Ellion

You were lost.

Plain and simple. You had lost your group when you slipped and fell down these muddy rocks. They couldn’t find a safe way down to you either, heading one direction to find a way down and you were limping in the same direction to keep close. But now, after some time, it appeared that they had disappeared.

The jungle, although beautiful, was scary on your own. Especially after Arlo’s spew about the wildlife. Their hyperfixation…and job so maybe that’s why they were so obsessed with it.

Jaguars, Ocelots, Foxes, and all sorts that could mean danger. And here you were, with a sprained ankle and no way of returning back to the group.

Finally, you spotted a waterfall, a pretty place to just sit for the moment whilst the crew searched for a way down and then hopefully find their way to you.

Your eyes followed the water down and over the terraced grounds and then finally down into the lake beneath it. The water was a bluish tint, the moss creating a teal like reflection within the water. What a good place to stop.

You were just taking in the scenery though when you spotted something lurking in the distance. Slowly you got up, picking out the golden pattern from between the trees.

Then a head popped out. Eyes seemingly trained on you. A Jaguar.

You slowly began to back up, hoping it wasn’t going to attack, hoping you could get away, but luck was not on your side.

The jaguar pounced, eyes hungry for a kill, but before you could react, a flash of brown past you.

A man.

He was quick with it, his shoulder ramming under the beast's chest. Picking it up and throwing it back before He lowered again into more of a crouch like position, moving slowly at a distance as he intensely watched it.

Soon the Jaguar pounced again, this time at the man. Claws out and fangs bared. The creature was aggressive with its swings and attempted to bite, but the man was quicker. Smarter.

Soon the Jaguar was thrown into the water, catching the current as it was pulled down the rest of the waterfall and into the lake.

The beast was okay, slinking out the water, but was too far down to come up and attack again.

Soon the man turned to you, straightening up before walking towards you. His eyes examined you before he grunted and took your arm. He picked up his spear that was a few paces behind where you originally stood.

Soon he pulled you to walk with him, letting go after a moment as he continued walking.

He was silent the whole time he led you, that was until you had entered a clearing that held wooden huts and all sorts of leathers and furs hanging.

“Nel’an’ti .” He grunted before looking down to you as he continued his way in. He expected you to follow him of course.

“Nel’an’ti!” he shouted outside the door of one of the huts. A dark leather screened the archway, it flopping to the side as a wrinkly hand pushed it open.

“Ellion?” asked a rather posh sounding voice. It being distinctly different to that of the man you were with.

Soon appeared a rather sprightly older man, his grey hairs a mess combed back and he wore a leather robe, tied with furs. His blue eyes landing on you.

“Ah!” he exclaimed in delight. “You’re not from here!” He spoke with glee, his hands clasped together. His cracked glasses hung onto his face as he circled you. “It’s been 20 years since I last saw someone outside of this jungle. Your clothes are rather cute” he grinned before coming to your front. “I’m Scott” he said, offering his hand. “But the locals call me Nel’an’ti or ‘Strange one’ as I’ve learnt from my time here.”

He was just as excitable as Arlo.

“This is Ellion” He nodded to the man that had brought you here before he turned to speak to Ellion.

The words were hard to understand, the sounds vaguely familiar though, but you couldn’t quite place it. Scott soon turned back to you “He does speak English, albeit a little” He nodded before looking to Ellion “C’mon, what I taught you” he smiled.

Ellion soon looked down to you, his demeanor changing slightly as he scratched his arm awkwardly.

“Hello.”