Chapter II

I open my eyes and stretch out in my folding bed, feeling the mildly warmth but slightly dull sun on my face. As I sat up, looking around I realized that all my other teammates already woke up. I heard a sound of rustling fabric, clanking metals, and muffled chatter outside the tent.

I stepped out and see the others who are still asleep, snoring softly in their sleeping bags and folding beds outside the tents scattered all around, while others are already up and about, bustling around with purpose.

"Good morning!" a friendly voice greets me, and I turn to see Maggie smiling at me. "Did you sleep well?"

I smile back and nod, still feeling the excitement of being part of this community. Gosh I'm so thankful I accepted to be a part of this mission. "Yeah, thankyou for asking. What's for breakfast today?"

She smiled widely and pointed at the cafeteria tent "They're serving toast and egg with milk for breakfast. It's pretty great, huh?"

I nod in agreement and follow her as I sit on one of the empty tables placed outside the cafeteria tent. Oh my, outside the camp is like a beehive. People are bustling around, cooking breakfast over open fires, eating on the tables, chatting and laughing. The smell of sizzling egg and fresh milk fills the air, and I hear my stomach grumble in anticipation.

"Wait here, I'll grab some breakfast for us" The others on the table beside me greeted me with smiles and nods.

Maggie came back and set the two plates containing toast and egg down the table as well as two bottles of milk.

"So did the team commanders assigned a tasks for us already?" I asked as I took a bite out of my toast. "Yeah they did! Wait hold on lemme just–" she paused when she grabbed her foldable thin glass digital pad containing all of the schedules for today and opened it as she scrolled down to the schedule of our Team S-38. I don't know why but I'm feeling really energized and excited for what's about to happen, I feel like me and my team are gonna get a nice and safe task for today.

"Hmm we're on forest duty for today. We need to retrieve a sample of a flower." my once cheery face dropped as I heard the word forest, really now? We barely even discovered this planet and their sending us out to the wilderness? Who knows what's in there bro

"A flower? Really?" She nodded "They need it tested out for further analysis in the lab, they believe it has some medicinal properties that can cure a variety of illnesses". My mind started wandering to the 99+ possibilities of me dying for today's mission.

The speakers connected through the intercoms produced a static sound before the Commander of team S-31's voice spoke "Hello everyone, after finishing your breakfast, please get ready to leave for each of the tasks that your team has been given. Wishing you all luck and a secure voyage." I let out a big sigh and quickly ate all my food.

We returned to our tent after breakfast and began preparing for our expedition. I looked in my bag to make sure I had everything ready. Check, check, check: food supplies, gadgets, tools, guns, and medical supplies. Over my body tracksuit, I put on my vest and adjusted my equipment belt.

I turned my gaze to Alice, John, Caden, and Maggie who all are now ready for the day's mission. "You all ready?" John asked and before we could answer someone entered our tent. We all turned our gaze to the new presence. Our Commander. My father. We all saluted him and said in unison, "Commander Lenard Sinclair."

"Remain attentive and constantly be mindful of your surroundings, this isn't an easy assignment and I want the best for the five of you." he spoke in a grave tone as he dismissed us for our departure.

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As we made our way to the forest, I couldn't help but admire the beauty of Eternos. The landscape was breathtaking, with lush greenery, crystal-clear rivers, and majestic mountains. The air was fresh and clean, and I could feel my lungs filling up with pure oxygen. It was like nothing I had ever experienced on Earth. But our mission wasn't going to be an easy one.

Caden half-yelled, "Oh you've got to be kidding me" when we came upon a path that was difficult to navigate, full of swinging thick vines and huge moss-covered stones that made it feel like we were ascending a mountain simply by stepping on it.

"You two shut it" John, who is leading the way and is being followed by Maggie and Alice shushed us "Hey, this is unfair, why are Yuna and I walking last in line?" he panted as we were finding it difficult to keep up with the other's pace. How on Eternos do they walk on these stones with such ease.

Alice questioned as we walk amongst the thick hanging vines in our path "Do you think we can find anything interesting here other than that stupid flower?" Looking up, I was astounded by the view, which included huge, enormous trees and flowers with glowing, luminous vines, leaves, and petals. "I hope so, because this trip has been boring so far," I replied when I suddenly tripped and ended up falling on the sides of the rocky path which are flowers and bushes.

"Yuna!" they all rushed to help me when suddenly they stepped on something with a clicking sound. They all looked at each other and screamed when a net caught all of them pulling them towards the top of a tree.

"Ayo" I stumbled to stand up when I heard what sounded like a hiss and a growl blended together in the distance. "What was that?!" Maggie questioned, panic laced in her voice, I anxiously searched the area in an effort to find the source of the strange sound as panic also began to set in.

My gaze landed on a creature slowly approaching me. It's nothing like I've ever seen before. It walks on its four legs, has reptilian like eyes, has a slim build but is very tall and body full of spikes.

"Oh my god, what the hell is that thing?! Is that an alien?!" I exclaimed "Yeah bro no shit everything here is an alien"

The wild animal growls loudly and shows its shark like teeth dripping with sticky saliva, it starts moving towards me "Guys help!" I put down my bag and slowly started backing away, hands in my equipment belt ready for anything "We're trying! This net seems like it's impossible to cut off"

"Okay, Yuna, stay calm. You can do this. You've survived worse. Maybe it just wants to be friends?" I started putting my hand out towards the creature to which it didn't react good, its fiery eyes locked with mine.

"Okay dawg it definitely doesn't wanna be friends." I felt flabbergasted when the creature started charging towards me "Nevermind this will do" With zero choice, I grabbed the first thing my hand touched on my equipment belt which is a pocket knife and throw it at the wild animal, but it just bounces off harmlessly.

"Uh, okay, that didn't work. Maybe I can distract it with some music?"

I pulled out my phone and start playing some loud music as I danced to it. "JUST WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING YOU MORON" John shouted from above as they were still hanging inside the trap. The wild animal looks at me with confusion.

But it continues to advance at me with full speed. My life flashed before my eyes as I hear my team mates shouting and I thought 'This is it I'm gonna die, Yuna Jalea Sinclair signing off'

Just when I thought I was actually gonna die, I heard a whistling sound in the air followed by the sound of an arrow hitting a target. I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw is the animal falling down with a loud thud.