The cool air hit my skin as I stepped out of the cave, and for the first time, I that I was naked. I wrapped my arms around myself instinctively, Then I saw the vast forest and its towering trees it was magical the trees though less enchanting than the world trees were beautiful. The world outside was breathtaking—vast, untamed, and impossibly alive.
But the wonder of this forest couldn't distract me for too long. I looked down at my bare body, a wave of discomfort creeping in. I can't wander around like this, I thought. I searched my surroundings, looking for something—anything—I could use to cover myself.
There was nothing I could use to cover myself so I went farther into the forest. it was strange that the forest near the word tree had trees I was unfamiliar with. they had small leaves but they were in abundance the branches were hanging down and were filled with leaves that had a strange golden glow. I was walking and I had come quite far now the scenery started to change the trees now looked like normal trees but they were still too big to be normal then I saw a tree with unusually big leaves. they were big enough that I could cover my private parts comfortably.
I took a few leaves from this tree and a thin root that was above ground. Then tied the leaves with the root then tied them to my back.
"It's Better," I muttered, adjusting the improvised loincloth.
Just as I began to feel a bit comfortable, a sound cut through the stillness of the forest—a soft, pitiful whimper.
I froze, tilting my head to listen. The sound came again, faint but unmistakable. It wasn't human. My curiosity flared, and before I could stop myself, I was moving toward the noise.
The forest seemed to darken as I ventured deeper, the light filtering through the canopy growing dim. The whimper grew louder, guiding me to where I saw it—a cub.
The creature was unlike anything I'd ever seen. Its fur shimmered with a bluish-purple hue, and its long, cat-like ears twitched nervously. It reminded me of a mix between a tiger and a panther, but its appearance was... otherworldly.
It was curled beneath the twisted roots of a fallen tree, one of its legs wounded making it harder for it to walk. The cub let out another whimper, its wide, frightened eyes darting around as though expecting danger.
"Hey there," I said softly, crouching down a few feet away. "I'm not going to hurt you."
The cub growled weakly, its small body trembling. My heart ached for the poor thing, but before I could move closer, a sound behind it made every hair on my body stand on end.
A low hiss, deep and menacing.
The shadows shifted, and then I saw it.
A snake.
Not just any snake—this thing was massive, its glossy black scales catching the faint light. A silver pattern ran along its back, glinting like liquid metal. Its eyes were a fiery red, glowing with an unnatural intensity.
The creature's body was as thick as a bear, and it reared up, towering above me like a living nightmare. Its mouth opened, revealing fangs the size of daggers.
I couldn't move. My legs felt like they'd turned to stone.
Run! My mind screamed, but my body refused to obey.
The snake's eyes locked onto me, then flicked to the cub. Its forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air, as it began to slither closer.
The cub whimpered again, trying to crawl away, but its injured leg kept it pinned in place.
"No," I whispered, my voice trembling. I wanted to help. I wanted to protect it. But I couldn't move because of the fear caused by the madding creature, I was frozen in place.
The snake reared back, ready to strike. The cub let out a terrified yowl, and something inside me snapped.
Move, damn it!
I leaped forward, my arms straight I took the cub in my arms.
The snake stopped as if my behavior confused it. I took this chance and ran as fast as I could in the opposite direction.
Which might have made him a bit angry because the snake came after us hissing menacingly. we were lost in the deep forest and that freakingly terrifying snake was after us.
I ran as fast as I could but it didn't matter to the famed thing it still followed us, then I tripped over a root hidden in the dry leaves on the ground. Before I could get up the snake had reached us, I faced it, and it looked crazy angry.
what should I how can save myself and the little guy , this thought took over brain. but I couldn't come up with a plan that could help us. The snake and attacked us, in the heat of the moment I instinctively punched the the snake which surprisingly worked and the snake looked like he felt it. but it didn't convince him to lesve us alone instead it made him even angryer it was ready to attack us again I searched for something with my hands on the ground that I could use agnast it while keeping I contact.
There was a stone on the ground I picked it up and when the snake attacked I trough it with as much force as I could it peirced its upper jaw and his left eye but it didn't kill him. the snake screamed in pain. I held the cub close and started running once again.
this time the snake was nowhere to be seen,which was a good thing for us. I went a bit further towards a big tree.
But just as I reached it my knees gave out, and I collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. The cub was still trembling, its wide eyes fixed on me.
"It's okay," I said, my voice hoarse. "It's gone."
I reached out slowly, letting the cub sniff my hand. To my relief, it didn't pull away.
"Let me help you," I murmured, carefully scooping it into my arms. Its fur was softer than I'd imagined, warm against my skin.
Holding the cub close, I stood and glanced around the forest.
"We need to find somewhere safe," I said, more to myself than to the cub.
With every step, I felt the weight of this strange new world pressing down on me. I didn't know where I was or what dangers lay ahead, but one thing was certain—I wasn't alone anymore.