User blog:GuacamoleCCXR/Guac's fanfic thing - CHAPTER 5

''Author’s notes: umustcomment ''

''It’s a short chapter tho. :c''

“Well, I guess we should still finish our group’s task. Exploring those plants, that is,” I said after introducing Aravis to Rollins.

“… it’s not like I ever considered not doing that,” the soldier replied, marching off towards the green.

“He’s a tad overprofessional,” I explained, when he was some ten metres away.

“He sure wasn’t glad to see me,” was the girl’s answer.

“I’m confident we can trust him, though, even if he isn’t the most social guy in the world.” As she reached out for the ape to pick it up and start follow Rollins, I said: “Wait, I can help you with that,” pointing at the golden fluffy creature. She gladly accepted my offer and I took it instead. First it was rather reluctant, however it quickly settled down.

Walking several kilometres over sand without pavement in street shoes that you originally intended to wear in rainy London in February, in the blazing sun, while carrying a 15-kilogramme-fat primate isn’t the most convenient thing to do, to be honest. I spent my time retelling all that had happened before to Aravis and tried not to pay attention to Rollins’ occasional remarks about how we’re really taking our time and should just walk faster instead of talking. At some point, when I when remembered the food I left back at the camp, I said:

“Eh, I should have taken some crisps along, in case we’d meet someone.”

“Not a big deal, I told you I can’t stand Pringles.”

The rest of the journey was entirely eventless, until we came close enough to the centre of vegetation to see bushes and small trees scattered across the area.

“Alright,” said Rollins, stopping in his tracks. “We’re unfamiliar with both flora and fauna on here, plus these plants could conceal more dangerous things than just hostile wildlife. Keep close and try not to draw anyone’s or anything’s attention to yourselves. Is that understood?” Aravis and I nodded.

As we advanced further inside the vegetation, Rollins closed his visor and unlocked his gun. I was wondering just how he endured the heat as well as the ever increasing air humidity in his body armour, as the trees around us became so dense that visibility was reduced to just a few metres. Still no signs of animals could be spotted, when the trees suddenly parted in front of us and unveiled the approximately round sparkling surface of a lake, maybe 30 metres across and surrounded by a thin rim of sand.

“There you go,” the soldier exclaimed, and for the first time since I met him I could distinguish a tone of excitement in his voice. However, it only lasted for but a second: “Now that we found this, we should go check the rest of this place.” I was going to say something, but the monkey in my arms suddenly slipped away and dashed towards the water. It reached the lake in a matter of seconds and submerged its snout in the cool liquid. The splashing the monkey caused reminded me just how I long I haven’t drunk anything myself either, and I instinctively took a step towards it.

“Hold back,” Rollins shouted in his usual annoyed tone, “You don’t know if that water contains any toxins or dangerous germs.”

“And we’re not going to find out anyhow but trying it ourselves,” I retorted, “or do you have a portable laboratory handy that could help us out? Otherwise we’ll die of thirst anyway.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, do as you may, except if you die after this, don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Not paying any heed to that, I kneeled down on the warm sand. Immersing my hands into the water was likely the most refreshing experience I had all day. After washing off the dust, I drank a few draughts from my cupped hands. Having lost all kinds of situational awareness that moment, I didn’t realise Rollins was standing right behind me until he tapped me on the shoulder.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I just found something that is more interesting than this puddle here,” he said, pointing towards a darker spot between the bushes to the left. Not waiting for me to get up, he made his way towards it and set aside a few fern-like herbs. Behind them, I sighted an entrance to a cave, which was extremely similar to the one Aravis lost her ape in before.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Dang,” I exclaimed, “that’s like the perfect base for us!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Precisely.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Now we just have to get back to our camp and tell the others… I hope we can find our way back here.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“No need for that.” Rollins pointed at his helmet. “I have an integrated comlink with its own radio emitter in here, and I left the spare handheld one with LED. We can just tell them to come here.” My jaw pretty much dropped hearing that.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You sir, are my hero,” I said, sitting back down.