts through the trees.116Please respect copyright.PENANAMbGqDO6wnT
my stomach drops. I know that sound.116Please respect copyright.PENANAgMMnz0n76m
sammy freezes beside me.116Please respect copyright.PENANAB7ZekPM4rK
this ain’t forest people…116Please respect copyright.PENANA2kAL6Cflh4
this is desert.

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