Edward,
I can feel the true dryness of my body.
My dehydrated muscles make my every singular movement feel like a contortion, making the common action of running feel like the most brutal form of torture.
The air is sodden from the passing rain this moisture doesn't even dampen my arid skin.
The forest floor is softened by the fallen leaves and needles of the surrounding trees, the delicate sensation it provides is a cruel contrast to the agony of my body.
The forest ends and is replaced by a small barren field I curse under my breath before slowing and turning back towards the forest.
I can now feel my bones begin to turn into those of a corpse frail and dead I run faster in my desperation.
I halt abruptly and confirm the sweet scent, the scent of a Hare.
In a single swift movement, I reach beneath the spiny boughs of a Fir to catch the small creature by its velvety long ears, before hastily closing my jaws cover its fragile diaphragm.
Feeling the warm fluid flow over my tongue and down my throat the taste is rich and familiar. Having drained the small creature of all of its blood I wait for regularity to return to my body. But it does not instead I am left with the same horrific thirst.
The hares blood has aggravated my already alarming thirst my body continues to deteriorate my flesh rotting at a distressing rate.
I once again begin running searching for an animal large enough to satisfy me.
I stop running finding myself exhausted which is peculiar and mildly disconcerting I continue cautiously at a slow walk not certain if one of my limbs will fall off.
As I continue at my slow pace my condition continues to worsen I grow more and more like a corpse.
My legs collapse beneath me having lost most of their substance and I am left motionless on damp forest floor.
The hare's blood begins to seep from my throat my body having rejected it I hoist myself up on what's left of my rotting elbows in order to spit out the fowl liquid of blood and an anonyms black substance which has been pooling in my mouth.
I lay back down preparing myself for death.
I close my eyes hoping for unconsciousness or some other form relief from the pain.
The darkness which lays behind my eyelids does not help and unconsciousness did not come.
I opened my eyes before trying to hoist myself upright I managed to get myself to half sitting position before the pain became too great.
The wisp of scent was delicate but distinct.
My body began to throb with desire.
My mind no longer had a single thought of death within it.
The only thing that held the slightest bit of importance was this enchanting smell.