Some say life on Earth was too boring. There was nothing except for the program placed into you from birth. Therefore, a human's attempt to make life interesting would be to create gangs, kill each other, steal, and much more. Crimes were a form of escape. A thrill which turned the bland world into one full of excitement. - Unknown, The Dragon Monarch Era, World of Terabethius.

***

My consciousness awoke from the fantasy land of nothingness. Eyes closed, my muddled mind assessed the situation at hand. The wind was warm and gentle, unlike the bitter winter, and the scent of pollen was abundant. Was it spring?

My eyes flickered open in realization and fear. It should be winter. Why is it spring? The memory of the plane crash flooded back, and she was more afraid than ever. There was water underneath the plane, not land. "So," A raspy voice exited flowed through my mouth. My throat burned. "How did I get here?"

My eyes watered as my throat itched. I coughed up a storm. Once my fit ceased for a moment, I was able to take a look at my surroundings. A forest of trees which looked similar to mushrooms stood proudly. All the leaves were above a circular base of branches. If I remember correctly, they were called Dragon Blood Trees. They were named so due to its crimson sap which sometimes leaks out.

Due to their unique shape, the trees were spread apart by many feet, giving any who ventures out into a forest of these trees room to move around. Their mushroom-like shape blocked the sun's rays out of the forest's floor despite the large walking capabilities. I've never seen anything like this in real life.

Oh, wait! This is real life. The constant pain in my head reminded me of that.

I staggered up to my feet while clutching my head. My hands felt a dry layer of skin...a memory flashed of the man's blood pooling down onto my body. It was dried blood. Nausea welcomed me and my palms rubbed harshly against my face in an attempt of getting rid of gore.

Small flecks of red fell harmlessly to the ground like dandruff. Although I have watched people die before, I had never seen so much blood. Watching someone die, whether you love them or not, is a traumatizing thing. I sometimes wonder how soldiers from the military could get used to death. Perhaps it is because they have been around it for so long that they are used to it.

A lifeless body, pale with death and soulless eyes, revived itself in my mind. A vision which haunted me for most of what I can remember- the corpse of the only one who loved me, my grandmother. She had taken me in when my parents had abandoned me to their drug life. We were pleased with life until my father came back with another child and no money.

He leeched off of her as he took control of the entire household like he was the king. My grandmother, a poor soul, began to have suicidal thoughts. One day, she finally gave in and took her life by overdosing on sleeping medications. I was only ten years old then.

I shook the image out of my head. The past was history. I needed to worry about the present so I would have a future to look forward to.

I grabbed one of the bottles of water from my jacket's deep pockets and chugged it down until there was only half of it left. I closed the lid and placed it back. I need to find civilization. I can't stay in the wilderness forever. Those water bottles and snacks won't last more than two days if I don't restrain myself.

I guess I should figure out a meal plan just in case. I am, after all, in a fudging forest for crying out loud. The is no certainty in the wilderness. I glanced down at my dirty clothes. The dried blood would end up attracting unwanted attention. My first goal for wilderness survival should be to mask the scent.

I began to walk in the direction I was facing in. My steps were light and calculated in fear of catching unwanted attention from possible predators. I did my best to avoid stepping on anything that would make noise. However, my pace was that of a snail's due to my caution. I wasn't going to go anywhere like this.

My pace picked up as I gradually became more used to the terrain. Dragon Blood Tree roots barred my way. Even with my vigilance, I tripped many times and created extra noise. The grainy ground crunched under my feet too. This place, wherever it may be, was too dry. The only plant alive was the trees. Where did the smell of pollen coming from?

Perspiration covered my clothes within minutes of walking. After half an hour passed, I had to lean onto one of the surrounding trees in order to catch my breath. Remind me as to why I never exercised before. I took off my coat and tied it around my waist. My hands trembled and my legs wanted to cave in, but I could do nothing more than giving them a few minutes of rest.

I brought out a water bottle, the same one as I had drunk from before, and inhaled a mouthful. I was about to drink more when I remembered that I should save it as a precaution. After counting to sixty, five times, I began to walk again. My clothes were sticky and uncomfortable as they clung to my skin as if their lives depended on it.

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Another thirty minutes passed before a break was needed again. I kept an eye out for any plant, by now, other than the enchanting trees around me. However, my search has yet to become fruitful. Hell, I haven't even seen a mosquito, let alone a wild animal. Was this place what people call a barren forest? I had no idea.

Hours flowed by like a steady stream and the sun began to lower into the horizon, saying "goodnight" to half the world. My stomach rumbled, and my legs were trembling, almost like a hummingbird's wings in flight. It was time to stop for the night.

The question was: where? Where should I set up camp in a place filled with root filled ground? The only which was flat and grassy was the place where I had woken. I didn't find another place like that as I tread deeper into the unknown forest. Aside from that, being out in the open was extremely unsafe as there might be a dangerous creature lurking about.

My gaze shifted up to the massive mushroom with leaves. Perhaps I could climb up one of them to sleep. However, their straight and tall trunks dissuaded my idea. It would be impossible to climb up such a clean tree. There were no branches to hold on to in order to go to where the leaves are. I needed to think of another way to survive the night.

Does it really matter? There were no other creatures in the forest from what I saw thus far. Should I just ignore the nagging feeling in my gut and sleep here? Conflicting thoughts continued to sway in my mind as I brought out a package of cookies. It had seven chocolate chip cookies within.

I brought one out and wolfed it down. If I were to eat a package a day, I would be able to survive four days. From what I've read online, a human body could survive weeks without any intake of food, so, to be safe, I should eat one cookie at dawn, noon, and sunset. Maybe two at dawn and noon so that I would have enough energy to somewhat support my highly active body. I won't need two at sunset as I would be settling down to sleep, thus needing little energy.

My eyelids drifted closer together without my consent. My body was so heavy. I can't lift up a single finger. I knew it was unsafe to sleep without any protection, but I couldn't do anything as I wished to sleep as well.

***

I woke up to the howl of a beast. It startled me to my feet and a run. However, when I looked over my shoulder, there was nothing behind me. No movements, no sound. It was as though the howl had come from my imagination.

Where did it come from, I wonder. Just as yesterday with the pollen, I am now hearing things as well. I could feel a wind, on my skin, which wasn't even there. What was happening to me? Am I hallucinating things? Or am I just going crazy?

"Awoooo!"

Another howl! From a wolf or some other creature similar to one. I was sure it came from right in front of me, but there wasn't anything in sight. Usually, when a wolf howls, they would be ready to attack something and notify their pack of the prey they had found. Yet, there was no wolf. Heck! There wasn't even any flowers or wind!

I shuffle my feet back in confusion and panic. Surely, I am still sleeping and this is all a dream.

Unbeknownst to me, I screamed in agony coming from my right shoulder. I brought my left hand up to cover it only to feel a warm sticky substance oozing down. Blood. My own blood was flowing.

My vision danced as space seemed to distort. Everything. All the light and colors, all the trees began to twist to a circular point. It was like a vacuum was sucking everything into it, including myself. When everything became clear again, I was somewhere different than before. It was dark, not even a moon in the sky. The trees had changed from Dragon Blood Trees to ancient Oaks. Vegetation crowded together, making the forest floor become unseen.

I also saw a massive wolf, the size of a horse, standing before me with his body in a position where he could attack at any given moment. As my mind registered everything before me, all I could do was say something in an unknown language. "Losh ishuk!"

What language did I just speak? I've never heard anything like it on Earth. But, I had a feeling that it was of an ancient tongue not used in modern times. My heart was telling me that it meant, "come at me!"

My! What have I done to myself? I have created a new language, for crying out loud!

The wolf howled and charged at me with everything he had. His ferocious teeth glistened as the sun reflected off their surface. I saw the wolf's sharp claws extend like a cat attacking its foe. I wanted to cower in fear of his size. He was too fast for me to run away unscathed.

I sacrifice my left forearm to the claws, and I held back a scream as I used what little time I had bought to my advantage. My feet pounded across the loose dirt and over roots and broken twigs. I dodged low-hanging branches and jumped over logs. Adrenaline coursed through my veins like a wild gush of wind.

Run. I needed to run faster. My mind was set on survival mode, allowing my instincts to take control. I had no idea where I was headed, like in the Dragon Blood Tree forest I was in before, but I did know I needed to get away from the beast clawing at my heels. A hungry wolf, he is. A large one, too. Perhaps it was like that bird who took the plane down. That inconceivable bird who was so large. That bird who was able to absorb the electricity of the plane.

My mind began to wander away, forgetting about the predicament I was currently in. As a result, the wolf was able to slash at my back. A terrible scream escaped my mouth and I fell to the ground. My face landed on some roots, scratching it up. My body convulsed into a small ball. My hands scratched at my back in an attempt to feel how bad the wound was and to stifle the sounds from my lips.

I've never felt so much physical pain before. Three places, now, where blood was oozing out of my body. My vision had black spots swirling in a chaotic mess when I opened my eyes. Dread filled me as I saw the wolf pouncing. My death was imminent.

I remember hearing some say your life flashes before you when close to death. Well, in a way, they were right. Except, it was only memories filled with regrets and pain.

Hmm. It's strange how this didn't come during the plane incident. I wonder why.

I wish I could kick the person who first created that saying. He or she was wrong by a long shot. As you would already be dead when the flashbacks come to haunt you.