Zero awoke to the sound of birdsong and the rustle of leaves in the wind. He tried to open his eyes, but the bright sunlight glared blindingly. He shielded his eyes with his hand and slowly sat up, taking in his surroundings. He sat in a forest, surrounded by tall trees and thick bushes.

The trees were so tall that they blocked out the sky, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Wildflowers and ferns grew everywhere, and he could hear the sound of a stream flowing nearby. But despite the beauty of the forest, there was no sign of civilization anywhere.

Where am I…?

He looked down and saw that his clothes were dirtied with blood, grime, and… ash? He couldn't remember how he had gotten here. He remembered nothing of his past, not even his own name. He felt a sharp pain in his head and touched his forehead, feeling a large bump. He winced as he touched it. It must have been from a blow to the head. He had no idea how long he had been unconscious.

As he looked around, he noticed a sword lying beside him. The sword was made of gleaming metal, its blade long and slender, and the hilt was adorned with intricate designs.

He picked up the sword and felt its weight and balance. It felt familiar to him, as if he had held it before. He swung it a few times, feeling the wind brush against his face and the weight of the weapon in his hand. He felt a strange connection to the sword, as if it was a part of him.

Red.

The thought struck him like lightning. He could instinctively tell the name of the sword. The sword was named Red.

His mind went blank for a moment as he stared at the sword in his hands. He was alive. There was no obvious enemy. What next? He needed to find his way back…. Where? Home… Probably…? He could feel an emptiness inside him, a longing for something he couldn't quite place.

Zero rose from the mossy ground, his body aching. He stumbled through the dense forest, the towering trees casting ominous shadows upon him. With nothing but the sound of the gurgling stream to guide him, he pushed on, driven by the primal instinct to survive, to quench his thirst.

But as he trudged towards the water, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, hunted. He didn't know by whom or why, but he knew he had to be on guard. Every step was taken with caution, his eyes scanning the lingering darkness for any sign of danger, his ears pricked for the slightest sound of pursuit.

His feet crunched over dry leaves underfoot, the crisp sound echoing through the trees. A bird chirped somewhere above him, its melody a stark contrast to the uncertainty that consumed Zero.

His heart pounded in his chest as he ventured deeper into the unknown wilderness, his mind desperately trying to keep track of the direction he was heading. The sounds of animals moving in the distance reached his ears, but he paid them little heed; he could instinctively feel that they were nothing but critters.

As he walked, his eyes caught sight of strange markings etched into the trees. They looked like symbols or runes, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity with them. Zero paused, his curiosity getting the better of him. He reached out and traced the lines with his fingers, trying to make out any clear meaning. But the symbols were too worn and faded, seeming incomprehensible.

What are these? Zero wondered, his mind throbbing dully. He stared at the markings for a moment longer, his mind trying to process what he was seeing. In the end, the pull of his thirst proved too strong to ignore. He decided to continue his trek towards the stream, his need for hydration overtaking his curiosity. The thought of drinking fresh, cold water was too tempting. I’ll come back later.

As Zero trudged on, a variety of questions gradually surfaced in his mind. Who am I? Where am I from? And why can’t I remember anything? He felt, no, knew that the answers to these questions could be vital to his survival.

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After a few more minutes of traveling, Zero reached the stream at last. The sound of the gurgling water was like music to his ears. The stream was a narrow one, its surface clearly visible, the water glistening in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. Zero approached it with caution, his eyes scanning the water for any signs of danger.

He searched for any signs of movement or disturbance in the water, but it was clear and still. He knelt at the safe distance away, peering into the depths of the stream, examining the stream bed for any signs of monsters or other deadly creatures. But nothing stirred. Just in case, he stabbed his blade a few times at random spots in the stream. Upon feeling the solid sensation of rock, he finally allowed himself to drink from the cool, clear water.

He drank deeply, greedily lapping up the fresh water like a wild animal, his thirst finally sated. The water invigorated him, filling him with a new sense of vitality. He drank until he could drink no more, and then he rose, feeling renewed.

He took a moment to splash the water over his face and body, washing away the dirt and grime that covered him. He let out a sigh of relief as he felt the cool water cleansing his wounds, providing a small measure of relief to his wounded body. He felt the pain of his injuries dulling and his clarity returning, and for a moment, he felt like this water was his salvation, a god sent gift. He spent a moment longer, standing in the stream, letting the water wash over him.

Zero's gaze turned to the trees that surrounded him. He had not truly noticed them before, too preoccupied by finding the stream, but now he needed to find a source of food. He walked towards one of the trees, tall and sturdy, and ran his fingers over it. He examined the bark, rough and gnarled, the leaves, green and vibrant, and the branches, twisted and ancient.

With his knife, he carved a small piece of bark from its trunk. He held it in his hand, studying it closely before bringing it to his lips. He took a small bite, the woody flavor filling his mouth. He waited for a few minutes, letting the flavor settle in his mouth, and as he did, he realized that it was edible. Not nutritious, but it would allow him to survive for a few days. He knew that he had to find a more sustainable source of food, but for now, this would have to do. He took a few more bites before tucking the bark in his pocket, a small but important step in his survival.

He scanned the ground, looking for any other sources of food. Zero spotted a few mushrooms present near the trees, but he doubted they’d be safe to consume without thoroughly cooking them. Either way, he’d be able to come back to this stream as long as he didn’t wander too far away, so there was no need to store the mushrooms.

Zero set out to explore the immediate vicinity of the forest. He treaded cautiously through the dense underbrush, his eyes scanning the ground for any sign of sustenance. The forest floor was a tapestry of browns and greens, the dry leaves rustling beneath his feet, the moss and ferns clinging to the earth.

He searched for any other sources of food, but the pickings were slim. He found a few berries clinging to the bushes, their colors a deep red and purple, but they were scarce and not enough to sustain him for long. Still, he gathered them, placing a few of them in his pocket while holding the rest in his hands.

He searched for tracks of animals, but the ground was hard and dry, revealing nothing. Similarly, he couldn’t find any edible plants- the forest floor was barren, the lush greenery of the trees not extending to the earth.

As he wandered, his thoughts turned to his injuries. While he was not fully healed, his injuries were not life threatening. If he had a good source of nutrition, Zero was sure he could recover fully in two days at best. He had to be smart, to pace himself if he wanted to survive. So, with a heavy heart, he turned back towards the stream. The berries should last for him for a day, if used frugally.

Noticing that his surroundings were turning darker, Zero returned to the stream. As nightfall began in full bloom, Zero knew that he needed to find a safe place to rest. He drank a bit more water from the stream, feeling the cool liquid refreshing his parched throat. He scanned his surroundings, his eyes searching for a suitable place to take camp.

And then, it struck him. His gaze turned to the trees, their branches reaching high into the sky. They would be the perfect place to spend the night.

With utmost care, Zero climbed up the tree, his movements slow and deliberate, making as little noise as possible. He reached a sturdy branch and settled himself upon it, his eyes scanning the darkness below. He felt the rough bark of the tree beneath him, the branches creaking with his weight. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, feeling the cool night air fill his lungs.

He felt the familiar weight of Red in his hand, offering him a sense of comfort in the darkness. He slowly drifted off to sleep, the sound of the stream below and the rustling leaves above, lulling him into a peaceful slumber.

***