Hunting

The group soon found a good spot for setting up camp after another thirty minutes of wandering around. The area wasn't really a 'clearing' but it had many trees that were tall and sturdy. The ground below didn't have any undergrowth and it made it perfect for sleeping on it.

There was a particularly tall and thick tree with thick branches that branched out in every direction and the branches interlocked with the branches of the surrounding trees forming a web of branches and thick leaves. This was very useful in preventing sunlight during the day's training.

"We'll set up camp here," Richard said, dropping his bag. "The instructors will pitch their tents while the students will have to source for materials to make tents unless they don't mind sleeping out in the open.

"Alright people, this is field training 101. The basics are to learn how to use your environment to your advantage and this includes setting up a shelter, finding food…"

The mention of food made their stomachs to grumble again a few people licked their lips. It seemed like the word 'food' was enough to give them a satisfying orgasm.

Richard smirked and continued. "…in attacking and also for defence. Your environment can be very vital to your survival which is why you must learn—especially in a terrain like this—to study your environment and get used to it.

"You need to look at what's available. You need to look for escape routes in case anything happened. You need to make sure that you know each animal in that area so you won't set up camp in a dangerous area of the forest.

"Look for tracks and signs. That will be all for now. If you're hungry you can hunt for game but make sure not to waste precious ammo and don't shoot at one another."

The recruits began to shuffle around in different directions but Richard called out. "Make sure not to stray too far from camp and if you get lost just use the communicator."

They barely gave a grunt as a reply before rushing out in different directions to hunt for animals. Most of the other recruits didn't follow. They were just too tired to move about so they begged the others to share with them when they got back.

The willing recruits broke up into groups and agreed to work together to hunt for food. Groovy Wild was home to small and large animals. Most of the animals were dangerous though the chances of encountering a lion or a cheetah out in this part of the forest were very low.

These kinds of animals and indeed most other wild ones found it most comfortable in the inner and denser parts of the forest where they could hunt for prey.

Arianna took Edwin and they went off in another direction. They had their flashlights in hand and they searched the tree tops to find squirrels but it seemed like most of the animals had abandoned the area when they entered. The sound of croaking became more intense as they walked forward. It was only the two of them in this area. They continued forward for another ten minutes but only encountered leaping insects and birds that would fly off immediately they approached.

"I think our footsteps are giving us away." Edwin said wistfully. He lifted the flashlight up ahead but the area was only trees and leaves.

Arianna nodded but kept walking forward. "It's not like we can walk on air."

"True but if it continues like this how will we find meat?" he asked.

"Or fruits," Arianna added. "If we can't find meat then we look for fruits."

He nodded and they continued into the thick forest till they arrived at another clearing which looked more like a bush path than a clearing. The initial thought was that other people might have set camp here but they eliminated the possibility after seeing the size of the clearing.

It was too small and narrow and led forward ahead. Several branches that still had their leaves on were broken and thrown down like that. Some of the trees still had hanging branches that hadn't fallen off but had been broken.

"Did someone break these branches or were they hunting or animals?"

"I'm more inclined to believe that they were looking for materials to make tents."

"But these branches are fresh. Almost like it was broken this morning." Edwin observed.

Arianna smiled slightly ignoring the grumbling of her stomach. She had to stay strong so that Edwin would also be encouraged. "You make a very good marksman."

Edwin snorted and his eyes trailed the path till he stopped somewhere. "Look at that!"

Arianna followed his line of sight and they walked along the path till they reached the spot he had pointed at.

"What do you think?"

"I think this track isn't left by any small animal." Arianna observed keenly. The track was separated by large distance and it gave off the impression that the animal was leaping through the path. The footprint was large and deep and it had no signs of claws or hoofs. It was just a slight depression in the soil. It was more like a human's.

"I don't think it was an animal," Edwin shook his head. "This thing looks like something heavy stepped through here. Maybe it had something to do with the broken branches."

"It would make sense then," Arianna snapped her finger. "So what now? We still need to find food."

Edwin nodded. "Let's just remember to carry the branches for our tent later."

"Our tent?"

"Or would you rather have your own tent?"

"Forget it," Arianna waved her hand dismissively. "It's fine."

They continued in the forest till they found a small animal that looked like a grass hopper. Arianna aimed her gun and shot but the creature was too quick. It burrowed into the soil before the bullet drilled in after it.

Arianna cursed silently and felt a bit of anger. Edwin chuckled slightly. "You seem to make a very fine sharp shooter."

She glared at him but soon retracted her gaze. "Let's hope the others are doing better than us."