Jungle of Thorns

Determinarea Legionarii

"Trexus to me!!" Gaius shouted. A legionary rode up to Gaius.

"What do you need sir?"

"I need you to take some of our cavalry and scout ahead for 3 hours then report back. I don't want to be  ambushed."

"You really think that these beast from the jungle are going to attack us all the way out here?"

"No, but it's better to be sure."

Trexus rode off, leaving Gaius alone with his thoughts. It had been half a day since Gaius and his men left the military encampment. They had already marched ten miles and still had ten more to go before they reached the jungle. Gaius thought back on Trexus. He was a small but capable fighter. Trexus had blue eyes and the short hair all Romans had. But unlike a lot of Romans, Trexus had blond hair instead of black. He been with Gaius since his promotion, but Gaius sensed ambition within him. Trexus wanted power and authority. The only reason Gaius had kept him was due to his fighting skill and his skill as a strategist. Gaius looked back at the men marching behind him. He saw Atticus in the back, giving remedies to the road weary legionaries. He also saw Limpy behind him. What Limpy was doing here Gaius hadn't the faintest idea. Octavion must have sent him to keep tabs on Gaius. To make sure he got his job done. Gaius was angered by this. Glebor couldn't be dead, he couldn't. Gaius looked forward and continued to move.

After about 4 hours, Trexus came back.

"Trexus, what did you find?" Gaius asked.

"An abandoned Roman encampment about a mile ahead of us sir."

"So no one was there?"

"Not one soul. Horses were gone as well. It seems as if they all just left."

Gaius was confused by this. Who could do this? Gaius decided to wait until he got to the encampment.

After another 8 mile march, Gaius had found the encampment Trexus had mentioned. What he had said was true. The fortifications we're still up but there was no one to be seen. No bodies, not even blood.

"What manner of beast could do this?" A soldier asked.

"I don't know." Atticus replied. "But something is definitely wrong."

"What is it?" Gaius asked, including himself in the conversation.

"Well Gaius, it seems as if the jungle is right next to the encampment."

This was true. As Gaius looked to the west of the encampment, he saw the jungle. The Vines and echos of the beasts within.

"Well this can't be right." Limpy  stated, hobbling himself towards Gaius. "The jungle is supposed to be another mile out. How are we already here?"

"It seems as if the Jungle itself is growing, slowly but surely." Gaius confirmed.