Having had decided where to enter the forest, Murelle, Miles, Toby and his 'droid Max set off. They decided to enter just a few yards from where the energy field seemed to end. The full moon was now overhead, and pale shadows were cast behind them, the ground seemed level and free from pits and rocks. Maybe it was a farmer's field at one time, Murelle ponders to herself.
"I didn't think we'd ever get going. All that formality and stuff. Sheesh." She mutters to Miles and Toby. "I think highly of the queen, but I find all that posturing unnecessary."
It doesn't take long to reach the forest itself. Without speaking, night vision goggles were pulled over their eyes and with a moment's hesitation they plunge into the darkness. There was little in their path at that moment. The occasional downed tree limb or they had to move around the trunk of a large tree.
The usual night noises were heard, the hoot of a distant owl, scrambling of rodents as they are disturbed by the footfalls of the trio along with croaks of frogs.
Freezing in their steps after they hear rustling to their right, Mure turns to look and the unmistakable form of a spider was seen, moving outside the brush. Slowly she pulls out her blaster and aims. She doesn't fire at once looking to see if it was alone. The spider disappears back into the brush.
"Why didn't you shoot it Mure?" Miles asks in a whisper.
"I don't want to draw attention. Not yet."
No further remark was made; Murelle is very relieved no other spiders appeared. It was getting harder to move through the undergrowth, the twisted trunks, dank rotting branches and large boulders block their path and more than once Miles or Toby had to help Murelle climb over some of the larger downed trunks or branches. It was slow going.
Suddenly the silence was shattered with the blast of horns, the calls of the company....declaring the invasion.
The trio stopped and pulled off their night vision goggles, the grey of dawn had crept in.
"I guess it's started." Murelle murmurs. "Let's go, we can't waste time."
"I didn't think we'd ever get going. All that formality and stuff. Sheesh." She mutters to Miles and Toby. "I think highly of the queen, but I find all that posturing unnecessary."
It doesn't take long to reach the forest itself. Without speaking, night vision goggles were pulled over their eyes and with a moment's hesitation they plunge into the darkness. There was little in their path at that moment. The occasional downed tree limb or they had to move around the trunk of a large tree.
The usual night noises were heard, the hoot of a distant owl, scrambling of rodents as they are disturbed by the footfalls of the trio along with croaks of frogs.
Freezing in their steps after they hear rustling to their right, Mure turns to look and the unmistakable form of a spider was seen, moving outside the brush. Slowly she pulls out her blaster and aims. She doesn't fire at once looking to see if it was alone. The spider disappears back into the brush.
"Why didn't you shoot it Mure?" Miles asks in a whisper.
"I don't want to draw attention. Not yet."
No further remark was made; Murelle is very relieved no other spiders appeared. It was getting harder to move through the undergrowth, the twisted trunks, dank rotting branches and large boulders block their path and more than once Miles or Toby had to help Murelle climb over some of the larger downed trunks or branches. It was slow going.
Suddenly the silence was shattered with the blast of horns, the calls of the company....declaring the invasion.
The trio stopped and pulled off their night vision goggles, the grey of dawn had crept in.
"I guess it's started." Murelle murmurs. "Let's go, we can't waste time."