Hitting the road

———

"His name is Qaleteqa. He is the Chief leader of a tribe called Mingan Tribe. Though we are not one hundred percent certain of this, we believe that these Natives come from a line of Wolfish descent. Unlike the Felines, they have more order and stick closer together in a unit. We also find more territorial attributes in which they patrol their land and when they hunt they hunt in groups. We believe Qaleteqa is their "Alfa' per say." He switches to yet another picture with two beautiful women on it. "This older woman, her name is Chenoa. She is the Chief's wife. The younger woman is Tama we believe to be their daughter." He looks up at us and pauses for a moment before switching to the next slide. "and this... this is Otaktay..." My eyes go wide and two of the girls softly murmur to themselves. I feel my heart begin to beat faster as the image seemed to get bigger on the screen. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding before he continued. "This we presume is to be the next 'Alfa' like his father and their previous chief, he has a very powerful and solid presence. He is nothing we have ever seen before, showing great deals of intelligence as well as just brute strength.  He is brutal and his name even means one who kills many. Some of our scientists have gone and tried to interact with the Natives, however, he has either captured them and given them back beaten, or at one time one of our scientists have not come back at all." He looks up with a concerning look and I don't even notice as I stare at the photo.

In the photo which is ever so slightly blurred motion, the man is also in a very traditional style outfit. He is holding a broken arrow the other half seemingly lodged in his left shoulder at the top. It looks as if they had quickly taken this photo in hopes not to get caught. Blood looks like it is dripping from his fingers as well as the new wound in his shoulder. He stares at the camera with a deep and menacing stare as his eyes glow a lighter brown almost golden color. His body is slightly covered with older scars as well as a large scar running just above his right pec. On his right arm holds a scar of a bite of some sort. There are some small light scars along his face as well. He really does have such an intense stare. I soon find myself standing up and walking over to the projector and simply stare at him. A hand lands on my shoulder and lightly squeezes it. I look back with a look of confusion and sympathy.

"What happened to him? Who did this? Why are you telling all of us this anyways? I just don't understand..." I go back and plot down in my seat crossing my arms with furrowed brows. He is not making any sense. Why is he telling us all of this out of the blue?

"Well, I have you here for a reason." Okayyy orr don't answer my first questions. "I know you have questions that need answers, but for now let me explain what is going to happen. We do not have much more time. All of your questions will be answered though... Now, what I am about to ask you I want all of your complete attention. This really is not an easy topic to discuss. I want to make sure all of you are understanding of what I am about to say." He takes a short breath before switching to a new slide that has a logo on it. "When I had first heard about Mr. Grahm's company we too were quite confused for quite a while. I had no further information about these people let alone what his organization did as a whole. Soon enough I met up with Mr. Grahm and he explained to me that he was looking for qualified men and women to help him study and in a way apprehend these people." As he spoke he switched from document to document, picture to picture. "I know you are all busy but I have chosen you four as the 'qualified men and women.

"What are you even talking about?" One of the girls speaks up. "I am just trying to get what you are saying... You want us to go in the middle of nowhere and with people that could possibly kill us, and study them? Seriously are you out of your mind?" She talks with exasperation and temper. "We have students to teach, and labs to complete. I honestly do not understand how you expect us to take on this type of objective with such little information." She huffs and throws down the documents on the table. 

"Both will be covered. I had planned ahead, I would have liked to inform you earlier about this ordeal, but I was told to hold off on telling you for a reason not even I know. You are supposed to leave tomorrow night. I know this is sudden. Some of those documents you have in those folders will tell you everything you will need to bring as well as most of the information I have already told you. Please shred the last four packets before you leave. I need you to report to the back of building F. If you do not show up I will see that you are not interested. More information will be given as you all start the journey to the camp where you will all set up your things. You are free to look at as much information you need before you leave, from those packets. Just be sure to be ready by the set time tomorrow. They will not wait and they will leave you behind." He packs up his laptop and shuts off the projector.

Packing up few clothes I needed, for the time being, was quite easy. I don't have much. Usually, I would wear a dress shirt with a tie, but I packed a few of my street clothes, two flashlights including extra batteries, a thermal water bottle, a book or two, notes, some snacks, and finally some other personal items.

I put my bag by the door for tomorrow night, then took a quick shower. After all that, I brushed my teeth, did some skincare, and made something small to eat before heading to bed for the night.

Before I turned out my lights I got a series of texts which had shown some of the information on when and where to be picked up tomorrow as well as to wear something comfy.

I put my phone off to the side and finally drifted off to sleep after a short while.

—

I wake up with a start as my alarm blares at me. The dream I had was really particular. Golden eyes. I remember golden eyes. I wipe my slightly sweaty forehead and walk to my bathroom to do my regular morning routine seemingly forgetting about those golden eyes for just a little while.

Today is the day I quite literally throw my life away. Or at least I think so. After getting my things ready and making sure I have alarms set for when I have to go, I am off to teach my last few classes I might ever teach. Honestly, I am scared out of my mind for what is to come, however, I can feel that whatever it is it really is calling to me and I just... can't explain it.

—

My last alarm blares as I finish grabbing my bags and I head off to the location which will take me to what I now call the "promise land". Here goes nothing...

Official word count: 1355