Nimbus 2056 Part 2 Take 1

“Damn it was getting rancid in there.” Gelben said as he outstretched his arms.

“I can’t believe it has been four days and no rescue!” Anastasia.

“Something must be wrong with the beacon. Our best bet is to find the little black box on the Nimbus. After being in that damn escape pod for four days, a walk sounds real nice.” Stuckey.

“Where’s the ship my captain oh captain? I swear to god this will be the last time I ever fly economy ever again!” Fableton grumbled to himself, as a yellow stream drizzled passed his feet.

“If only my telecommunicator could sync up with the computer we could GPS are way out of here.” Stuckey told his followers for some reason.

“Is there anyone who would like to stay at the pod? If so raise your hand.” Stuckey looked at the small crowd.

Instantly everyone’s hands went up.

“Ok, fine. I’ll go to the ship, you guys sleep pretty in here and wait for me to come back.” Stuckey, began grabbing his bag and stuffed it with things he thought would be necessary.

“It should be a short trip, maybe a day trip based upon the debris field. Anastasia is in charge while I am gone.” Stuckey

“Ok, fine whatever. BYE!” The passengers all scoffed.

Stuckey picked a direction, based upon a mountain range and the sun’s position and began walking. The crunch of fresh pine needles popped up under his boots. Shadows swayed upon the ground as the sun broke through the forest canopy.

“Perks of leadership! You get to be the one absorbing all the risk!” Stuckey told himself as he walked through the woods.

A choir of birds chirping in between the branches fell quiet. Stuckey “Hmm that’s odd!”

Thump.

A new rhythm of hot breath exploded on Stuckey’s neck.

“What the fuck?!” He spun around to see a beast he faintly remembered from childhood.

Cold green eyes stared back into his. An orange nose, lips curled back over daggers for teeth. A low grumble of a roar echoed towards Stuckey. It lurched forward. Stuckey twirled and the sharp claws ripped through his back pack.

There was only one option. RUN.

He turned tried escaping back the way he came. The beast now realized that the back pack wasn’t full of meat, and began the pursuit. It took two leaps and pierced Stuckey’s left ankle.

“Ah SHIT!” He yelled as he fell to the ground. He turned and saw the beast was at his feet. He kicked the big cat in the nose. It retaliated with a claw strike to Stuckey’s right quad.

The beast roared and opened its massive jaws preparing for the final blow. Stuckey raised one fist and blocked his face with the other.

A stone suddenly pelted the skull of the tiger. The animal was stunned by this and let loose the grip of Stuckey. He took this opportunity to crawl his way away from the monster. More stones were thrown from unknown sources scaring the tiger away.

“Why didn’t they just shoot it? Hello!! Is anyone there?” Stuckey yelled directionlessly into the forest.

His ears eagerly awaited someone to yell back. Silence was the only thing he heard.

He propped himself up on a tree and began limping back to the escape pod. He was going to need some help.

Now it was certain he couldn’t get to the Nimbus alone. Plus the kitty left a rather large gash in his leg.

The limp hop walk he did succeeded and he started pounding on the door of the life raft.

“Let me in please! I was attacked! I am bleeding. HELP!”

“Christ you look like hell!” Fableton was the first to see the damage done by the animal.

Some how in the scuffle a gash was also ripped in Stuckey’s scalp.

They stretched him out on one of the benches of the escape pod, and frantically started bandaging him.

“What the hell did this to you?” Anastasia asked.

“You won’t believe me, but a fucking saber tooth tiger! I couldn’t explain it any other way.” Stuckey said grimacing as they administered first aid.

“But those have been extinct since the ice age! Where the fuck are we?” Gelben wondered.

“I don’t know, but I do know that we have to get to the ship. We got to find out what the hell is going on. It is that or waiting in here praying for rescue until our supplies run out. FUCK THAT HURTS!” Stuckey gasped right before passing out.