2 Chapter 2: A New World

Rustle* Rustle* Nudge * Nudge*

Groggily, Ethan swatted at the source of the disturbance. "Five more minutes, Mom," he mumbled, still half-asleep. But the nudging persisted.

"Alright, Alright, I am getting up"

Confused, Ethan slowly opened his eyes, expecting to see his mother's face. Instead, he found himself staring into the large, curious eyes of a small, furry creature.

"Ugh... Mo.., Mom? No, you're not my Mom…"

Its nose twitched as it cocked its head to one side as if trying to understand him.

"What!, Where am I, Am I dreaming or something?"

Ethan sat up, rubbing his eyes in disbelief while observing the environment around him.

He was sitting in a small moss-covered clearing within a dense forest. Tall trees towered around him, their leafy branches casting a patchwork of sunlight on the ground. A gentle wind blew through the leaves, carrying the soft sound of birds singing in the distance and the faint smell of damp soil, with a small curious furry creature looking at him with his cute eyes.

"The only thing I remember is that huge light beam hitting me, DAMN IT!, Wtf was even that!!".

In an attempt to gain some understanding of his situation, Ethan swiped his hand in front of his face, activating the OmniLink. A soft, blue glow emerged from the device, growing in intensity until a holographic image was projected in front of him.

(The OmniLink is the device mentioned in Chapter 1 on his wrist)

As the OmniLink finished booting up and the holographic display stabilized, a friendly, female AI voice greeted Ethan: "Good morning, Ethan. It seems we've found ourselves in quite an interesting situation. My sensors are still gathering data, but I'll do my best to assist you in navigating this unfamiliar environment. How are you feeling?"

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"Great, It's just I am worried how my Mom gonna feel after I my disappearance". As Ethan came to terms with the strangeness of his situation, he took a closer look at the furry creature that had woken him up from his sleep. It was small, about the size of a cat, with big ears and a bushy tail that it flicked back and forth curiously. Its fur was a mix of brown and white, with patches of gray scattered throughout.

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"It's completely understandable that you're worried about your mother but It's important to prioritize your well-being and safety in this unfamiliar environment".

As Ethan was thinking about what to do next, the furry creature nudged him again, this time gesturing towards a nearby trail that winds deeper into the forest. It seems to be trying to communicate something, but without a common language, Ethan is left to interpret its actions.

"It looks like our new friend here wants us to follow them," Ethan observes. "What do you think, Sera? Should we trust it?"

(Sera is the name of the Ai inside the OmniLink)

Sera responded, "Given our limited options, it may be worth following the creature to see where it leads. Animals often have an innate sense of their environment, and they might know the safest path or be aware of important resources. Plus, it seems to be friendly and curious, which suggests it may not pose a threat. Just stay alert and cautious as we move forward."

Ethan cautiously followed the furry creature down the winding forest trail, surrounded by lush foliage. "This little guy sure knows his way around," he mused, admiring the creature's graceful navigation through the unfamiliar terrain.

He turned his attention to his helpful Ai, "Sera, are you able to create a map of our route as we move through this forest? It might come in handy if we need to backtrack or find our way around later."

Sera responded, "Absolutely, Ethan. I've been tracking our movements since we arrived. If we need to revisit any locations or plan our journey more effectively, the map will come in handy. I'll continue to update it as we explore further.

"Also I am getting a little hungry, Make sure to tell me if you spotted something edible".

"Noted", Sera replied.

As they continued their journey, the landscape began to change, the dense foliage giving way to a more open, rocky terrain. The sound of rushing water became audible in the distance, and Ethan felt a surge of hope. A river meant the potential for freshwater and perhaps even fish. "Sera, it sounds like there's a river up ahead," Ethan observed, quickening his pace.

"You're correct, Ethan," Sera confirmed, her sensors picking up the same auditory cues. "A water source will be beneficial for hydration and may provide opportunities for sustenance." As they approached the river, the sight of the sparkling, rushing water brought a smile to Ethan's face. Sera also spotted a tree with some kind of weird fruits.

Ethan eagerly moved towards the tree, inspecting the fruits closely to determine their edibility. "Any idea what kind of fruit this is, Sera?" he asked, turning one of the fruits over in his hands. "I'm not familiar with this specific species, Ethan," Sera replied, scanning the fruit for similarities to known plant species in her database. "However, it appears to be non-toxic and potentially nutritious. It might be worth trying a small amount to gauge its taste and effects on your system but proceed with caution."

Ethan nodded, carefully selecting a single fruit and taking a small bite. He chewed slowly, analyzing the flavor and texture, before nodding in satisfaction. "Not bad," he said, offering a piece to the furry creature. "Guess we've got a snack now, thanks to our furry friend's guidance."

As Ethan prepared to settle down by the river and enjoy the newfound fruit, the furry creature caught his attention with an urgent chirp. It scurried a few paces toward a massive, moss-covered rock and then turned back to Ethan, making it clear that it wanted him to follow.

Ethan hesitated for a moment, torn between the allure of rest and the possibility of an important discovery. With a resigned sigh, he pushed himself to his feet, still clutching the fruit in his hand. "Guess we're not done exploring yet," he said, glancing down at the OmniLink bracelet on his wrist. "It's best to trust our guide, Ethan," Sera agreed, her voice filled with encouragement. "The furry creature has led us to valuable resources thus far. There may be something else it wants to show us."

With a nod, Ethan followed the creature as it darted behind the massive rock, curious about what it would show them. As they rounded the boulder, they were met with an unexpected sight, an injured man with blood splattered everywhere, wearing a simple leather tunic, patched gray pants, and some sturdy leather boots. A bloody claw mark sliced across the man's chest. Deep red stained his clothes.

The small furry creature ran to the dying man, a small cry escaped its throat. Slowly opening his tired eyes had a look of caring to the small creature, 'Maybe the small creature was his companion, that's why it led him here.'

The '()" is made when a character is thinking.

Locking his eyes with Ethan's he said, "Y-Ya... a'awin?", As the man uttered the unfamiliar words, Ethan looked to his OmniLink bracelet for guidance. "Sera, can you translate what he's saying?".

There was a brief pause as Sera processed the man's speech. "Ethan, his language shares some similarities with Arabic, but I'm unable to provide an accurate translation," she responded, a hint of frustration in her voice. "I apologize. My linguistic database is still incomplete."

The man mustered his remaining strength and reached into a pouch attached to his belt. His trembling hand emerged with a small, Metalic cube, its surface pulsating gently with an unidentifiable energy. He placed the mysterious object into Ethan's hand, his voice a hoarse whisper as he attempted to communicate. "Ufham... al-..." he struggled to articulate, desperation clouding his eyes.

Sera chimed in, attempting to interpret the man's intent based on his body language and expressions. "Ethan, it seems he's entrusting you with this object. He might be hoping you can discover its purpose or deliver it to someone."

"Yeah, it seems so". The man's hand fell limp, his gaze locking with Ethan's for a single, desperate moment. Then, his eyes closed, and his chest gave a final, shallow rise and fall before stillness descended.