"Well, this sucks."
Ever had the dream of going to some sort of phantasmal world filled with wonderous sights and sounds? The type of thing that a ton of people hope for, just to make their dull life's a bit more meaningful?
Yeah, well, I got that - and more.
Thrown into a world that's not my own. Having to deal with my own survival, barely grasping at straws as I wandered from place to place. There was hardly a moment of peace in the wilderness - especially for me.
God was either playing a cruel joke on me, or I just got VERY unlucky. I mean, who would want to be stranded in a forest that's completely unfamiliar to you?
"I didn't even get a damn map or compass, how annoying."
At least I could have been given some items to help me survive, yet all I had was what I had on me before coming to this place. I don't even know where "HERE" is. One moment I'm walking to my home, the next thing I know, I'm just in the wilderness.
I didn't even feel anything. The second I blinked - I was just randomly here. Not even a warning, a weird feeling, nothing. It all happened so suddenly that I had no chance to witness how it happened.
"Pff, at least I didn't get some sort of massive headache."
Being thrown into some random place out of the blue without a headache was a win in my book. Most would believe that you could have minor headaches when ones not used to teleporting - but somehow it was a smooth trip. Albeit the trip happened faster than I could ever come to understand. And worst part about it? This wasn't the first time I was transported to a new world.
I actually had a past life before this one, but on the same planet. Just having gotten lucky enough to keep my memories in this new life. Sadly, I passed away at the feeble age of nineteen, maybe I would die even younger in this new life?
Sighing I looked up, glaring at the sun.
"But I'm going to set a sunburn if I don't find some damn shade."
Having palish white skin isn't fun. I've never been a fan of the sun and its searing heat. Blisters are not fun to have, especially flaky skin. It's just gross seeing all that dead skin and puss from blisters.
Clicking my tongue in irritation I looked to the ground, a frown on my young face.
"Guess I better get moving if I want to avoid getting a nasty looking sunburn, I'd rather have frost bite then deal with a sunburn for weeks on end."
Sighing for a second time I looked up, beginning to walk in silence.
All I could do was muse to myself. Planning out my goals for the day, wondering what I can and can't do. I've been doing a lot lately, ever since appearing on this planet, all I've ever gotten to do is work, work, and work.
I've been stuck here on this new planet for months. Slowly watching the sun set and moon rise. By my estimations - only five or so months have passed since I appeared here. A young 10-year-old boy wandering the world all by his lonesome self.
Oh, how I love hunting when I don't know how to hunt. Slowly starving, but by some miracle I was surviving. Slowly catching prey by adapting to my environment.
There is a solid chance that some form of civilization is nearby. But how would I ever find out how? I was plopped down into the middle of nowhere when I first arrived. So how would I ever come to know if I was near a town or city? Yes, I could most likely see tall skyscrapers if I was near a city, but I've had no such luck.
Yet I have seen some things that have definitely stood out the most. And boy was it not something that most would want to see. Heh, when I first saw them, I didn't want to be on this planet anymore.
"God, why did I have to see them? They were so damn...hideous!"
Eldritch's of horror, creatures that can't and should NOT exist. But sadly, they exist, because it isn't my planet. I knew it wasn't my planet, my reality - MY home. Because my earth never had such creatures, nor did I ever hope to ever have such creatures roaming around on the planet that I once resided on.
That hope was snuffed out, seeing I was forced onto a different planet that already has them. Of course, this planet was so eerily similar. Oak tree's, grass. and bugs and birds that were easily identifiable as everyday living things that most would commonly see out in the wilderness.
Gritting my teeth in annoyance, I huffed, frowning heavily as I glared at the trees around me.
Day after day - night to night, I've done nothing but run and hide. I'm brave, braver than most, but I'm not some hot-headed fool that thinks he's the top dog and completely invincible. I may be strong - thanks to a healthy body, but I don't have the strength of ten men.
"If only I was ever that strong, then maybe surviving would be a smidge easier than usual."
Looking to my arm I flexed it - admiring the definition of muscle in my right bicep. I used to work out before coming to this world, but now? I've become even more physically stronger. Thanks to climbing trees, hunting, digging, and so many more laborious activities.
Sadly, I'm only capable of becoming so strong. Humans have their limits, and I've come pretty close to mine. I mean, I'm only sixteen for crying out loud! My body is still maturing, and not at its prime condition just yet.
"And I can't even push my body any further because I don't have a gym I can just run too and train at."
My poor membership card all but useless now. I put a down payment on the gym for a whole year! And now it's completely useless, because I'll never be able to use my membership again. How wonderful! All that time spent laboring away for some measly cash just for it to go up in flames.
Surviving in the wild does have its boons, but obtaining those boons are tough and grueling work. Climbing trees? Prepare to have your hands sore at the end of it all, especially scraped knees! At least it toughens those areas up at least, albeit still being painful.
"My poor hands, how much more of this do I have to take!?"
Clicking my tongue in annoyance I looked to my hands, flipping them as I gazed at the calluses I built up.
Thanks to my father - which I hate, my pain tolerance was already pretty high. Pain? Never heard of it! .....Ok, I may have heard it of quite often, and especially felt it quite a bit often as well. But can I say that it was to be expected to feel pain on a daily basis? Yes - yes I can.
"God, it feels like sandpaper! Why does it have to be so rough? What ever happened to my baby smooth skin?"
Don't get me wrong, I was never lazy. Always trying to be as active as humanly possible. Reading, writing, working out - anything I could do to have an active life. But sometimes, I just wanted to sit back and relax. Drinking a nice cold soda and enjoying a delicious pack of cookies.
Sadly, that was no longer an option for me. Every day in the wilderness is a trial of survival. Constantly having to push myself to the limit to make sure I don't croak and die.
"Dying, such a wonderful thing to think about..."
Don't even think for a second that I would allow myself to die! All of this struggling to survive - for only me to die and for it to all not matter in the end. Of course, if I die, then how I would be mad at my failed attempt at trying not to kick the bucket? ...Maybe I'd come back as some angry sod that travels the land cursing everything I see, forever spiteful and vengeful of whoever cursed me to the life that I forced to endure?
"Oh, how I would love nothing more than to STRANGLE whoever put me into this situation. I haven't even gotten the chance for a proper shower in months!"
I miss hot showers, a warm bed, my loving mom and annoying little brother. God, they must have been worried sick when they realized I went missing. Do...do they even know I'm gone? What if something happened to my old world? What if nothing was left behind when I disappeared? That's a question I've been asking myself ever since I had the time to actually ponder it.
And worst of it all? I'm tired, so, SO tired. It's been so taxing on me trying to survive all by myself. Yes, I've been successful so far - but for how much longer? When would something go entirely wrong? When will one of those creatures find me, and kill me?
I can't even fight them, not unless I have a weapon. I mean, I have a spear that I was able to make. A wooden shaft with a metal tip at the end of it. A few pieces of vine holding the metal to the wooden pole I called a weapon. Luck was on my side when I found that singular pointed piece of metal.
This singular means of defense is all I have - besides my wits and brawn as other viable options. I don't even have any weapon's training when it comes to using spears, so all I could do was say 'Engard!' - and hope for best.
"Heh, maybe I can just ask them to stand still so I can poke them to death!"
If only it were ever that easy! Every creature I've come to fact, and run away from, was just too dangerous to even consider fighting. From metal tearing claws to bone crushing teeth, to even plague inducing blood!
Who would even consider fighting such beasts without a gun? I mean, would a gun even help? Maybe it could, maybe it couldn't. Of course, I'd love nothing more than to get my hands on a gun, but alas there's just no gun's standing out in open saying 'Take me! Take me!'.
Peaking over my back I glanced at my spear, the sharp tip reflecting the light that touched it.
"At least I have some means of protection..."
Looking away I sighed for the third time today, I usually sigh a lot when I'm either bored, or just not knowing what to do. I mean, could you even blame me?
"Everything seems so bleak at this point. I haven't had the chance to talk to no one, nor have I had a good meal in a while, is nothing good going to come my way?"
Alas, my hopeful words for a stroke of fortune, maybe even a dash of luck, went unanswered. So, I cursed to myself, resolutely walking in silence as I endured my lonesome travels.
Of course, the silence was soon to fade. Because I heard something within the far distance, something that made my face pale, even more than it should already be capable of doing.
Roaring howl's echoing off in the far North. Sounding too close for one's own comfort - which is mine. From asking for a sign of fortune, to being given the middle finger and being told 'Nah, I'mma just screw with ya.' by the very gods of fortune and luck that I was hoping to be blessed by.
So, I cursed my luck, turning around as I began to run. Pumping my leg's as I went into a hellish sprint. Jumping over whatever I saw that was in my way. Any other day of this happening and I would have been ok with it - sadly it was at the worst possible place and time.
The sun had just begun to rise, which was my way of going out to get some fresh water and breakfast. But I had made a foolish choice in my endeavor to satiate my hunger. And that was to travel deeper into the forest I call my home, farther then I should have ventured. Where most of the monsters resided, from what little information I was capable of gathering.
"They all wake up in the morning, damn it! I shouldn't have tried doing it so early!"
For the creatures to wake up, meant they were hungry, and if their hungry? That means that I am no longer hunting for prey, for I...I have become the hunted!