My face breaches the water’s surface. The twin moons shine just as brightly as the first time I’d seen them. The Blue Moon, round and radiant, bathes the sea in a cool, ethereal glow, while above it, the Red Crescent Moon arches delicately.

I’ve spent most of the night floating, pondering my next destination. I rack my brain, trying to recall the map Bailey had shown me. Honestly, I have no clue where I am. But if I remember correctly, there’s supposed to be a town or city east of here, beyond those mountains.

I wonder where Bailey is. He’s probably already made it out of the elemental wilds. I have no idea how long it’s been since we parted ways. “Hopefully,” I mutter to the sea, “we’ll meet again soon.”

The sun’s light peeks over the eastern mountains. Confirming my bearings, I start swimming briskly toward the sunrise. I need to cover some ground before I inevitably lose my sense of direction again. Luckily, the shore isn’t too far off.

By the time the sun is high in the sky, I’ve made it to land. It isn’t the same beach I’d been on before. A dense forest looms just beyond the shore. The vegetation has changed, too. Gone are the tropical plants; now, thick, backcountry woods surround me.

In the distance, the snow-capped peaks of a mountain range pierce the sky. I head into the forest, making my way towards them. Just like before, the sounds of nature envelop me. Tiny creatures chirp and buzz, the wind rustles through the leaves.

It’s almost… peaceful. And the best part? No more mosquitoes! Take that, tiny bloodsuckers!

Keeping a low profile, I stealthily move through the forest, hoping to find some larger game. A prey to skin—I can’t stand being naked… It’s just too weird.

Plenty of creatures roam the forest, but nothing big enough to cover me. I slowly tread forward. Suddenly, I spot tracks on the forest floor. Fresh and large, they look almost like a bear’s.

Quickly following the footprints. Soon, two roars rip through the trees. Following the tracks and the sound, I find two massive, bear-like creatures with long tails bawling at each other.

They don’t notice me, so I keep my distance and wait for the fight to end. They’re really going at it. Surprisingly, the smaller of the two is winning. It’s more agile, dodging several swipes from the larger creature.

The battle ends quickly. The smaller creature lands a decisive swipe on the other’s eyes and a bite on its throat. The larger creature bleeds profusely before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.

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Nature is as brutal as ever.

I kept my distance, my flashy hair already a beacon for trouble. No need to draw more attention to myself.

The smaller creature leisurely dug into the larger one’s chest, eventually ripping out what looked like a heart. The victor then limped off, its trophy dangling from its jaws.

I waited a few more moments to ensure the coast was clear. By the time I approached the massive carcass, small scavengers had already begun their cleanup. I shooed them away, reaching the creature’s side.

Then I realized a rather awkward truth. I had no tools… Nothing at all. That dagger was probably still swimming around in the sea serpent’s stomach, or perhaps enjoying a nice vacation on the ocean floor.

I found a rock and smashed it, hoping for some sharp fragments. It only crumbled into rubble. I scanned the area for obsidian, a volcanic glass that would be perfect for the task. There should be some around. After all, there was a volcano in the area… a long, long time ago.

After smashing a few more boulders, most of which turned out to be just rocks, I found one containing what looked like fossilized sea creatures. And then, finally, there it was: the glassy, black stone.

Hurrying back to the carcass, now swarming with small scavengers again, I shooed them away with a sigh. Then, I hauled the carcass to a different part of the forest. I really didn’t want to be around when the big one came back.

I found a clearing next to a small lake and got to work on the obsidian. Using another rock as a hammerstone, I flaked and chipped away, trying to replicate the techniques from those survival videos I’d binged in my past life.

It’s way harder than it looks on the videos. After countless failures and shattered obsidian shards that vaguely resemble pointy rocks, I finally managed to create something that almost looked like a knife. I proudly carried my masterpiece back to the carcass.

Starting at the chest cavity, I began peeling back the fur and thick hide, carefully slicing through the connecting tissues and widening the opening.

Unfortunately, one knife wasn’t enough. I broke and remade several before I could fully separate the hide from the underlying muscle. Good thing I’d stumbled upon such a large chunk of obsidian.

Once I’d skinned the creature, I soaked the fur in the lake, rinsing away the blood. I also collected a few bones, all the teeth, and anything else that looked remotely useful, leaving the rest of the carcass to the eager scavengers. They wouldn’t go hungry tonight.

I hurried through the forest, gathering some plant materials along the way, until I reached the foot of the mountain. There, I found another cave. Just as I stepped inside, the heavens opened up again. I didn’t venture too far in, still a little traumatized by my previous underground adventure.

Inside, I focused on the fur and leather. I’m no master tailor, but with makeshift bone needles and plant thread, I managed to cobble together some rudimentary clothing. When I was done, I wrapped the remaining materials into a bag. I might need it later; this makeshift outfit isn’t exactly built to last.

As I finished, the rain began to ease, then stopped altogether. I was about to head out when a low rumbling sound stopped me dead in my tracks. A truly foul odor wafted out from the depths of the cave, followed by the familiar dinosaur-headed lizard crawling into view.