"In the Presence of Power"

Asher had always marveled at the beauty of the forest, but as he ventured deeper, the forest took on a darker and more ominous tone.

He soon stumbled upon a grisly sight - a recruit, just like him, lying lifeless on the ground.

The recruit's arm was stretched out, reaching towards his bracelet, as if he had tried to call for help in his final moments.

But it was too late. The recruit's eyes were open and filled with horror and pain, a stark contrast to the peace and tranquility that Asher had previously associated with the forest.

Asher approached the body and saw the cause of death - deep, jagged claw marks covered the recruit's body, and it was clear that he had been mauled by a large and fearsome creature.

The sight was gruesome, and Asher couldn't help but feel shaken by the violence and senselessness of it all

With a heavy sigh, Asher closed the recruit's eyes and whispered a prayer for him.

"May you rest in peace." He couldn't help but wonder what had happened to the recruit and what could have caused such a brutal attack.

As Asher stood there, lost in thought, he heard a rustling in the bushes nearby.

He quickly unsheathed his weapon, ready to defend himself against whatever danger may be lurking.

But as he peered into the underbrush, he saw nothing but darkness and shadows.

The rustling faded away, leaving Asher alone once again with the dead body of the recruit.

He thought to himself, "Animals, huh."

He looked at the blood on the ground and then back at the dead body.

His eyes narrowed as he noticed the amount of blood, and then suddenly widened.

It dawned on him that the blood may be attracting other animals, just like the rustling in the bush earlier.

Silently, Asher made his way back, his mind racing. He couldn't leave the body of the recruit out in the open, where it could attract more dangerous creatures.

He needed to find a safe place to bury the body, but he also needed to be cautious and keep an eye out for any other potential threats.

As Asher walked, he kept his weapon at the ready and his senses on high alert. He was determined to find a way to give the fallen recruit a proper burial, but he also knew that his safety was at stake in this dark and dangerous forest.

Asher knew that finding a proper place for the recruit's burial would be a dangerous task.

He steeled himself for the task and went back for the body, but just as he was about to pick it up, he heard rustling in the bushes again.

This time, the rustling was much bigger, and as he looked up, he saw several smaller rustlings run away as the big one approached.

As the rustling grew closer, Asher braced himself for an attack.

But as he looked up, he saw a black panther step out of the underbrush. Its fur was a glossy black, and its golden eyes glinted in the dim light of the forest.

It was an imposing sight, and Asher couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and fear in its presence.

"Oh fuck," Asher whispered, as he slowly backed away from the body.

Black panthers were known for their agility, stealth, and hunting prowess, and Asher knew that he wouldn't stand a chance against one if it decided to attack.

He kept his eyes on the panther as he slowly retreated, trying to make as little noise as possible.

Asher's eyes narrowed as he saw the blood on the panther's claws.

He looked from the claws to the dead recruit's body and his heart began to pound faster as he realized what had happened. He thought, "Why wouldn't the panther eat it?".

Just then, another rustling in the bushes caught his attention.

This one was even bigger. A massive black gorilla emerged from the shadows, its eyes filled with fury.

The gorilla looked at the panther, then Asher, then the panther again, and finally the bushes behind the panther.

The moment the gorilla caught a glimpse of the small black and furry thing behind the panther, it went mad with rage.

The gorilla charged at the panther with no hesitation, delivering a powerful punch.

The fight was fast-paced and intense, raw power and brutal.

The gorilla fought with a ferocity that could only come from a need for revenge. Asher could sense that this fight was not just any fight. This was a fight for the gorilla's dead child.

The atmosphere was heavy and the sounds of the fight filled the air with a mixture of grunts, roars, and the impact of their bodies colliding.

The darkness seemed to grow even thicker as the fight continued, each strike landing with more force and precision.

It was a battle of strength and will, with neither creature showing any signs of giving up.

Asher watched in awe as the fight raged on, each moment more intense than the last.

He was powerless to stop it, but he couldn't look away.

This was the ultimate showdown, a fight to the death, and he was witnessing it all unfold before his very eyes.

The brutality of it all was both frightening and exhilarating.

He didn't know who would come out on top, but he knew one thing for sure, he was in the presence of two of the most powerful creatures in the animal kingdom, and he would never forget this moment.