Ch3 A Monster In The Woods

“You know all things considered im pretty lucky right?” holiday said chewing on her breakfast, it was one of the emergency survival meals. They were coated in so many preservatives they'd outlast the end of the universe. ”I have to find better food, im pretty sure my seeds should still be on the satellite. We just gotta figure out which section of the mountain to search.” she said out loud to no one in particular

“...You know I think Im going insane” she deadpanned staring at nothing in particular ”and it's either that blow to my head or this damn ‘food’... I think it's the food,” she said indignantly. It's been two days since she took up camp in the wreck. Her leg was healing well after she managed to find another first aid kit in the other wrecks. There was a large ravine on the right, nothing special about it other than it was a long fall down. Holiday took about a day just to set up the rope so she could have a reliable source of water.

Holiday packed a bag with basic climbing gear mostly just her climbing pick, a rope, and a notepad she found while savaging the other day. “Off to see the wizard.” She jingled.

Stopping suddenly, finally noticing one of those bat-rabbits dunking its head in her bucket of water she. “Hey! Get out of there!” She yelled at the creature as it darted away as fast as it could.

Holiday slowly made her way up to the base of the mountain the section of wrekage she passed she noted on a piece of paper. She used it to help keep track of everything she came across. She marked three larger sections of the satellite for future looting but she was more focused on finding her research station. Hopefully, the seeds from earth survived the crash if not she’d have to find plants that were safe to eat from this alien world.

Climbing the mountainside was getting more difficult. It was becoming steeper sometimes it was a full 90 degrees. She managed to avoid climbing up the cliffside by going inside part of the satellite wreckage. Its corridors twisted and bent the wrong way but it provided a path up the mountain.

By the later part of the evening, she finally found it. A massive chunk of the station was embedded into the mountain and within its haul was her station. The doors were broken and had to be pried open. The inside looked like hell part of the wall was missing and all the tools and science equipment lay destroyed all over the place. The experiment she was working on was spilled alongside it. But Holiday was more focused on finding something specific.

“Where the hell are you?” she mumbled to herself “You should be in…here!” with a wide smile on her face Holiday pulled out the dented strongbox it was buried under a broken table but it was in tact. Inside were earth crop seeds and the seeds of the safe-to-eat plants she identified before.

Giddy, Holiday sprang up skipping her way out the wreck and back home. “Food down now to set up some sort of beacon!”, “Hopefully someone looking for me.” Holiday said concerned. She looked up only to realize that it was night, the two moons visible in the alien Starlite.” oh shit I got to get ho…”

CREEEEEK!

The sound of metal being bent rang out behind her. As she turned her head she saw it. A massive bear, well a bear-like monster. Big, fury, and snarling at her. “Um, hi I don't suppose you're a vegetarian are you?” It growled slowly taking heavy steps towards her. “I guess not.”

Holiday turned and sprinted down the mountain ducking and diving into the many pieces of wreckage. The beast chasing her, and it wasn't slow. It kept leaping towards her swiping and chomping at her. “Fuck me! Fuck me! Fuck me!” Holiday yelled as she jumped down one of the cliff edges. Roling and standing back up she saw the beast behind her taking the jump. Holiday took the opportunity to lose it in the woods. “Ok ok ok, I have a plan, I have a plan“ she couldn't stop talking to herself making the run harder for herself. The seedbox getting heavier and heavier and the beast had no trouble keeping up with her in the woods.

Reaching the camp she threw the box and her backpack towards the camp, ignoring all the small bat-rabbits drinking from her water. The creatures darted at the site of the monster while Holiday sprinted towards the ravine.

The beast was closing the distance and took a swipe at her. The sharp pain of two claws cleaving against her back caused her to scream in pain. This only made Holiday double her efforts and adrenaline production. As soon as she got close to the cliff edge she jumped and the beast went with her.

A massive thud rumbled across the forest. Holiday was hanging onto the rope that she uses to get to the lower level. Gasping for air she looked down at the long fall. The beast slowly stood up many of its bones were definitely broken. She watched as it looked back at her and slowly gave up on her and headed downriver.

Holiday climbed up the rope. The pain from that strike returning making the climb more difficult as he finally made it to the top she fell on her back staring at the stary night sky, struggling to keep her eyes open. "ow" was all she could say. She could swear she saw something move across the sky, like a shooting star as she lost consciousness...