FURTHER ADVENTURES IN NO MAN'S SKY
My spacecraft took me to an ice world, its frozen surface dazzlingly bright as the local star reflected off it. Emerging from the horizon I could see a neighbouring planet, a rocky one with cloud banks hanging here and there. I set my course for the ice world.
Heading toward its surface it became obvious that this was no barren environment like the last frigid world I had visited. Even from this height I could easily make out life. Everywhere there were trees, and together with the tall mountain in the distance they reminded me of the mountainous countries back home.
I climbed out of my cockpit, the pristine snowy ground crunching as my boots trod upon it. The place had a real winter wonderland feel to it, with fir trees whose tips were encrusted with snow and ice as though someone had sprinkled icing sugar on their tips. I set forth on a journey that would no doubt test my endurance. This was a very cold and mountainous environment, after all.
I walked on, leaving a trail of footprints stretching back to my spacecraft. Unlike the last ice world, here I was not just accompanied by the ceaseless sound of a moaning wind, but by the calls of animals carried on the chill breeze. Given the nature of this environment I expected the inhabitants of this land to have thick fur coats. I was surprised, then, when the first creature I encountered instead had a body covered in green scales. Its feet appeared pretty well adapted to this environment, since they were goat-like hoofs. But it had no evolved to blend in with its surroundings. A bright green creature stood out like a sore thumb in lands that were pristine white. I got close to this animal and it was quite unconcerned with my presence, picking off the tops of grasses and chewing on them with a vacant expression.
I left this benign animal to its meal and journeyed onwards. A chill mist descended over the land, turning the many trees and rocky outcrops ahead into ethereal silhouettes. I made my way carefully down slopes, aware that a slip could result in a fall and possible damage to my environmental suit.
As I made my way gingerly down the icy decline, I became aware of a cacophony of animal sounds coming from somewhere not too far away. By the time I had gotten closer to this location, the mists had cleared and I had an unobstructed view of what was causing this racket. I encountered a collection of animals, obviously of different species, running around like some sort of inter-species get together. Like the green quadruped I had previously encountered, none had fur coats or colours that enabled them to blend in with their environment. And they were clearly not afraid of each other. How had the cruelties of nature red in tooth and claw not taken hold in this chilly world?
My journey took me toward the mountains and I began my ascent up its imposing cliffs. The ascent was difficult but rewarded me with a view that stretched all the way to the distant horizon. I made my way back down in order to set a course across the icy valleys below.
By the time I had reached the valleys the sun was beginning to set. The sky was aflame with a sunset and the trees were casting long shadows across the ground. As I was making my way through the trees I heard a deep growling sound. Over the slope ahead of me I saw a large, solitary animal. It had an almost feline look to it, its head and paws lending it a leopardlike quality. It was much larger than any big cat I had ever seen, though. This animal was almost the size of an elephant. As I watched, feather-like appendages sprung up from its back, making it seem even taller. I could not help but feel like this was a display intended to intimidate or warn off would-be attackers. How strange that this animal should display such behaviours when those on the other side of the mountain had been so unconcerned. Was it possible that geographic separation had somehow created an environment where some species could live peacefully together? I guess, in a universe of infinite worlds, anything is possible.
I quietly left the gigantic leopard-like animal and journeyed on. The sun sank behind the summits of the mountain peaks; night was not far away. I decided the time had come to journey on, so I summoned by spacecraft and left.
The journey continued.
Thanks to Hello Games for the images.