Day I
“Aaaaaaah, my fuckin’ head.” I said as I awoke. Bringing my hand up to my head I groaned as I slowly sat up. Opening my eyes I scanned the terrain around me. I was sitting in the middle of a forest, numerous trees surrounded me as their bright green leaves blocked out the sunlight. The landscape was made even darker due to the fact that I was wearing sunglasses. I would take them off if I knew where my original glasses were.
Yeah I had eye problems, but I learned how to manage my condition. Reaching into my woodland camouflage BDU pants that I usually wore (because I can that’s why) when I went hiking, hunting or outdoors in general. I pulled out the case that held my glasses. Opening up the case I took of my prescription sunglasses and put on my normal glasses. Finally seeing much more clearly I stuffed the case with the sunglasses now inside back into the cargo pocket.
Looking around I laid my eyes on my trusty Remington 700. Strange, I don’t remember bringing it with me when I was going to where ever I was going. My memory shorted out a bit, I remember waking up today and what I had for breakfast but everything past that I forgot. Maybe I was on a hunting trip?
‘Nope, deer hunting season was over two months ago.’ Shaking my head I picked myself up and walked over to my rifle. Picking it up off the forest floor I made sure to look it over, seeing that it was in near perfect condition I used the sling to carry it on my back. I also made sure to search through my pockets for anything useful.
I stilled had my IPhone 5 with a black cover, my multitool, a box of matches, and a half eaten Snickers.
I know not much, but maybe I can MacGyver this shit into something useful.
Pulling out my phone I punched in my code and searched for a signal. Nothing, not a single damn bar. Sighing to myself I stuffed my phone into my right pocket before looking around.
‘I should find some high ground.’ I thought to myself. Seeing that it was the only available option at the moment I began to walk towards a conveniently placed mountain not to far from where I started off. It would take me at least a day to scale the entire thing. Might as well get to it.
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God knows how long I have been walking. My legs stung a bit and my feet were sore inside my Jungle Boots. How did I get my hands on these, Army Surplus. I like military stuff OK, including camo in general.
Now I can here one of you thinking "he must be impersonating a soldier." Let you stop you right there, never would I do such an act. I wear these mostly because I do airsoft for sport.
Anyway, the sun was beginning to dip under the horizon and I had yet to make it half way up the damn thing. Groaning I slowly sat down on the ground and crossed my legs. I positioned my rifle in my lap and leaned against a boulder.
‘I’m not going to make it today, might as well begin tomorrow morning.’ At that moment my stomach decided to speak up with a long, painful growl. ‘I was wondering when you would show up...’ My stomach gave another growl in response. ‘Alright, alright, I get it.’
Pulling out my half eaten Snickers bar I quickly downed the glorious bar of nuts, caramel, and chocolate. Though it wasn't much I would survive the night. Groaning I quickly got up and made it a task to build a small fire.
Gathering a few stones lying around the place I arranged them into a circle. Getting a handful of dried pine needles from the forest floor I placed them in the center of the fire before arranging a few fallen branches and sticks into it. Pulling out the match box I quickly struck a match and placed it into the dried pins. It quickly lit and before long I had a small but strong fire.
Pulling out my phone I went into my playlist and selected a song.
Youtube Video
What? You expected something country related? Pfft, talk about stereotypes. Nah, I prefer soundtracks that are from video games osts or fan made. I sat there watching the flames dance as the music continued to play in the background. I slowly laid on my back and gazed up to the stars looking for any constellations I could recognize. I didn't find any that looked remotely familiar to the ones I know.
A pang of disbelief filled me. How is that possible? I have always found an interest in the night sky and knew many of its stars, but now looking up to the night sky I couldn't recognize a single fucking one.
I soon turned onto my stomach and returned my phone back to my pocket. Laying down on the cold hard ground I slowly began to drift asleep. However, my mind was in a buzz, thousands of thoughts filled it as I tried to drown them out. I succeed and I soon drifted into sleep.
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Day II
I slowly awoke from my slumber. The fire had long since died and my body was exposed to the cold morning air. However, somehow I had a stroke of luck where the sun rays rained down upon my position, it warmed by skin and filled me with a comforting warmth. I smiled, I wanted to lay their and enjoy the warmth for as long as I could.
Sadly, I couldn't. I pushed myself to my feet. Much to the protest of my tired body. Stretching I earned a few good pops from my body. Scratching my lower back I looked around. The sun had become annoyingly bright as I had to cover my eyes. I quickly pulled out my sunglasses and put them on. Being able to see much clearly now I walked over to the rock where I had placed my rifle to lean on. Strapping it to my back I began walking up the mountain again.
However, half an hour into my hike my stomach decided to wake up.
‘I’m sorry, but I don’t have anything on me!’ My stomach growled in anger. ‘Come on bro, how about I make you a deal. If we can get our little objective done without anything from you until it's completed we can go hunt down a deer or something. Sound good?’ My stomach growled in acceptance and I didn't hear anything from it after that.
After another four hours of climbing, taking a break, and various other things I finally made it to the top. At the top of it was a cave of some sort, it was large too. I wondered how it formed too, I would have thought it was artificial but the uneven walls and naturally formed edges proved otherwise.
Curiosity getting the better of me I walked deeper into the cove. It was relatively empty and dull. I was about to turn around but something caught my eye. I slowly made my way over to it until it was by my feet. Just a few inches from my feet was a small pile of gold and gems. I was hesitant to pick it up, who the hell leaves a pile of valuables in the middle of a cave at the top of a mountain? I mean seriously, think about it.
Either way I hesitantly picked up the pile and stuffed as much as I could into my right cargo pocket. I may need this later. Turning back to the exit I walked outside and to the edge of the cliff. Looking out upon the valley I spotted a village not to far from where I was at. Setting that as my new destination I began down the mountain.
The good old mister stomach spoke up.
‘Yeah, yeah, I know. A deal is a deal.’ But before I can get to the village I need to find some grub. Walking down the mountain I set a destination for the darker looking forest near the village.
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My rifle shouldered I slowly stalked through the woods. I closely listened to my environment, looking for any sign of an animal. It didn’t take long to find one, not to far from where I crouched was something remarkable.
It looked like a fuse between a scorpion, lion, and bat. It was at least a hundred or less meters away from where I lay.Through my scope I was able to get a look of its facial features. Tusk like teeth pointed upwards towards the sky from the lower jaw. It had a fired mane and thick dark yellow skin. It had dark brown irises that mirrored my own, which in my opinion looked bigger than they should.
I slowly aligned my crosshairs with the white of its eyes. It was completely oblivious that I was here. At the angle I was facing the bullet should drive its way through to the brain. I slowly placed my finger on the trigger and slowly began to pull. The rifle bucked against my shoulder from the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum round. Its eye exploded and the bullet entered its cranium.
The bullet most likely bounced inside the creature skull, turning its brain to mush. Its body dropped dead on the ground soon after words as blood slowly oozed out of the destroyed eye. Getting onto my feet I quickly jogged over to the body. Quickly cycling the the bolt I put another bullet into the head, just to make sure.
Seeing that it was now dead I pulled out my multi-tool as well as taking off my shirt knowing that this was going to take a while.
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A few hours later I had a decent amount of meat in my hand and a bunch of blood covering my arms and torso. Years ago I would have most likely vomited or at least been a bit disgusted, now I have grown used to it and didn’t really care. Now all I wanted to do was clean the blood off.
I had left the rest of the creature for whatever may want to consume it later. A waste of meat I know, but an opportunity presented itself and I took it. Besides, the last thing I want to do is get on my stomachs bad side.
After finding a river I quickly washed the blood of me and my bear. Once done I cleaned the meat to the best of my abilities. Once done I gathered a few branches, stones, and dry leafs to make a fire. Once it was burning I cooked the meat. How? I put it on a stick.
What? Stop looking at me like that! I HAD TO IMPROVISE!
Anyway, once it was done I let it cool off for a bit before taking a bite. The taste reminded me of steak, but it also a twist of venison to it. An interesting mix, either way it was food. So I didn’t wait a second longer before digging in. Once the stick was picked clean and my belly full did I lay down in the grass.
I turned my gaze skyward where once again the sun had set and the night sky filled my vision. I scanned the sky, looking for anything that would look remotely similar to the night sky I knew. It was in vain however. It looked completely different from the one I knew. I don’t know how long I scanned the wondrous piece of natural artwork, but long enough for the fire to die.
Sighing to I was about to close my eyes and fall asleep. If it weren't for the howl of a distant wolf. I quickly sat up and grabbed my rifle. It sounded like it was a good distance away, but I didn't want to risk it. Walking over to a tree by the river I quickly climbed up it. Getting into a comfortable position only then did I allow myself to fall asleep.
