I woke up slowly, the warmth of the fire licking at my skin and the scent of cooked meat lingering in the air. For a second, I forgot the pain. Then it all came back dull, sharp, and constant. I groaned.

  “Easy, sir. You’re stable now, but you lost a lot of blood,” said the man tending the fire. He was crouched over a roasting bird, uniform dirtied, sleeves rolled, M1 Carbine slung casually across his chest. A Marine. His real. A man From the Second World War.

  He gnced at me with a tired smile. “Caught this little bastard sneaking through the brush. Figured you’d need the protein.” He Speaks as he remove the Grilled Fowl from the fmes.

  “Thanks,” I croaked. My voice felt like gravel. “You… uh. What’s your name?” I ask him.

  He straightened a little, sat back on a nearby rock, and with the kind of military formality drilled deep into his bones, he answered.

  “Private James Gunther. United States Marine Corps. Medic, 4th Rifle Squad, 65th Medical Regiment.”

  That name hit me harder than the pain. I blinked. “Right. Gunther. Thanks for saving my life.”

  He looked slightly embarrassed by the gratitude, cleared his throat, then nodded. “Just doing my job, sir.”

  I tried to sit up, hissing as I felt the pull of sutures and bandages. My torso was wrapped tight, with a makeshift IV taped to my arm from a pstic bag strung on a bent branch.

  "You went all out," I muttered. Looking at the well dressed bandages and the saline bag.

  “Had to. You were septic in spots. I cleaned what I could, debrided the bad tissue, stitched the rest. You’ll need proper antibiotics eventually, but you’re still in danger.”

  I gave a tired chuckle, but it died quickly in my throat. James leaned in, serious now. “Sir, what’s our next move?”

  I blinked at him. “Wait you’re not gonna ask me how the hell you got here?” I ask but he stop me.

  He shook his head, with a calm voice he speaks. “I saw enough weird shit in the Pacific. You give me a direction, I’ll follow it. Questions can come when we’re not in the enemy territory.”

  That silenced me. His amazing, just hours ago, I am panicking how I get here, and yet he speaks in calm and adapt quick at the situation.

  I nod. "If so, we need to get out of here. I know this pce." James nods, but in my mind, I cursed Alex, Why he goes in such remote area without pns or anything!

  After a moment, I look at the sky and said, “We’re about three days' walk from the nearest Vilge. With my leg, maybe more.” I tried to ugh my situation, but my throat is in pain.

  He nodded, his tactical brain already kicking in. “Alright. I’ll scavenge the area after sunrise. With my Food alone, it's not enough. I Need to find water sources, food, We’ll move during daylight, rest midday and night. I’ll fashion a litter if needed. Sound good?”

  “Yeah. That’s… that’s good.” I nod, he is considerate, and very attentive for a stranger like me.

  He handed me a metal cup. “It’s not great, but it’s hot. I used my ration and the bird meat. A soup with tea." James lowers the cup.

  I took it gratefully, sipping. It was bitter, but warm and soothing. I looked at James. “Thank you. You did all of this, I can't thank you enough."

  He didn't speak, just looking around the tree lines, checking for something.

  I tried to have some small talk. "Your well Adapted Mr James, like you know the area well." I ask. James look at me with serious expression.

  He speaks. “Jungle’s is still a jungle, sir. The foliage’s maybe weird, the stars are all wrong, but the nature is still the same. And I know how Japs operate. So don't worry. I know how to deal the jungle." he said it like I am new recruit that needed lecture for such situations.

  I nodded slowly, watching the fmes. “You talk like a soldier, not a medic.”

  He shrugged. “Wasn’t always a medic. I Got promoted after I stitched up my squad leader under fire. Corpsman was KIA. Since then… well, I carry a rifle, but I patch more than I shoot.” He said with monotone, but I can feel the sadness in his voice.

  I leaned back, sighing. “We’ll talk more once we’re out of this.” I continue to eat the meal

  He gave a sharp nod. “Understood.”

  With that our conversation ends.

  After the meal he renew my bandages and let me rest. Now id down, I look at the sky, it's beautiful, the clear night sky shows a beautiful gaxy.

  Unlike the milky way, this is red and blue with massive stars in many directions. Yeah this pce is not even the Gaxy I know.

  ______________________

  The dream came again. My exile. How Alex mom look away, how The guards dragging me as I begged for help. Then-

  Gunfire.

  I shot awake as James shouted, “Sir, on your feet! Contact front!” He fire his gun. Violently remove my sleepiness.

  His M1 Carbine cracked, muzzle fsh lighting the early dawn. As I look at the tree lines. I saw figures. Goblins! But they're dropping like flies. James marksmanship is unbelievable.

  “What the hell!?” I suddenly speak, but James speaks at me, calmly saying the situation.

  “ Monsters! I see around ten or even more. I spotted their movement thirty out. They attempt a surprise attack.” He speaks as he continues firing.

  He fired two controlled shots. “These bastards scatter under pressure. I’m keeping them disoriented, and destroy there morale." He speaks with confidence.

  Without hesitation I stand up, and get my bag, grabbing my 1911. My aim was shaky, but I took a shot. then another. One goblin screamed and fell. Others now knows it's to much, flee and scatter.

  After a final burst, the st few ran screeching into the trees. James scanned the area, reloaded his gun.

  “You alright?” I asked, panting. I am still weak, but the adrenaline is a great drug for this situations.

  “Not a scratch. Good thing I set up noise traps. Tin cans on string, Japs Hate that trick." James Still look around for any dangers.

  I nodded, stunned. “You’re not a newbie…” I said with awe, he knows what he's doing.

  "What are they?" James ask.

  "Goblins, and yes from fantasy." James look confused, maybe he didn't know such creatures.

  "But you deal with them quick, and knows they're hostile." I said as I sat down.

  He gave a half-smile. “Marine Corps trains us to adapt, this is a new things, but still same scenario." James speaks.

  The sun was cresting now, light revealing the carnage. Goblin corpses y around the camp. The iron and gunpowder is prominent.

  “We need to move,” I said, clutching my bandaged side. “They’ll might regroup and attack us again.”

  As I said that. He was already on it. He Packed The things and his gear, then secured me with a makeshift crutch better than the bug leg, and drew his Colt .45 instead of his Carbine for easier movement.

  I asked for a compass, and with Alex’s lingering memories, I got our heading. Checking the forest I point at the East.

  “We Go East. Road’s that way.” I said, James nods.

  “Copy that,” James said. “We move slow and quiet. I’ll take point. You stick close and holler if you need to stop. If we make it to that road, we’ll pn our next Move."

  And with that, we march into the woods. A soldier from the past, and a fool with a second chance.

  _____________________

  Thanks for waiting, The exam is over but I need to prepare for the finals.