Chapter 1: Lost but found

As I dived again I felt a tinge of excitement, I might reach the bottom of the river this time, before I ran out of breath. Opening my eyes under the water was easy now, long years of doing so had made it easy. As I opened them I felt a fish slither past my face and caught a glimpse of it shiny length, it quickly receded into the gloom of the water. Swimming further down I began to feel urgency building up in my lungs, I could see the bottom now, just a few more feet and I would be there.

One of my hands stretched down ahead of me, seeming pale against the dull muddy rock. I felt my fingers brush the bottom for a moment before I became aware that the current was stronger down here. It picked me up and threw me downstream, I was helpless before its strength.

My lungs were burning, the need for air was so strong now, urging me to open my lips and suck in a deep breath. But then I would surely drown.

The current was carrying me swiftly, how fast, I wasn't sure. I wanted to swim for the surface, but I didn't know which way it was. Then, hope, finally, my knee banged against a rock lying on the riverbed, I planted my feet on its slippery face and pushed with all my strength.

The first breath was like heaven, my oxygen deprived body started working again, I began treading water, fighting to keep my head above the blue of the water. The current wasn't as strong up here on top of the river. Swimming slowly I made my way towards one of the banks, too late I heard the telltale sound of a waterfall, I was still too far from the bank.

Automatically I started backpedalling in the water- I didn't want to go over the waterfall. I got a good look over the spine as I shot out over the cliff. I felt disbelief, beyond the edge of the spine I could see an area with no trees. We didn't live anywhere near a place like this. Then I hit the water, knocking the breath out of me again. I managed to swim to the edge of the water before passing out.

When I came to I was aware that a lot of time had passed, my bare skin was chilled but dry. Cursing my lack of clothing I stood up, all traces of the strange collection of buildings surrounded by cleared land was gone.

Hugging my arms to me I peered around. There was a strange pile of bones- old I judged- piled by the water. They were bleached white and the giant rib cage stretched to the sky. There was also a smaller skeleton, human, lying beside it, this one showed signs of being eaten by scavengers. Drawn forward, I walked slowly over to them, there seems to be something else, scraps of leather, almost rotted into nothing. Survival instincts kicked in at that point and I bent down to see if the leather was any good. As I touched it, it disintegrated do dust, grimly I kept searching. Digging down I managed to find a rusted dagger and a few pieces of a shiny metal with faces and strange symbols printed on them. Moving over I dug in a different spot. Something hard was buried here, clearing away the leather dust something glinted silver up at me, glistening in the sunlight. Picking it up I marvelled at the smoothness of its surface. It was a stone, cold to touch, shiny, and about a foot long.

Mesmerised by it I resolve to take it with me, gathering up my other spoils I move into the trees, going from tree to tree I collect large leaves, vines and springy branches. Once my arms were filled I knelt down and started combining the things to create a pouch sling to hold the stone and any food I might find. Other bits were used to make a sheath for the dagger but most of it make rough clothing, more for heat than for modesty.

Once it was done I slung the pouch over my shoulder, bound the leaf sheath to my waist and ran to the cliff.

Priority one now? Getting home.


Every1's beta: I had a read through this and i managed to find a few more errors, thanks and we'll see about pairing. I'm trying my very best to stop this being a mary-sue. PLEASE if it starts going that way please warn me.