Kronos (Book One)

Meeting the Coach

The time traveler enters the forest. The bunched up trees allow only small peeks of sunlight to poke through. His right hand nears the hilt of his sword for whatever may-

Twig snaps.

His sword screeches out. Adrenaline pumps through his veins with a loud beating heart. He sheathed his sword with a breath of relief.

A doe popped her head out of the bushes. She walks out slowly while looking at him. Her stomach grumbles out of hunger.

Taki fetches some berries in his knapsack and extends his hand. "It's okay. Come over," his hushed voice carries over.

The deer takes three steps forward—

Snap!

Pikes attached to a log swing out and skewer the poor creature! Her frail body is pinned against a tree with her blood staining the bark. Her weak breaths accompany her miserable groans.

The berries drop from his hands in horror. The demigod of time quickly recalls the hunting experience he picked up during the four month gap, but he could never follow through with taking an animal's life.

"Rewind," he states with sadness. The tragic flow of time reverses. "Play."

The doe pops its head out of the bushes. He immediately takes the bag of berries and throws it to the left of him.

The foreigner then waves his hands in that direction. "Go that way. Please, go that way."

The deer fortunately listens to his relief. He stands in wait for a few minutes. A smile graces his face that he didn't hear any more traps spring out.

He crouches down and finds the wire of the trap. "Slow," time slows down as he cuts the wire. He backs out of the way and lets the log reach the tree. "Play."

Thud! He cautiously looks around before heading in the direction of the doe. His mind wonders if the Oracle had made a mistake. That trap is too barbaric. Why is he like this? Taki, get that out of your mind. Focus on home.

The deer looks up at him with a stained blue nose. She eats her fill before running off with the bag in her mouth. He follows her path until she is out of his sight.

Hmmm...wish I could climb these trees for a better view, but...yeah that won't happen, he sighs out of disappointment. His hands reach down to collect plenty of dirt and pebbles. A volley of pebbles are thrown to the north.

The debris clatters with no trap being set. He hopes the hut will be-

Twig snaps!

The demigod drops his whole body to the ground, stifling the grunt from coming out. The bushes ahead of him rustle until a family of tusked pigs come out. Their squeals greet the human before leaving him alone.

A chuckle escapes his lips. Damn, I'm such a scaredy cat. He steadies his heart before making another step. His eyes then become cautious of the arranged pile of leaves.

A branch from above gives way. He jumps back. It falls through the pile. Leaves dance around while giving away its metal teeth. His mind thanks him for not going near it. He throws some dirt to the west of him and goes in that direction...

A slithery animal attempts to reach across to the next branch but fails to make it. It hisses in pain from hitting branches before landing on flesh. Its forked tongue tells it of the human whose shoulders are trembling. Hands wanting to throw it far away from him, but the black asp protects itself.

It plunges its fangs deep into his right wrist. Taki yells while grabbing it around the head to make it let go. The slippery skin allows the snake to plunge again into his neck! He tosses it away into some bushes while scrambling towards a nearby tree. His milk chocolate eyes waver from the adrenaline rush.