Sebastian was walking through the forest outside of Aerilon City. He was on a patrol with another soldier, Corporal Marcus. The two had decided to go on an evening patrol of the forest after getting several reports of an Oddity being spotted moving through the back streets of downtown Aerilon heading for the woods. They’d pulled up several minutes prior and tracked down the creature to this section of the woods. They moved as a pair, Bently taking point with Marcus behind him. They’d already called for some backup, asking that a small Fireteam be dispatched to their position to provide any needed assistance should there be more than one hostile.
Bently walked, holding a rifle in hand, night vision goggles flipped down to cover his eyes. He was in his combat gear wielding a G36C. He'd have gone with the usual M16 but he wanted a Carbine for this patrol. Something smaller, more compact. Something with a higher rate of fire that wouldn’t weigh him down. So, the G36C was the perfect pick for him, in his mind at least.
“Marcus, break off from me and find a wide enough area for a chopper to drop off some troops.” Marcus would nod his head, moving off to Bently’s side while the man walked ahead at a slow pace, not wanting to wander off too far.
Bently would walk quietly, scanning the dark forest as he walked down the narrow, winding dirt path, taking a brief moment to look down at his rifle, flicking off the safety just in case he ran into whatever the two were searching for. He'd look back up, scanning the woods around him as he heard something moving. Bently raised his rifle, scanning the treeline as he reached up to key his radio, speaking in a low, hushed tone.
"Corporal, what’s your position?" He'd ask, looking around for a moment.
"Uh- I should be to your... South. Why?" Bently heard in response, spinning to the origin of the noise as he took a moment to glance to the compass on his wrist, examining it for a second before lowering his rifle. That was his South-side.
"Right, I thought I heard something. It was just your fat ass." Bently shook his head and began to walk towards the South, lowering his rifle as he approached his patrol partner.
"Friendly!" He'd call out as he started pushing through the bushes. After a few moments, he shuffled through the bushes and emerged on another small, dark path, surrounded by thick shrubbery and overarching trees up above him.
"Wait, no- no, I misjudged. I should be to your East, Sarge." Bently heard this and froze, his blood going cold as his eyes widened. He took a moment to slowly look around in front of him before the hairs on the back of his neck stood up as he heard a gentle snarl right behind him...
