The forest was opening a path for me. Or so it seemed because if I looked anywhere else, including behind me, there was no clear trail where one could walk.
If at the oasis I could hear chirping and other happy forest noises, they all seemed to give way to a heavy silence followed by the occasional howl of an animal somewhere far away. And the noise of my own untrained steps.
It’s not like I wanted to be stealthy or anything of the sort, but the overall lack of noises urged me to at least try to be careful with my steps.
This really makes me wish I had done the scout training my parents wanted to get me on…
The floor was rough and uneven, and my feet continuously stepped over stones and wood fragments. The scenery didn't seem to change and there was barely any light allowing me to see the way.
I don’t think I can do this much longer.
As thoughts of doubt crossed my mind, I felt the frustration growing again within my chest and rising until tears started flowing from my eyes.
“Just let me go home already!” I shouted, and readily ducked as the sound of a flock of birds flying away above my head pierced my ears.
Somehow the following silence grew even heavier.
I don’t even know where home is.
There was really no other way for me. I had to go… go somewhere. I needed to find someone who could help me find my way home.
I felt tears running down my face as I kept forcing vines and tree branches away so I could move forward. Or sideways. Or backwards even.
What was it… moss can tell you the direction you’re going?
But when I looked at the tree trunks, moss seemed to be spread in every direction! I was really helplessly lost.
As I paid attention to the trees rather than my own thoughts, I started getting a gut feeling I could not control. It felt like I was being followed. There was no specific reason I could figure out within myself. The silence seemed as present as before besides the rustling of my own erratic steps. As I looked through the vines and leaves, I could not see anything that seemed out of place either.
That feeling though, never left me. I felt observed, watched, preyed on. I felt the adrenaline kick in with the fear and, despite the pain on my bruised and wounded feet, I moved faster. Slow steps gave way to a steady if erratic jog through the forest as I jumped over the stones and trunks and quickly waved my arms in front to clear out any other obstacles.
I started panting. There’s only so much you can do in a dense forest, no matter how much adrenaline you have. And I wasn’t exactly fit.
Is it okay to stop now?
I slowed down to get a feeling of my surroundings. Nothing to be seen.
Rustling.
Oh my god, no.
As I finally heard confirmation of my feelings I leapt forward and ran as fast as I could. Branches, trees, vines, spider webs, everything seemed to fly past me. My heart was pumping hard, I could feel it on my chest as tiredness started accumulating, but the faint noise behind me kept prompting me for a new jump, another push.
Things got blurry as my legs felt heavier and heavier and the jumps higher. Suddenly the whole world seemed to twirl around me as I tripped and fell over a vine and down a gully.
When all the motion stopped, I looked around. It seemed like I was in a sort of clearing. My heart was still racing, and my lungs were still gasping for air, but I forced myself to slow down as I listened for any cues.
Silence.
I closed my eyes and sighed in relief.
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