Second chap! I still dont own either Natsume or lotr. Hope this is ok :) If anyone has suggestions or anything let me know, I don't know where this is going yet besides vague ideas.
Natsume decided to follow the stream, usually civilization was built around water, so if he followed the river, he would know he wasn't going in circles and would come closer to people, hopefully. It was lucky that he wore his warmer clothes this particular day; if he couldn't find a way then at least he'd be warm at night. He realized he should probably feel scared, he was smaller, alone and in the middle of a forest he didn't know, but he couldn't help but feel calm. The life around him reassured him that he was safe, as long as the sun still shone.
It was another clear day, but in the far distance he could see clouds and knew that rain was approaching and he had better get a move on. The weirdest things delighted him though, and he could not help but get distracted by them. A shiny rock gleaming in the stream, a strange looking bird singing a tune high in a tree, a little butterfly the most exotic of colors, each stopped him. With his short legs he wasn't getting very far but there was a delight in the world he couldn't remember having before, even when he was a young child and when he laughed it was bright and unrestrained.
It was now getting closer to sun down then sun up and Natsume was getting concerned, he had walked long and far and no sign of civilization showed itself at all. There were no telephone lines or sounds of traffic from a distance, no smoke coming from any tree, no airplanes going by, just nothing. Where the forest had seemed a safe and even caring place before, it now slowly worked towards menacing. Shadows began to unfurl and grew into long grasping fingers, the animals were silent in the night as if trying to avoid any unnecessary attention and the forest now cried out of danger. He didn't know what to do, if he kept walking by the river in the night, he was open for anyone to see, but he couldn't risk getting lost in the cover of the trees and he was getting tired anyways. He decided to stop for the night, he couldn't risk getting seen (by what he did not know) nor could he risk getting lost in the wood. He found a tree with low hanging boughs and began to climb, the trees were old and tall and he felt safe and unseen in the security of their branches.
The last bits of sun he could see from his vantage point began to disappear and as soon as the deep of the night came a terrible screeching and low grunting started. Now he was terrified, the sounds were unlike anything he had heard before, worse than anything a child could conjure in the scariest of nightmares. They were also moving closer. He realized that the moans and grunts and screams were some form of horrific language and he prayed that he would not get seen. What sort of being had a language that just by hearing made him feel sick? For his entire being to scream out wrong! Something's wrong! He did not want to get found, for he knew it would lead to a slow and painful death.
The creatures were almost upon him, and he shrank into a ball, and just before they reached the area surrounding his chosen tree, it began to rain. But it wasn't a little trickle it was a steady downpour, he was soaked in seconds. He made sure he was in a steady position, the wood was now slippery and if he fell into the midst of the creatures…The creatures seemed to scream in outrage and even though he was now cold and wet he could not help but feel relieved, the rain would mask his scent (if that was what the creatures used) and hopefully they would just pass him by unseen. He could now see them, his eyes seemed to see further than they could before, they were searching around his tree and ones nearby, and he held very still. He almost wished he had his old eyesight back, they were beyond hideous, even more so than the most malevolent spirit he had laid eyes upon. Finally they began to move on screeching and grunting louder than before, and he slowly let out a sigh of relief and tried to get more comfortable. It would be a long night.
He woke up again to the peaceful sounds of the forest and sun upon his face and stretched, almost falling out of the tree he was in. He laughed at himself; the sound filled with relief and as clear as a bell's chime, and slowly made his way down the tree. He felt at peace once again, as if the nightmarish creatures he had encountered were just a nightmare, though the tracks around the tree proved otherwise, the trees of the forest seemed full of life and joy again, and almost as relieved as he was. "The creatures are gone," he thought he heard them whisper, "The child is safe" they might of groaned. He laughed at himself again for being silly and went to the river to drink, he had a fresh and constant source of water, but he would also need to eat soon. He was used to going a few days without food, from the time with his more uncaring relatives, but he had already gone one day and it wasn't something he enjoyed.
He had to find people! The day was halfway through and in his long trek; he had still seen no signs of civilization. He was tired, and although he would have a hard time suddenly explaining why he had pointed ears, he just wanted to be found. The worn green hoodie he was wearing would most likely help him hide them until he thought of an explanation anyways. Maybe where he was everyone had pointed ears? He didn't know, but he silently thought of the beautiful women for the first time with some doubt. He hoped she knew what she was doing. He sighed and decided to have a bit of a rest, he could walk for a long time but without food and without proper sleep he was becoming exhausted much quicker than before. He looked at the river, and almost shouted in surprise and joy, an apple was bobbing along. He jumped up and used a stick to get it to come his way, and nearly jumped again in joy when he finally held it in his hands. It was sweet and crisp, and the best apple he had ever eaten, he wondered if his taste buds had changed as well, for he couldn't remember eating anything that had tasted as good. Finished and rejuvenated, he was once more ready to begin his long walk towards civilization.
Many weeks passed and he was beginning to feel hopeless, maybe this river did go in circles? He had steadily gotten thinner and weaker, for although the occasional apple he could find and even handfuls of sweet tangy berries were delicious, they weren't plentiful enough to survive on. He was used to hunger, he had lived with people who would rather see him starve then give him anything to eat after all, but he had never felt this same gnawing desperation before. It was also becoming colder, whether from winter coming closer, his weakness or his clothes becoming worn he did not know, but soon he would fall to the elements if he couldn't find his way. It was again nearing nighttime and he began to search for a tree to sleep in again, holding onto his now non-existent belly with one hand. He climbed high and waited for night to fall. Luckily the first night in the forest was the only night he had encountered the nightmare creatures, but although the ground was probably more comfortable than the hard branches he would not chance sleeping on it. He heard a sharp crack from just a little deeper in the forest, and the sounds of voices drifting on the wind. His hands clenched in hope and joy but also fear and anticipation. The woods did not scream of danger as they had the first night, but he knew from experience man could be just as cruel as anything.
He waited, listening for the voices to come closer, "something has passed through here, just recently, something small" he hearda rough but gentle voice say. Now he was even more scared, for whoever it was would surely find him, if they could find his tracks. Gentle footfalls sounded, two men entered the clearing he was in. one was crouched lower to the ground, and had dark wavy hair, the other was looking around warily, he had long dark straight hair. The one on the ground suddenly looked up and put his hand on the hilt of his sword, sword! And then with a sharp sound pulled it out and pointed it at the tree he was in. The other swiftly moved to copy him, "Come out and show yourself!" the first one called, his eyes a smoky blue color he had never seen before, and a face he felt he could trust. The words made no sense to him, which was strange for he had understood what they had said before. With little other choice, they knew where he was after all and he knew what they wanted; he climbed down the tree, making sure his hood stayed up. It easily covered his ears but his face was fully visible and when he reached the bottom he turned around, hands raised and full of fear.
He heard a gasp; the longer haired one lowered his sword, "a child." The beautiful voice said softly in a language he could understand. His vision slowly went gray and he knew what was happening before it happened. He fell to the ground in a dead faint, and he hoped the men who found him would show him mercy.