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I move around the tree closest to me, putting her in full view. She doesn’t even know I’m here. If I stay quiet, I can get around her and keep going.
Something holds me back, though. If she’s out here, she’s probably by herself. We’re nowhere near civilization, and she’s definitely not from around these parts. She’s probably some tourist who wandered away from her group.
Part of me wants to leave her. If she can’t make it in the jungle, that’s her problem. I’ve already wasted plenty of time as it is. I don’t want to lose another hour or two helping her.
Still, she looks so innocent and helpless. Like a lost or injured animal. She pulls her head up, and I can see her face.
She’s beautiful. For a human, I mean.
Her face is covered in tears, and she wipes her nose. Not the most flattering picture, but I can tell she’s the type who would look stunning under normal conditions.
I look around again, making sure this isn’t a trap. I wouldn’t put it past some of these guys to set me up to fail. But something tells me her anguish is genuine.
Finally, I make my presence known. I stand tall and walk out into the clearing next to her.
She screams and grabs her heart. Humans startle so easily.
“Oh! I’m sorry I didn’t see you there. Um, hi,” she says. She wipes her eyes and nose again and fiddles with her hair. I can tell she doesn’t want me to see her like this.
Without responding, I move over to her to get a closer look. She’s oddly dressed and definitely not wearing the right clothes for the jungle. She stares at me as I size her up.
“Do you speak English?” She asks. I nod silently. As she stands, she wipes the dirt and dust from her pants where she was sitting.
“You alone?” I ask.
“Yes, I seem to have lost my friends. I’m not sure where I am or how to even get back to them,” she replies. She looks around nervously, her eyes darting between the trees.
“Where did you come from?” I ask. She gives me a look of slight offense. I’m not trying to coddle her, and the longer I spend helping her, the less likely I’ll pass this trial.
“Um, Glimner?”
I sigh and roll my eyes. “Which direction?” I wave my arm around to get the point across.
“Oh, uh, I think I came from that way, but I’m not sure if I made any turns or anything.” She points behind me.
I turn to look in that direction. Nothing but more jungle. If she’s wrong, it’ll cost me even more time. Time I don’t have.
“Did you try going back that way?” I ask, turning my attention to her again.
“Well, yes, actually.” She chuckles nervously. “But we came in a hover vehicle. There’s no telling which way they went.”
“Well, if it makes you feel any better, you’re not exactly lost,” I reply. “I mean, I guessyouare, but I’m not. Did you come from a convoy or party?”
“Um, not exactly. I was with a couple of my friends, and we were heading to a lodge or something. I think it was pretty close.” She stammers. I can’t tell if she’s just nervous or if she’s not telling me everything.
“A lodge? You guys going camping out here?”
“Kind of, I guess. I had a comm, but I guess I left it with my friends by accident. I sure hope I didn’t drop it.” She chuckles again and scratches her hair. She’s a lot more nervous than other humans I’ve met.
“Okay, I can help you find the lodge, but we need to move quickly. I need to get back here before the sun goes down.”
“Thank you so much. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t shown up. I’m Tania, by the way.”
I pause a moment before answering her with my name. I know as soon as I say the word, I’ll only be further away from winning the trial.
“Garet.” I finally say, eyeing her a minute as she stands, looking at me in the half light of the tree canopy.
“It’s nice to meet you, Garet. Which way?” Her words feel genuine, or at least she’s more comfortable knowing that I’m going to help.
