"Ugh"

Damn it. I knew that explosion had injured me, but I had not expecting to be immobilized. It also hurt like hell. Screaming internally, I tried to move myself again but just flopped.

Sprawled out on the ground with my head right next to the tree I had semi-accidentally knocked over I was left to my thoughts. How did I even conjure that lightning? I thought back to the process and remembered the feeling of that strange force that I used to conjure it. I remembered where It came from, not my body but from what I instinctually know to be my soul. Quickly I began to make a distinction between soul and body.

Based on what I could gather the soul and body are two distinct parts that make up me. The soul is where my consciousness resides, along with that mysterious force that I used to make the lightning. The body serves as a tool with which to obtain nutrients and interact with the corporeal world. The two parts are symbiotic in that all nutrients are split evenly between the two parts till they are both full. The body contributes through physical strength and senses, while the soul contributes the strange energy. Although this is a far fetched theory it's the best I could think of with what I have.

With nothing better to do, being immobilized and all, I looked back into my soul to check on the energy. The first thing I noticed was that there was only about a forth left. unlike then lightning I created however, the energy was bland, without properties. Then I had an epiphany, what if the energy itself was not actually limited to a certain purpose and was instead like potential energy to be shaped by the will of the user.

This led to some experimentation. I imagined taking an eighth of my mana with the intention of consolidating some earth into a ball. Nothing happened. I tried doing the same with lightning forming a small bolt with an eighth of my remaining reserves, and It worked! I flew the bolt around in small circles until It dissipated. It seems that since I had already done It once It is easier to repeat.

Then I had a thought. I began drawling on all my remaining mana and started circulating It throughout my body. It snapped bones back into place as a sense of rejuvenation overcame me.

I could move.

With mana coursing through my body felt stronger than ever. Just as I finished that thought however, my mana ran out and my body returned to normal. shame as that was my bones were still in place meaning I could move.

Exited to be moving again I stood up. looking down at my hands I saw them covered in my black blood. I mentally made note that circulating my body may set my bones It wont heal wounds.

I practically sprinted over to one of the stray pieces of bark. It had some thick fluid on it which I ignored as I tossed the bark down my throat and swallowed.

"Ach!"

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The bark flew out of my mouth as my body rejected it. Damn it! All that work and blood for nothing. I cursed Internally, but than I noticed something. my mana had risen an entire 16th of its full capacity. Normally I wouldn't think much of it, but I failed to actually consume the food. I looked At the piece of bark. I locked at It for a solid amount of time, wracking my brain, scouring my memory for the answer. And than, as all good realizations do, It hit me harder than the tree would have had I not dodged. The thick brown fluid, the sap!

I made haste over to the brutalized stump and found It covered in the miracle substance. Swiftly, I began devouring the nutritious nectar until my body and soul were both satisfied, and my mana had been fully replenished. Noticing nearby, that small hardened drops of the stuff was scattered around. Collecting a handful I set out for the road, searching for something more Interesting than this boorish forest full of rows upon rows of Identical trees and rocks.

I walked for ages. The giant sky ball of eyeball pain eventually descended beyond my view, and the world plunged into darkness. replacing it were 5 grey spheres in the sky, varying in size. I continued walking this time instead wishing to find something that I could at least interact with.

"Thud."

Without light I tripped, I was angered but continued on nonetheless. change happened abruptly. There was a sheer line right through the forest. actually scratch that, right at the end of it. This line was flowing, it was a river. I sprinted over to the river, Ignoring everything and anything that may lay beyond. I was thirsty. I cupped my hands and drank aggressively, tossing to the side my few remaining sap rations.

With a full stomach I looked around beyond the river. I saw life. moving things like me. It was a strange thing, standing on four legs. The creature was yellow with black stripes, It was furry and sleek. It had aggressive looking teeth and a furry protrusion from Is back.

My instincts screeched "DANGER! FIGHT! RUN! SURVIVE!"

I did none. I stared this supposed threat down, I would not make the first move. I hoped that my instincts were wrong, that the thing thought like I did, reasoned like I did. so we locked eyes, and my instincts were right.

The mad beast leapt at me, fangs barring without a glimmer of conscious thought behind Its eyes. I leapt to the side, but I wasn't one to flee. I slammed my fist into the side of its head. It stumbled for a second, but I underestimated the beast. It bolted towards me, sharp claws tore through my stony arm cutting at the bone beneath.

"Grrrrr"

That noise came from us both as it backed off and we locked eyes in a brittle stalemate, both of us ready to strike at the slightest mistake of the other. However, I was not a thoughtless beast, and was forming lightning in my palm. This is the power of cunning you brainless twit.

Lightning circled in my palm growing rapidly in intensity. Seeing this the beast made a charge. Too slow you feral bastard. The lightning slammed into the creature from my palm. The beast twitched, tensed up, then fell limp as yellow arcs danced around the corpse.

Black blood dripped from four big gashes in my arm as my adrenaline subsided and I trotted over too the corpse. I far prefer when my adversaries don't move or fight back, I decided. as I reached the dead being I noticed eye-fryer was cresting the horizon and light was returning.

I looked at the corpse with only one thought. I wonder what It tastes like? I began slowly and methodically ripping the creatures legs off and eating them too the bone. In my opinion it tasted pretty good. I was full so I took one leg for rations, leaving the central body to rot.

Leg in hand, I crossed the river. Looking out on the grassy plane surrounded by short white tree forests, mountains, and a stretch of valley. I was ready to explore, and hopefully not die.