More to Explore

The equatorial jungle was a tropical ring that circled Pandema across its equator. Wrapping around the near entirety of the planet like a belt, the area was the center of greenery and oxygen, and the planet's freshwater supply spawned, trickling out through the underground caves made by the massive tree's roots. Many countries bordered the equatorial jungle, including those to Rydia's and Ublaneth's south, but no country took a majority claim of the massive region, their source of water and wood.

That was because it was borderline uninhabitable.

"Snu, help me!" Sam cried, dangling upside down by the foot.

"I got you!"

He said this, but Sam was already several meters in the air, slowly approaching the drooling Viscel plant at the top of a tree. Its tendrils were adhesive and strong, curling in on itself with natural instinct. If Sam had been replaced by a rock, the plant would do the exact same thing. Whatever it caught, it went into its stomach.

Nonetheless, Vinisnu's tail had the reach, so with a sharpened edge, he freed Sam instantly and stood out with arms stretched to catch her. She crushed him under her weight.

"Oh my god! Are you alright?"

Snu looked down, seeing Sam pressed up against him. "Never better."

The camp was situated next to a lush waterfall with a clearing cut by hatchet tools. Before entering the jungle, the two stopped by the city of Trolec for research, and Sam had picked up knowledge about the local fauna and flora and, more specifically, what was edible.

"Open up and say ah," Sam said. Her spoon had an appetizing meat stew in it.

Snu ate reluctantly. "I'm not that hurt. Don't baby me."

"Your legs are swollen! They could be broken!" They were sprained, but mildly so. "Look, I'm sorry. I should've been paying attention."

"If it makes you feel any better, I got caught by one yesterday. I just didn't tell you."

With local citrus fruits and sunlight, the freshwater could be decontaminated and drunk freely. A hammock was set for sleeping above the jungle floor, and a fire pit provided all of the cooking, light, and deterrence they needed.

The waterfall also provided a good food source, as one of the fishing lines suddenly tugged. Sam dashed for the embedded line and fought the fish.

"Ooh, I can feel it fighting!" Sam gritted. "Is it...crawling? Do fish crawl?"

"Not that I know."

With a superhuman heave, Sam launched the fish into the air and caught it with both hands. Its sixteen legs danced on her chest as it floundered around.

"It's creepy!"

"I've never seen anything like that. Wait, what are you-?"

"Hold it, I need to take pictures!"

Sam had also received another survival kit from her Earthling colleagues, and it did not go to waste. Some years later, an image of Vinisnu with a Txycalil fish would be in Kain's libraries under regional aquatic life.

"Okay, can I let it go?" Snu cried.

"Sure. I don't wanna cook it either."

The girl returned the fish to nature, and within seconds, it crawled right back out, dozens of them. Suddenly, Vinisnu's legs didn't hurt so much anymore as they ran.

The two returned to the camp sometime later, having experienced even more terrible creatures in the wilds. At the least, they found the Txycalil fish more delicious than them, and their camp became peaceful again.

"How long do you think we've been out here?" Sam asked. "I'm starting to lose track of time."

"I think it's been three weeks," Snu replied. "I never expected to survive this long out here."

"Hey, that's my line!"

"What line?"

"I mean...we're doing pretty great out here. So long as we keep the ticks and leaches off, which reminds me." Head grooming time commenced. "I think I have enough space for fifty more pictures."

"Your technology is amazing," Snu nodded. Taking pictures had become a pastime for him, too. "But shouldn't we be worried? I haven't heard any new aliens or anything passing by. We should probably help with the defense."

Sam shook her head. "We'll be fine. I'm sure my dad completed his mission. We have nothing to worry about."

"Yeah, but what if he's...you know."

"I'm sure he's out there too." Sam looked over the dusk sky, turning purple with the twilight. "He may not be the perfect dad, but he's an amazing Captain."

Snu nodded. It's precisely what he wanted to hear. To think the girl who was scared of worms over a month ago was smiling even in these harsh conditions. She was a lot tougher than she let on. Even she didn't believe it. He was so proud of her.

Twilight turned to night, and night turned to midnight, all while the two cuddled in the same hammock together near the campfire. One weighed like a block of lead, and the other had an appendage taking seventy percent of the sleeping space, but after so much time together, they couldn't sleep without the other one nearby. On this strange and foreign planet, Sam was so happy to have Vinisnu, and after a few weeks in the jungle, so did Snu. Together, they were unbeatable. Perhaps, with enough time-.

The two awoke to the boom of soundwaves cracking across the sky. While the foliage was dense, so much so that they could barely even see a cloud from their hammock, a dark shadow zipped over their campsite. Sam burst from the hammock and ran into the jungle, barefoot and half-naked.

"What in Rae is going on?" Snu called out to her, taking a couple of extra seconds to prepare. He may have to rescue her. "Sam, where are you!?"

"Over here!" Her voice was distant, but Snu managed to close the distance quickly. "Look, down there."

The two were on the edge of a cliff at an elevation far higher than the low deserts beneath them. The sight was clear as day as several Kainian battleships toured the skies with the aim of visiting Trolec, which lay a hundred kilometers north of their location.

"Is that the invasion?" Snu asked.

"It's the Kainians," Sam answered. "I guess it's time to head back."

Snu put his hands on his hips. "I guess so."

A lingering silence lasted between the two of them. It became unbearable, and the two let out an exasperated sigh.

"I wanna see what the south hemisphere has," Snu groaned.

"I don't have enough cool pictures yet."

"What are we gonna do with our leftover supplies?"

"We have enough fuel for what, four more trips?"

"You're right! And it's not like they're just stopping by Trolec."

"They could be heading south to Marmouth!"

"Exactly! Let's go meet the Kainians at Marmouth!"

The two returned to camp as fast as possible to pack as slowly as possible. After all, what was the rush? What was the urgency? What was the point of exploring the galaxy if you weren't going to do any exploring? That wasn't Sam's dream.

Once everything was packed into two bags, they returned to the glider. While worse for wear and prone to nest building, the foldable machine was still ready to fly with a makeshift ramp ready to take them south.

"It's gonna be a longer flight, so apply the harnesses," Sam said. "You sure you're good to fly?"

"Of course! Flying for two is getting easy!"

The two buckled in and tugged at the ropes to make them taut. After enough misadventures with long-term travel, having more to hang on by was a solid design choice for the glider. Still, it required the co-pilot to hold onto the pilot.

"Once we get out of here, where are we going?" Snu asked. "I know nothing about space."

"I'd love to show you Earth, but knowing the Kainians, we'll get to go to Kain Prime! I've always wanted to go there myself."

"I see. And after that?"

"We'll go wherever you want. Deal?"

Sam kissed Snu on the cheek, which gave the boy a determined grin. It was why he loved being the pilot as her arms wrapped around his waist.

"Ready?"

"Ready!"

The engines spurred to life, and with a jump, the two were airborne, off into the morning light, flying to the next adventure before them. Sam was no longer held down by life's certainties, only endless possibilities.