First Contact

As I continue to approach the sound of people I try to move closer without making too sound until a branch snaps under my foot. Suddenly their voices stopped and the sound of something metal was heard swinging. I stop moving. They stop making noise. The forest around us is painfully still.

“Who goes there?” A man's voice called. I remain still not knowing if they could see me. My vision is obscured by these brushes and leaves. I debate whether it would be a good idea to show myself or not. I know I need people to help me understand this place. But, I don’t want to just jump out and get killed. I kept going back and forth with myself as the tension between me and the man who shouted grew even though we couldn’t see each other.

Finally I decide it’s best for me to show myself slowly so I can figure out where the hell I am. I slowly raised my hands up and moved aside so they could see me walk from the bush. Being very careful on how I move. “Who are you?” The man shouted startling me a little bit.

“My name is Albert. I am lost in these woods. I do not know how or why I have ended up here. But, please understand that I mean no harm.” I spoke softly and carefully at the man. As he stood there without a word I saw a skirt swish behind the man. And a girl leaning from behind the man. Her eyes filled with fear quickly vanished into eyes of curiosity. “Shinu, i don’t think he’s bad” She said softly but loud enough that I heard her voice.

“What do you mean?” The man, so-called Shinu, questioned the girl. “I don’t think he’s a threat to us. I mean, look at him. He looks like he’s been through enough hell as it is.” Her tone shifted from annoyed to worry half way through her words.

“Really?” Shinu asked, annoyed. He doesn’t want to listen to the girl. Meanwhile, I’m still standing in a pile of shrubs with thorns sticking into my leg. And I don't think I’m going to get out of it anytime soon. The girl looked at Shinu with pleading eyes. Eventually his stance caved and he let out a long annoyed sigh. “Fine,” he said as he lowered his sword.

The girl waves me over so finally my shins can be free from this thorned prison. I walk over to them carefully, still not sure if I could fully trust them. But, as I got closer their demeanor seemed to have relaxed and I no longer posed a threat to them. I remained careful around them as I followed them to their camp.

I kept my guard up as I sat near their campfire. It was so small I hardly noticed it before. “Hungry?” The girl asks me.

“A little” I mutter. My voice is soft and it felt like a strain to vocalize. She must’ve noticed because her expression shifted from caring to worried. “Do you have an infection inside of you?” She questioned. I responded with my head shaking to say ‘no’.

“I haven’t spoken in years” I said lying so I don’t accidentally mention the god. I don’t know if they worship that god or any other gods. The last thing I need is to say something that dumb right when I meet someone for the first time. I don’t want to be praised because some dumbass god sent me here. Nor do I want to be seen as an enemy because I was sent by said dumbass god. Still, I need people to trust and for them to trust me. After the last hour or so since I’ve been here, I need to not be alone until I’m much stronger. But, I won’t be a hero.

“Have you been alone for that long?” She asks me again. I nod again, still lying. I make eye contact with her as she speaks. “My name is Yaku.”

“Albert.” I replied. “That’s an interesting name” For some reason my chest felt like butterflies when she told me my name was interesting. Personally, I didn’t like it all that much. But, hearing that from Yaku. Made me not hate my name so much.