1 Introduction

I don't really remember much. All I remember was waking up to the sounds of the birds singing and chirping and feeling the grass gently caressing my back with the breeze of the wind sliding over me. The first thing I saw was the clear blue sky, with the leaves of trees in my peripheral sight.

Where am I? No, who am I? My mind had a blank space that needs to be filled with answers. My first action was that I lifted my head and sat upright. It seemed that I was in some sort of forest, being surrounded by tall trees that touched the sky. Nothing but trees and trees as far as the eye can see.

I felt something in my hand, something hard and made of metal. I looked down and saw that I was wearing thick, and brown gloves. And in my palms was a carbine rifle just lying there, with its grip on my palm. Now I was even more confused. Then, I noticed my sleeves were clad in a mixture of light and dark green camouflage.

I looked at my torso and found I was wearing some sort of camo shirt that covered my shoulders to my sleeves and the rest was covered by light grey. Above that was some sort of heavy vest with some sort of pouches that had I think magazines filled with ammunition in them. The vest was covered in dark and light green camouflage and the center was the flag of the United States.

Wait... The flag of the United States? Why do I remember that? My head felt like it was spinning around and around as I tried to wrap my mind around the situation. I then looked at my pants to find them in green camo as well. The same goes for my boots. I also found a holster that is strapped around my right thigh with a pistol in it.

I then felt something around my neck. It was thin, like a thread. I gently grabbed it and followed it down until I felt something, like a tag. I brought it up and I was correct. It was a tag, a dog tag and it had something written on it.

Stryker

Marcus D.

625 251 183

A Pos

Catholic.

Then, it hit me. Like a flood. I remembered my past. My name is Marcus D. Stryker. Born in 1983, When to Fort Benning for Basic Training. Graduated and had multiple tours around the Middle East. Then, in 2007. I went to Ranger School to enlist into the 75th Ranger Regiment. Graduated and was placed in 1st Ranger Battalion. Then, in 2012. I applied to be in the Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta or Delta Force and I had to go through an intense training session called the Q course. I scored an ASVAB of 110, studied multiple languages, and did more intense training until I graduated. The last thing I remember was being caught in an explosion in a Taliban ambush during an operation.

With my memories back, it still doesn't answer the question of what am I doing in the middle of a forest when I remember being in a desert. I noticed I had a radio on the left side of my chest. I held onto it and pressed the push-to-talk button on the side. "Overlord, Overlord. This is Copperhead 2-2. Come in, over." I stated but silence responded.

"Overlord, Overlord. This is Copperhead 2-2. Radio check, over." Once again, only silence.

"Overlord, Overlord. This is Copperhead 2-2. Respond, over." Nope, no one answered. I let go of the push to talk button and sighed.

Suddenly, a loud cry for help rang out from the forest behind me. And by the sound of the voice, I could tell with was a female that was in trouble. Military instinct kicked in and without hesitation, I stood up on my feet and grabbed my tactical HK416, with an EXPS2-2 with G.33.STS magnifier, a two-point sling, a vertical foregrip, a PEQ-15 on top, Saker 5.56 suppressor, MLOK rail system, MOE Magpul stock and Magpul magazines. I wore the sling, placing it over my head and racked the charging handle of my weapon, and headed towards the direction of trouble.

As I drew closer to the scene, my ears suddenly picked up the voices of a man. I slowed my approach and raised my gun a bit in case I were to be thrown in battle. Then, I could understand what the man was saying.

"Hello, little Keidran. Looks like you're in a lot of trouble. These are human lands. And your head's worth quite a lot here. You'd be amazed what they'd pay for a hide like yours." The person said and I haven't got a single clue what he was talking about. Keidran? Is that some sort of name? Code? I have to get to the bottom of this. I proceed to walk slowly, so I won't be compromised. I hid behind a bush and saw what was happening.

A man, wearing a brown longs sleeve shirt with brown baggy pants, with a sword in his hand and a brown hat with blonde hair about to attack a... a... Is that a tiger? An anthropomorphic tiger... With brown hair, yellow eyes, wearing a green jacket, and light brown pants. The tiger was on the ground, her back against the tree, and struggled to move. "What the fuck is this?" I whispered silently as I aimed at the man, with my finger on the trigger and ready to strike him down.

Until someone ran towards the tiger and stood Infront of her... Yeah, I think it's her. This person was different. He had blue hair, blue eyes, a white hoodie of sorts with two blue lines in the middle and go downwards, some sort of blue symbol on the left side of his chest. The symbol was a blue circle with a line going down and two lines on the bottom cutting the first line. He also wore brown baggy pants and brown shoes. "Hey, leave her alone!" The blue man barked.

"Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing? I saw it first and... wait... you're..." The man in brown stuttered and continued. "Y-You're the Grand Templar!"

"Uh... I am?"

"My apologies, Master Templar. I didn't realize it was you. The Keidran's all yours. Goodbye, Trace. Be careful around that one though. You may want to dispatch her quickly. She can be vicious." The man in brown said before leaving. A lot was happening that I didn't understand. So the guy with blue hair is Trace and he seems to be some sort of authority figure around here. They might know what this place is and how I can get back. So I sighed and mustered my strength to stand up and lower my gun.

As I stood up, Trace and the tiger immediately turned towards me, and Trace aimed his sword at me. I placed my hands up, open while my carbine hangs Infront of my chest. "Woah, easy. I'm friendly." I said and slowly walked towards them.

"Stop!" Trace commanded and I halted and could tell I was taller than Trace. While he only reached to my shoulders. He continued. "What do you want?" Trace asked.

"I'm lost and I need help. I don't know what this place is or what it's called." I said while looking at them and by the looks in their eyes, it seems they never seen anything like me. Like they've seen a ghost. Trace slowly and steadily lowers his sword and I slowly lowered my hand.

"I... I don't know either. I feel like I remember this place, but I don't." Trace said.

"Hm, guess we're both lost. And, what about her?" I asked as I shook my head towards the tiger on the ground. He crouched Infront of her and smiled. "Hey, there! Are you alright? Don't worry. That guy won't hurt you now." Trace said as I crossed my arms, but she didn't seem to respond.

"How about we leave her here. I sure she'll be fine on her own." I suggested and Trace nodded. He got up and turned around. "See you later... Whatever you are..." He said and walked, with me following him. Then, soon after, he was immediately pounced by the same tiger. "Nya!" The tiger expressed.

I quickly shifted my gaze and placed a hand on my pistol holster out of habit. I sighed and took my hand off the pistol holster. This is certainly going to be one hell of an adventure.