Extraterrestrial Exploration

chapter 21

violently coughing up water from my lungs I choked a bit before gasping and pushing myself onto my hands and knees. 

My heart frantically raced in my chest as I panted staring at the sand underneath my hands. lifting my head, my gaze was greeted by the dark uncharted forest before me.

Cold, wet and confused I glanced back to the river behind me and then all of my surroundings, finding myself in completely unfamiliar territory.

I saw no cliff, no signs of Eiso, Eikan or even the men who attacked us. I was lost and alone, all over again. 

taking a moment to think i tried to remember what exactly happened. one minute I was with the two brothers, then we were attacked, and then… I fell.

I must've fallen into the water below the cliff and washed down the river.

It was a miracle I managed to survive such a fall, the foliage above the water must’ve cushioned my descent enough to prevent me from dying, but I hardly made it out unscathed.

looking all across my body I winced seeing the large cuts and bruises that covered my arms, legs and torso. These injuries were a bit concerning, especially the one maring my shoulder, it was much deeper than the rest. I must've gotten it while falling through the canopy.

 I don't even remember what happened after I hit the water, nor do I know what happened to Eikan and Eiso… they were so focused on protecting me in that fight that there's a good chance they could have gotten hurt.

guilt and worry washed over me at the thought that they might have been injured, or worse…

with worry gnawing at me I looked upstream and got to my feet holding my shoulder.

“EISO! EIKAN!” I shouted as loud as I possibly could and waited for any kind of sign from them. more than anything I just wanted to see them running out of the brush.

Silence was my only response and I could see no movement from the treeline. How far had the river taken me?  

With little other options I started following the river back up-stream, to the best of my ability. The trek was rugged and brutal for me with thick foliage and large jagged rocks along the path that I had no choice but to climb over. 

I hadn't even gotten very far before I felt exhausted. my injuries were slowing me down and I was still sore all over from the previous nights. leaning against a tree I sighed and decided to take a small break.

Eiso and Eikan should be looking for me, so if I keep going up-stream, we should run into one-another right? it seemed like the most logical plan but…since when did I become so reliant on them?

It feels wrong, wanting to go back to them, I mean they kidnapped me, stripped me of my tools to survive and dragged me out into the desolate forest with no means of defending myself. shouldn't I be trying to find a way back to the ship?

I mean sure they saved me…twice, and we had changed names and learned a few things about one another, as well as made some very, VERY passionate love. but does that really put them before my own survival?

The more I thought about everything that happened, the more I hated myself, I felt guilty and foolish. lost and hopeless.

Maybe this is karma for abandoning my comrades. they must think that I got eaten by some wild alien creature, when in fact I was getting doted on by two native brothers. I was given food, water, shelter, and didn't even spare a thought about those I crash landed on this planet with. What a great team member I am.

If no rescue team shows up they are as good as dead without me…

Taking a deep breath I chose to push those thoughts aside for the time being. I can't dwell or be worried about others when there's a chance I might not make it out of this forest alive.