Woooah, okay. Steady now…

Just when I work up the nerves to take flight for the first time, the branch I'm standing on strains and bends, threatening to break any second. A quick look down reminds me of everything I have to lose if I fall.

You're overthinking things Alistair, just let instincts take over. You're a bird. They fly! You can fly!

…

Screw my instincts, this is terrifying! But dammit I need to get ahold of myself! I need to do this! If I don't, what was the point of everything thus far? Am I just going to walk around everywhere? Ignore my greatest asset?

Okay, different approach.

Remember that feeling you had when the storm winds blew through your wings. Focus in on it. That sensation of feeling weightless-

SNAP!

Much like now.

The sky quickly disappears behind the canopy once more as I crash and tumble against branch after branch. Each and every one smacking my body with brutal force, doing little to stop my downward spiral. In desperation, I try grabbing any branch I can to stabilize myself, but my claws and talons only manage to scrape gouges into the wood, never finding true purchase.

Suddenly there's a gap in the weave of branches and I fall through open air, it's now or never. I spread my wings as wide as I can, catching as much air drag as possible to slow my fall.

At first it works, albeit slightly. I can definitely tell my falling speed has slowed down. But then it begins to ramp up again, and I fall back into a dive. The air slips through my feathers helplessly. Mustering what force I can mid-dive, I drive my wings back so they no longer run parallel compared to me. Again, I feel them catch the wind, but the force exerted on them is far more than what I expected. They bend back farther than they are supposed to, causing lancing pain in my shoulder muscles.

With great force, I push back against the forceful draft, pumping the breaks on my dangerous dive. It works great! Except I'm still falling! The ground is closing in fast and there's nothing I can do about it!

Shit, shit, SHIT!

CRASH!

Luckily I managed to slow my fall, but damn that still hurt. My head is throbbing and I can't tell where the soreness begins and ends. If someone were to ask, "Where does it hurt?" Everywhere doctor, absolutely everywhere.

No longer in the mood to do anything for a couple minutes, I lay back and look up once again towards the upper echelons of the forest. Hardly any blue in sight, just the lush green roof of sun-kissed leaves. But beyond that barrier, I imagine there's entire flocks of birds flying around up there, performing the miraculous feat as if it were as easy as breathing air. I'll get there too one day, mark my words!

The snapping of a twig draws my attention towards the line bushes on my right. Stepping through the leafage is another one of those wolf hybrids, this one with its muzzle scrunched and peeled back in a snarl. The other half makes no effort to disguise two needle-like fangs, all while flattening its hood and practically spitting venom with the spatting hisses it makes. Both of them have furrowed brows, with anger ignited behind each of their stares.

Woah now, lets not be too hasty!

My body creaks with pain from that terrible fall, but I could care less about the pain right now. I'm not about to get jumped flat on my ass! So ignoring my body's plight, I stand up on my two feet once again and stare down this new threat. I don't have much to defend myself with, my kicks are probably going to be my best defense, but I'm not sure how realistic it is versus an agile predator, more so when said foe stands as tall as I do. Maybe I can go for the legs, if I can just incapacitate him, I might be able to make a run for it.

Each of us circle around the other, I'm sure he's evaluating me, just as I am him.

Then with a guttural snarl, he lunges with flashing teeth! I follow my instincts instead of following my initial plan. Using my wings to propel myself upwards, I deliver a heightened kick to his snout and I feel my talons make their mark as they scrape into the creatures face. The sudden blow is enough to knock him off course, his teeth audibly gnashing into empty air. It's not nearly enough to stop his momentum, and he crashes into me, sending me tumbling back towards the ground while he continues forward. Leaves scatter high into the air as he slides to a stop, bringing his bloodied head back around to search for the prey he narrowly missed.

Get up Alistair, don't let him catch you on the ground!

Urgently I rise to my feet. Again my body aches in protest, I'm not sure how long I can draw this battle out in this state.

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There's a glint in the serpents eye as he watches my movements, and I swear the wolf-half pauses for a second before circling the clearing once more. In their predatory gaze I feel a new sense of dangerous intent, whatever they are planning it's not good!

Panic builds in my chest when I notice the main body rushes with no warning. From the look in its eyes, I surmise that its aiming for my throat, so just before it gets within striking range, I dive to the left, before he can correct his course. But he suddenly changes course, slowing down and swiping with his claws towards my legs. In the heat of the moment, I leap to escape from his attack, and the instant my feet leave the ground, the other half lunges with insane speed. The wolf was a decoy, this was the real attack! I fell for it!

Mere seconds before the twin fangs sink into my flesh, a blur rushes across my vision and both of my adversaries are sent flying, colliding harshly into the side of a tree.

Standing on top of my downed foes is another of their kind, this one much larger, its fur rough with several scars plainly visible. The newcomer's jaws are locked around the other's neck, not completely closed, but it sure looks like if it could if it really wanted to. The smaller one struggles in vain, growling and barking aggressively towards the one that has him pinned helplessly. In response, he just bears his weight and tightens the grip on his throat, squeezing out painful whelps from the pinned wolf.

As fascinating as this is to watch, I am not interested to see the conclusion. If anything, it’s a lucky break, and I have no intention of wasting it. As I take careful steps away from their infighting, the newcomer's serpent-half stares at me with the other serpent wrapped helplessly in its coils. The look inspires a new sense of fear, and it's clear that if this larger one wanted to, he could do me in with little effort on his part. I can only imagine how many struggles the pair has lived through, making their intervention all the more enigmatic. Stared down by those cold, calculating, amber-slitted eyes, I flee away from the two hybrids.

Slowly the sound of their struggle fades into the background. Finally safe from the threat of being killed and eaten, I lean against a sturdy tree and I at last catch my breath.

I don't know why that larger one intervened, but I don't care. Thank goodness it did, is all I can think about.

Unfortunately, I think I have to give up my plans to retrieve my necklace, it's just a pointless endeavor at this point. One that is going to get me killed. It's frustrating, but it's the right choice for right now. If I'm lucky I might be able to find it later. For now I need to figure out a way to survive in this new environment. Be it learn to fly, or learn to defend myself. So far, not including that strange out-of-body experience, I'm 0-2 in this forest. It's a miracle that I haven't died yet… for real that is.

And now that I've finally had time to collect my composure, it dawns on me how thirsty I've gotten. Not to mention hungry…

Alright, new priority, find some water. Then find some shelter.

I could always make my way back towards the cave, there was water down there and it should be clear of any danger, assuming no other creature has laid claim to it yet.

Taking a long look at my surroundings makes one thing certain.

I have no idea where I am.

So that idea is out.

There is a slight downward slope to the ground, if I follow it to the lowest point I might be able to find a river. Without a better idea I get to walking while the sun is still high in the sky. Ideally I can find something before it gets dark.

While I'm walking, I think back what it was like in that ghost-like form, how I was able to feel the flow of essence so naturally, I didn't even have to think about it, I just did it. Holding a wing out in front of me, I feel the sudden inspiration to give the whole magic thing another try. As I walk, I focus on capturing that same feeling, allowing essence to flow from my chest, all the way to the tips of my claws. Several times I feel as if I'm close to grasping the essence that I channel, but every time I feel it slip away and disperse back into my body.

It's probably not helping that I'm trying to do this while multi-tasking. I'm at my wit's end trying to keep an eye on my surroundings and where I'm walking, all while filtering the sounds of the forest in hopes of hearing running water. Trying to do all this while doing these exercises is just too much, at least for now. I'll try it again once I get some food and water in me. Oh this would be so much easier if I could just fly…

Also now that I'm thinking about it, I'm surprised I haven't run into any more dangerous creatures like those orothus, of which I have decided to call. Every now and then I see other animals, some more monstrous than others, hidden in the shade of the thicket, but most flee when I notice them. The rest choose to keep a healthy distance, similar to the orothus, excluding the one I got in a struggle with. I think I can come up with a few ideas, but it's too soon to draw proper conclusions. For now, I am content with being fortunate enough to avoid further encounters with the forest inhabitants.

Wait, is that what I think it is?

Amidst my internal musings, I lean my head towards the left, honing in on the noise that captured my attention

Sure enough, a fair bit out, I detect the ever so slight soft bubbling of a stream.

Hey! Turns out that following the forest down this direction wasn't pointless after all! With renewed vigor, I change course immediately and make a beeline. Following the entrancing sound of promised water, I cross the last line of trees and behold a sparkling river rife with pebbles and rocks of all shapes and sizes, churning softly with a mild current.

Stepping closer to the water's edge, I try to see if I can make out any familiar slippery shapes. Although I can't see any large ones, sure enough I find little minnows swimming in the shallows. If they're here, that must mean there are more in the deeper sections of the river.

Enough looking, I came here for a reason after all! I dip my head into the cool water and take a well deserved drink. Surprisingly, it's not nearly as crisp and fresh as the water back in the cave, but it's damn near close!

While I'm drinking, I feel a strange tickle in my mind, and for some reason I get the urge to move over slightly. It just felt so natural, at first I didn't even question it. Before I realize it, a large tortoise with an dull brown, moss-covered shell slides over into the spot I just was and dips its ancient, wrinkled head into the water. After taking a long sip, I get another thought in my head, this time it's warm. Is this gratitude?

Wait… did you just? Huh?