Alex turned over in his bed. It was much rougher and solid than he remembered. He was cold, too. A cool breeze sent a shiver throughout his body. Alex was confused. There shouldn’t be a breeze in his apartment.

Opening his eyes, Alex saw something he wasn’t expecting: Grass. The greenest grass he had ever seen. Alex opened his eyes wider and his heart began to race. He scrambled to his feet as his breathing became more shallow. He was now standing in the middle of a large field in only his underwear.

A sense of vulnerability came over Alex. He was far from where he should have been and practically naked. His mouth was dry and stale as if a rough dish sponge had been left in it. Despite this, his mouth remained agape with awe. His eyes darted across the grass, catching the movement of gnat swarms as they moved along the emerald blades. 

Alex lifted his gaze to the horizon and surveyed his surroundings. Small white and yellow flowers sprouted sporadically for as far as the field itself stretched: beyond the distance he could see. 

He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. This wasn’t a dream. This was far too realistic to be one. He could smell the warm grass, hear the wind blowing through the endless green expanse, feel the thousands of tiny insects moving through the hairs on his legs.

He could see the world with lucid clarity.

Alex was almost 100% certain he was conscious.

He turned around. In the distance was what looked to be a city. Hundreds of buildings stretched what Alex approximated to be several kilometers along the horizon. It was at least eight kilometers away from where he currently stood hunched over and holding his upper arms.

“What…?” was all Alex could manage to say.

His legs and arms were itchy from laying in the grass. He wondered how long he had been sleeping there.

Not even making a conscious decision about it, Alex began walking towards the city. His pace was slow and cautious and the expression on his face was that of fear and bewilderment.

Alex didn’t know how long he had been walking for, but he eventually came close enough to catch the scent of meat cooking in the air. A painful sensation ripped through his stomach and his hands moved to his belly.

He was close enough now that he could see and hear people chatting, walking, running, and laughing. Alex stopped about fifty meters away. He stared in disbelief, trying to understand what was happening to him. He was afraid to enter, unsure as to what its inhabitants would think about him.

Alex wanted to ask for help but he couldn’t quite figure out what to say. He shuffled closer. He had nowhere else to go and he needed to get some food in his body. The night before he hadn’t eaten anything. He was working hard on the sixth season of Explorers and had forgotten to eat. Engrossed in the episode he was working on, he had neglected to take care of his body’s basic needs. Now he was paying the price for it.

Alex stood there for nearly ten minutes contemplating what to do next before finally forcing himself to continue towards civilization. 

As he stepped onto the dirt road, a beautiful, well-toned woman with dark skin and long black hair came up to him. She was a complete contrast to Alex, her olympian physique being a far cry from his skeletal, nearly anorexic figure, and she stood at least two and a half feet taller than him. Alex was a bit short for his age, but the sheer difference in height was striking and unusual, and would have been intimidating if not for her gentle, middle-aged face. 

She looked concerned and asked Alex a question. It was a question, Alex knew that, but the words that made up that question were not familiar to him.

He looked the woman in the eyes and said, “Huh?”

The woman repeated her question, but it didn’t make it any easier for Alex to understand her. He stared blankly at the woman. She pointed at his stomach and made a fist with her other hand. She put her fist to her mouth and made a chewing motion with her jaw. Alex understood and bowed his head slightly. She seemed to be asking if he was hungry. The woman then cupped her hands together and put them to her mouth. Alex understood that, too. He bowed his head again. Thirsty.

The woman turned around, gestured for him to follow, then began to walk. Alex hesitated for a second, but when his stomach made a rumbling noise he started following behind her.

The woman led Alex through the dirt streets. The two passed by vendors, street performers, and houses. Some people had stopped what they were doing and were staring at Alex. He didn't notice their gazes on him, for he was lost in his own thoughts. He wondered how he had ended up here, in such a foreign place. Why hadn't he recognized the language the woman had used? Alex was unable to come up with a logical explanation for his situation.

The woman stopped in front of a modest-looking residential structure. She turned to him and said something. Her voice sounded warm and inviting and her tone made Alex feel a small bit at ease. She opened the door to the cabin and walked inside. Alex wasn't sure if she wanted him to follow her. He heard the woman say something but not knowing what she said made Alex apprehensive.

He heard swift footsteps from inside and they were getting louder. The woman came speed walking out of the building, grabbed Alex by the hand, and led him inside. She brought him to a wooden chair in front of a table and sat him down. She then went back to the door and closed it.

Looking at the table, Alex saw-and smelled-a hot bowl of stew with vegetables and large chunks of meat with a spoon sitting beside it. The woman walked over to the table, picked up the spoon and handed it to Alex. She said a single word: "Ki'ilgas". Alex, though never having heard that word before, knew what it meant and he began to eat.