A few hours later…
Arthur and company entered the main tent. They stood at ease beside one another. Ahead of them where the supreme commander, two generals and lead scientists respectively.
"I've already told you that Lancelot will be filling Kay's spot but…" Nyx leaned forward. "We still need to connect your minds since the meta-glasses don't work outside the barrier."
David stood up after Nyx spoke. He approached Arthur and placed his finger on his forehead. Arthur didn't question and just closed his eyes. He felt his mind being connected somewhere, like a cable being plugged into a power source. David let go of his head and explained the mental link to Arthur.
"You're connected to the hub which is Lancelot. All thoughts go through his mind before being transmitted to the desired person. Understand?"
Arthur nodded. "I understand."
David continued and connected the others to the hub as well. Then, he sat down, resting his arm on the table.
"Now, Sterling. Brief them." Nyx urged.
Sterling leaned forward, locking eyes with the lieutenant general. Lancelot also turned towards him as the professor began speaking.
"You need not explore the forest too much. If it is a different ecosystem or environment entirely, we'll make plans for a separate group to explore it. For now, try to gather as much intel as you can. I've already given all materials to Lancelot." Sterling leaned back. "Just return before dusk."
"Understood, professor." Arthur and company replied.
"Good." Lancelot stood up, holding a backpack. "Now, let's get going."
Lancelot walked past the team. Arthur and company turned around. Arthur glanced at Sterling before focusing on the mission once more.
***
They exited the tent and passed the veil. Arthur tapped his meta-glasses which were in ear-piece mode but they didn't respond. He sighed and lowered his head. Then, he lifted it and gazed around the dense, foggy forest. As they progressed deeper, the land became moist, almost as if it was trying to consume them. They spread out, far enough to cover a good area but close enough to hold each other with Lancelot in the middle.
Suddenly, they heard a croak. They flinched and froze for a moment. Amelia scanned her surroundings before landing on a frog, sitting on a branch.
"It's just a frog. A normal one." She stated.
The others breathe a sigh of relief and continued forward. As they didn't, the fog began clearing up yet their guard didn't lower. As the smoke vanished, the evergreen trees, vines and moist soil were revealed. Leaves brushed against them, they weaved past tress, avoided puddles and such.
"Stop." Lancelot ordered.
Arthur and company stopped at a moment notice. Lancelot turned to Arthur, a slight smile tugging at his lips.
"Arthur, does this forest remind you of something?"
Arthur raised a brow. "It certainly does remind me of the amazon rainforest in Paragonia if I'm not wrong, General."
"Your absolutely correct. I was thinking the same thing." Lancelot replied. "So, I'm thinking this place is a rainforest."
"Your correct, sir." Amelia spoke. "This has all aspects of a rainforest."
"Note that down then." Lancelot took off his backpack.
He unzipped it ad pulled out and notebook and pen. Then, he threw it at Amelia and zipped the bag again.
"Since, you seem to be the smart one of the groups. Note, everything you see." Lancelot stepped forward, wearing the bag.
Arthur clicked his tongue and followed behind him. Amelia sighed and opened the notebook, clicking the pen. She began writing down all she analyzed while walking. In a few minutes, she had already written a few pages.
'I really don't understand why Arthur hates this guy…he's looks like a nice dude…. well, on the outside at least. I guess that why he hates him.'
Amelia smirked, at her own thoughts as they treaded forward. Eventually, they arrived at a small lake. They stopped at the looked at the lake for a moment.
'What should we do, general?' Maple asked through the mental link.
'…put your hand in it for a moment, will you?' Lancelot replied.
'Huh?'
'Can you?'
'Sure…I can.'
Maple crouched down and placed her hands in the water. She moved it around for a bit while Lancelot watched intently. After a few moments, she felt nothing until. She flinched, standing back up. In that instant, a long, scaly reptile with no limbs arose from the lake just as terrified as Maple. The group stepped back.
'Is it an anaconda?' Harvey asked through the link.
'No.' Maple replied. 'It's way too thin and…it looks longer.'
'Looks like we've just found a new species of snakes.' Lancelot grinned. 'Maple step back slowly. If it didn't bite you when you touched, it probably won't harm you.'
'O-Okay.' Maple gulped and slowly stopped back.
The snake locked onto her retreating figure. After a few seconds, it too turned around and swam back in the depths of the lake.
'Let's go around it or in another direction. We've got a few hours, let's make the most of it.' Lancelot moved around the lake and the others followed.
They passed the lake, unfamiliar sounds echoing in the distance as new unknown danger awaited in the potential future.
***
A few hours later…
As the sun started its descent from the sky, the group of Lancelot, Arthur, Maple, Amelia and Harvey headed back to camp. As they treaded past the lake, the fog soon began to engulf them once more. Arthur stood close the Lancelot as the fog began to thicken. Abrupty, he heard a low growl. He paused and stood still for a moment. Maple stopped, noticing her captain's behavior.
'Arthur?'
Lancelot turned around to look at the lieutenant general. Harvey and Amelia did the same. Within that time, Arthur drew a deep breath and waved it away.
'It's nothing. Keep moving.'
They nodded and continued to move forward but Lancelot gave a side-eyed to Arthur, sensing something was off. Maple waited for Arthur and walked beside him. Cold sweat rolled down Arthur's face. He heard a twig snap in the distance – no, it felt more like a tree being crushed.
As more sounds echoed, the others also noticed for a moment, chills resounding in their bodies. They paused for a few seconds, trying to listen in on the sound – Nothing. No sounds – not the bushes – not a croak – not a hiss nor a snapping twig just…. silence. They gulped their saliva and rapidly glanced around. A strange sensation occurred to them as if they were being watched by a predator.
The sun began reaching dusk and they decided they could no longer wait. They rushed forward with quick steps and eventually. The moist soil vanished beneath their feet and foggy air cleared up. They saw it – the camp – lights, fire and…people. They were panting out of exhaustion but didn't feel tired. The dread still lingered in their mind like a curse. They planned report this to Nyx, if they could even describe it in the first place.