Letting out a groan, “What happened?” Looking around, “how did I get here?” Eyes widening, I spring to my feet jumping away from the tree... why was I drawn to you? Looking around my gaze ends with me gazing up through the leaves, it appears half of the day has passed, if not more. Shaking my head, “no time to think...” my eyes darting around, I need to head back before it gets dark. How do I find my way back though... that could work.
Jumping up I grab onto a branch and start climbing the tree. Pausing, it looks like there are... veins, within the tree? It was quite mesmerizing, all sorts of color just pulsing throughout. Reaching a branch high enough to gaze out over the foliage. It's gorgeous, heh, almost enough to make me want to stay for an eternity. “Tha-t will be annoying to deal with,” with all those high mountains surrounding this place. “Five possible ways in, assuming all those cracks are ways in.”
As far as I can tell the one over there towards the sunset is closest, it should be the one that we came from. Biting my bottom lip, it's so far, it's improbable that I came this far in such a short time. If I'm judging the distance correctly it would take at least half a day to return, if I'm lucky. “Wasn’t that flower... a bit to the right just a second ago”, rubbing my eyes, “is my mind still affected, haa, of course it is.”
This place might be the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen, too bad it’s awful here. Now that I think about it wasn’t that clearing also over there... “stop, why am I even thinking about this,” Abi could be hurt, she was only just feeling better. We’ve always helped each other, or at least try, when we can. What of those attempts, what, one maybe two succeeded. The rest, so many failures, whether it was due to being slow, weak, or just foolish, thinking we had reached the top just to be devastated in the end... Abi will be fine, when it came to judging risks based on logic and reasoning she was always better than me, ha, all I have is my gut.
If they are not rushing like in the past, they should be either waiting where we had entered from or have already left. With all the hallucinogenics I may have been out for multiple days, “haaa,” hopefully they didn’t wait. Jumping I grab a branch, quickly making my way down. Time to get a bit of a workout. Slowly speeding up I get into a steady pace feeling the wind brush past my face as I make my way towards the sun. Truly, this place is incredible, all the vibrant colors, the feeling of life in everything.
Unconsciously slowing down, I notice a plant that has this strange... purple... center... with. Turning my head so fast my neck hurts I rapidly start running again this time not looking around nearly as much. I really have gotten too carefree. I almost fell for a plant with hypnotic properties knowing this forest is strange. Wait, that tree looks familiar, looking up and around, but that shouldn't be possible, how can I be so close to that giant tree again? Looking around quickly all around, what is happening now, can’t anything go right today, tonight, whatever time it is. Climbing up the nearest tree, this one also has these strange vein looking things all over it just smaller.
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What? That... doesn’t make sense, how can the crack be over there now. Feeling a tightening in my chest with my heartbeat quickening, I can't help but come to a horrifying conclusion. This place is shifting... I’m stuck, they could be anywhere. Losing strength in my legs, I fall onto my backside, my back resting on the trunk, the possibility of falling far from my mind. With my consciousness fading, I can’t believe I came; I knew it was an awful idea... then everything went dark. Eyes shooting open I look around, of all things to dream of, it just had to be that. Slowly and carefully moving I unwrap the cloth from my leg, “haa, it may not be fully healed but at least it should be enough.”
Stumbling my way through my cramped little home I quickly scrape the mold from the walls, wrapping it on the top of the stick. Finally wrapping the cloth around it I’m ready to leave, to go back. Slowly moving the box at the entrance, it creaks as usual, and I struggle out. Hmm, it’s still dark, looking up into the night sky with all the bright stars, but they are all overshadowed by the three moons. The red, blue and yellow moon, to think there would be a religion for each of them. Wonder if there's one for that so called black moon, I mean really, as if there is some fourth moon. Using the stick for support I slowly make my way through the dark side passages and roads dodging any patrols, don’t feel like answering any questions right now.
Looking down at my leg I would have never thought I used to be able to recover from these types of things in a day or less. Now look at me, needing support, then again, the others always complained about how jealous they were. Really never should have left that forest, everything went downhill after I did, well, more downhill. My throat feels like sandpaper, should get a drink when I can.
What was that, trying to listen closely it sounds like sobs and... arguing. Speeding up just enough to not make too much noise I round a corner and frown. Two scrawny guys are beating up someone that appears to be young and that looks malnourished. They're even smaller than me, taking a deep breath, I should be able to handle them if it's just those two. All our bodies should be in a state of decay putting us on somewhat even ground, all I must do is use their own mind against them, just like beasts, with a little modification. Taking a step forward, my chest tightens, and breath quickens, I’m... scared? Of these people, how, why? Did I, did I just take a step back?
Clenching my teeth, feeling them crash against each other, come on, MOVE! Feeling my feet move I grow ecstatic, wait, backwards. Did I just take, another step backwards? That can’t be, I must still be dreaming. I can’t control my body; I just keep taking steps back. What was that? Quieting my mind as best I possibly can, ‘please, someone help.’ As if time slowed down, or perhaps it was my thoughts speeding up, how many times have I asked that? No one ever comes on time, not even when they want to, it's useless to ask or beg for help, only you can help yourself. But that’s not right, we always came to help, they even came to help, and we DID succeed twice. Planting my feet, I’ll be the one you can rely on for now.