This is my first story, so it will not be great, there may be grammar mistakes, so if you see some point it out. Give feedback if I'm doing well or completely terrible.

3rd pov:

                            AFRICA
                        Congo Basin

Deep within the jungles of the Congo Basin a giant tower was resting within a small clearing. At the top there was a small shimmer of light above a man sitting at a desk.

He was Devan, a primatologist. He was of average height with a lean build. His hair was curly, dark, and disheveled from working so long into the night.

His job was simple, only consisting of two things:

1. Keep records on and observe the troop of gorillas, him and his partner were assigned.

2. Write daily reports and send reports back to the Institute of Primate Research at the end of each week.

A job far easier said than done.

Devan pov:

The sound of tapping filled the silent night as I worked. My legs were beginning to fall asleep from sitting so long.

Something I wished I could do, but since my partner fell asleep early, I had to do his report along with mine. But finally after four grueling hours I was done.

I sent the reports back to I.P.R. before slumping back in my chair.

Finally, after so many hours of writing our reports on the lowland gorillas, I can finally relax.

I tried to rub the sleep out of my eyes before looking at the clock above the door frame.

Two o'clock Jacob should be asleep by now.

I looked behind me and see him about to fall off the bed. Jacob and I have been assigned to the Congo Basin to observe and document the lowland gorillas.

So far I think we've been doing a decent job, we haven't recieved any complaints so far. They troop is going to be moving again tomorrow, so me and Jacob have to get up early.

I shakily get up from my chair and look out the window.

It's a starry night, you never get to see this many stars back in the cities.

I wonder how my parents are doing, it's been almost five years since I last saw them.

My parents were rather hesitant on me accepting this assignment. Scared I'd be killed by a dangerous creature deep within the jungle.

They did eventually allow me to go, but it took a lot of convincing and constant pleading. They did give me a parting gift though, it was a small box containing:

My childhood Plushie:

And a poster from one of the video games I enjoyed:

I looked toward my bed and saw the plush resting on my pillow. It's about as old as I was since my parents got it for me when I was a baby.

I think my mom said I was six months old when they got him for me, so he's been with me since the beginning of my life.

I decided to name him Aaron, I usually take him everywhere I go. I looked up at the poster hung above my desk.

Ancestors the humankind odyssey, a hard game filled with different things that will kill you. There's no tutorial, so it was all about trial and error.

You wouldn't know what foods were poisonous until you ate it. You wouldn't know how to dodge if you weren't attacked.

Everything wanted to kill you, so you had to learn and evolve to survive. I already beat the game, but I still play from time to time--

*THUD*

I quickly turn to the direction of the noise, but relax after seeing it was only Jacob. He fell of the bed and was now face first on the floor still sleeping.

If the Krakatoa erupted again I swear he can sleep through it.

I made my way up to him and just draped his blanket on top of him. I was way too tired to pick him up.

I let out a small yawn, still exhausted from working so long into the night. I  shuffled to my bed finally ready to get some sleep.

Once in bed I felt like I was lying on a soft, fluffy cloud. I hugged my plush and rolled myself into a caterpillar using my blanket.

When it's 6 AM we'll have to get up to see where the gorillas go, so goodnight.

- .. -- . / ... -.- .. .--.

*Splash*

I was suddenly awakened by a tidal wave of water smacking my face. I jolt up and look toward the sound of laughter.

There Jacob was bucket in hand and hunched over laughing, with small tears in his eyes. I quickly checked to see if Aaron wasn't splashed.

Miraculously he was dry. But the same couldn't be said for my bed and clothes.

While I was busy assessing the damage, Jacob threw a towel and some clean clothes at me, still chuckling to himself.
I got up and began to struggle taking off my wet clothes.

Jacob: C'mon it's five AM the gorillas will be up in a hour.

Devan: You didn't have to do that.

While I began drying myself Jacob was packing his backpack for the journey.

Jacob: I did, why would I wake you up like a normal person when I can wake you up with style.

When he finished his sentence I threw the towel in his and began to change.

Jacob: Regardless you can't argue with results. It did wake you up didn't it?

He put on his backpack and began to head for the door.

Jacob: I already packed your bag, I'll wait for you outside.

Devan: Thank you.

With that he closed the door and made his way down our observation station. He was a nice guy, likes to pull pranks and joke around, but serious when he needs to be.

I finally finished changing and made my way to my backpack. I put it on and was about to head out the door, but I stopped and looked back at my soaked bed.

Aaron was still lying there, so I quickly went over to him and placed him in my backpack. Wouldn't want him to get wet by the soaked sheets.

Once he was situated inside, I ran down the stairs of the observation station, not wanting to keep Jacob waiting any longer. When I made it to the base I saw him crouched down and hunched over something on the ground.

I looked around him, allowing me to see he was poking some dung with a stick. He turned his head around and let out a small sigh.

Jacob: Finally, you're here.

He got up and tossed the stick aside as he made his way to me.

Jacob: We still have 20 minutes to get over to the gorillas, so follow me.

Devan: Why were you poking that dung?

Jacob shrugged while walking away, responding:

Jacob: Boredom can make anything interesting. Make sure you quote me on that.

I jogged to catch up to him and together we walked into the jungle. The journey was rather quiet, we were just listening to nature feeling relaxed.

It should take us a few minutes to get to their previous nesting ground, then we can track them from there. They could still be sleeping or in the process of moving, but we'll see when we get there--

I was pulled out of my thoughts by a fist colliding with my chest. The breath was knocked out of me for a second since I didn't expect to be hit.

I looked up and glared at Jacob, who wasn't even looking at me.

Jacob: Dude, we're here.

I looked around and sure enough he was right. We were at the troop's nesting ground.

The troop we're tracking consists of one silverback, three females, two infants, and one juvenile. Over the last week another troop was moving toward our assigned gorillas, so we need to be careful not to run into them.

We began to look for clues as to where the gorillas could've gone. I found what seemed to be crushed plants, branches, and traversed grass. And what also seems to be a trace of blood.

Devan: Jacob, c'mere I found something.

Jacob makes his way over to me and his his expression turned to one of worry when he saw the blood.

Jacob: It looks like they might've gotten into a brawl with something.

Devan: Yeah, but do you think the silverback won?

Jacob: I sure hope so. If they died they'll reassign me back to janitor duty back at the research station.

With that we began following the trail of crushed plants and blood. Jacob led the way since he was biggest.

He pushed aside many vines and overgrown plants as we trekked through the jungle. But the further we went the thicker the jungle seemed to get.

The vegetation seemed to be getting bigger, even the roots of the trees were beginning to grow larger. A snake on the ground hissed and slithered away when Jacob tapped it with a stick.

I just hope those gorillas are fine.

Jacob: Look a clearing.

Up ahead was a beautiful clearing but the trail ended here. We both scout the area for any more signs of the gorillas.

Jacob found a patch of blood near a tree and behind the tree was the carcass of the silverback.

He had wounds on his face, hands, neck, and head. All wounds from a fight with another silverback.

With the death of their silverback the troop would've joined the other gorilla that beat him.

We'll have to report this to the research station. I just hope those gorillas will be alright--

*Snap*

We both quickly turned around only to see a big leopard staring us down.

It must've smelled the blood.

Jacob quickly reached for a stone from the ground, but the second he moved the leopard ran forward and pounced on him. It began to maul his arm while trying to claw his face.

He held his other arm in front of him, sacrificing the flesh of his arms to keep the predator from his face.

Jacob: "AAAGGHH GET THIS OVER GROWN CAT OFF ME!"

I quickly looked around and saw a rather sharp stick on the ground. I picked it up and rammed it straight into  the leopard's side, causing it to roar in pain letting go of Jacob.

While it attempted to pull the stick out out with it's teeth Jacob quickly scrambled back to my side.

Jacob: God damn. This hurts worse than that time I splashed water into the cooking oil.

Devan: C'mon we got to go!

As we were about to run the leopard managed to finally take out the stick. It charged at us again, but this time it went for me.

It pushed me down and began mauling my leg to hell. It easily tore my calf off  before Jacob ran forward and jabbed the leopard with a pocket knife.

But due to the pain in his arms he dropped the knife while the leopard backed away. My leg was mauled to hell as blood began to pour out.

You could see the bone within with a few cracks all over it. There was no way I was getting out of here alive.

Devan: Go Jacob, run!

Jacob: What?! No, c'mon man we're getting out of here together!

He wrapped his arms around my waist and tried to hoist me up, but his arms were in condition to do anything. The leopard recovered from the stab and was now slowly circling us.

Devan: I'm in no condition to run and you won't be able to carry me the whole way back. You have a better chance at living than I do.

The leopard was getting closer, I reached out and grabbed a nearby rock and the knife Jacob dropped.

Devan: Do me a favor and bury me with that silverback back there. I want to be known as the only man to be buried with a silverback.

Jacob didn't say anything and instead he hugged me and shakily whispered 'thank you'. The leopard switched it's gaze to Jacob, so I threw the stone at it's head, stunning it long enough for Jacob to run.

The leapord growled as it saw Jacob escape. It's eyes were filled with fury, and that fury was now on me.

It charged toward me as I got on my stomach and tried to crawl away. But it easily caught up with me and bit into my backpack.

It began to furiously bite and claw at my back causing me to hiss in pain. The straps on my backpack snapped off as the leopard began to rapidly shake it's head from side to side.

The contents of the backpack flew everywhere, but what caught my eye was Aaron soaring through the air before landing next to the silverback. The leopard's change of target allowed me to crawl away from it.

Even if I manage to kill it, I wouldn't be able to make it back to the station before I bleed out.

I turned around just in time for the leopard to leap on top of me. It bit down into my neck sealing my fate.

I gripped the knife tightly before stabbing it deep into the leopard's throat. Holding nothing back I began to rapidly stab the leopard, over and over again.

Even when it's hold on my neck was gone I kept stabbing. I was breathing heavily and with my remaining strength I pushed the leopard off me.

I dropped the bloody knife before slowly dragging myself to the tree that provided some shade from the sun. My leg was leaving a trail of blood and it was pounding in pain.

But I kept going. Aaron was still lying face down in the dirt next to it, so once I was close enough I grabbed him.

If I'm going to die, I at least want to be comfortable.

I held him tightly as I was fighting the urge to fall asleep. I propped myself up against the tree next to the dead gorilla.

I took one last glance at the silverback before slowly closing my eyes. Soon, my body succumbed to it's wounds and fell limp next to the dead silverback.

See you both in the next life...

A/N

(How was that good, terrible?)

Word count: 2368

Uploaded: September 3, 2020

Edited: May 26, 2021