The first meal ushered in the revival of wildlife. They slowly trickled back into the valley, at first a few birds, then the herbivores returned, then the predators.
The suffering I had undergone felt like little more than a blip on the valley's past. The resurgence of life seemingly ignored the months of starvation of suffering.
Once the plentiful prey returned, I began to have time for other endeavours. I no longer needed to constantly forage. The simple fact that I was faster than quite a few of the weaker herbivores, lead me to have a constant supply of fresh meat to devour.
On one morning as I dragged my way out of my cave, I came to a realization. I had lost track... Had it been 4 months, 5 months?
I couldn't remember for the life of me. Something had to change. I had begun to enter a cycle of repetition no greater than that of the most simplistic animal.
For days, I had woken to eat before heading back to sleep.
I may have lost my humanity but I would not be a beast or mongrel.
I had nothing but what remained of the clothing on my body. Yet something I couldn't lose was the ingenuity of mankind. I picked myself off the cave floor and headed out, I had plans.
--=o-o=--
I had no need for fire, my body had grown tough and durable... but who says you can't enjoy some of the simpler things?
After a lengthy walk around the valley, I returned to the cave with a collection of several dozen sticks. After another quick venture outside, I returned with a series of long vines that I collected from a collection off odd trees.
I always loved the outdoors. The silence, the peacefulness, but I was still a city girl at heart. I knew very little when it came to outdoor survival. I was going to have to go at this blind...
--=o-o=--
Using the collected materials, I tried to create a lean-to against the side of the cave walls. Yet, something that seemed so easy, proved to be far harder than I first realized. I was way out of my league.
So... I tried again, and again, and again.
After more tries than I'd like to admit, I eventually succeeded.
It wasn't much by any stretch of the imagination but it was a start. This would have to do, but since I didn't know how long I'd be here for... let's just say I've got some plans...