Lost

Chapter 1

|| Trigger Warning ||
This story contains near-death experiences, cursing, and several other topics that might upset some readers. If you are sensitive to these types of things I would not recommend reading any further.

*~ Star Gazing ~*

I'm running. My lungs burn. I want to stop but I can't. I can't risk catching my breath and I don't know why. What am I even running from? Why don't I remember? My memory wasn't like this before... at least I don't think it was. No, it couldn't have been. I shake the thought from my head as I continue forward. My memory isn't important right now, I just need to focus on getting away from whatever I am running from.

Perfect timing too I almost ran right into a river. Running with wet clothes on does not seem fun. Wasn't there another reason I should worry about touching the water in the river... it's probably nothing too bad that I need to worry about.

I scan the river as I run along the side of it, looking for a way to cross. Thankfully it didn't take long to find a fallen log that laid over the river. (haha plot armor go brrrr) It looked sturdy enough, so without much hesitation, I put my weight on the fallen and started to cross.

About halfway across the log, it started to crack under my weight, and i suddenly remember the other reason I didn't want to touch the water. So I ran across the rest of the log praying to whatever god that would listen that I would make it across because silly little me forgot that I have a tendency to dissolve in water. Thankfully it held long enough for me to jump to the other side before it snapped.

I only looked back for a second to the log I was just standing on barely visible under the rushing currents of the river. I gave a quick thanks to the god that made sure I wasn't there with it and continued running. I ducked under some low-hanging branches and soon the river had faded into the distance as I continued running, and I almost forgot about the near-death experience.

I started slowing down my run being far too tired to continue, but not wanting to stop. Eventually, I slowed down to a light jog, I was panting heavily and it felt like my lungs were going to burst. I can't keep going like this, I need to stop and rest.

"C'mon you can keep going, a little more running won't hurt you," I whispered some words of encouragement to myself as I quicken my pace.

Things started to get a little blurry as I continue to run and it's getting harder to dodge and jump over obstacles in my way. I triped over a stray tree root and landed flat on my face. I tried to push myself up off the ground but I collapsed under my weight. So, unable to get up that way I roll over onto my back and sit up.

My vision becomes less and less blurry the longer I rested, but I can't stay here for long. I don't know why, but I just can't, so I shifted my weight onto my legs and started to stand up using a nearby tree for some support. My knees buckle as soon as I took my weight off the tree and I fell onto all fours, which was more graceful than before but still not ideal. I won't be able to stand up let alone run if I don't rest, so I sat up leaning against the tree and tried to catch my breath.

After a while, I was breathing normally again and my lungs were in much less pain. I stood up, wobbling a bit but I didn't fall. I looked back the way I came. I noticed something lumbering through the trees. It was mostly obscured by the forest but as soon as I saw it's siloeat i felt an intense fear crawl up my cheast. as silently as I could I hid from it behind the trees and bushes closest to me. I could feel myself shaking. I could only hope that it can't hear me because if it does I have no chance of getting away.

I don't know how long I was siting there, waiting for that thing to leave but eventually, I heard the faint crunching of leaves grow further away and let out a sigh of relief once they faded into the distance. I waited for a few more minutes, just to be safe, before i slowly got up and started walking. I was still too shakey and tired to run so I began to take in the stunning beauty of the forest. The moonlit trees, the soft humming of insects, the occasional hoot of an owl, and the rustling of leaves in the wind. This is what washes worries away, this is what allows people to truly relax, nobody could live without this kind of peace... or at least I couldn't.

Not too long after I started walking I realized just how tired I was and decided to find a nice place to sleep. After a few minutes, I spotted a tree I could climb. I'm not sure if I know how to climb a tree but it can't go too wrong. I grabbed onto a lower hanging branch and pulled myself up, then I stood up making sure I was holding on to some other sturdy branches, and started climbing a few more branches up the tree.

I was high up enough for my liking. I wasn't so high up that if I fell I wouldn't have any serious injuries, but wasn't so low down that mobs would be able to attack me. So I sat down and started staring at the stars, the way they lit up the night sky makes me just want to stare at them forever, never wanting to avert my gaze. But slowly my vision fades as I fall into a dreamless sleep.

I woke up with a jolt as the wind was knocked out of me. I saired up at the trees from where I now laid on the ground. I groaned and curled up into a ball. Squeezing my eyes shut I try to recover from the fall just laying there. Until I heard footsteps coming in my direction, I jolted up, opened my eyes, and looked at where the sound came from. Only to see bright purple eyes looming over me. The creature... no that's not right, the person that the eyes belonged to took another step forward and pulled one arm up their chest the other one hanging loosely by their side.

They tilted their head slightly, "⍙⊑⏃⏁ ⏃⍀⟒ ⊬⍜⎍" the tall figure spoke revealing a mouth that was previously hidden. There was no malicious intent behind their eyes, only curiosity. Despite speaking a language I was unfamiliar with, I understood them.

"I-I'm afraid I don't know the answer t-to your question," The unknown person stepped back as if they were startled and teleported away. How strange, I only answered their question. I looked around a little trying to spot the stranger but soon gave up not wanting to look for someone during the night who could teleport and has completely black skin. So I climbed back up the tree and tried to fall back to sleep. But due to the recent encounter, I wasn't that tired so I decided to look up at the stars and just star gaze for a while.

1216 words, wow that's a lot. I thought that this chapter would be half as long as it is. Forgive me if this isn't that good I'm still new to writing so I don't have much experience. But still, I hope you enjoyed reading this mess.