What was before me were two dog like creatures. I could not get a good look at them as they were attacking again.

They came at me together this time from the front. Both jumping at me. When they leapt, I thrust my gladius forward and brace to meet them. The angle of the blade only grazed the first to my left and both collided with my shield which was in front of me.

Their combined speed and weight staggered me slightly but again the tree braced me. Both creatures were knocked back by the impact. My shield and armour prevented any injury but I felt the impact. The anger begins to rise in my chest.

I couldn’t go on the offensive as they were back to their feet. They came back really fast and they were attacking again. This time they came in low. I was able to drop down to meet them again. My gladius however was kept in with my shield.

They suddenly jumped at me as I dropped down. This caught me off guard but I was lucky to have the presence of mind to thrust my arm up and forward.

The creature to my left had its momentum carry it onto the blade in my hand. It let out an almost pig-like squeal. The second hit me and clung to my head and shield. The creature attacked viscously attempting to claw and bite my face. My helmet and face guard were taking the damage for me. The plate had scratch marks all over it. This reduced my sight.

I lost my gladius to the body of the first creature ripping it from my hand as its momentum carry it forward. I used my shield to throw the second of me as a large part of its body was on it.

The creature was thrown away from me and I desperately looked around for my blade. I found the first body and yanked it free. As I turned to face the second, I found it already flying towards me.

It met my shield again with a snapping sound and another squeal. Looking at the creature after it bounced away and got back to its feet, I realise what had happened. One of the creature’s legs was broken and I used this opportunity to attack. I quickly got up and moved on it.

It tried to retreat but I was upon it too quickly. I drove my gladius into its chest and it squealed again as it died. Purple blood splattering around.

I stood back after the fight to take stock. I tried to lift my faceplate but it was stuck. After a few minutes of force, it came open. I breathed the pungent air. The air was cold and sharp in my lungs. Thick clouds of stream clouded in front of me from my breaths. The anti-fog coating on these new faceplates was impressive.

Adrenalin was coursing through me and the after-battle shakes were kicking it. I look around to make sure I was not going to be attacked again. Once I was happy, I took my first go look at this new creature by kneeling down next to the corpses.

The animals for a better word were odd. They were dog-shaped each about 80pounds in weight so on the large side for dogs. They had fur but it was not consistent like a dog but patchier and had scales underneath where the skin should be. The head was again dog shaped with features similar to a German Shephard. The eyes however were the biggest difference with them being a compound type like a fly. Oh, also the light purple blood was different.

They freaked me out honestly as I like dogs. This was not like anything I had seen in the reports of different creature types that have been given to me or anyone else that I was aware of. We Operatives talk a lot when we work together as an additional way of sharing information and experiences.

They stank to with an even strong version of the woods around me. This fact had me scanning around again for threats. It was then that I realised a bloody simple problem. What became evident to me that It was really easy to get lost here!

This revelation caused my mind too instantly head to the worst-case scenario of dying here lost in the fog. Soon several other dire ideas ran through my mind. My body began reacting to the new fear stimulus my mind was creating. I had to get a grip!

I spent a few minutes resting and thinking over this problem. I decided to mark the tree as I travelled further into the woods. This would allow me to follow a path back the way I came.

Marking the tree, I continued deeper into the woods. The trees were not getting thicker or thinner but the amount of brush on the floor was. I did my best to keep as quiet as possible as a walked. My faceplate was damaged and could not be closed. I was not happy as it had to stay open.

The fog around me was getting thick over time showing I was heading in the right direction. It was a disturbing fact for us Zone Operatives that we were able normally to sense the direction of a breach when we are in a zone.

This was a source of great interest to the scientific community and a source of unease for we poor bastards who are sent into zones. The how was another one of those mysteries that exist when it comes to zones. There was a lot of speculation, conjecture and downright conspiracy theories on this fact.

As I walked towards the rough location of the breach, I realised I was being shadowed. Not to tip my hand I continued walking towards a tree to mark. I was sure that there were another two creatures out there at the moment. I was spotting flashes of movement from the fog to both my left and right.

As calmly as possible I walked toward the tree. Internally my instincts were all over the place. I was feeling like I was surrounded and that an attack was going to happen at any moment. It was taking a toll on me to hold it all together. Sweat was pouring out all over my body. It's not the fighting I hate but the lead-up.

As I reached the tree, I heard movement coming at me from behind. I span around as a creature leapt at me. I had my shield in front of me as I turn and it took the brunt of the impact. I was still knocked back by the impact several steps hitting the tree with my back.

The creature was back to its feet and attacking again. My shield was in position again to stop any injury knocking the attacker away. I used this time to get ready for the next attack.

The creature came in low and I dropped to meet it. It then jumped as I dropped but I was the one doing the ambushing. My gladius was thrust forward into its rib cage between its front legs. Causing a jet of blood to platter on my shield and a little to get on my face. The squeal came to and ended as it died. The momentum of its attack carried it deep onto my blade. This pinned my blade in its body as it was now hanging on me. I was far too close for my comfort.

I pulled my blade back and pushed the body back with my shield. I stood up as this happened and realised that I was not alone. Two more were approaching me slowly. I readied myself for the fight. Both had their mouths slightly open. What added to the number of things freaking me out today was the blue glow from those mouths!

Before I could figure out what was happening both creatures open up wider and made a sound like puking. Two blue fireballs flew towards my face.

“Shiiiitttt”

I barely got my shield up. I just felt the impacts. Lowering my shield, I to my horror saw that whatever they had spat/puked at me was sticking to my shield and was burning a bright blue.

“Oh, Fuck Me!”

I looked at the creatures and the glow was building again. I had to attack.

I charged at the one that appeared to be closest to me. It tried to move but was slower than the other type I had encountered so far.

It spat at me and my shield blocked it again. My sword tore into its ribs from the side and it squealed as it died. The purple blood covered my hand. I felt an impact on my back and the heat quickly built.

I turned to face the second creature as it was backing up and getting ready to “fire” again. I closed the distance and attacked. It was faster dodging my first thrust. The heat was building on my back.

I recovered and attacked again. This time I hit the creature wounding it to the sound of the squealing I was getting familiar with. I hit it again and killed it. I looked over my shoulder and realised that I was on fire!

I dropped and rolled discarding my shield. It too was still burning. The damp ground worked in my favour and helped extinguish the flames. I was forced to move quickly to try to save my shield. Eventually, I put myself and shield out. I was covered in wet leaves.

I could not see the damage to my back armour. My shield was damaged but not to the point it was unusable. The blue shit whatever it was had burned fast into the wood of the shield. I knew I could not rely on it for much longer in combat.

I was splattered in purple blood but only my helmet had any real damage to it as I could see. My back is not included. I use this time to rest and get ready for any other fights.

I think I am close to the breach so I decided to carry on to find it. As it was the main objective. I was almost ready to say fuck it and leave. I did not as I knew some other poor fool would be sent in to find the breach.

After collecting myself I continued. I found the void breach a few minutes later and inspected it. It was no different from any other new breach I had seen. The fog has formed a circle around a hairline two-dimensional crack in space. Check. The crack is shimmering like a heat mirage. Check. All of my instincts are telling me something is wrong and to run. Check.

I pull out my flare gun and check the round in it. Happy it was the right one I pointed it in the sky and pulled the trigger.

CLICK

Damnit! I changed out the flare cartridge and tried again. The flare shot up and came to life bathing the whole area in green penetrating this fog to a degree. Alright, the main job done time to go they will get a fix on its location now.

Give in

I stop with my back to the breach. I was not sure. Did I just hear that? Was it the wind?

I look around nothing out of the “ordinary”. I shake my head must have been the wind. I head back the way I came. It takes a few minutes longer to reach the site of the second fight. As I get a little lost. I stop looking at the corpses. I debate internally for a few minutes. Should I take one?

I am “encouraged” to acquire samples of new creatures that I encounter for research and classification. I decide to take one of the flame-spitting ones. It's heavy and was not going to be fun carrying it out over this type of terrain.

I strapped my shield over my back and pick up the body. I sling it over my shoulders behind my head. I turn in the rough direction that I entered and begin walking. I get lost a few times but the markings I had left got me back to the first fight and the aftermath. From here I continue on to the zones limit and walked out of the thinning fog into the weak winter sunshine.