Avatar: {Hybrid and Alien]

{4}

Sunlight. Slow brightening sunlight washed across the expanse of the forest.

Asim's eyes slowly opened as morning in Pandora set in, warming his small body that was leaned against the trunk he was resting on. The sounds of the forest continued as the morning settled in more, making him wake up fully and move to stretch. "What a night" Asim grumbled as he finished stretching and moved his head to scan his surroundings. He was still where he was, with the small fireplace having died down during the night and served its purpose. Asim sighed and now started to get up, but stopped as he heard a growl come from inside his stomach. Hunger was starting to set in, and greatly as Asim hasn't eaten something solid since he first woke up. Now it has become top priority to find some nourishment to replenish his energies before moving on. So, getting things ready, Asim moved and slowly climbed down the tree where he had slept.

The forest of Pandora was diverse with many plants, and some plants harbored fruits that could be taken and eaten. However, some of them weren't edible and would also be hiding deadly substances despite its tempting sizes and colors. Luckily, as now he was starting to remember what he learned, Asim knew which ones were edible for humans to consume, and soon those types were found. He took a few of each so that he would eat for later, but then, when he was about to get the last one, he stopped. The good news about this particular fruit that it was the most rich in nutrients. The bad news were...well...that these fruits happened to be guarded by sensitive sundew-looking plants. Very dangerous for large insects and other creatures that stumbled upon them.

"It's worth the risk, not that there is any other choice or way around." Asim said to himself as he set the fruits he collected down on the ground before carefully moving forwards. He took slow and calculated steps on hollow areas, not daring to set off or step on purpose onto the roots and tendrils of the sticky plants. It took a lot of patience and timing for him to get through before the fruits were in reach. Now the hard part came in the return as the path wasn't the same going back. He took another path to evade stepping on the plant triggers. It almost worked until he tripped in the end and set off the reaction. One of the tendrils latched on to him and made him fall down, and started to drag him in. Asim reacted quickly and pulled out his knife to start jabbing and swatting at the tendril that had his leg prisoner before it was finally cut. With the exquisite fruit still in his arm, Asim sighed in relief and went to the rest of the collected fruit to start eating.

The fruits were good, sweet in one hand while in the other the rest were sour yet delicious. And they had this strange tang and texture that made them unique when compared with the fruits and other plant food that came from Earth. He cut them or peeled them with his knife before setting the weapon back on its place. While eating, he kept his guard up for any more of the natives or predators that would sneak up from behind or from the sides all around. So far there wasn't any present danger in the vicinity where Asim sat, and soon sat up once finished eating to resume his journey.

The walk through the forest and the terrain that laid in front of him was challenging, as sometimes there were zones that needed climbing up and down. Yet Asim continued onwards with no stopping as he set his eyes forwards, and at the same time he kept his guard up all the time. Once or twice he stopped to take short breaks and rest, or pick some fruits to eat and water from small ponds to drink. And many times he was caught stared by incoming animals, large and small, that were either herbivores or carnivores. The strange thing was that they didn't attack him once they set eyes on him. Normally they would either try to intimidate him or straight up attack him. Yet, when Asim was in their midsts, they just stared at him for a moment....and then left. Which was odd for Asim.

One confusing and surprising thing that happened was when he came across a pack of viperwolves. The canine predators of six legs encircled Asim ready to bite him when he was ready to shoot and stab, but suddenly they backed away as if Asim now appeared more intimidating up close than they would have thought seeing him from afar. They growled and hissed at him, but stayed a distance away. Once annoyed enough because of their intimidation, Asim just imitated the hiss back at them and it made the viperwolves just scatter into the bushes. Asim gave out a satisfied chuckle as he saw them retreat before stopping. What he just did...he just imitated a hiss to the animals. Normally one would give out a growl or a battle cry, but a hiss? That was definitely something Asim didn't even learn how to do. Shaking the thought from his mind, he resumed his journey and continued to walk through the dense foliage of the forest.

***

Hours pass as Asim kept going with no stopping, calculating that it would take a day or a few hours more to reach the base. And, with luck clearly on his side, he soon spotted a watchtower used to direct valkyrie space shuttles to the base. There, he could easily climb up and see in which direction the base laid nearby before going back down and heading to there directly. "I'm here, everyone. Just hang tight a little longer" Asim said with a smile on his face as he started to walk to the watchtower.

Suddenly, Asim stopped as he felt the same chills he had the day before. When he felt that he was being watched and then na'vi appeared to chase him. The hairs on his skin stood up and he felt the eyes of many watching him again. He twisted around quickly and drew out his weapons, ready to face them again now that he has healed and recovered. The sounds of rustling in the foliage and bushes came from afar, signaling that many of them were coming. He stood there, knife ready and pistol loaded when his heart suddenly dropped. She shapes began to become larger, and then slowly from out of the tree foliage came several na'vi, some riding upon dark and large creatures that looked ferocious in appearance. Immediately he knew that he had no chance against them, as he recognized the black creatures to be the apex predators among all of the Pandoran wildlife.

Those were thanators, more than he alone could handle. And they were accompanied by their riders.

"Oh, you have got be kidding me" he breathed out as his eyes darted from one side to the other, counting each of them. Asim knew he was more than outnumbered now; he was outgunned and not alone with no one to back him up. Even having recovered from his wounded and energy-deprived state, Asim knew that fighting against them was a death wish. So, taking one step back, he abandoned his initial plan of returning and created a new plan as he ran at full sprint in another direction. Seconds later he heard the thanators roar and the natives hooting as they began the hunt.

The plan was run and lead them away from where he was going. Asim hoped that this time he would be lucky despite the odds.