The breath of the wailing wind rolled down the sides of the sharp jagged mountains, which loomed above us like luring thorns piercing the stygian skies. Its bitter caress blustered through every lamenting branch, quivering fern, and bristling bush of the dark and deathly forest. Tendrils of my golden hair danced out in front of my sorrowful face to its grievous song, twirling against the tangled shadowy locks of my frightening savior.

We’d been riding for what felt like a long while, and not once had I relaxed and loosened my grip around his neck. Luckily, he didn’t seem to mind. He’d only murmur softly to me in that bizarre unearthly language and awkwardly rub my back each time I’d start weeping again. Yet despite his kindly comportment towards me, I was still extremely wary of him.

I didn’t know what kind of creature he was, nor whether or not his intentions were good. Fear of the possibility that he might have saved me just so he could kill and eat me himself lingered in the back of my mind. It was a strange feeling to have someone as both a source of comfort and safety, yet also, fear and unease.

Loud splashes and the clomping of hooves resounded up from beneath us, as the cadaverous stallion we were riding leisurely made its way across a shallow river. The dark glossy water gently parted around many bones and sharp rocks which dwelled within the swirling sands of its trickling trail. I’d been staring blankly over the man’s shoulder, watching how the passing trees would come into view, then seemingly become swallowed up by the opaque mist as we made our way further through the woods. It felt like being trapped in a dream, unable to awaken from a hellish nightmare.

I finally mustered up the courage to take a closer peek at him. Hoping that he wouldn’t notice my movement, I ever so slowly tilted my head back and began to really take in his otherworldly features. His pointed ears and ethereally handsome face had me legitimately wondering if he was actually an elf... No, maybe not. At least not with those fangs, claws, and eyes. Perhaps he’s some sort of vampire or demon? ...Maybe?

He noticed me blatantly studying him like a confusing dinner menu at an unfamiliar restaurant, and shifted his uncanny crimson gaze to my uncertain yet curious one. I immediately stopped trying to figure out what type of mythological creature he was, and timidly shifted my eyes away.

“Human.” He gently spoke as if trying to regain my attention. My heart rate rapidly quickened, while I reluctantly dragged my gaze back up to meet his. A soft sympathetic smile fluttered across his otherworldly face, with a look of both captivation and disquietude. “Okay.” He comfortingly said, as if he were telling me that everything was alright. With the reins still in his hand, he pointed forwards while saying something and nodding in the same direction.

My body felt stiff and sore as I slightly turned around to glance over at what he was gesturing towards. I didn’t see much. Just more insufferable wasteland. Thick ominous fog laid draped across the melancholic undergrowth of the forest floor, swirling throughout the darkness like a ghostly enchantment overflowing from a witch’s cauldron. We were now riding up along the riverbank, where the water seemed to grow a bit deeper than where we had crossed over.

Then I noticed that we were approaching the rocky base of one of the mountains. A large, yet gently flowing waterfall came into view through the darkness. Its pale current passed beneath the shadows of the mountainside, then hypnotically cascaded over large stacked stones to melodiously endow a wide pool, which fed the river with its watery offering. The sounds of shrill chirps and trickling water filled my ears, while strange smells far more pleasant than what was in the depths of that malodorous forest filled my nose. Little burgundy ferns and dark quivering flowers were grievously sprinkled throughout the stony versant. A few dark twisted trees, adorned with small red fruits daintily dangling from their branches, stood menacingly beside the water. Their silvery leaves writhed in the breeze, while some sort of red sap oozed from the branches.

I stared with wide awestruck eyes, taking in the unearthly place. It was so gloomy and dark, yet an incredible sight no less. A ghastly whinny suddenly broke my trance, making me practically leap out of my skin. I jumped and quickly gripped onto the man like my life depended on it. His arm tightened back around me, and a deep chuckle rumbled out of him.

...Did he just laugh at me?

The horse excitedly pranced over to the trees, despite the man growling “Sagacor” while trying to steer it in the opposite direction. We stopped below the twisted boughs, beside the water’s flowing edge. He shook his head while muttering something, then very gently reached his clawed hands up and pried my stiff grip off from around his neck. My legs hesitantly unwound from around his waist, as he carefully slid me off of him and onto the saddle.

He said something to me with a warm smile, then gracefully hopped off the horse with his long messy hair swooshing behind him. “Where are you going?” I softly croaked out. My voice was a bit hoarse from all the screaming I’d done earlier.

My eyes stayed glued to him as he reached up and plucked one of the fruits from the branches. The twigs writhed and hissed as if angry that he’d picked from them, but he paid it no mind. The horse happily nickered, as the man walked over to it and lovingly offered the crisp juicy fruit, while gently stroking its midnight muzzle. I couldn’t help but notice that his claws somehow looked much shorter than they did back in the forest.

Tentatively, I swiveled around and began to slide from the saddle. One hand was firmly gripping the obsidian horn, while the other was curled beneath the thick black leather of the seat. My good foot made contact with the cool pebbles of the riverbank first, then I slowly slipped my injured foot down beside it. A hiss of pain escaped my lips, as I grimaced from the miserably sharp feeling.

Fucking hell, that hurts...

The man swiftly glided over to me with inhuman speed. One second he was in front of the horse, the next he was at my side. With a small yelp, I flailed my arms and stumbled back from the shock of it. A black wispy mist seemed to emanate out from behind him, as he carefully swooped me up bridal style while saying “No, no, no.”

Holy shish kebabs, he can move fast!

I stared up at him like a dumbfounded goose, as he caringly held me in his embrace. He was incredibly strong, yet his touch was so light. It was as if I were the most delicate thing he’d ever held before, and he was afraid that I might break at any moment. “Come.” He quietly said, while starting to carry me over towards the large stones by the waterfall.

The sound of pebbles crunching beneath his boots became silent, as he began walking over the silvery grass and ebon soil. “Wait, w-wait.” I fearfully stammered, realizing that he was heading towards a dark cave-like opening within the rocks that I hadn’t immediately noticed upon arriving here. His only response was a smile.

I nervously grasped onto him, as we traversed beyond where the waterfall lachrymosely whispered to the river and into the darkness, allowing the gaping mouth of the cave to swallow us up. Everything was pitch black inside, an inky void of nothingness. It was so dark that I couldn’t even see an inch in front of my face. He gently placed me down on a cool stone floor, leaning my back up against what I assumed to be the wall... Then he seemingly left me there, alone in the eerie abyssal darkness.

“Hello?” I meekly called out in the dark, the only other sound being the echo of the waterfall outside. Anxiety began to crawl up my spine like spiders up a rope. “Mr... Um, Creature?” ...Did I seriously just call him Mr. Creature of all things!?

“Yes.” His voice came from a short distance away, followed by some soft rummaging sounds. A wave of relief washed over me from knowing that he hadn’t left, but the suffocating darkness was nearly unbearable. I suddenly heard what sounded like paper being unfolded right in front of me. “Earth, yes?” He said close to my right ear.

I perked up at his words. “Yes, Earth! I need to get back to Earth!” I randomly groped around in the air beside me, trying to find him. Yet I grasped at emptiness.

“Oh... light.” He spoke on my left, with realization in his tone.

Then I heard him rummaging around from further away again... Okay, this is oddly creepy... The hiss of a lighter abruptly resounded throughout the cave, and golden beams suddenly streamed out from a small flame within the man’s hand. He was standing next to an intricately carved black table with a few random objects on it, lighting a menacingly designed lantern. It was adorned with sharp black spikes and looked as though it was made to guide lost souls through the underworld.

My eyes immediately darted all around, taking in my new environment. There was a threadbare black throw rug circling around the perimeter of the cave, with stones neatly stacked all along the walls, giving it the illusion of being inside a castle. A few tall dark bookcases, two black tables on opposite sides of the room from one another, and a large menacing chest were the only furnishings. Sharp formidable stalactites hung from the tall ceiling, dangling above us like harrowing spears of death.

Dark shadows danced across the stone walls, as he carried the very dim, ominously glowing lantern over and placed it down before me. “Light.” He exclaimed with a far brighter smile while happily gesturing towards it as if presenting some mystical phenomenon. Although the ghastly thing looked straight from the depths of Hell, its light was indeed very welcome.

At least now I’ll be able to actually keep track of this freaky guy’s whereabouts.

The lighter made a soft click as he placed it onto the stone floor while crouching down beside me. My curiosity spiked as I took in the sight of it. It was a little black bic lighter, clearly from earth... How did he get that? ...My gaze then moved up to where he was now presenting me with a couple of sketched-out drawings.

“Earth, yes?” He said while pointing a clawed finger at a random picture of a pineapple wearing sunglasses.

...Umm... What the actual hell?

A look of pure befuddlement fell across my face, earning a confused frown from the man. He then swiftly changed the drawing out for another one. It was of a realistic nature scene with a duck pond. “Earth?” He questioningly asked while tilting his head.

“Yes! That’s earth! Haha!” I swiftly sat up in excitement, causing searing pain to shoot through my head. I winced and placed a hand on my temple... Of all the times and places that I could have ended up practically incapacitated, why did it have to be while I’m stuck in another godforsaken dimension!?

“Shh, shh.” He gently shushed. With a touch as light as a feathers caress, he placed his hands on my shoulders and guided me back down against the wall. Then he softly smiled and got up to walk back over to the table.

I watched as he grabbed a medium-sized black bowl and a cloth, then he silently walked over to the entrance of the cave. “Stay.” He said while looking back at me and holding up a hand. More black mist seemed to emanate from him, as he swiftly slipped outside like a wispy shadow, becoming one with the stygian darkness.

Well, that was weird...

With my adrenaline wearing off, the throbbing sting in my foot was becoming unbearable. Ever so slowly, I dragged my leg up over my other knee. I took a peek at my injury and gasped in horror. I literally wanted to vomit. The furiously inflamed cut was deep and mangled, with a bunch of sharp little pebbles lodged inside. There was absolutely no way I’d be able to walk on it without killing myself.

No... This can’t be happening! I can’t be crippled while trapped in the fucking underworld, or wherever the hell I am! Nonononono!

Tears welled up in my eyes as despair filled my soul. I mentally cursed the strange event that had gotten me into this bizarre mess in the first place... If only I’d stayed in the car, and not gone into that damnable stream... Then, my eyes widened as a sudden realization slapped me across the face, making me feel like a complete and total idiot for not realizing it before...

The elf man and the corpse from the stream are clearly the same species... The corpse was on earth... The elf man knows I’m a human, speaks some English, and has things from earth... I’m not the first human he’s come across... He probably knows how to get me out of here...

I looked up just as the man occupying my thoughts stepped back into the cave. I hastily held up the nature picture and frantically pointed to it, while he gracefully made his way beside me. “Can you take me back to earth?” I eagerly asked, receiving a curious tilt of his head in response. He placed the bowl on the floor, which was now filled with water, and crouched down. ”I...” I pointed to myself. “...need to get back to earth.” I pointed to the picture, then hopefully pointed back and forth between myself and it a few times.

The eerie intelligence in his crimson gaze was startling, as he carefully watched me. “Yes.” He said, with the bones softly twitching on his forehead. His clawed finger pointed to me, then he made like two of his fingers were walking through the air towards the picture. “Go...” He pointed to the picture. “Earth. Yes?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” I excitedly exclaimed. “Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!” I rapidly thanked in relief, while hugging the paper to myself.

A sweet, almost shy-looking smile danced across his lips, and amusement twinkled in his freaky eyes. “You’re welcome.” He said, surprising me that he knew how to say that, yet adding to my excitement.

He reached into the bowl and pulled out a wet cloth. Little droplets trickled back down as he gave it a good wring, then he carefully held it up to the side of my head. “Okay.” His deep voice murmured, as he very gently began wiping the blood from my temple.

Oh... Is he going to clean my wound?

I stayed as still as possible, letting him carefully tend to my injury. His other hand lightly brushed some of my hair behind my ear, moving it away from all the blood. He softly spoke in his strange language, comforting me every time I’d wince from the slightest sting. It was surprising just how gentle and mindful he was. He rinsed out the cloth, then started cleaning all the disgusting grime from my face. Its cool caress soothed my cheeks and tickled my brow.