*DEEEEMMMMM
The ship's bell rang, signaling our arrival.
"Alright, time to disembark."
"Hehe, finally. I can't wait to start the journey," I said, smiling wide.
"Calm down, we haven't even stepped off yet," said Carla, amused.
"Alright, everyone. We'll start from here," said Jack, opening a large map and showing it to us.
"Okay, let's begin," he added, stepping forward eagerly.
"Hehe... what I've been waiting for has finally come."
***
The journey began once more. This time, the land welcomed us with beauty beyond words. Nature unfolded before us, revealing new wonders at every step.
We started walking into the forest. Leaves danced above our heads, and the scent of damp earth filled the air. Before long, we reached the base of a hill.
From the top, the view was breathtaking. The wind kissed our faces as if greeting us.
"Whoa... is this even real? This is why you wanted to come here, isn't it?!" I said in awe, glancing at Zeco.
"Ehh, of course. I didn't expect this place to be so beautiful either," he answered after reaching the top.
"Will this journey take a long time, Carla?!" asked Isabella, flying lightly toward her.
"I think so. It's also starting to get dark. Guys, I think it's time we find a place to camp."
***
We found a quiet spot among the trees. The ground was flat and near a small river—a perfect place to rest.
One by one, we got busy. I took out a few food boxes, ready to grill them over the fire. Isabella and Carla began preparing fresh drinks from local herbs they found. Jack and Zeco, as usual, went off to gather firewood while arguing over who could find the driest sticks faster.
Night fell. The sky darkened and stars began to scatter above us. We sat around the campfire, its warmth and golden light softening our faces.
"Hey, remember when we took that little boat and nearly flipped over? Hahaha!" Jack laughed out loud.
"Don't start again, Jack!" shouted Carla, tossing a pebble at him.
"Ehh, is that true, Carla?! How could that happen, hahaha," I asked, laughing along.
"Pfftt, that's because you were sitting at the very edge, you fool! Hahaha," said Isabella, barely able to hide her giggles.
"Are you guys always this noisy and loud every night?!" Zeco asked, chuckling, clearly amused.
"Of course. This is the best part of traveling together. Enjoy it, Zeco."
Night slowly turned silent. We began lying down, each of us falling asleep with a smile still on our faces.
However, in the middle of the night, Jack suddenly woke up to relieve himself. A while later, as he began to urinate, he started hearing suspicious footsteps around the tent. Jack felt his heart begin to pound rapidly.
"What's going on?" he said to himself.
The footsteps grew closer. He held his breath, trying to listen.
Then, something unexpected happened.
-To be continued.
Next Chap: Black Of Predator #1