Rise of the Hegemon

Escape in the forest

Gradually, as consciousness began to seep back into my senses, my head throbbed mercilessly, each throb sending waves of discomfort and agony, It was as if there was a heavy drilling operation taking place inside my head.

Blinking my eyes open, everything is a blur as I slowly take in the sight of the blue sky above, I could feel the rough soil beneath my body, a clear indication that I now lay sprawled up on the ground below, leaves and dirt sticking to my skin, the air was also thick with the earthy scent of vegetation, and the distant sounds of rustling leaves and flowing water.

"Argh!" I grunted in pain as a piercing pang suddenly shot through my head, causing me to wince and grit my teeth, gently placing my hand on my throbbing temple, I could feel a small bump forming beneath my palm, a sharp pain surging in my head each time my bump makes contact with my fingers.

How did I..?

And then my memories slowly reassembled itself, the image of the bear chasing me, my hasty and desperate sprint across the woods, and the sudden painful drop down the slope replaying in my mind.

As I attempted to sit up, pounding aches suddenly sprung up all across my entire battered body, it was as if every bones and joints within me are crushed. Nevertheless I steeled myself and did my utmost best in ignoring the pain in my body.

Taking stock of my surroundings, I quickly realized my current position at the base of a narrow ravine. To my left, the steep slope I had not-so-gracefully descended was evident, and a short distance away, the imposing tree that had borne the brunt of my impact stood, its bark marked by the force of our collision. On my right, the gentle ripples of a stream's flowing water filled my ears, its soothing sound providing a contrast to the rugged terrain. Across from the stream, a towering cliff also stood, easily a dozen meters in height. The ravine extended as far as I could see, compelling me to trace the course of the stream downstream if I harbored any hope of finding my way out of this precarious situation alive.

Not to mention there was no sign of the bear that chased me.

A smile of relief then formed on my lips... whatever or whoever prevented it from attacking me while I laid unconscious on the ground, I thank you with all my heart.

With a groan, I forcefully pushed myself onto all fours, the world spinning slightly as I regained my bearings, the pain coursing through my body seemed to rise in intensity, but I helplessly ignored them still.

Shaking off the dizziness, I carefully and painfully climbed to my feet, swaying slightly as I struggled to find my balance. The forest around me seemed to have hushed, as if holding its breath in anticipation for my next move.

Ignoring the protest of my aching body, I then took a small and careful step forward, testing my ability to walk, every movement was an exercise in perseverance. And then I took another, and then another, I force myself to keep going until I'm finally confident that I could now move and walk freely without tripping every fifteen seconds or so, though it doesn't hide the obvious limp in my movements.

But before I resume on my journey, quenching my thirst becomes an immediate priority. And so, without hesitation, I now find myself kneeling and eagerly gulping down the freshwater from the stream before me, its chilly temperature barely registering against my parched throat.

Satisfied, I turn to washing my hands and my face, only now when I soaked both of my arms in the stream and began rubbing them underwater did I finally see the cuts and bruises across both of my arms, although not fatal, the sight of multiple wounds cause a discomforting sense of unease and misery within me, as if each injury narrates its own story of pain and struggle.

After both of my arms are now finally clean, I then turn towards the next task of cleaning my face.

Cupping a handful of water in my trembling hands, I carefully raise it to my face before splashing it over my skin, I barely contained myself from jumping in surprise due to the sheer coldness of the water, Tiny droplets splashed onto my red sweater while I instinctively shook my head, attempting to dislodge the remnants of water that clung stubbornly to my skin.

And speaking of my clothes.

As my gaze lowers to my attire, a frustrated sigh escapes me, compelled by the pitiful state of my appearance. My once clean red sweater now bears the marks of dirt and grime, with scattered holes further adding to its sorry state, the story is no different for my pants and white sneakers, all of which have become seized in a web of mud and filth. Despite my attempts to brush away the grime, stubborn stains persist, reminding me of the struggles I've faced while escaping from that damn bear.

Adding to the list, I couldn't ignore the fact that I'm now starting to smell pretty bad, with the scent of mixed sweat and grime filling my nose.

I think I'm going to spend an entire day in the shower if I finally return home.

If...

Shaking my head once again to dispel such thoughts, I unsteadily stood up and, using the stream as my guide, started walking.

Despite the relentless pain coursing through my entire body, I pressed on, driven by the faint hope that this stream might lead me to safety, to a place where there's a fellow human like me... though the doubt of other people like me existing in this place still lingers.

Minutes passed and the sounds of nature gradually resumed their rhythm, a gentle reminder that life still carried on, birds soared in the distance, rabbits hopped along the edges of the cliffs, frogs idled on the streambanks, and occasional tiny fishes darted beneath the clear waters of the stream.

The walk now prove to be a refreshing and comfortable experience, there were no obstacles along the way compared to my time earlier before I fell down the slope, where I have to put a lot of effort just to pass through a single boulder blocking my way, but here? it's just the ever stretching flat streambank.

As I continued along the streambank, the uneasiness that has been eating at my senses slowly begins to subside, replaced by the growing curiosity about my surroundings and the mysteries it held, questions begin to form in my mind.

What other creatures might call this place home? Were there more dangers lurking in the shadows? Will I encounter another new creature that doesn't seem to exist back home? or was there a chance that I might find some signs of civilization beyond the trees? my heart was beating with a mix of doubt, apprehension and hope.

With each step, I couldn't help but notice the slight changes in the landscape, the way the sunlight filtered through the canopy of the trees that stood at the edges of the ravine, dotting the ground with patches of golden warmth, or the occasional rustling of the tree leaves as a gentle breeze swept through.

It's beautiful..

I've never felt so close to nature before and now.. I might as well say that I've fallen in love with it.

My steps took on a pattern of their own, matching the relaxing mood of the flowing stream, the worries that had plagued my mind earlier began to fade as I found peace in the simple beauty of nature. The sound of the water's gentle ripples was like a melodic lullaby, easing the throbbing in my head and the aches in my body. It was as if nature itself was offering a moment of break, a chance to catch my breath and gather my thoughts.

Minutes passed and I took notice as the stream began to widen, its gentle flow giving way to a small pond before narrowing as it continuously stretched once again. I then made my way towards the water's edges before kneeling, cupping my hands to take another refreshing sip, the coolness of the water seems to energize me, washing away the remnants of pain and exhaustion that had clung to my body, now replaced by the familiar feeling of freshness.

Leaning back against a nearby tree, I let out a satisfied sigh.

Despite the challenges and unknowns that lay ahead, I couldn't deny the sense of accomplishment that I felt from pushing forward, especially how I narrowly avoided the jaws of death earlier.

I can't imagine the look on my mother's face if I tell her of my painful yet worth it experiences in this forest if I finally return home.

If..

The uneasiness that have left me earlier seems to return upon entertaining such ideas.

Shaking my head from such thoughts, I wobblily stood up despite the protest of my body.

I need to move now, lest darkness catches up with me.

As I resumed on my journey, I found myself gazing at the sky above, a vast expanse of blue adorned with fluffy white clouds.

Then my eyes wandered and found itself occasionally glancing at the radiant orb of yellow that illuminated the sky above: the sun, though it's too bright for my eyes to keep a steady gaze at it.

How long has the sun been there?

I know I've lost track of time.. but how long did I stay unconscious? how long has it been since I've been following this stream?

I know I've no answers to give, yet despite that, I find small comfort in the act of questioning and pondering, my mind's capacity to contemplate, to delve into the depths of uncertainty, becomes a testament to my ability to think and reason, this realization offers a small sense of relief, a fleeting respite from the unknowns that surrounds me.

After what seemed like an hour of trudging alongside the stream, the ravine gradually widened. Trees were now present at the very edges of the bank. Not only that, but the height of the cliff on my left and the slope on my right also began to slowly decrease. Another half an hour passed, and finally, the height of the cliff and slope matched the surface of the ground I was walking on. The ravine had disappeared, but the stream continued to flow beside me.

Since I've been walking for an hour already, It didn't take me long to notice the weariness and thirst that has been sapping at my strength and remaining energy left.

Let's take a short break...

Limping towards the stream's edge, I lowered myself to a kneeling position once more. Gently cupping the water in my hands, I raised it to my lips and drank, repeating the simple act several times until a sense of satisfaction finally washed over me.

Afterwards, I made my way towards a nearby tree and sat besides it, my back leaning against it's rough bark.

I had intended to rest for just a few minutes, yet my weariness and fatigue overwhelmed my resolve to keep walking. Unintentionally, I found myself resting for nearly half an hour before I finally summoned the strength to resume on my journey.

As I continued following the stream, I began to notice, as far as my eye could see, that there were now less giant boulders and thick vegetations across the forest, it's also a good thing since I wouldn't spend more efforts now just to avoid an obstacle if I somehow encountered one... Compared to my experiences earlier.

After another ten minutes or so of constant walking, I began to realize the moderate changes the forest is undergoing as I continued on my way forward.

It's just trees and the carpet of leaves on the ground below left, no more thick vegetation, and no more large boulders.

The soothing sound of the stream had become a constant companion, guiding me like a faithful friend as I pressed on through the woods, eventually, the trees gradually began to thin out, their density giving way to open spaces and a sense of liberation and freedom.

Is this...?

With each step I took, the canopy above started to recede, allowing rays of sunlight to break through the foliage, the air felt fresher, cooler, and a feeling of anticipation begins to well up within me.

After what seems like an eternity of navigating through the underbrush, the world before me begins to change, the trees parted, revealing a vast clearing that stretched out before my eyes. my heart skipped a beat as I gazed upon the breathtaking sight that lay beyond.

Finally!

Before me lay a large valley, which seems to stretch beyond the horizon, the boundaries blurred by distance and haze. In addition, Lush, rolling hills carpeted in a curtain of vibrant greens, materialized like a living painting.

The sky above was a brilliant blue canvas, adorned with fluffy white clouds that cast playful shadows over the landscape. A gentle breeze swept through the clearing, carrying with it the subtle fragrance of fresh grass and the earthy aroma from the forest behind me.

Not only that, there seems to be a small town between the mountains, with what appears to be a dirt road that runs towards north as far as my eye could see, and another road that runs down south, but because of the elevation on the land I'm currently standing on, I couldn't see where it leads to. There's also a few hamlets that dotted across the land.

But it doesn't matter... it's a damn town!

Civilization!

And that means people!.. people that could potentially offer me the answers that I've been looking for since I arrived in this strange place, people that could potentially help me find my way back home! I feel a great deal of weight being lifted off from my chest.

With a smile, my eyes went back towards scanning the valley, it seems to radiate an atmosphere of mystery and beauty, reminding me of nature's such qualities.

My exhaustion and the trials of the forest melted away in the face of such beauty. For a moment, I stood there, slowly taking all the sights in, allowing the serenity of the scene to wash over me.

It's beautiful..

Torrent of emotions and thoughts starts to whirl up inside of me.. I wanted to laugh, I wanted to cry, I wanted to leave this place, yet a part of me wants to stay here forever.

Dad..

My chest begins to tighten as tears form in my eyes.

I wish you were here besides me.

How I wish we could have shared this breathtaking sight before me, together.

I clenched my fist as I felt my tears flow down on my cheeks.

And that's where a pang of realization hit me..

The pendant!

Frantically, my hand shot towards the pocket where I recalled placing my pendant in. My heart raced wildly, fear gnawing at me as thoughts of losing it in the forest clawed at my mind. And then, my fingers brushed against the familiar polished gold of the pendant my father had gifted me. A sigh of relief escaped my lips, washing away the weight of anxiety that had settled within me. I was reassured that I hadn't lost it on my journey here.

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CHAPTER DONE!!