*****
Dirk's skin was on the fritz. It was jumping at every tree and bush he encountered. He must be more shaken up than he initially realized. The vegetation was growing thicker and he wasn't exactly sure where he was going. Then he saw movement just beyond a tree in front of him. Dirk skidded to a halt, rustling the dried leaves and dirt beneath him. He stood still as his skin warned of some apocalyptic doom about to befall him. Except Dirk had no idea what that doom was. He cautiously looked around him, his knife at the ready.
Then they emerged from the trees and bushes. Dirk could not believe it. He had been staring right at a spot where there had been nothing but trees one second, and the next there were scary-looking natives all with weapons pointed at him. One of them started yelling to the others. Dirk swung his head to the side to see what the yelling was about. It was then that he noticed the glint of gold reflecting back onto his face. He craned his neck farther to see the hilt of the scimitar fully exposed.
Dirk looked back at the native. She was pointing directly at him and screaming to the others. Now this was very bad. Dirk spun around and bolted back the way he came. He got past the edge of the forest and was just starting back towards the rock face when he ran smack into a squad of enforcement officers. This just was not his day.