The Missing

Keldon was walking down the hill his team had been dispatched to search, and there was still no signs of their missing colonists. Thankfully over the first three months on this new world, the colonists had managed to survive despite the crash and the vicious creatures that have been found on the planet’s surface. From the roaming giant wolves to the swooping dragons, they had run into many animals that seemed to have been pulled out of legend yet somehow existed on this planet. But despite the dangers from the local wildlife they had managed to form a foothold on the world. Crops were beginning to take root in the alien soil, and the remnants of the herds were already replenishing their numbers. And right when things were looking fantastic, three of the more reliable colonists just vanished, as if they had never existed.

Tarian had immediately ordered the search, but after a long week filled with searching that yielded no results, people were beginning to think that they had been caught by the local wildlife. But Keldon knew the search would continue for a little while longer, no one liked the idea of giving up, but they all knew they could only go on for so much longer. After all the search for raw materials to repair critical components of the ship, was still going on as well and proving just as fruitless.

Keldon brought his radio to his mouth as he walked up the hill. “Tarian, there’s no sign of the missing colonists yet, and we’ve covered most of this sector.”

Over the radio, Tarian’s voice crackled with a mix of frustration and weariness. “Kel, during the last few months, we’ve dealt with everything from giant wolves to dragons. I want you to find our people.”

Keldon paused atop the hill, scanning the dense forest below as his team spread out. “It’s not just the predators, Tarian. It’s everything. These creatures, these monsters, they’re things straight out of our myths. It’s getting under my skin.”

“Despite the dangers from those legends,” Tarian said, his voice softening, “our livestock has thrived. And our crops have taken root in this strange soil. We’ve established a thriving Larian colony. However, some of our colonists have vanished.”

Keldon checked the power settings of his rifle and sighed. “I’m not suggesting we abandon them. However, it’s been a week since the last trio vanished, and that’s ignoring the handful who disappeared shortly after the crash.”

“You’re searching for more than the colonists.”