The shelter I found was a simple cave under a ledge. It was a perfect place really. I just have to hope that there won’t be any animals to come and claim it. That would just suck.

Currently, I was trying to make a fire outside of the entrance to the cave. After all, I don’t want the smoke to suffocate me while I’m asleep. However, the progress on starting the fire was slow. I found plenty of dried, crinkly leaves for when I make the ember, but so far no luck in making it.

Continuing my efforts, I put a small straight stick in my hands, moving the end of it into a branch that was split down the middle. The branch wasn’t the best, but since I was without tools it’ll have to do. I begin to rub the stick up and down, constantly going faster and faster. The stick was rough too, making my hand go over the knots that were on it.

Shortly after I could feel the muscles in my arm start to ache, but I pushed past that, my hunger demanded it. I slowed down my speed in spinning the stick, opting to instead pace myself, I don't want to tire myself to fast and give up.

Roughly ten minutes later and there was a tiny hole in the branch with smoke rising out of it. My heart started racing. This could be it, this could be it!

I twisted the stick faster and faster, my heart racing faster with each twist of the stick. The smoke grew bigger, the black in the hole also grew. In one fast motion I stopped moving the stick, and brought the branch to my pile of dry leaves. After dumping the small ember into the leaves, I quickly set to work blowing on it, providing small ember with the oxygen that it needs to grow.

And grow it did. The small ember quickly turned into a flame, turning the leaves into a small fire. Moving quickly, as to not lose the only fire I had, I sat it on other dry leaves, so that it may burn through that as well. Then, breaking a small twig into three parts, I gently laid them down on the fire.

The sight of this small fire sent a shiver down my spine. Not a bad one, rather, a good one. One of happiness and optimism. I actually felt that I might survive this whole ordeal.

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

While the fire was burning through the leaves and twigs, I moved over to my shirt. Inside was the mixture of eggs that I collected, ten in total, and I was really tempted to have a feast right then and there. But, no, that would be stupid. I have to remember to not act out on my impulsions, this could be the only thing I have to eat for a very long time… So, no, I only took two, leaving the other eight to be rationed out.

Returning to my fire, everything appeared to be going good. It has already turned the twigs I created into fuel for itself. Grabbing another stick, I again broke it into thirds, before putting it on the fire.

I sat down next to the fire; thinking over the best way to cook these eggs… Definitely not raw, otherwise there would’ve been no point in the fire… Matter of fact, can you even cook eggs while they’re in the shell? Shiiit, I hope so… I guess these can be kinds of experiments for future eggs. Either way, they’re going to be eaten, bad or not.

After a few minutes, I decided on how to prepare them. One would be cooked inside its shell, but also stay in the fire longer, while the other will have the top removed. However, this presents a new problem…

What if there were a chick in there? I don’t think it’s likely, due to the recent change and all of that, but there also could be a chance… Can you even eat not-yet-fully grown birds? And these chicks would be different too.. I mean look at their parents! For all, I know they could have posion running through their veins! Sigh, oh well. Another test would have to be taken if a chick is found within the egg…

Grabbing another stick I begin to methodically beat on one end of an egg. The white shell of the relatively small egg compared to their parents, begin to show cracks before-

It cracked open. The small opening that was now on top of the egg showed me the inside, revealing a… well, a regular looking egg. It was as if it was bought from a store. However, that doesn’t make it safe. Gotta remember, there’s new mystical mumbo jumbo shiz going around…

Taking the other egg and setting onto the fire, almost burning myself in the process, I started to stack small sticks, in tepee formation, around the fire. Once that was done I put the egg, with its cracked open-top, next to the growing fire.

I sat back, deciding to meditate -if I could ignore my hunger that is. It’s been some time ago that I took a look at my status.