What should have been a quick and easy trip to the village to get our disguises was already turning into a disaster.

Pri and I had spent the last hour going in circles, trying to escape “The Lost Woods”.

I had checked my minimap for any kind of clues but everywhere outside the woods was still obscured by fog-of-war.

“Let’s try this way!” Pri pointed behind me.

“We just tried that!” I replied, unable to keep the frustration out of my voice.

“Well then what do you suggest, Joseph?” She said angrily. I could tell she too was on her last nerve.

I took a deep breath.

Think Joseph, think! You are not a gamer at home in his chair now. You are in the ‘real’ world, your actions have consequences. You have responsibility. The two of you need to escape this forest somehow. There has to be a way.

I snapped my fingers. “Of course! I got a new ability yesterday, maybe it can help!”

Pri squinted at me, not quite understanding. By now it seemed she knew to refrain from questioning my craziness.

And I too had learned it was useless to try to explain the strange way in which I interacted with the world.

Help! I want to take a look at the new ability I gained.

The ability appeared before me, floating scrolling text filling my vision:

Commune With Nature - Rank 1

Type: non-combat ability / channeled

Cast Time: 5 seconds

Duration: up to 2 minutes

This ability allows you to commune with the natural world around you, taking on the form of any small creature or plant for up to two minutes. You will gain the abilities of the creature / plant for a limited time but be careful! Your body becomes vulnerable while channeling this ability!

“Ho-ly shit.”

“What is Holly Shyat?” Asked Pri innocently.

I chuckled.

“That’s a lesson for another time. But for now I need you to help me find an animal. Particularly one with wings. I’m going to find us a way out of here, I just need a better vantage point!”

***

It had taken a matter of a few minutes to find a suitable mammalian candidate for my first casting of the spell. Pri’s eyes were unnaturally sharp and she could catch things, in the trees, in the leaves, between the brambles, that I could barely see.

I wondered if those blue Elfen eyes held more powers, but I didn’t pry.

We had found a small black bird with a white stripe running down the length of its back. It was hopping between the branches of a tree above us, trilling a loud song.

“Will that work?” Pri asked me.

“Honestly, I have no idea. I just have to try. I’m uh… not sure what will happen to my body when I do this. Just keep an eye on me, okay?”

“Do what? Joseph, is this more black magic? Are you sure you should-”

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

But her voice was already fading into the background as I folded my arms, focused on the spell and began casting. I noticed that even with my eyes closed I could see the numbers ticking down:

Casting - Commune With Nature on

5/5

4/5

3/5

2/5

1/5

At first nothing, and then - I opened my eyes and I was airborne.

Oh my god! Oh my freaking god!

I began to plummet, the tops of trees like speartips were rising up to greet me.

No no no… not like this…

I caught a gust of wind, blowing me up and away, leveling me out so that I flew parallel to the treeline and above it.

I had the sense to check my interface and see that I had three abilities in my new form:

Flap - Flap your wings to gain altitude

Chirp - Let out a loud cry! Let your allies know where you are!

Exit - Remove your spirit from the creature

I tested out the first ability, flapping my wings. It was an amazing sensation, to be lifted higher into the air.

I’m doing it! I’m actually flying!

I tested my other ability, letting out a loud CHIRP!

I expected to hear a response from down below but as I craned my beak downwards to see Pri, she was nowhere to be found She was hidden beneath the canopy of trees.

What I did see, however, was the road out of the woods. It was due north of our original position. It didn’t look like much, just a long ruddy brown dirt path that stretched its way across the hills out into the distance.

I let the wind carry me further, straining to see where the road led. I could make out dark black smudges which I hoped were the houses of the village.

Yes! They must be! All we had to do was head north and we could finally get out of the cursed woods.

Suddenly a vicious thermal grabbed hold of my tiny body and hurled me upwards. I felt dizzy, my world spinning. When I finally regained control of my body I had no idea which direction I was facing. I flapped my wings once, twice, and noticed on the third try I could no longer flap them.

I checked my interface:

Stamina: 0/10

Wow this bird is pretty damn weak.

I began to fall once more, the wind ruffling my feathers softly at first, then tearing at me… sending lancing pains throughout my avian body. I opened my beak to scream but only a soft chirp came out, swallowed by the wind.

I’m gonna die! I’m gonna die as a bird!

The branches of the trees looked like evil claws, ready to tear me apart as I fell like a stone.

With every second the trees grew closer and closer, the forest loomed larger and larger, filling my field of vision.

That’s it.. This is the end!

I thought of Pri waiting below, I thought of aunt Jill, I thought of my Mom and Dad.

I’m dying and going to hell…

Wait ! No! I have one last ability

It occurred to me at the very last moment that I had a way out.

HELP!

EXIT!

EXIT THE CREATURE!!!

I CAST EXIT!

I screamed the command mentally, as my beak was incapable of making a sound.

Successfully Cast - Exit

And the world went black.

***

“Aaaaaah!” I screamed, sitting bolt upright. I was grabbing something soft. It took me a moment to realize I was holding onto Pri’s skirts so tight that my knuckles were white, she kneeled over me, a look of concern on her face.

“Joseph are you… okay?”

I panted heavily and wiped my forehead, feeling that it was slick with sweat.

“Yeah… yeah… I’m alright. Actually I finally found a way out. The road is… uh.. due north of here.”

“That’s wonderful Joseph…” She smiled at me warmly and stood up, then helped me to my feet.

I grinned back at her, the fear and anxiety of my first flight fading.

She definitely likes me.

“... because I think you wet yourself. You really need that new disguise now more than ever.”

I looked down at my linen breeches. A small wet stain surrounded the crotch.

God damnit. I hate flying.