Waking up with a pounding headache, Kora sits up as she takes a look around to see where she ended up. She could vaguely remember attending a party with some friends last night, but as she sees nothing but nature all around her, she realizes that she is most definitely nowhere near home. In a panic, she tries desperately to stand, however quickly realizes that the combination of her headache and the overwhelming dizziness that overtakes her makes even standing feel like an impossible mission. Deciding to try to recall as much from last night, well technically early morning, as possible she decides to get as comfortable as she could on the ground. At least it's not raining. She thinks to herself optimistically. After all she’d always been more of an optimist. 

Thinking back on last night, she could remember getting dressed for the night. Which, unfortunately for her current self,  consisted of a tight black dress and some heels that were simply impractical for the terrain she would be traversing in the pursuit of civilization. She had put on much more makeup than usual and if she had some way to see her face, she was sure it would be a mess. If not for waking up with her face in the dirt, she was sure it was smeared and smudged from the night of partying that she had. The party itself seemed to have gone by in a blur as everyone simply drank, not caring about even trying to enjoy each other’s company. She could remember trying to walk home, after losing the cash she had brought with her, she couldn’t even pay for a ride home. Cringing at her throbbing headache, she remembered the last of her memories from last night. The blue flash that enveloped her before she instantly fell asleep. Despite her drunken state, she was never the type to simply pass out. She knew her limits and wouldn’t have compromised her safety. Plus, even if she had simply passed out, she’d been on a sidewalk somewhere in the city. Not wherever this was…

Realizing that her memories weren’t going to provide much of a clue as to handling this situation, she decides to power through her headache and at least search for water or civilization. She couldn’t ignore her thirst and this place she found herself in was much warmer than back home. The sun beating down had her sweating already and after drinking last night, she didn’t want to be stranded and dehydrated. Standing unsteadily on her feet, she wobbles a bit on the first few steps before stopping to remove her heels. Although she didn’t want to walk around barefoot, a broken ankle sounded much worse than some blisters. 

Looking around for anything that may have come along with her, she finds nothing. Kora knew that she had left her phone in a friend’s purse, so there wasn’t even any hope of calling anyone for help. Luckily it doesn’t seem like I’ve been kidnapped. I have no bruises and I wasn’t tied up so hopefully I’ll be able to find my way home soon. She thinks to herself as she begins to wander in one direction. Before long, she realizes that she can hear rushing water. Immediately following the sound, she reaches the water’s edge before realizing that there are people at the river. A number of women and children immediately scream at the sight of her at the river’s edge. 

Within seconds, she finds herself surrounded by several men. Looking around slowly, she can see that there are even men located in the trees as well with bows ready to shoot. Realizing that they see her as a threat she immediately begins speaking, “I am not here to harm you. I don’t know how I arrived here, and I just want to go home. I promise that I am no danger to know. I don’t even know how to wield a weapon.” Realizing that her rambling was likely not helping the situation, her words began to trail off. However, she realized that the language she spoke was not her own. “Wait! What?! How?! This isn’t my natural language…”

Despite her rambling and strange antics, she was surprised to see that although a few of the warriors had come closer, they no longer had their weapons pointed. Upon realizing that she had finished rambling, the largest of the warriors walks closer before saying, “Hello, you do not seem to be a member of any tribe that we have met? Where are you from and where are your people?”

Surprised that they were taking a chance speaking to her and not killing her outright, she takes a deep breath. Looking at the warrior who approached her, she wasn’t surprised that they had appeared so fast. The man in front of her had obvious muscles and it was clear that his skin was tanned from being outside so often. None of the warriors wore shirts, likely due to the warm temperature and they had shorts made from natural materials on. However, their bodies were all painted with various patterns and paints allowing them to blend in seamlessly to watch over the women and children. Realizing that she had been ogling him without even answering his questions, she answers, “My name is Kora. I am not from a tribe. Judging from what I can see, I gather I’m probably no longer on Earth anymore, right?”

The warrior didn’t try to conceal the emotions on his face, so she watched as his face developed a crooked smirk before turning into surprise and finally settling on shock. After a few seconds, he slowly repeats, “Earth? I have never heard of an Earth.” Quickly turning his back on her, he quickly speaks to the rest of the men behind him quickly asking in a low tone of voice, “Have any of you heard of an Earth? She seems to genuinely believe in what she says… but there is no such thing.”

Immediately all of the men begin in reply with some nodding and others murmuring a soft yes. Before long, the smallest of the group speaks up saying, “Does it matter? We have a duty to fulfill and our job is to protect women and children. If she needs our help, we are to offer it wholeheartedly.”

“You are correct. We shall take her back with us to camp. She seems to need food and rest.” The largest of them replies before he turns to me. “We shall help you find this Earth you speak of. But first, we will take you back to our village to recover. You seem to be weary after your journey.” 

Weary was an understatement at this point. She felt as though she had gotten in the worst fault of her life and lost miserably. Her headache felt like a pounding in her head and the dizziness had only worsened, likely due to dehydration. Adding that in with the ridiculous amount of alcohol she consumed last night and no food all day, she felt nauseous despite there being nothing left. Slightly swaying on her feet, she attempts to agree to go with them before she finds herself losing consciousness for the second time today.