(dream)
He stood before the colossal structure, it's sheer size swallowing the sky. Everything before it was small—just an endless stretch of pebbles, shifting under his feet like whispers of something long forgotten.
Then, the view.
Vast. Infinite. Beautiful in a way that made his chest tighten, as if it held a truth he couldn't grasp. Cities sprawled below, rivers of gold winding through them, the sky shifting between twilight and dawn. It felt familiar—too familiar.
His eyes snapped open.
An alien world—unfamiliar, yet breathtaking. A tranquil forest, its trees swaying in an unseen rhythm. The air was crisp, carrying a scent unlike anything he had known—fresh Air. A strange weightlessness settled over him, as if the very ground embraced his presence. He felt light. At peace.
He parted his lips, the words slipping out in a breath of wonder.
Rei: "Where… am I?"
he has been sleeping since quite a while, a feeling that time passed while he slept. he sees a back
he noticed a bagpack with him but that isn't any thing special from this hypotentical view
he stands up, wondering, he gazes the view.
Rei: I couldn't remember anything how did I got here ? what don't screw with me.
He was shocked and far from pleased. He was in the body of his teenage self—he looked like a 16-year-old boy.
Rei: it's not a dream these sensations are real, this scenery is Beautiful, but why do i feel unease?
surveying the area , searching everywhere including small and hidden areas.
he sees it..
Rei: what is it ?
Rei's voice trembled with shock as he took an uneasy step back
It looked like a tiger, A single, rugged horn jutted from its forehead, thick and formidable like that of a rhino.
the creature also looked into the eyes of Rei
Rei took few step back, grabbed that backpack.
but then that creature stricked with his claws.
Thud!
it was unexpectedly quicker that Rei could imagined. he barely avoided the attack with the backpack he have with him.
with this first strick, Rei quickly grabbed that backpack, started running with his full speed. unfortunately that creature followed him while attacking.
[I don't know this creature lives alones , or his comrades around. my option is to run when I don't understand anything. ]
he reached a dead end—cliff, he looked back, the creature was few feets behind him. he immediately jumped through cliff. he pressed his back as tightly he could with the mountainous rocks, opened his hand wide, hoping to survive with friction, a very crazy idea.
The creature locked eyes with Rei.
Rei instinctively took a few steps back, his grip tightening on the backpack.
Then, in a sudden blur of motion, the beast struck.
Thud!
It was faster than Rei could have imagined. He barely avoided the attack, using the backpack as a shield.
With that first strike, Rei didn't hesitate—he grabbed the backpack and ran at full speed. But the creature pursued him relentlessly, swiping at him as it closed the distance.
(I don't know if this thing is alone or if its comrades are nearby… My only option is to run. I don't understand anything right now!)
He reached a dead end—a cliff.
Glancing back, he saw the creature just a few feet behind him. Without a second thought, he jumped.
His back pressed tightly against the rocky surface as he spread his arms wide, hoping friction would slow his descent—a reckless, desperate idea.
(Now… it's all up to luck.)
Luckily, trees were below him. He collided—
Smash!
—against several branches, breaking his fall. Before reaching the ground, his descent finally stopped.
(That was really close...)
He took a moment to orient himself, then carefully climbed down the tree.
(I don't think I have any serious injuries...)
Though he avoided fatal damage, his body ached from colliding with the rocky mountainside. Cuts and scratches from the branches stung against his skin, but he was still in one piece.
(What is going on with me? I have to figure out where I am. This doesn't look like Earth—there aren't creatures like that, and the environment feels… different. But the gravity—it feels exactly the same as Earth's.)
His gaze shifted toward the backpack, curiosity sparking in his mind.
Rei: "First, let's see what this backpack has."
He opened the bag and inspected its contents.
Inside, he found golden coins—circular in shape—piled together. Among them were several pen drives, scattered throughout. More than half the bag was filled with these items.
(What the heck are these for? I don't have anything to check what's inside the pen drives… And these coins—are they money?)
Rei: "I don't know what this is, but I should probably keep them. Maybe they'll be useful later."
But lingering here was too dangerous. He needed to secure food, water, and a way to deal with beasts like the one he had encountered.
Fortunately, he had plenty of experience surviving in the wilderness.
---
Several Hours Later
Rei had secured a cave to spend the night. He had set up a fire and used a fish trap to catch his meal. Flames crackled as he watched the fish cook, their scent mingling with the crisp night air.
(I haven't seen any more creatures like that rhino-tiger. Only normal animals, just like in my world. Was that thing only in that area?)
His eyes flickered toward the roasting fish.
(This could be poisonous to me. I'm not from this planet, and there could be microorganisms here that my body can't handle… But still… I should eat it. I want to trust this place. That feeling of peace I had back then… I want to believe in it.)
He reached for the fish, his fingers brushing against its warm surface. With a slow breath, he took his first bite.
Rei: "it's not bad."
After finishing the last bite.
(I'm not sleeping tonight. It's better if I stay on guard.)
Tonight, he would watch. Observe. Survive.