Nightfall came swiftly on Planet Rhino, the moon barely illuminating the dense canopy above. Ahce moved cautiously through the forest, every footstep deliberate, every rustle of leaves analyzed.
The forest was alive in ways that made her pulse quicken, bioluminescent vines pulsed faintly, casting ghostly green and violet light across the moss-covered ground, while distant howls and screeches echoed from hidden depths. Predators of all shapes and sizes could be watching.
She knew she needed rest. Her muscles ached from the long trek, her pack felt heavier than usual, and sleep was essential to maintain alertness. But the usual tactics, camping on the forest floor, setting traps, or making a fire, were fraught with danger here. Any flame would send ripples of light and heat through the undergrowth, potentially attracting creatures she couldn't yet identify.
