My breath comes in short bursts. I don't know how long I've running or if that thing has given up the chase, but I feel that if I stop; I'll die. So I keep the pace, drawing energy from my already tired muscles and from my fear of being caught. The swords seem to be growing heavier by the second, but I can't stop to place them in my backpack. Belatedly, I notice salty tears trailing down my cheeks, soaking my shirt. Soon, I can't anything beyond my blurry, foggy state. That being so, my sneaker catches on a root and I crash into the lush foreat floor. I try to rise, but between my aching limbs and the pathetic state of my mind, I can't. Lying on my stomach in an unknown land, I allow uncontrollable sobs to shake my body feeling stupid and lost. I can feel my lids starting to droop as my crying subsides allowing sleepiness to take control. I am vaguely aware that the sun is setting and sleeping out in the open where giant snakes and other monsters can easily eat idiot boys may not be a good idea, but I don't care. I'm tired and sleepy and alittle scared.
'Hehehehe.' My back becomes ramrod straight and my senses scream at me to flee, but I can't move. Wild, alert eyes sweep over the landscape in a crazy attempt to locate the source of that familiar voice.
'Stupid boy. Lying here waitting for death. So like your pathetic kind.' The baritone voice has a haunting ring, but sounds like water running over stones; oddly relaxing. Yet, I find myself balling my fists in anger at his words.
'Poor little runt. Can't run to your mother to suckle her tit, can you?' It sounds so close; too close. But, I still can't see who is talking.
"Where the hell are you?", I growl. A rumbling laughter is his reply.
'Where am I? Does it matter to one waitting to die? If you want to know so badly, Hatchling, then survive.' After a moment of silence, I conlude that whoever is done talking. 'Haughty bastard.' My newfound anger toward this person lends my muscles the strength I need to stand and hobble towards a nearby tree and stream. 'I"ll survive just so I rub it in his goddamn face!' A snarl escapes my parched lips in the prospects of one-upping that man. Shucking of my pack, I dunk my head into the water. It's the perfect temperature, cool, refreshing and soon I'm gulpping down water surprised at my own thirst. Coming up, I take a deep lung full of clean air when something cold dribbles down my back. Reaching a hand around, I touch the base of my neck and pull back to find a dark red substance coating my fingers. My eyes widen at the sight. Slowly, I trail shaking digits over my head probing for the wound. I suddenly hiss and flinch back as I hit the tender spot. 'That would explain the pain.'
Sated, I step back to observe my surroundings in the limited light of a now setting sun. The tree has a small pocket that would make an okay nest for now and the stream provides water and food. I smack my forehead iwth the palm of my hand. 'Food and water, but nothing to carry them in.' A fustrated groan erupts from me as I sink to my knees. 'It's impossible! I don't know the first thing about camping let alone defending myself from huge beasts! Kendo helps a little, but-." I sigh and crawl to my little hole. Curling into a ball, I let sleep claim me.