Welcome to the Jungle {Lat}

[Dutch]

"This place smells funny..."

Dutch peered about the thick bush of the jungle with recently gained golden eyes. This wasn't his first venture out into the forests of Pandora in his avatar body, but that didn't change how odd it felt. It took some time to get used to the new height, limbs, and senses, but as more and more days in the body went on, the more he got used to it. His normal combat fatigues were damp from the rain water that sat on the flora of the jungle, Dutch's skin did the same. The blue hue of his skin made him chuckle, his Mom's words about masturbating and turning him blue rang in his mind. A snap of a twig sounded and his ear turned just before his head did, Dutch's gaze fixed on the spot where the sound came from. The rifle he had was brought up to his shoulder and aimed at said spot. But nothing came from it.

Once more, he was on a bodyguard job with one of the many scientists he was hired to guard. This one was a good person, Roland Schweigal, someone Dutch enjoyed being around. But like every thinking-type on Pandora, when out in the native lands... they were occupied. Dutch sighed and let the rifle lower back down. His hands let it free to hand on the strap that was shouldered.

"Doc... you done smellin' the flowers yet? We've been out here three hours already, I'm hungry."

One wouldn't be surprised to hear Dutch was hungry if they knew him- he was always hungry. Dutch's hand went to one of the pockets in his pants and grabbed a cantina of water from it. The cap would be unscrewed and Dutch brought it to his lips. A pleasant sigh escaped him as the cool water splashed into his mouth and down his throat. Damn that's good... thought before the cantina was taken from Dutch's lips. Dutch stepped over to the good Doctor and he held the beverage out to Roland.

"Care for a sip? Just water, no worries."

[Dr. Latus]

The blue man seated on a high set root payed little attention to his bodyguard, matter of fact he rarely did. It wasn't just Earledutch but any of the bodyguards. The gun toting muscles on legs had a thing for talking at the most inopportune time throwing off his concentration. He would talk afterwords; at that moment had a job to do and, by gott, he was going to get it done if it took him all day. The scientist had decided to get his sketches of the plant in question done before digging out the roots and bagging it for further examination back at the lab. It looked similar to a flower one might have found on Earth in the olden times but this one was different; it was a stunning shade of the deepest blue and folded over like something he had heard called a Venus flytrap. However, there was a single "mouth" and it was shaped more like an oblong oval than round. Penning the last line of observatory notes into his notebook he slipped the leather-bound item back into his bag and pulled out a small sample bag. Using a minuscule trowel he made the digs deft and clean, making sure not to sever any major connections to what the natives called Eywa; effectively mother nature. His ears were flat against his head in concentration, his spots glowing a very pale white. He was just about to pull the plant from the shallow hole before Dutch spoke. Roalnd nearly jumped out of his avatar. Looking up at the soldier he tried his best not to scowl.

Ugh... ja. Ja, but I must finish getting zis sample. Zose three hours vill be wasted if I can't get zis specimen back to ze lab.

Then he heard his guard complain about being hungry. Scowling he slid the trowel back into his pack shuffling around before pulling out a foil wrapped bar. Glancing up to Dutch again he pitched the bar up in front of his face.

Zere you go, cowboy. I've gotten sick of ze taste of algae.

The smell too. With his avatar came enhanced sight, smell, taste; well pretty much enhanced everything. His taste was primarily for the Pandoran fruits now, it seemed like all he ate. Chuckling at his partner he went back to his work. Another simple cut here, a tug there and the plant came free, intact and pristine. Tugging open the bag he slipped it inside closing the bag with a twist, careful not to break the stalk or any leaves. Placing the plant carefully on the top of the items inside his pack he stood, brushing the dirt and moss from his pants. Putting both arms up Roland stretched, ready to be done for the day. Looking up his tail twitched as he saw that the light was beginning to fade. They had a long-ish walk back to the compound but he was fairly certain they could get back by dark. As he pondered a canteen was thrust under his nose and he looked at Dutch, accepting the gesture.

I plan to get us both a real drink when we get back to ze base. Zis was a good days work. Thank you for being patient.

Handing back the canteen he shifted the pack on his back and gestured for Dutch to lead the way. Reaching into his vest pocket he pulled out a palm computer that was, essentially his map and guide. Roland would tell them where to go but Dutch had the hard job, blazing the trail. At least he felt he could trust his companion.

[Dutch]

As Dutch waited for Roland to finish his work, he idly played with a strange vine who's thin leaves curled up when the vine was tickled. It's leaves were a dark green, but the veins in it were pale yellow. It was interesting to say the least. Dutch just hoped it wasn't poisonous or the extremity of some horrible beast that stalked the jungle. He had to do his best to stifle a comment about the Doctor's heritage when he spoke. Ja ja... Thought the guard with a chuckle.

Dutch smiled as Roland offered him the foil-wrapped bar. He thanked the man and took the bar before it was unwrapped and chomped on. Heh heh, he says cowboy... Dutch tried not to giggle at this. He's heard Roland call himself and other guards that pet name before, but the man's natural sense of humor just made him wanna laugh out loud at hearing Roland say it in his thick accent. Just the mention of the word 'algae' made Dutch feel slightly ill. Sure, it was needed as a food source, but damn did he hate the taste and feel of it.

"You and me both Doc... you and me both..."

Responded Dutch to the algae comment. After the good doctor took his drink from Dutch's canteen it was placed back into the pocket it started at. He grinned back at Roland at the mention of getting a real drink back at the compound, and at the thank you. Dutch's hand clapped Roland on his right shoulder and Dutch winked at him.

"Y'know I wouldn't do this just for anyone. It's the accent, irresistible."

A chuckle came from the bodyguard at his own joke. He adjusted his pack so it sat better on him before Dutch began to walk the trail they took from the compound. His boots thudded against Pandoran soil and vegetation as he moved. Dutch wondered how the Na'vi could make so little noise when they moved in those massive ten foot tall bodies of theirs. Guess they'd be clumsy in a human body as well. It would be a bit of a hike home, and daylight was quickly dwindling, Dutch and Roland needed to get back soon as they could. Night time on Pandora was not a hospitable place. And this so far was the latest Dutch had ever been out from the compound, the bodyguard wasn't sure what was in store for them, so he asked Roland.

"Hey Doc... bought how much longer till the wee-beasties of Pandora come out to play?"

[Dr. Latus]

"Y'know I wouldn't do this just for anyone. It's the accent, irresistible."

The hand that slapped down on his shoulder was certainly unexpected as Dutch took the lead. Despite that he had lived on or around the planet for the past several years, those he considered friends were in short supply. He rarely spent time beside the research trips with the guards and every one of the scientists were either working or not in the mental frame of mind to talk. His last substantial conversation that wasn't with the locals was with the compound's main physician when he cut his arm on a particularly nasty native plant. Roland was unable to answer the question if he enjoyed the company of the muscle-bound guard or not. It was all business, he was all business. He trusted the man, sure, but as they tromped through the loose underbrush he found himself pondering that very fact. PDA in hand he followed the line they had taken getting there, tail swishing back and forth knocking into the brush.

Danke.

He had noticed it more the past couple of days, especially with dozens of new faces on the base, that he was slipping back more and more into German, especially when frustrated. He spoke with the Na'vi in their tongue and since he talked to the other humans so infrequently he was returning to thinking in his native language. *Zurück in die tiefländer, der weite kamm. Weniger als eine stunde zur zusammensetzung... It was in this state of mind that Dutch's question reached him. At first his mind didn't even register as something he understood but as he gathered himself again he realized. Glancing at the palm computer he looked up again. Since Pandora's rotational cycle was so close to Earth's, keeping track of time was easy. However, the amount of light that had failed in the last few minutes did not bode well for the pair. It would most certainly be dark by the time they made it back. Preemptively pulling out his leuchtfeuer, er, flashlight he clamped it to the mount on his belt; they were going to need it. He finally gave more thought to his guard's question, bringing a hand up to stroke his chin. It was a good question. Pertinent too. There were any number of beasts and plants out in the wilds of the jungles that would love to tear them to bite sized pieces; Thanator, to name the worst case scenario. There was one mote of good news though;

Zat depends. I chose zis area because ze... Roland paused to step over a high root.Ze satelites showed no large groups of life aside from ze trees. However, zat was zis morning. Ve might run into nothing all ze way home.

Roland said no more. He didn't have a need to. Darkness continued to descend on the pair as they tromped along. It was a wonder though; Pandora never got pitch black at night light Earth. The gas giant that it revolved around shed light onto it like the Earth's moon creating an almost perpetual twilight in the night time hours. It was still dark enough to need a flash light though; the canopy saw to that. Though the Doctor tried to move quietly through the brush he failed time and time again. Maybe it was his pack... **Scheiße! Wie tut sie es? He finally stopped trying and switched on his light, ready to be back at the compound more than ever. A cup of herbal tea with cinnamon schnapps sounded more attractive than ever.

*Back into the lowlands, up the far ridge. Less than an hour to the compound...

**Shit! How does she do it?

[Dutch]

Dutch was tempted to start whistling as they tramped through the jungle, but he didn't want to attract predators more than they probably already do. Droplets of water from the trees above them pattered on Dutch's body as they walked, his t-shirt soon losing its last dry spot not before long. Luckily Pandora was a warm-climate planet for the most part, and the wet clothes would only prove to cool him down better. His stomach gave and audible grumble and Dutch caste a sheepish look over at Roland. Hopefully he didn't hear that.

He nearly tripped over a dead branch but recovered not-so gracefully. Dutch's ears perked and twitched though as what sounded like the padding of feet sounded. The guard stopped dead in his tracks and raised his rifle, those golden eyes peered as far into the jungle as they could. Dutch listened as the Doc spoke, he sure hoped his fine German friend was right, but nothing ever went right. Dutch's avatar looked back at the Doctor and raised an eyebrow.

"Recognize that sound?"

Dutch was far from the person to ask about Pandoran wildlife, all he knew about them was to pump them full of lead if any of the research team was compromised. His first week on Pandora was proof of that, a small furry caterpillar looking bug had caught his eye, and he was about to stroke it's fur when a scientist informed him that it's fur was laced with a blinding poison. Luckily, Dutch listened to them, and now could still see. One could never tell what was dangerous and what wasn't on Pandora.

His eyes peered up as darkness began to descend on the jungle, Roland's light came on just in time to not completely blind the pair. So much for our daylight... Dutch could only imagine how poorly his human eyes would see in this light. Those sounds of feet padding on dirt sounded again to Dutch's right, who's rifle snapped towards that direction. Oh how he hoped it was just some sort of Pandoran Puppy or something...

[Dr. Latus]

Despite his thoughts on the security personnel, Roland knew that an avatar especially with the training of a soldier, would know better than he ambient noises that were threatening. His footsteps slowed on the soft loamy soil, at least he thought it was soil, at the base of one of the larger trees. He had heard the noise as well, the enhanced senses of the avatar told him so and his ears perked straining to catch the sound that may or may not be there still. A thread of fear seeped into his mind; the smallest, most innocent looking thing could kill you on Pandora.

Footsteps? Put out your light!

Roland reached down to his waistline and clicked off his torch and he looked back, over and around the base of the tree. The sound was no longer there, the rustling in the underbrush, scraping of plant on plant. Nothing. Whatever was out there, it was smart. Likely not Na'vi, the scientist and his guard weren't in their territory. If anything, it was likely much worse. At least you could reason with Na'vi. The darkness of the night deepened as the yellow light of the torch no longer illuminated the area. It was slow at first but gradually, almost hesitantly, the light level rose. Roland smiled. Pandora was certainly a wondrous place. Practically every surface glowed a neon color and it was still building. The shades of blues and greens, yellows and purples, became all encompassing. The scientist looked down. Despite the residual glow from Dutch's torch he found that the ground at his feet wasn't a soft loamy soil, instead it was a mossy growth that glowed a pale green. Where his feet compressed the surface the glow was brighter; this is what Roland wanted. He smiled.

Schauen*. Look at this. Ze moss reacts to ze footsteps. Es ist schön at night. An put zat light out already. You'll give us away if we aren't already. Sorry for ze distraction. Keeping moving, ja? Danke.

Roland urged Dutch foreword. Either way, with or without light, most predators were more than capable of kiling the two of them if they were not careful. With the lack of light the plants stopped believing it was daytime and began to emit the bioluminescant glow. It was layman's terms but that's what he thought anyway. He'd written about it in his journal and read about it back on earth; all part of the living planet theory.

As the two turned and continued to tromp on, down a small ridge and into the upper lowlands, Roland continued to hear sporadic sounds. It was always something subtle, rustling of leaves, a soft padding on a soft surface. For a little while he thought it was indeed a Na'vi member following them, perhaps keeping an eye on them. The sound that he heard as they made their way farther into the lowlands made him freeze. He had heard it only once before, on an outing with the original diplomatic team. They weren't hunting them but the Na'vi had explained; they only made the noise when aggravated or hunting, and they made it often while in the latter. Another burst was heard, then another. It almost sounded like cruel laughter but otherworldly and haunting. It resembled an extinct animal's call back on earth, a "laughing hyena." Problem is, as Roland stood, transfixed on the spot, the rustling grew in intensity and the "laughing" became nearly repetitive. It was coming from in front of them as well...

Scheiße. Dutch, we have a problem. Und company, lots and lots of company. Get close to me, hurry. Schnell!

Roland took several quick steps toward his guard, the footsteps on the moss lighting up at dozens of points all around the pair. Given each solo member of the pack had six legs, it was no comfort to the scientist.

Ve are in groß trouble. Big, big trouble, cowboy.

Viperwolves!

*look
*it is beautiful...