Finding Home 1
Brainfarts everywhere
I bend low to the ground, pulling out my bow. Leaves crushed by hooves, leading north. They look heavy, most likely belonging to a large buck. It should feed a few families if I kill it. The scent is still strong, it must be nearby. I break into a jog, vaulting over logs and leaping roots. I break my jog, kneeling behind a shrub, breathing calmly. There is a buck as well as a doe. There's a fawn hanging close to the doe. I'm only here for the Buck. I take a deep breath, nocking an arrow. The string draws taut while I take aim, the tip pointing at the buck between the eyes. Snap! Crash! A creature roars behind me, how did I not notice?! The prey flees from the noise. I swivel on my knee, only to be hit by a wall....
I snap awake, body jolting against the wall. Slowing my heavy breathing, I look around at the shimmering lights. It's still dark out in this human town and the alley is still disappointingly wet. I pull my self up, wiping any dirt off my hunting gear. I can't stay here for too long, someone might see. A wolf standing upright can alert anyone passing by, so much for a nice nap. Heaving a sigh, I weave through the alleys, stopping here and there when there are homeless in the way. This place is a maze, I can't make heads or tails of it. Why can't it be simple like back at home? My chest sinks when the thought crosses my mind. How is everyone? What about Akimu, is he doing alright? I finally reach a dark patch of road, the overhead lights seem to be broken. I start crossing, sprinting when there's a bright flash of light. Something solid hits me, I barely manage to register what's happening before I feel hard ground. An ache spreads through my body, then a numbing pain. I black out.
My mind muddles through a hazy dream. Walking through an endless green field, no matter what direction I run, the horizon seems to stretch further. I wonder how often I've seen this scene. The dream grows cloudy then clears again. Still in the field but I can see a figure in the distance. This... is different. I walk towards the figure, but I don't draw any closer. I try to shout but my voice fails me. The haze comes back but...
I wake once more, eyes fluttering open and vision blurry. My body aches but something soft supports me. My vision clears, and I gaze around an almost empty room. The walls are painted white and a black carpet fills the floor. There is one window where sunlight illuminates the room. Did a human take me? I look down to inspect my body. A white cloth is wrapped around my stomach, a red stain dots the side. It seems I did not take any serious injuries. Whoever treated my wounds performed it well. My clothes sit folded in a basket and my gear perch against the wall. The bed creaks when I shift, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. The carpet feels soft under my pads. Standing only makes me wince, the pain spiking into my side for a moment. A few steps forward and I look out the window. The sun shines brightly across a large field of corn, crop, and small patches of green that I cannot make out. The door clicks, and creaks open behind me. I turn to find a young girl holding out a tray. A lovely aroma fills the room, coming from the bowl. It looks like some form of soup. The child speaks but I can hardly understand human language anyways. Sighing, I sit on the floor as she gingerly walks over. She talks a bit more, showing me a metal spoon and dipping it into the soup. I play along, scooping some of the soup into my mouth. It's chicken with a few added greens to it. It tastes mediocre but it's free. The girl stares at me with wonderous fascination, which I do not find surprising. Half way through my meal, I watch her hesitantly reach out and pat my head. I feel degraded to lowly pup, but she is just a child, I bear myself through it. She lets out a giggle and takes the tray away when I'm finished with it.
The pain in my side returns and I return to the bed. Little for me to gain by going out injured like this. It's miraculous that I can even walk. I decide to sleep and conserve my strength for the rest of the day.
A soft hand wakes me this time. I open one eye and spot an older man, wrinkles just forming, gazing at the bandages.
"Are you well," The man asks softly. My earls perk at the question. A human speaking our language?
"Y-yes, better than earlier," I reply with a small nod.
"That's good," The man smiles warmly, "Sit up." I do as I'm requested, pushing myself up to a sitting position. He unwraps the bandages and prepares a new roll. The wound is healing but still requires some aid. The man applies a strange substance to the cuts, stinging a little, before wrapping the new gauze around.
"How did you stray this far from your lands," The man asks.
I tense at the question, "I don't really know. I was hunting but the best I can say is that I got.... Taken here. Not by anyone but somehow I ended up here."
"Strange, poachers don't stray near your areas out of fear," The man nods. He cleans up any stray medical supplies and moves to leave, "The nearest settlement for your kind is a hike north. I used to make trips to treat sickness but I'm losing my bearings with age. They come to me if they need help." He sighs again and sets the kit aside, "Once that wound is healed, you may leave."
I sigh once he leaves, I give myself two days heal.
Food, water, and some new hunting clothes is what the old man gave me. I suppose I am lucky to meet him. Once I find that settlement, I am well on my way home.