I walk for many hours, and while my new body is apparently in great shape, my head is hurting quite a bit by now. I am still focussing on feeling the tugging sensation from my spell. And while I feel that I could simply let it go, I also have the distinct feeling that if I do let go, that I will not be able to do this again until after I get some decent rest. So I persist, and power through, focussing on my breathing, and just putting one foot in front of the other.

Finally, I reach the end of where my spell is leading me. I’m a bit confused at first, cause it’s hard to see in the dark, and I’m so tired by now that I can barely keep my eyes open. However I hear the soft sounds of streaming water, and see the outline of a boat just a bit away. The prospect of shelter invigorates me, but I follow the sound of water first. I haven’t drank for a while now, and after a trek like that, I’m so thirsty, I would even drink muddy water.

Luckily for me, the small creek nearby the boat has very clear water. And I greedily drink from it without any reservations. If my spell led me here, then it should be fine, I tell myself. Too tired for my usual overthinking, I head for the boat, hoping to find a place to sleep there. Now that I’m closer, it looks really old and run down. Doesn’t look like anyone has been here in ages. However, it never hurts to be polite, so I knock on the cabin’s door, and wait for a bit, even though I’m barely managing not to fall asleep standing.

Enter, a voice from inside replies to my surprise. I open the door, and am greeted by the sight of an elderly woman, sitting behind a desk, writing something in a big ledger. Yes? She says, without even looking up. Euhm, I’m sorry to disturb you madam, I reply. But I’m lost in these woods, and I was wondering if I could sleep here for the night? She quickly glances up at me, and frowns. Fine, she sighs, you can sleep on the floor here, as long as you do not disturb me. Thank you madam, I’ll be as quiet as a mouse, I say. She waves me off with her hand, and focuses on the ledger again. Grateful, I find a spot on the floor next to the wall, and in mere seconds, I’m sound asleep.

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I wake up groggily, wondering why I’m sleeping on the floor instead of in my bed. As all the memories of the night before come flooding back, my head clears up right away. It wasn't a dream? I open my eyes and look around, but to my surprise, this is not the room where I went to sleep the night before. Although, it does look very much alike. Last night, it was clean and well kept, but now, everything is dusty and weathered. The desk looks like it’s barely holding itself together. And there are thick cobwebs everywhere. It looks like it’s been many years since anyone has been here. What is happening?

In the bed, I see a vaguely human outline under the covers. However, considering the amount of dust gathered on it. Whoever is laying under there has been laying there for years now. Fear grips my heart, as I recall the old woman’s words: ‘You can sleep on the floor here, as long as you do not disturb me’. I’m still shivering, but mindful of her words, I simply bow to her in thanks. As I quietly leave the cabin again.

Outside, the sun is almost setting again, it looks like I slept through sunrise and the entire day. Not surprising considering everything that happened last night. By now, hunger is gnawing inside of me, and I start my day with some water from the creek. I have no idea where to find food, however I’m in a wild forest, so there should be plenty. I can try a full ritual again, however I don’t think that’s a good idea right now. Finding food shouldn’t be as hard as shelter, and that ritual was very tiring. So instead, I try something else. Let’s see if my intuition also can do more now than it did in the past.

I simply start walking, with no specific goal in mind, just going wherever I feel like, while focussing on the intent of satisfying my hunger. Soon, I walk past a berry bush, they taste sour, but also kinda sweet. A little bit later, I look down, and I see a few walnut-like things laying on the ground. They taste horrible, but I’m hungry enough that I don’t care. As I walk by a bush of black berries, I feel a very strong sense of repulsion, so I ignore those. My intuition is doing a great job so far, and I decide to trust in it fully and not eat something when it doesn’t feel like a good idea. By the time I return to the boat, the sun has set, but I’ve had a very satisfying meal.