the Adventures to be had.

When things fall.

The water was cool and soothing as it rushed past my aching shoulders and flowed through my long hair, this however was not my first thought. My first thought was, “where the hell is the son of a bitch who pushed me over that waterfall!”

My next thought however was, “how did I even survive?” I could tell the water I was in wasn't very deep, could I have survived? Is it possible that I floated down river?

I was jerked out of my thoughts as I felt something touch my head; it was cold, hard, and smooth, like a shell. I tried to open my eyes to see what was trying to get my attention, but my eyes felt sore and swollen, like someone had blown up my eyes with an air pump.

When I wished I could have more adventure, I never thought it would be like this. I am the kind of Girl who likes to pretend that I could do exciting things, but never actually act upon these fantasies. But I thought that could all change when I got that postcard in the mail. I should have known better then to trust a postcard with no signature, handwriting that had to have been written with both hand clasped on the pen, and telling me to meet at an unknown place in the middle of some woods in Oregon. But with a free plane ticket from Santa Fe New Mexico to Astoria, Oregon, how could I say no?

“It has to be some sort of scam,” my sister told me. “People don’t just give out free tickets without some sort of catch to it.”

“But this could be the big adventure I have been waiting for.” I told her. “This is my chance to get out and see the world.” From then on until I left, she would not stop trying to stop me, going as far as trying to get me sick.

“I’m doing this for your own good,” she would say. “I want to protect you, Alexis.” But I would not listen. This was my chance for adventure and nothing was going to stop me from having it.

Well, finally the day came, the day I left for my flight. I got up early grabbed my pre-packed suitcase and camping gear, and made the forty-five minute drive down to the air-port. The flight, however, was nothing to write home about. I got stuck in front of a kid pushing on the back of my chair constantly, some fatty who slept the whole flight with a very loud snore, and on top of all that, I think I may have gotten airsick.

The terrible flight would be worth it as I landed in Oregon. I already knew what I was going to do: I was going to find the hotel that I had made a one night reservation with, map out my whole trip and then, get ready for the hike to the place I was told to meet this mysterious person who had sent me the ticket.

My plan, however, was not needed as when I left the terminal I was greeted by a tall and skinny man in a black suit, who only said one sentence to me, “I will take you to your hotel.” But he said in such a flat and monotone voice I’m glad that’s the only thing he said.

I should have known better then to trust someone who sent a whole limousine to pick me up. I should have known not to trust someone when they already know which hotel you have. Why did I not question when the cab driver said nothing when he dropped me off, but just drove away instead, somehow vanishing when it turned a corner.

I guess I was too focused on my Adventure to even care what was going on.

After checking in, eating a hot pocket, a very hot pocket, mapping out the trail I was going to take to get to the place I found out was called Destiny’s Falls, I tucked myself in the bed for a good night’s sleep.

The next morning when I woke up, I grabbed my stuff and walked down to a bus stop. I rode the bus to ‘Misty Mountain Trails and Camp Grounds’ where the start of my adventure began.

The sun was getting higher in the sky by the time I found the path that would take me to the destination. I was excited and scared at the same time, but I did not let that stop me. So I started walking the trail.

Oh ,why did I ever think it was reasonable when the map told me that I would need to go off the path? Why did I not heed the warning about not following the trail? I must have been too close to the adventure I was seeking to let it bother me. That or I’m just too head strong for my own good.

A fast flowing stream that would run off into a water fall, greeted me as emerged from the wood. It was spectacular, marvelous even, like something from a dream. It was, until I felt my body being pushed, by large hands, over the cliff and into the water hundreds of feet below, well it felt like hundreds.

The last thing I remember was the cold spray from the falls as I fell through the air, and darkness.

And that is where I am now, probably dead, or at the very least broken beyond medical repair, in a stream with something pestering me to get up.

I decided to risk moving, starting with my toes, still in my hiking boots by the way, and they seem fine to me. Next, though numb from the water, my fingers.

“So far so good” I thought, “If nothing seems injured then maybe it’s alright to move.” and so I did. I slowly got up. feeling pretty and my head felling quite large and bulgy, but other then that my head is in check, my arms are fine, my legs good, my mid-section had seen worse days. All in all, not bad.

Whatever had been poking me, stopped, now that I was moving around. Opening my eyes to see what was going on was a challenge, they were too sore to do such a task.

“Oh, Shit!” I thought. “I hope didn't go blind.”

“Don’t worry, my dear girl, you have not gone blind.” A high pitched man’s voice, echoed?

“Who’s there? Where am I?” I asked in the direction I heard the voice.

“Oh dear, it’s so rude to speak to someone when not looking at them.” the voice chuckled. “Let me fix that.” Without even letting me respond, two cold and smooth things touch my eyes.

Little by little the pain went away and I could open my eyes. Slowly, but ever so slowly, I peeked out from under my eye lids. Everything bright, I opened them a bit more. I began to see color, and so still more I opened my eyes. Form was given to the blurry colors.

With my eyes now fully opened I saw that I was on a river bed. The sand like pebbles shifted underneath me as moved around. I swiveled my head to find the one who had, rescued me?

Nothing, there was no one around. “Where did you go?” I muttered under my breath.

“Open your eyes dear girl, I’m right here.” I turned my head back to my front. I don’t know what I was seeing, I’m not sure if it’s even here or not but standing before me was a tall, thin, reddish faced man with a curly beard wearing, puffy women’s clothing?

“WHO THE FU-.” I began, but was stopped as the man raised his, claw?

“No foul language, very naughty you know.” He said in very sly high pitched tone. “Don’t bother asking for my name, I haven’t got one, but if you must, you can call me Lucius, or HIM, or even that one being that kidnapped you, reformed your body, and stuck you right in the middle of the game of the gods.”

“…WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!?” I screamed. Why does my voice sound, higher?

Lucius rolled his eyes, “oh please, just look down at yourself.” He commanded.

I did as I was told and got the biggest surprise of my life, my pants where gone, but I'm okay with,  my legs however had been replaced instead with short stubby pink paws.

I began to freak out, as I checked the rest of my self. All my cloths where gone, save for my camo-colored, sleeveless, hiking jacket I still had. My whole body was covered in fluffy pink fur, except for a white “v” shape patch of fur on my chest. My hands had turned into, well, stubby hand like paws.

I had to have been at least one third my normal size. It’s funny how big the world seems to be when you’re shorter.

“If you think this is strange, wait until you see your face.” Lucius chuckled. He was really starting to frighten me, now.

“What? What did you do my face?” I nearly screamed, panicked. useing my new paw-like hands, I checked the contour of my face.

From the best I could tell, my mouth was stretched out across my whole face. My ears had moved down to the sides of my head next to my mouth and grew at least a foot long. “He must have really fucked up my face.” I thought.

“Don’t worry, my little pawn, you look, oh what’s a good word?” he mussed me sarcastically. He scratched his thin pointed head with one of his crab claw hand. “Oh yes! You look better than most of the ugly human mortals do.”

I would have punched him if I thought I could actually get away with it but those claws of his did not look like they were just for looking weird. Instead I just scowled and crossed my arms over my furry chest.

“Don’t give me that look.” He smirked.

“I’ll give you whatever look I want.” I growled back. “Now tell me. Where on God’s Earth, AM I?!?” I shouted at him. i'm starting to not like this one bit.

He just grinned. The kind of grin that you know he is about to say something that will shock you.

“Why, you’re not on “God’s” earth anymore.” He appeared at my side and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “This is Equis.” He said as he moved his free arm in a large ark.

I frowned. “I never heard of it.”

“Oh, don’t worry, hmhmhm, you will find it quite…familiar.”

I don’t know what it was about him, but the way Lucius said familiar really put me on edge. I put my nerves about that away; it could just mean nothing at all.

I took a deep breath, calming myself before continuing. “Okay, why am I here?”

He disappeared from my side and reappeared in front of me, his back turned to me. “Now there is the fun question.” He said, slowly walking forward,his little feet making a tiny crunch noise with every step on the sand, “You are here because you’re my little pawn in this game.”

“What game?” I asked. this could only mean trouble.

He look back at me with a quick turn of his head. “Now where is the Adventure in telling you all that?”

“I’ll know what I’m doing, and I won’t die.” I pointed out bluntly. man, make me point out the obvious why don't you?

Lucius put a claw to his chin. “True, not much fun in seeing you die off soon.” He thought for a moment more before speaking again. “Okay, right through these woods,” he gestured to the line of trees that made up the edge of the wooded forest. “There is a small town, I’m sure there is something there for you to do. Do you accept this mission?” Lucius asked, as he waved his arm.

Suddenly a large flashing red square button appeared in front of me. It flashed the word, Start. “Well? Do you accept the mission? Hmhmhm.” He asked once again.

Seeing as I did not have much choice, I reached my hand out and pressed the button. It disappeared as I felt it click. Somehow, in my mind, I saw “go through the woods and find the small town” flash across my vision. I tryed to flinched away ,but as soon as it happened it disappeared.

Lucius was clapping his claws together giddily, hopping up and down very…flamboyantly. “Oh, goody.” He said in a sing song voice. “Now that you know what to do, I guess it’s time for me to disappear and watch you from afar.” He had ceased his little dance and began to walk away, but then stopped and turned back to me. “Oh and by the way, you will need to change your name, something more fitting for this world.” And with that he disappeared in a puff of pink clouds. very pink clouds.

“But what does that—.” I started to say but he was already gone. Find a new name? I'm going to need to think about that one for a bit.

Suddenly the world got fuzzy and I had to blink hard to get the world in focus again. I opened my eyesand my head felt strange, like I had just woken up from a dream, but I hadn't moved from my spot. There was something else though, something I had missed before: I could hear the birds chirping and the stream rolling, again. Is it possible that I had not noticed these things when talking with Lucius?

something bumped my leg. I looked down to see a much smaller version of my back pack stopped in the current by my legs with a note attached to it.

picking up the bag, I read the note. The note read: “Hope this help. ---Lucius.” I excitedly opened up the back-pack, hoping to find some food, but only found a blanket and a pillow stuffed inside. I would have cried if I was not already a bit pissed.

I shook my fist in the air and angrily shouted, “OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS WILL TOTALLY HELP!” now, tears beginning to form in my eyes.

It may have been my hunger talking but I’m pretty sure I heard a sarcastic, “you’re welcome.” whisper in my ear. Wow, really creepy.

Having no other option, I slung on the back-pack and walked away from the river and to the tree line. The forest looked deep, dark, and ominous, but I had to make it to civilization, if I was ever going to get some food.

before continuing, I just stood there for a minuet, listening to the whooshing sound of the wind as it blew through the tree branches. My mind was made up, i had to do this. putting one foot into the forest and then the next I was off into the unknown...and Speaking of unknown, I was going to need to think about the name thing, because i have no idea what to call my self.