Confirming there was no creature on the tree. He began to climb it. He was slow and made sure he left no room for mistakes.
He went up to 40 meters, making the tree one of the tallest around there. But some are taller at a far distance.
He stood on a strong branch and looked around. The thick foliage just got more confusing.
He saw better on the ground.
Leg firm, sand around, holding his stone, Lawa make a light jump. It was enough for the sand to form on his landing feet and he was thrust up into the sky.
Eighty Meters up with a little support from the yellow sand below his feet, his descent was halted, and he looked around.
His other hand held a craftwork, as he calibrated it. By the time he was falling down, the small craft made a ding sound, and that eased his mind.
Yellow sand cushioned his fall on the branch. His gaze then swept around in alertness.
It was a possibility he had exposed himself.
Lawa found a corner, made a sand dome around him, and went through the findings.
"I shall stay here till tomorrow!" Lawa concluded after more observation.
Landing was the most dangerous thing after the throw destination. Then predator attacks.
If one was unlucky enough to land where a powerful maha beast resides, you are done for.
After centuries of mapping as well as in the job, they have managed to send people to locations that were relatively less dangerous.
But that didn't guarantee safety.
The use of repellents in the form of odour, sound or even resonant messages. Different throw destinations used different methods to ward away beasts where the one landed.
The one Lawa rode had its own way but caution was never too much.
He gathered large leaves, pulled sand around and made his abode. Refined it with a miracle stone till it was extremely hard.
He then covered it with leaves, creating camouflage. Observing nothing was around he entered and sealed the location.
Staying here will give him a measure of time to collect himself. Unfortunately, the moment he felt safe, he fell asleep.
***
Dang
Dang
The sound of something heavy woke him up. His mind was refreshed, and his body well rested. But that sound agitated him.
Soon the sound was gone. Then a scuttling sound came. They were too small but even small is dangerous.
When he heard no more sound. Lawa folded the cloak from the throw destination and stored it inside his back.
He then prepared something and ate fast. Then he went through the device he used yesterday. After observation, he confirmed he was in the right location.
His initial destination was just a few kilometres from where he was. Should he go there, or should he try to find a settlement?
From his knowledge, there was a settlement close but was further away than his destination. A couple of hundred kilometres.
He took a deep breath as he scratched his head. His hand was drenched, and his clothes were also wet.
He was sweating, fear was evident in his eyes. His hand was shaking.
He leaned back. 'Damn it. All!'
He packed everything. Ran his hand around the cave, feeling the stone. He can't take it with him. It will be too burdensome.
"Damn it. What should I do!"
He was panicking. It was slow, despite his desire to distract himself. His situation was drowning him.
"I'm a coward no doubt about it!" He said to himself.
Seeing things get worse, he pulled Calm Gem and placed it on his forehead. A wash of relief made him at ease for a moment.
He placed the gem back, he shouldn't use it off now. Then he pulled out his scribe tablet that had his plans and went through it.
No amount of pep talk he wrote made him feel at ease. But there was one sentence.
"Fuck off and keep going. You stop, you die, you delay, you die. You have destroyed your potential, you have no future!"
He wrote it himself. Just for encouragement.
With zero confidence and filled with fear, Lawa came out. His bag on his back, a dagger on his hip as well as his shortened craft work staff.
He placed a soft helmet on his head and looked around. Small flies flew, slamming at trees and dying.
The tree then released juice that the surviving flies harvest.
There were also bigger flies, with wings made of leaves. They ran away. The rest followed as they saw Lawa.
He moved toward his first destination. Making sure his path was filled with flying insects. That was assurance that it was safe.
Around him were particles of sand shifting and drifting with his every move. They have formed a round orb around him.
On his hand was Yellowstone, being compressed continuously. Meant for a weapon strike.
The good thing was the more he moved with no danger, the more he relaxed, and that allowed him to reflect on his actions.
With less fear, he felt confident, but with fear, he became indecisive.
Vo!
He froze. Above him something has passed, creating a booming sound.
Bronze Grade or an attack.
He waited to hear the landing sound and it never came. Even insects around him have stopped their activities.
Several minutes they scuttle around as usual.
Lawa, too, moved ahead.
He travelled for 24 kilometres, and it was still around small insects. Slamming at the trees around dying, their fluid made the tree release a juice and then the surviving insect harvested it.
Because he had not harmed them, some were even landing on him. Especially the bigger ones. They can't fly for extended periods without resting.
He stood at the edge of the forest, a land with human-sized grass that filled his vision. For kilometres ahead, it was the grass. Each grass was shorter than him.
There were no insects to tell him safety or not.
He unfolded his staff and felt the ground. It was hard. He walked forward. A calm gem on his forehead for some time eased his nerves.
The walk was slow and agonizing. A rustling of wind will make him spiral around. The tension was thick. Tensions that keep rising.
Lawa continued. Until he was out of the thick grasses he relaxed.
A land with scarce trees and grasses. At least he can see far with normal eyes. He went ahead.
After several steps, he fainted.
His mind has snapped. He fell down like a twig broken from a tree. His heart is erratic.
This stressful tension will cause a heart attack in a normal human.