"I need to find people," I resolved myself, the weight of the words sinking in. The thought of isolation, of wandering this alien world without another human face, gnawed at me, stoking a deep, primal fear. I needed to find them—before the darkness swallowed me whole.
I slowly crawled out of the cave, being careful not to make any noise that might attract the creature's attention, if it's still nearby. As I emerged, I looked around, trying to find a place where I could climb up a tall tree. An idea I had in an attempt to find civilization.
The forest was still and silent, with no sign of the creature. I hoped that it had truly left, and that I could find a way to climb up a tall tree without alerting any nearby creatures. I had had enough of being chased by a bizarre creature as soon as I came to this place, or world.
I managed to find a suitable tree, and began to climb it, using the sturdy branches to support my weight. However, I couldn't help but feel a bit apprehensive about whether or not I could make it all the way up without falling.
I could hear the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves and the distant calls of birds in the trees. The thought of falling was terrifying, but I knew that I had to try.
I don't have any other bright ideas left, might as well risk it. I should have focused more during the scout's lesson. I thought to myself, trying to scurry away the doubt.
I took my time climbing up the tree, trying to minimize the risk as much as possible. Deeply focused on each branch I grabbed, making sure to hold onto it tightly and avoid making any sudden movements that could cause me to slip.
The climb dragged on, each movement a strain against my burning muscles. Every inch felt like a mile. But I kept going, inching closer and closer to the top of the tree.
As I reached the top, I looked out over the forest, taking in the view. Every direction laid out for miles in front of me. However, there was no sign of any civilization in sight.
"Oh Lord..." I felt disappointed, and started feeling anxious.
I looked down at the ground, feeling a sense of panic starting to well up inside. I was so high up on the tree, with no clear way down. The climb had proved to be fruitless.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I knew that I had to think rationally and come up with a plan to get down safely. I looked around, trying to see if there was any way I could climb back down without falling.
I froze mid-descent, a new idea clicking in my mind. A river. I needed water more than anything else.
I climbed back up to the tree's peak, pausing just long enough to catch my breath. My ears strained for the telltale rush of water.
The forest below was quiet and still, with no sign of any movement or sound. But I could hear the faint sound of rushing water in the distance. I focused my hearing, trying to pinpoint the direction of the rushing water.
As I listened, I could hear the sound of water getting louder and louder, indicating that I was getting closer to a river. I had also begun to look for any trees that seemed to have fruits that were ripe and edible. I needed to find something to eat, as I had been running for a while and hadn't eaten anything since I woke up.
I scanned the forest below, looking for any trees with fruits that looked like they were in good condition. I could see some trees with fruits hanging from them, but they were quite high up with no reachable branches, and I was not sure if I could reach them without a ladder or some other climbing equipment.
"It's okay, step by step." I thought, trying to cheer myself up.
I had pinpointed the location of each one, and began to make a mental list of what to do next.
"Fruit trees, finally." My stomach growled in anticipation. "Food was within reach, at least one problem solved. Next, I will need to head towards the river, which is my best chance of finding fresh water." I felt a little bit delighted by my small progress in this world.
I carefully climbed down, making sure to avoid making any loud noises that might attract any nearby predators. Once I reached the ground, I began to make my way towards the tree with fruits.
*******
The tree before me was unlike any I'd ever seen. Its branches sagged under the weight of plump, purple fruits, their skins streaked with shades of orange—a clear sign they had ripened to perfection. The fruits, resembling peaches, glistened enticingly in the soft light, their vibrant colors almost beckoning me.
However, reaching them wouldn't be easy. The branches hung high, frustratingly out of reach, and to make matters worse, the trunk was smooth and slick, offering no handholds to climb.
"Great... how am I supposed to get those down?" I muttered, scratching my head in frustration, though there was no real itch to soothe. Even the "staff" I had secured earlier could not reach the seductive fruits above me.
Setting aside my frustration, I turned my thoughts to the fruits themselves. They looked edible—juicy, even—but I couldn't shake the doubt. Like everything else in this bizarre place, they seemed foreign, almost otherworldly, just like the strange seagulls I'd seen earlier. Could I trust them?
The memory of that long-clawed creature resurfaced, a grim reminder that this wasn't my world. At least, not the world I knew. Was I in some uncharted territory, or had I truly been flung into another realm? My denial lingered, refusing to let me fully accept the latter possibility.
"Am I being punished?" I whispered, though the question held no real conviction, nor did it bring any clarity.
I eyed the fruits again, a blend of hunger and hesitation gnawing at me. Starvation was setting in, and my stomach growled in protest. Yet, eating something unfamiliar could mean a quick end if I wasn't careful.
"Maybe I should check the ground first," I reasoned, shifting into survival mode. "If there are fallen fruits with bite marks, they might be safe to eat."
I scanned the area for signs—if the animals here were eating the fruits regularly, then perhaps they were safe for me too. But if there were only a few scattered bite marks, or worse, carcasses nearby, that could spell danger.
I looked around, trying to find any fallen fruits that might have been bitten by animals. To my delight, most of them had bite marks or signs of being eaten. Maybe by the squirrel-like creature of this world.
"Safe!" I felt a surge of relief at finding food supplies for myself.
I cautiously picked up some of the intact fruits and took a bite at one, hoping that it wouldn't cause any ill effects.
Here goes nothing.
As I chewed, I noticed that it tasted surprisingly good. It was sweet and juicy, and I could feel my hunger starting to subside a bit. Then, I started looking around for if there was any tree with wide enough leaves to be made into wrapping for the fruits.
I managed to find a tree with the kind of leaves with criteria I was looking for. It was perfect for wrapping some of the fruits with. I had also managed to stumble upon a plant that somewhat looked like the leaves of pineapple where I could secure the fibre to be made into thread.
"I think I should rest here for a little while" I thought of preparing myself for the journey ahead. Food supplies, done. I needed to sharpen the lean branch that I had found earlier during the chase as a weapon to protect myself.
"And I definitely need to do something about this." Referring to my unpleasant state of being.
"I need to find something—anything—to make a makeshift outfit." I thought, especially to cover my more vulnerable parts.