Waking up, my body felt terrible. Feeling like I ran an entire marathon without warming up, a thing I actually did do once and remember the feeling vividly.

Standing up was slow and painful but I was finally standing, with only minimal difficulty.

Looking around myself I couldn't help but notice something quite odd with my surroundings. The snow that went up to my ankles before is completely gone and replaced with blooming flowers. The dense foliage overhead almost blocked the light from seeping in.

"I know they said that the climate was becoming unstable these days, but this is ridiculous."

I could almost think I'm dreaming but none of the usual tricks for waking up works. I can't even conjure something to drink or make myself fly when you realize you're in a dream.

I'm just going to pretend this is all real until I wake up or until I find the others.

Not far from where I was one could see the backpack that I was carrying and giving me another question of what is real. I have no idea how it could be this close, I clearly remember losing it when the creature attacked me and then falling for a long time.

I leave those questions for later though, with both my thirst and hunger crying for sustenance not taking care them will only hinder me further.

I grab the backpack and sit down on a large rock that functions pretty well as a seat. Once I get comfortable I start getting a handle on my situation.

I take off my jacket first because it getting a bit too warm with it and also to check my pockets. There isn't much in them since I wasn't exactly planning on staying out for long.

I only have a wrap for the snack I ate earlier, Frederics lighter and my... phone. A phone that I can use to call for help!

I facepalm not thinking about using this earlier, I guess the weirdness of my surroundings distracted me more than I thought.

Even if there isn't a signal, something not unusual so far out in the wilderness, I can still use it as a flashlight. Tapping the screen, unfortunately, doesn't even give me that with the screen remaining inactive. Pressing the ON button gives no results either as the alert for low battery remains unseen as well.

"This is weird," turning the phone around to inspect it, "I can't see any damage or a scratch that would indicate why it's like this."

Putting the phone back in my pocket for later, I start rummaging around the backpack hoping for something more useful.

The search is successful with there being a bottle of water, snacks, a packed lunch, and a compass. I don't know why Helena packed a compass but I consider it lucky that she did.

If I remember right, I walked towards the sun while it was setting, when I went to get the kids, so by walking westward, I will eventually get back.

I have a small meal before packing up everything and head west, hopefully towards home.

----------------------------------------

Unseen beneath the bushes the wounded creature was still recovering from its battle with a Two-legs when a smell so wondrous alerted it.

Moving carefully to not disturb the bush it was hiding in, it observed.

The Two-legs had shed its coat after their battle, an ability the creature envied for it was something it wished it could do.

Sniffing the air one could sense the smell of meat, not the raw one had to hunt for themselves, but the precious Meat that only a Two-legs would have.

The creature almost lost itself to its imagination until the Two-legs started packing everything into its portable den and started moving, taking the wonderful Meat with it.

The creatures injuries from the battle hadn't healed yet but the smell of food around the area is scarce so taking a chance it started following, waiting for the perfect moment.

----------------------------------------

I don't for how long I walked but I didn't stop until the light that seeped through the foliage started to lessen.

I debated if I should continue walking since I couldn't be that far away but walking in a forest will just lead to me getting lost.

I start gathering up leaves from the low-hanging branches in order to make a bed. I don't have much training when it comes to surviving outdoors, but I know that you at the very least need to have some divide between the ground and yourself. I think it's meant to make sure you don't lose too much body heat and it does make sleeping much easier.

Laying down on my 'bed' to test it, with the bed being more comfortable than I thought it would be. I can finally start on my meal.

I walked for at least a couple kilometers and the entire time I kept looking out for other sources of food and water. I didn't find any during the entire trip, meaning that I need to make sure that what I have last as long as possible.

Taking out the bags filled with food and water out of the backpack, I started diving them up to make it easier to ration. The little food I have made it both easier and harder, with the food allocated for today only being one snack and 1/8 of the packed lunch.

Eating that didn't exactly fill me up, but I wasn't feeling hungry anymore at least.

I had just one more thing to do before going to bed, which was to make sure that everything valuable was secured properly. The most valuable thing I need, after the food, being the compass.

Looking at the compass I had to really count myself lucky that I had this or I would be lost.

Looking closer though I noticed something I didn't notice before now, the needle wasn't moving or to be more precise it was always pointing in one direction no matter what. I can't quite believe it when I first see it and looking back I never looked at it for long, only to confirm I was on the right course.

I walk over to a patch of the forest that still had some light shining through to get a closer look.

And my fears were proven right.

"Are you fucking serious?!" I can't help but shout in frustration at this.

Thinking even more about this I can remember that certain parts of the forest looked the same. I now understand that those parts might have been me walking through there more than once.

I calm down eventually and decide to leave those problems to a more rested me than to solve them now.

Turning around I spot a new problem though, one that can't wait until tomorrow. Considering that something is currently dragging my backpack into the forest, it's not something that can wait until tomorrow.

I cautiously start to step towards it but I take only one step before it starts running, prompting me to sprint after it.

Running after a thieving animal through a forest with minimal visibility, I consider it a miracle that I don't trip on anything while pursuing it. The creature also seems to be slowing down, making it easier to catch up.

Eventually, the creature stops in a clearing, clearly exhausted, with its body actually having collapsed. I force my body to run faster so I can catch up before it regains its strength.

I slow down the last few meters, more out exhaustion than meaning to and the action saved my life. What I thought was a clearing turns out to be last few meters before a sheer drop.

I manage to stop not far from the creature I get my first good look at it. Looking at its features one can clearly see that it's a fox one that still has its winter coat on as well. Another abnormal thing to add to my rapidly growing list of strange things I don't understand.

Walking up to it, it gives no reaction as I walk closer to it and offers no resistance as I retrieve my backpack.

Putting it on my back, I once again feel secure in my survival for now and I will be able to live for another day. I was going to just turn around back to the camp if I could somehow find my way back, but I realized that I had a great opportunity here.

An opportunity to see things from up high and finally get my bearing. I might recognize some landmarks even, invigorated with the idea I step forward to see what I might find.

What I see leaves me speechless.

Looking downwards I could see nothing but clouds and the open sky. The sight making me almost dizzy with the thought about how high up I must be.

But it was the sight in front of me that invoked the most awe in me by just floating in the sky.

"Is that an island?"