Back to my Pack

2

     "So, you were out there and that thing just came out of nowhere?"

     Thomas started to feel frustrated. Doesn't he trust me? "It's the fourth time I'm telling you. Yes. We were about to head back and it just appeared." He looked around at the faces of the people who were in the hut. Minho was there, he seems to belive me, but the others just gave me uneasy looks. "Come on, it's not like I made that thing!" No one looked like they took the joke as a joke. "If you don't belive me feel free to question Brenda!" I rose from my chiar when Minho pounced his fist in the table.

     He gave me a friendly look. "Thomas, I belive you." He looked around at the other people present at the meeting who weren't as convinced. "You don't really belive that Thomas somehow made that thing!" He looked genuinely surprised. "Think what you want. It's stupid." He returned his gaze on his friend. "But we still have to find out if there are more of them out there. That thing looked like it could kill people."

     "You're right." Said Ross, a chemist who was one of Vince's closest friends. "Maybe I can look at that thing." He lifted his head so he can look Vince straight in the eyes. "A patrol needs to be sent."

      Vince nodded. "I'll send one tomorrow." He looked Thomas in the eyes. "You'll go." That made Thomas feel appreciated again. "Minho, you too. Tell Gally, Roberts and Stan to get ready. First thing in the morning you leave and if you don't get back by evening I'll send more people. Prepare your weapons and make sure to keep a safe distance." He gave a sharp look to Minho. "And do not, under any circumstances go too deep in the forest. Who know what else you'll find."

     As Thomas and Minho left to prepare the team, Thomas felt his friend's eyes burning on him. "I'm proud of you." Minho tapped Thomas on his back. "I know how hard it must be for you, but this will make you good."

     He felt his heart ache in his chest. Thomas wasn't ready to talk about Newt. He felt how his chest tightens at the thought of a talk that deep before an important mission. "Yeh."

     "You'll feel good, going on adventures. Like the old times."

      Thomas sensed a nostalgia in his words, but he felt angry and hurt. "It'll not be the same!" His voice was higher than intended. "It won't be the same without Newt."

      People turned to see what was that about but he didn't care. "I'm sorry Thoams." Minho said. "I was just trying to make you feel better."

      "I'm sorry." Thomas said, still hurt.

      "It'll pass, eventually." Minho said, but the sadness was clear in his voice.

     "Let's just get ready for tomorrow."

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       The next morning came faster than expected. The storm from last night made the sand muddy and he was worried that might make their mission harder. Roberts was ready waiting for them, weapons in his heads and at his feet. "We never know." He said, when Gally pointed out the ridiculous amount.

      They each picked their own weapons and headed for the forest. Thomas guided the patrol to the place that thing spawned. "Here he said."

      He motioned toward the herbs that were left behind. What a waste. He realized that the plant wasn't very damaged, even with that storm pouring down on it and those things running around.

     "Let's be careful." Minho said. "The ground is slippery and we don't want to draw attention on us."

      They walked around, as far from each other as possible. Thomas almost fell two times, which made Gally laugh at the ridiculous picture. But a weird path of neon substance caught their attention. "Do you think we should follow this?" Stan asked, skeptical. "Vince said not to stay too long, and it'll soon start to get darker." He looked around at the boyes, who gave him uneasy looks. "We better be safe. And now that we know what we're looking for we could come back..."

      Stan couldn't even finish his sentence because another crack was heard. Thomas didn't need much time to think. "RUN!"

       And they all got to running, but the muddy ground made it impossible to catch much speed. Luckily the deer was in the same trouble as them. But suddenly another one made its appearance and he was much closer to them than its friend. Panic flooded Thomas' body and as he struggled to vet his gun a horrible scream was made by Stan.

      The long haired man got bit by the deer, his hand covered in a green and red substance. "Go!" He gasped.

     But Thomas wasn't willing to let Stan die here. He managed to shot the thing, which gave Roberts and Minho enough time to grab Stan. Thomas shot the deer that bit his friend two times, leaving him a mess on the ground.

      "I think the other one fled!" Gally said, enthusiastic. "Let's get out of here as quickly as possible."

      "Yeh." Thomas said, his breath heavy from the shock. "I don't wanna meet any more of their friends."

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      On their way back to camp Stan's condition got worse. His breathing was heavy and he was sweating like he ran the whole day. Monique took him in her hut as soon as they put foot in the camp. Vince was waiting with Jorge and Brenda, who looked at him with a worried look.

     "What happened?" She asked, when the boys came in ear shot.

     "Good question." Vince gave her a unpleasant look. "What happened?"

     Minho signaled to Thomas to talk. "We were looking in the forest when we suddenly saw a weird path of substance. It's green and red and very bright. Stan suggested we should turn back, but one of those things spawned again. And when we had half way done another one came from between some trees." Thomas gathered his composure. "I shot one of them, but not before it bit Stan and other one feld at the sound of gun shot."

     Vince nodded, deep in thought. "I'll send Ross with another team to see what that thing is. Roberts, you will go with them." He said to the red head. "You should leave before the sunrise, maybe so you will have more time."

    Everyone was ready to go to sleep, only very few people were still up. Stan's wife was worried sick, understandably so. Her husband was bit by a creature like that. And Lauren's condition barely improved. Monique said the herbs take longer to act, but it's been a day ans everyone gets worried they may lose her.

     "Thomas."

     He turned around to see Minho standing there, a worried look on his face. "What is it?"

     "You should go to sleep. Tomorrow is your first day back to work." He motioned towards the sleeping hut. "You need to prove yourself."

     His words made him confused. "Why should I prove myself? I saved you, I saved many of them." He returned his gaze on the water. "It's not fair."

     Minho just sighed. "I know that."