62 GROUP SEVEN (1/2)
Inside the Grey Forest
”Yan, how do we know the location of the flags?” Asked Cite.
”Right. We don't even know what it looks like,” Sada added.
”If they didn't give us clues before the start of the competition, they must have one at the start.” Ali surmised. As a student of the Education Hall, she has read a lot of different kinds of books including the preparations of different kinds of competition.
”You are right Ali. We should be attentive to our surroundings.” Laz commented.
As they walked inside, Ali noticed the anomaly of the high grass before their eyes. ”Let's take a look that way.”
”Why?” asked Sul. The other members of group seven we're also confused.
”That high grass was slanted to the right which is not normal because the direction of the winds is in the opposite direction.”
Yan looked at Ali with pride. 'Looks like my choice is right.'
Laz also thought that way.
”Woah. Your eyes are so keen!” Cite praised. 'As expected.' She thought.
”Students of the Education Hall were taught to be keen and discreet,” Ali timidly refuted.
”Maybe, but not all students of the Education Hall is as keen and discreet as you,” Cite smiled at her.
The others nodded in agreement.
Ali didn't know how to respond to their praise. She just smiled awkwardly.
The high grass was taller than their heights.
Sada climbed a tree to foresee what's waiting for them inside.
When he claimed down, he reported, ”There's a tree surrounded by this high grass. There's no way around but to enter inside.”
”Hmm! That tree might be where the flag is resting. Let's do it!” Cite was beaming with anticipation.
The others nodded in agreement.
Laz suggested, ”We need ropes to tie ourselves together. There is a big probability that some of us will lose, and we didn't know what will happen to us there.”
”That's a great idea. It will be a pain in the ass if some of us lost.” Cite agreed.
When all of them agree, Yan materialized a rope and tied themselves.
”Let's go,” Yan said.
They discreetly entered the high grass with the lead of Sada. He was after all a fighter among them.
The group seven silhouettes were eaten by the high grass.
As the group shoving off the high grass with their bare hands, rustles reverberated from the surroundings.
The group was alarmed.
”What it is?” Dawag asked. He was in high alert as his group.
”Shhhh.” Cite smoothly sounded.
When the rustles vanished, Yan said, ”Let's move faster and make your footsteps as light as possible.”
The others nodded in understanding.
They did what Yan said.
But after five minutes of silence, they heard another rustle.
These rustles we're visibly clearer to their ears and it became clearer as time goes by.
The rustles came nearer and nearer to them in a speed they could hear.
”RUN!” Yan shouted to his group members that still rooted to where they stood.
”Wait... What?” Before Sul could process the information to what was going on, he was dragged.
Sada ran as fast as he can. As the man in lead, he should not be slow.
As they ran, the rustles followed them. Its speed became faster than they imagine.
When the rustles came down, the group stopped their track.
”What was that?” Asked Atu. His fear was visible to his quivering body.
”I don't know.” Cite replied.
The other also shook their heads.
”Did it gone?” asked Dawag.
The others just shrugged their shoulders.
After half a minute of silence, a giant shadow leaped out to their direction.
Bang!
Its heavy body made the high grasses bend.
With a twisted face, Sada shouted, ”RUN!”
Each one of them was going to run in a different direction. Fortunately, they were all tied together.
It was slender with a pointed head, large eyes, and prominent, thinly furred ears. It has moderately long legs and long, sharp claws. The bald soles of their narrow hint feet possess fleshy pads of variable size. It was two meters in height and three meters in width.
The giant creature followed behind. It was approaching their distance.
”We need to do something.” Cite commented.
”It's a D beast known as Dirt Rat,” Yan's face was grim. ”We are in its territory.”