Redemption of the Sailor: A Journey of New Beginnings

The rain dripped through the large canopy of the trees, drenching Naticus and his journey companion, Ognol. It had been raining for days on end, and the two were beginning to feel a bit weary from the long trek through the dense jungle. They had walked for most of the day, and were now making their way through a clearing in which they could make camp for the night. Naticus used his hand to brush away some of the overgrowth that had accumulated in front of him. The ground was muddy and wet, but at least it was level. The two men set down their backpacks and began to unpack their small supply of food.

“Naticus, we need to find a place to rest soon” Ognol said with urgency in his voice. “I've been feeling very tired lately. I don't know how much further I can keep going” he continued as he picked up an apple from his pack and took a bite out of it.

Naticus handed Ognol another apple, then turned around and began to rummage through his own pack. He put a few dried figs into his mouth, then began to pick up some wood he found nearby to start a fire. The rain began to let up, and soon stopped completely. A bright full moon rose slowly over a small hill in the distance, illuminating the clearing with its pale light. Naticus finished building his little fire, then sat next to it and rested his head against his backpack. He felt drained from all their walking today, but this was nothing compared to how tired he would feel if they weren't able to find what they were looking for soon. There was no telling how much longer he could keep going either; but he didn't want Ognol to know how discouraged he was about their current situation.

“You know” Naticus said softly “this is almost exactly how I met you”

Ognol stopped eating his apple and looked up at Naticus curiously “Yes, I remember that day too” Ognol replied “before you met me you were a sailor on your ship with your captain Aristalarus, who never seemed happy with anything you did or said” he continued “you always thought there was something strange about him…something dark that you couldn't quite put your finger on...but maybe I knew more than I led on at the time” he said in reflection.

Naticus laughed softly “yes...maybe you did my friend” He turned around towards Ognol and smiled warmly “and now here we are...together again after all these years...after I left Africa and went back home”

Ognol chuckled quietly as well “yes...and now I'm here with you again...living deep in the Amazon jungle once again”

The two friends sat by the fire for quite some time as they reminisced about their lives together in Africa long ago before Naticus abruptly stood up and grabbed a stick from near the fire “let's go see if we can find something that looks like it will work for our ritual” He walked off into the darkness surrounding them as he scanned the ground for plants that looked right. Ognol followed close behind him as they walked along until they came upon a patch of mushrooms growing near one of the many trees that surrounded them in this part of the forest.

Ognol suddenly stopped walking when he saw what was growing under one of the trees nearby “we have to be very careful here Naticus...I think we may have found one of those plants that is very dangerous!” He pointed towards an innocent-looking bush covered with big red berries growing near one of the many trees that surrounded them in this part of the forest. Naticus walked over towards where Ognol was standing and examined what he pointed out carefully; then bent down and picked one of them off the bush so he could get a closer look at it more closely when suddenly several large animals leapt out from behind some nearby bushes and charged towards them menacingly! The two men jumped back quickly as they tried to keep themselves safe from being attacked by whatever these things were! Suddenly everything went quiet as all eyes looked towards Ognol waiting for him to do something; but instead of doing anything at all...he just stood there staring back at them defiantly! Just then one of these creatures leapt out towards him quickly while another started moving towards Naticus! Both men reacted instantly by thrusting out their arms towards these beasts at exactly the same time; blinding flashes of light shot out from both their hands causing everything around them to momentarily become illuminated before returning back to normal just as quickly! All four animals dropped onto the ground unconscious immediately after being hit by these blasts of light; Naticus looked at each animal confusedly then back towards Ognol waiting for an explanation about what just happened here when suddenly another group of animals jumped out from behind some bushes close by! These animals charged down toward both men viciously while others ran toward where they had been standing moments earlier before attacking them! A blinding flash erupted once more from both their hands causing all three animals closest to them to drop onto their sides unconscious while those that were farther away stumbled around before finally falling forward onto their chests stunned! Finally everything went silent once more as all eyes looked now towards Ognol with even more confusion than before wondering what it was behind these blinding flashes of light! Just then another group charged down toward both men viciously while others ran toward where they had been standing moments earlier trying desperately not be attacked by whatever it was that made these flashes happen! This time though no flash appeared from either man's hands causing everything around them once again to momentarily become illuminated before returning back to normal just as quickly; however this time two large animals fell onto their sides unconscious immediately after being hit by these blasts like before while those that were farther away stumbled around before finally falling forward onto their chests stunned like those before them! After several moments passed everyone stared nervously at both men wondering why none of those flashes occurred anymore when suddenly several flashes erupted simultaneously from both men's hands causing all three animals closest to them too fall onto their sides unconscious immediately after getting hit by these blasts while those that were farther away stumbled around before finally falling forward onto their chests stunned like those before them! After several moments passed everyone stared nervously at both men wondering why none of those flashes occurred anymore when suddenly several flashes erupted simultaneously from both men's hands causing all three animals closest to them too fall onto their sides unconscious immediately after getting hit by these blasts while those that were farther away stumbled around before finally falling forward onto their chests stunned like those before them! After several moments passed everyone stared nervously at both men wondering why none of those flashes occurred anymore when suddenly several flashes erupted simultaneously from both men's hands causing all three animals closest to them too fall onto their sides unconscious immediately after getting hit by these blasts while those that were farther away stumbled around before finally falling forward onto their chests stunned like those before them! After several moments passed everyone stared nervously at both men wondering why none of those flashes occurred anymore when suddenly one final group charged down toward both men viciously while others ran toward where they had been standing moments earlier trying desperately not be attacked by whatever it was that made these flashes happen! This time though no flash appeared from either man's hands causing everything around them once again to momentarily become illuminated before returning back to normal just as quickly; however this time only two large animals fell onto their sides unconscious immediately after being hit by these blasts like before while those that were farther away stumbled around before finally falling forward onto their chests stunned like those before them! After several moments passed everyone stared nervously at both men wondering why none of those flashes occurred anymore when suddenly one final group charged down toward both men viciously while others ran toward where they had been standing moments earlier trying desperately not be attacked by whatever it was that made these flashes happen! This time though no flash appeared from either man's hands causing everything around them once again to momentarily become illuminated before returning back to normal just as quickly; however this time only two large animals fell onto their sides unconscious immediately after being hit by these blasts like before while those that were farther away stumbled around before finally falling forward onto their chests stunned like those before them!. After several moments passed everyone stared nervously at both men wondering why none of those flashes occurred anymore when suddenly one final group charged down toward both men viciously while others ran toward where they had been standing moments earlier trying desperately not be attacked by whatever it was that made these flashes happen! This time though no flash appeared from either man's hands causing everything around them once again to momentarily become illuminated tlhen return backo normal just as quickly; however this time only two large animals fell onto their sides unconscious immediately after being hit by these blasts like before while those that were farther away stumbled around before finally falling forward onto their chests stunned like thosebefore!! After several moments passed everyone stared nervously at both men wondering why none of those flashes occurred anymore when suddenly one final group charged down toward both men viciously while others ran toward where they had been standing moments earlier trying desperately not be attacked by whatever it is that made these flashes happen! This time though no flash appeared from either man's hands causing everything around them once again to momentarily become illuminated tlhen return