We all knew the consequences were dire if we stayed, so, with a heady mixture of fear and determination, we heeded Anthony's command. I could hardly believe what was happening as my feet pounded along the rocky terrain, narrowly avoiding stray branches and bushes that threatened to trip me up on our mad dash for safety. The woods seemed menacing in the gathering darkness; wild eyes watching us from hidden locations, ready to ambush us at any moment. Our first instinct was to run, but somehow Anthony stayed put and stepped forward fearlessly, despite the tension in the air.
Anthony was breathing heavily from the effort of keeping us together, his weapon raised and ready for an attack at any moment. We continued on until we eventually found a clearing in which to rest and regroup. We rushed deeper into the forest, desperately trying to escape our pursuers and make camp for the night. Branches flew around us in confusion as we scrambled to find adequate shelter amongst the trees. Julian cast a spell of protection, holding his wooden staff firmly against his body as he spoke incantations in a mysterious tongue. Although I had experience of outdoor life skills, I was glad to have Julian, a mage of great power and skill, alongside us. He stopped at a glade deep within the woods, still surrounded by dense trees all around, before raising his hands towards the sky. With a flash of light and a quick spell, the branches of the old tree immediately started to bend inwards towards each other until they had created an impromptu shelter for all of us.
The darkness of the forest covered us as we set up camp for the night. Julian, our mage, decided to cast a protective spell on us with his staff and began weaving intricate patterns of magic all around our makeshift encampment. With this extra measure of safety in place, we surveyed the area then made ourselves comfortable for sleep. There was an eerie stillness that left all of us feeling uneasy, but there was nothing else to be done, so we finally closed our eyes until morning arrived.
I slowly got up from the ground, groggy and exhausted. My vision is blurry, flashes of rage as I remember what happened last night. As I looked around, Julian and Anthony were still sound asleep in their makeshift beds, seemingly unaware of the tension that lingered in the air. Taking a deep breath, the forest seemed friendly enough; perhaps there would be berries or other fruits out there that I could bring back. Plus, it might do me good to clear my mind away from their presence.
I grabbed foraging tools that I had with me and started down a narrow pathway obscured by branches and bushes. I make my way carefully through the forest in search of sustenance. My bare feet treading on soft moss and twigs, I check the trees for any sign of ripe berries. Every now and then, a gust of wind rustles through the tree leaves and makes an eerie sound that only heightened my sense of unease. As I continued to scour the area, I could feel anger bubbling inside me; it was like molten lava pushing against every wall that tries to contain it.
Scanning the area, I spotted a riverbed close by with vegetation and foliage from all directions, giving me hope that there might be something to eat. Taking care not to reveal my presence, I cautiously made my way towards it. My hunger amplifies with each step; driving me onward despite the feeling of extreme fatigue coupled with anger at my misfortune.
My feet crunch through the dead leaves as I make my way towards the riverbed. All around me, darkness creeps closer and it seems to have a sinister intent. With each step I take, hunger overtakes my body and I feel like I'm being consumed from within. The anger boils up inside of me until it consumes all other thoughts; all that matters is satisfying this primal urge for sustenance.
I climbed the tall tree and spotted a small bird's nest. The hunger, an insatiable anger, had crippled me and I lost sense of my conscious self at that moment. When I came to, there was a dead bird's body in my hands with deep claw marks etched into its soft feathers. An unknown force had taken over my movements and ran on auto-pilot until it was done wreaking destruction all around me. Shocked by my own actions, all I could do was stare at the poor creature in disbelief. The horror of it all left me physically shaking. How had this happened?
As I gazed into the riverbed, my reflection stared back at me with crimson eyes and disheveled hair which stood on end. The hunger that surged through my veins gripped onto me like a vice and my body felt as if it was burning up from the inside out. Pushing aside this intense feeling of rage, I focused instead upon the image before me, an unfamiliar figure, distorted by churning waters, that somehow bore resemblance to myself. Was this what had become of me?
Rage boiled through my veins as I felt an urge to make someone pay for this gruesome act of taking a life without reason. Fighting off my tears, I stumbled towards the river and dunked myself into its depths in an attempt to cool down. Thundering sounds roared around me as I washed away the remnants of that horrid death-filled moment from my skin and soul.
A rush of rage drained from my body with every ripple of the river at my feet until I stood calm and almost peaceful. With trembling hands, I groomed myself using the icy river water. I gingerly picked up the small creature, its weight heavier than expected, and carried it back to camp. Somehow, against better judgment, I decided to take it back with me to fry as breakfast for us all.
When I arrived at the camp, all was peaceful and quiet. Anthony and Julian were still asleep in their beds, blissfully unaware of what had happened earlier that morning. I, on the other hand, was overwhelmed with guilt as flashes of myself finding a lifeless bird's body beneath a tree stirred uneasily inside my head.
Should I tell them what happened? My hands felt like ice as I started to prepare breakfast, my mind pondering over what had occurred. What was it that caused such fury in me? Why can't I remember anything except seeing the bird's nest on the tree? What possessed me to reach for those lifeless little bodies, so fragile yet so calm in death?