I found myself kneeling down at a stream, looking at my own reflection, which still felt unfamiliar to me. Compared to when I first saw it a few months ago, my face was now weathered, adorned with cuts and scars. The shining eyes of the 8-year-old boy I once was had dimmed. Dark circles hung beneath my eyes, showcasing my exhaustion. My whole face appeared thin and emaciated, revealing the treacherous nature of my time in this forest.
It felt like a prison from which I couldn't escape. I constantly cursed in my head at whatever force or entity had brought me here in such a twisted way. Most 'transported' people at least in the novels i'd read on occasion would be placed in the back alleys of a city or perhaps even in an orphanage, but I found myself stranded in the middle of a magical beast-infested forest that seemed to stretch on endlessly.
"This is so ridiculously unfair..."
My patience wore thin with each passing day. So far, a dark beast plagued me with ominous messages, and an old wizard hunted me relentlessly. I didn't know what sins I had committed in my previous life, but surely, they weren't enough to justify this sort of situation?
Cupping a handful of water, I splashed my face, attempting to cool my rising emotions. I couldn't even afford to let my frustrations overwhelm me momentarily, as it might risk my obscurus taking control. I let out a sigh and took another handful of water, quenching my thirst.
"There has to be an end to this place. I wanted to be more prepared before venturing out of this labyrinthine forest, but the old wizard forced me to flee sooner than planned..."
I wasn't usually one to talk to myself, but the extended period of solitude in this forest had cultivated this new habit. Talking to myself became a way to validate my thoughts and feelings, providing a sense of companionship in this lonely place.
"What do I even do when I finally escape? Do I simply stroll over and into Hogwarts? Wander into Diagon Alley? I don't even know where I am..."
Getting out of this forest was a priority, but I felt the need to have some semblance of a plan for what awaited me on the other side. The main problem with that was, I had no idea which time period I had stumbled into. For all I knew, I could be in the wizarding world during the time of the founders or the era of the Marauders. It was even possible that I had arrived during Grindelwald's rise. There were no signs to indicate the time period I was in and without knowledge of that, I couldn't judge where best it would be for me to go or do.
"One thing's for sure... If it's during the normal canon and Harry Potter is around, I definitely won't be going to Hogwarts. That place is a deathtrap..."
After refreshing myself with water, I examined my clothing and let out an exasperated sigh.
"They didn't even have the decency to put me here with proper clothes. I'm still draped in leaves for cover. I feel like some kind of tribal hunter..."
As I rose to my feet, I heard a rustling sound emanating from the distant bushes. Before I could react and hide, two humanoid figures emerged from the foliage. However, they were different from the creature, which I now knew was probably an inferi, I encountered when I first arrived. These humanoid beings had fangs and very pale skin.
"Vampires?"
Another threat to worry about. I observed them closely, noticing their unwavering gaze fixed upon me, scrutinizing my every move. I knelt down slowly and picked up a rock from the stream, preparing for a desperate attempt to escape. As they approached, one of them spoke.
"Livestock... fresh livestock..."
Yet another creature that sought to hunt me. However, something troubled me as I observed these two "vampires." In the books, vampires weren't mindless beings driven solely by bloodlust. In fact, they had a pact with the Ministry of Magic, allowing them to coexist with wizards. Some vampires even lived within the wizarding society, possessing their own wands and magical abilities. But these two creatures seemed almost devoid of consciousness. One of them couldn't wait any longer and lunged at me.
"LIVESTOCK!"
As it charged recklessly, I used the rock in my hand to strike it with all my might. When its head drew near, I delivered a powerful blow, causing it to fall into the stream. Unfortunately, it wasn't knocked out as I had hoped, likely due to my feeble strength as an 8-year-old malnourished child.
The other vampire rushed at me as well. Reacting as quickly as possible, I hurled the rock, hitting the second vampire in the face. Seizing the opportunity, I made a dash, hoping to escape the situation. However, both vampires quickly recovered and pursued me with astonishing speed. My heart pounded, as once again, my life hung in the balance.
With each pounding heartbeat, it felt as though the obscurial within me responded. My heightened emotions, desperation, and fear resonated with the obscurus, feeding its power and consuming me. The pain within grew denser by the moment, intensifying my agitation. I attempted to calm myself, but in this dire situation, it was incredibly challenging.
That's when my vision started to fade. The forest ahead blurred and darkened, and control over my body slipped away.
"If I die here, at least let these two bastards die with me..."
I uttered those words as my consciousness teetered on the edge, finally succumbing to darkness. I blacked out for the second time in this forest...
.
Walking through the forest was a man bearing a curious insignia on his chest—a black bat-like face with horns and four wings sprouting from it. To any observer, this insignia might appear somewhat demonic and evil. As he traversed the forest, he muttered to himself.
"Those damn thralls... I swear I'll kill them when I find them."
As he moved deeper into the woods, he stumbled upon a stream. Taking a moment to gaze at the water, he lifted his head and noticed something peculiar in the distance.
"The trees... they've been felled?"
A short distance from the stream, all the trees had been chopped down and lay in ruins. This was a rare sight in this part of the forest, as its magical enchantments prevented non-magical forces from entering. The clans and that 'family' in this forest wouldn't pass their times being lumberjacks and no muggle would possibly be able to get here.
The man hastened toward the scene of destruction and discovered something he never expected. The entire area where the trees had fallen was decayed and destroyed. Amidst the wreckage, he spotted two familiar figures lying lifeless on the ground, both of them seemed ripped to shreds.
"So, these are the thralls... Merlin's beard, they've been torn apart..."
Inspecting the thralls a bit more the man sighed;
"Well at least it saves me the trouble..."
Looking back up at the destroyed surroundings, the man decided to investigate further. In the distance of the ruined area, he noticed a rock. Approaching it, he saw a hand resting on the ground on the other side. It was a human hand, a sight that surprised him.
"Could this be one of those Blighthearts? No... they never venture into this part of the forest. They know it's under our jurisdiction."
Circumventing the rock, the man looked down and discovered a young boy, no older than 8, in a wretched state. The boy lacked clothing, and his body bore numerous injuries. His exhausted and broken appearance evoked a sense of pity in the man.
"This boy... he must be an obscurus considering the destruction around... Should I end his suffering here?"
Drawing a sword, an uncommon choice for wizards of this era who typically wielded wands, he positioned it near the boy's neck, contemplating his options. After a moment, he sighed.
"No... I can't simply kill him like this. He saved me the trouble of hunting down those two thralls, even if it left him in this condition. I'll take him back to the clan for now. Perhaps the head can offer assistance when he returns. Besides it'll be interesting to hear how such a boy ended up here..."
The man crouched down, lifting the boy onto his shoulder. He noticed how light the boy was, further evidence of the suffering he had endured in this forest. Briefly questioning his decision, the man resolved to proceed. He sensed that the boy was still alive, and witnessing his pitiable state only strengthened his resolve to help.
He carried the boy and ventured deeper into the forest, retracing his steps...