Panic began to stir, a cold knot tightening in her chest. Where was she? What had happened? Her fingers twitched, brushing against the unfamiliar texture of moss. A memory surfaced, hazy and fragmented: the violent shaking, her desperate attempt to protect Snow. And then… nothing but darkness.
With a surge of adrenaline, she pushed herself up, her limbs feeling heavy and uncoordinated. The rough bark of a nearby root scraped against her palm. Looking down, she gasped. Her body was pale and bare, utterly exposed to the alien world around her. Shame and vulnerability flooded her, her cheeks flushing despite the chill in the air.
Instinct took over. Her gaze darted around, searching for anything to offer a semblance of cover. Her eyes landed on the oversized flora crowding the understory. Giant leaves, broader than her torso and deeply veined, lay scattered on the forest floor.
With trembling hands, she reached for the nearest one, its surface surprisingly smooth but slightly damp to the touch.
It took several attempts, her fingers fumbling with her unfamiliar nakedness and the sheer size of the leaves, but she finally managed to drape one across her front, another across her back, awkwardly fashioning a makeshift covering. The rough edges scratched against her skin, a constant reminder of her exposed state.
Once partially concealed, a sliver of her previous resolve returned. She needed to understand where she was. With hesitant steps, feeling the soft, yielding moss giving way beneath her bare feet, she began to move. Each rustle of leaves, each snap of a twig sent a jolt of anxiety through her.
The filtered sunlight through the dense canopy created an ever-shifting landscape of light and shadow, making it difficult to discern shapes or judge distances.
The air, still thick and humid, clung to her skin, carrying the subtly sweet note of blooming, yet unfamiliar, flowers mingled with the persistent earthy aroma.
Every scent, every sound, every sensation was new and slightly unsettling, a constant reminder that she was adrift in a world utterly unlike her own. Her senses, heightened by her vulnerability, strained to decipher the secrets held within the dense, silent forest.
The thick and humid air continued to cling to her skin, each breath a heavy reminder of her alien surroundings. The subtle sweetness of unfamiliar flowers now mingled more distinctly with the persistent earthy aroma as she moved.
The dappled sunlight, filtering through the emerald canopy, danced across the forest floor, creating an illusion of constant movement that made it difficult for her to focus. Each rustle of leaves and snap of a twig echoed in the profound silence, amplifying her sense of vulnerability.