Snippet #2424719

It had only been a day or so since Djerra had simply popped, as was his unfortunate habit, from a trashy bar in a trashier space station to the wilderness of yet another strange and unfamiliar planet. He had taken it in stride, immediately casting an eye out for possible predators, taking note of his surroundings, and looking for what food seemed the safest. This place didn't look too bad. It didn't look too close to civilization either, though. Over the day, he had gathered some strange berries that several different types of creatures had partaken of, and had found a rather defensible spot. He had spent the night there, sleeping lightly, and was now looking for water sources.

He had been concentrating so hard, looking for signs that led to running water, that he did not hear it at first. Rather, he did not notice that he could not hear it, the sound of the forest, anymore, until it was almost there. He looked up when he did notice, expecting some predator come to threaten his life, but saw nothing. And then... Flames. Before his eyes, a giant phoenix dove into the earth, shedding its shining feathers passionately as it went through its death throes, taking a streak of the forest with it. Djerra covered his eyes with one hand, back-pedaling furiously as he tried to get away from the flames. Panic rose through him, hot and yellow, like sour, sour milk boiling and bubbling up into his throat.

Calm down, just calm down, he thought to himself as he scrambled away. Willing himself to look, he brought his arm down slightly to gaze upon the wreckage. A ship, it seemed. A small one, probably somebody's personal ship. It was torn and crushed in a way that metal should not be, and the flames licked around the edges, already dying down. Djerra tried to slow his breathing. The fire's fading. It's okay. As he watched, however, he could see movement. He moved as close as he dared, the warmth of the hot metal preventing him from getting close enough to help. A man, it seemed. He was badly injured, but Djerra wasn't sure whether or not to call out to him. So, he waited. He decided to stay back. It would not be his decision on whether or not this man made it out of the wreckage alive, but the man's himself.