Earth, 202X – atop a tall building at night.
Meaningless. There is no point in anything. Never was.
So why am I still sitting on this ledge?
I mean, I tried my best… I think.
I have lasted 24 long years with no purpose, no true satisfaction. Honestly, it is not bad.
But to simply give up…
Somehow, I still held hope. Not sure of what. Not sure why.
It's not like there has to be a reason to hope, most of the time, there isn't.
As I gazed blankly into the nightscape, I once again felt lost.
I had felt this way many times before when I graduated from university as an engineer, or when I traveled the world.
In every one of those instances, I tried to find my path. A path toward living a satisfying life, full of pride.
But the only things I ever found were disappointment and indifference.
Maybe there is no path to be found.
I pause in silence.
"…"
Still, simply giving up is not my style.
Whatever. I guess today is not the day.
As I stood up, I turned around for one last look at the city.
The blinding lights of the modern world flashed endlessly, screaming that I am not the only one on this planet. That my troubles are insignificant.
Then, as if the world itself had grown tired of my nonsense, my foot slips.
Losing balance, I tumble down the ledge.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck"
I clawed desperately at the air, grabbing at nothing, but gravity did what it always does.
Surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly, I couldn't think of anything.
No flashback. No last-minute realization. No peaceful acceptance.
Only the deafening wind tearing past my ears as I flailed.
A pathetic way to die with no impact on the world whatsoever.
Fitting.
"No–no–no! Why!? Not like this, please!"
I don't want to die. I never did.
Because dying means the end.
No resolution. No satisfaction. No hope of change.
Just eternal silence.
But sometimes we aren't given a choice. Or maybe we are, and I was just too stupid to see it.
After seconds of agonizing wait–Impact.
THUD.
A burst of pain fills my back as my body meets the ground, forcing the air from my lungs.
"Huff… huff…"
Confused, adrenaline still flooding my system, it takes me a few seconds to think again.
How am I alive?
Still lying down, I reach out and touch the ground.
Not cold cement.
Grass.
Soft, yielding grass.
As if my entire life had been one long hallucination.
But even if that is the case, I am glad.
Because I am alive.
"Hahaha… I'm alive! Or I finally snapped. But I don't care."
I stand slowly, tunnel vision and pain still clouding my sight.
"I didn't feel anything when I was… teleported? Maybe God is real. Or maybe it's some absurd coincidence"
I mumble to myself, thoughts spiraling toward disease, predators, and poisonous air.
After forcing myself to breathe slowly, I calm down.
As my vision clears, I look around–and freeze.
Towering umbrella-shaped trees stretch upward by the hundreds, perhaps thousands of meters tall, standing like nature's skyscrapers.
Above, multiple layered "floors" form where vines and moss bind the trees together.
Clusters of vividly colored, alien flowers carpet the forest floor.
The air hums with life; chirping birds, distant growls, and the unsettling creak of wood grinding against itself.
I inhale deeply.
Fresh, clean air filling my lungs.
Suddenly, an enormous shadow sweeps overhead, slowly plunging the forest into darkness.
Nearly a full minute passes before it clears, sunlight returning as the thing disappears beyond the canopy.
A cacophony of nature. And the unknown.
Cautious but excited I approach one of the trees, inspecting it where sunlight filters through the foliage.
The dark brown bark is impossibly hard. Thick green vines coil around the trunk, as if giving it shape.
If even the trees are so exaggerated…
After a moment, I step back.
I should find water.
Fortunately I have always been somewhat of an active person.
With no better plan, I head off in a random direction, moving quietly, listening for flowing water.
After several uneventful minutes, I spot something strange.
"What the hell…?"
I drop low.
A small green balloon floats lazily between the trees, viscous liquid sloshing inside.
Did some clown get teleported here with me?
Or have I finally lost it?
Thankfully, the balloon drifts away instead of approaching, disappearing into the foliage.
Besides that, I notice other oddities: dirt patches crawling with pulsating red granules, which I obviously avoid, and slimy green trails, along with claw marks gouged into tree bark.
Time passes as I wander, surprisingly refreshed by the temperate air.
I stop, eyes closed, listening.
Gurgle… gurgle…
Water.
Relieved, I head toward the sound.
It might be dangerous
But thirst is equally as big of a problem
And if I go downstream of the creek it might lead me to a river.
A river where groups of people could be living nearby.
Admittedly, it is a bit of a stretch. Considering I don't even know if other intelligent species exist.
But I would rather explore with the possibility in mind, it's more interesting that way.
Treading towards the sound I am about to round a massive tree–
But something finds me first.
From the corner of my eye, a white blur rockets toward me.
I push off the ground instinctively, moving back and to the side.
THUNK.
A large brown rabbit slams horn-first into the tree in front of me.
Its half-meter-long spiral horn is buried deep in the bark.
The rabbit-like creature has a lean body, massive hind legs, and bloodshot eyes.
"Damn."
This thing is too fast
I might have dodged its attack once. Next time I won't be so lucky
Running will only open myself up to even more attacks from other beasts
Thinking while moving, I grab a rock and rush it while it struggles.
The rabbit thrashes violently, slowly freeing itself.
I approach from the side.
Lifting the rock above my head with both arms I lock eyes with the horned rabbit, sunlight flashing through the forest.
Then, I smash down its head with all my strength
CRACK
The horned rabbit's head makes a nauseating sound.
Yet, It keeps moving in a frenzy, trying to free its horn desperately
I strike again.
And again.
And again.
Until my arms burn.
And finally–
With a wet Thud.
Stillness.
I stagger back, breathing hard, tossing the rock aside.
"Sorry… but I need to live."
Not my first kill.
Still weighs the same.
I twist the horn free and examine the body.
Its fur is soaked in blood. The white spiral horn pristine.
Using stones, I pry the horn loose with skull fragments still attached. A crude, but usable weapon.
Now armed I stand unsure whether to take the corpse with me or leave it
Taking it would solve any food problems, even water, since I can drink the blood.
But it could also attract other predators.
Deciding to not waste any more time I use the tip of the white horn to cut one of the thick hind legs.
Then, with disgust I try to drink some of its blood.
The taste is salty and metallic with a weird bitter aftertaste.
Like sucking a rusty nail.
Ugh. This is way too disgusting.
I hold my vomit and keep drinking until I feel too disgusted to continue.
Slightly full, I take the spike on my right hand and the rabbit's leg with the other. Heading towards the water.
Soon enough I arrive at a small clearing divided by a creek.
No animal in sight, just me.
Sighing in relief, I stand besides the flowing water.
Clear and shining brightly despite the waning day.
Despite potential bacteria and predators I am tempted to take a bath
After thinking briefly, I cut the bone off the rabbit leg and throw it at the water
Once the bone is a meter above the water, it suddenly gets 'attacked' by something below.
SPLASH
A shadow shoots up from the bottom of the creek, coiling tightly against the bone and falling with it into the water.
I quickly take a few steps back.
Rubbing my eyes, I look back.
I must have been too tired to think. I mean, before I even got teleported I was already dead tired.
Probably should focus on finding a place to rest.
I guess I will rest here for a while, then walk downstream until I find somewhere safe.
My next steps decided, I grab a few dry sticks laying around and try to set up a fire.
Lets hope I remember how to do this. You just rub the sticks together right?
I set a stick in between my palms and rub it onto the crumbled pieces of leafs.
Should be easy.
Minutes pass, and so does my patience.
Clearly it is not that easy.
Come on, give me some smoke at least.
I grab a different stick and give that one a try.
The exact same result.
This is not working.
I put down the damn stick.
How do I make a fire? Friction isn't working. Maybe I could use something else.
Standing up, I look up at one of the skyscraper trees in thought.
Then I look at the shining water of the creek.
With an idea in mind, I walk back to where I saw the balloon hide.
The path is tiring, my legs getting heavier on every step I take.
But I hold back my exhaustion and reach the place.
Looking up, it takes some effort but I manage to spot the ridiculous balloon hiding 6-7 meters high.
I place the horn on my belt and the now boneless rabbit leg in my pocket.
And without much thought, I attempt to climb the tree using the vines and branches as footholds.
Now near the balloon, I simply grab it and descend slowly.
On my way back to the creek I inspect the balloon. This time noticing a small needle-like protrusion on its end along with some small transparent wings.
Is this a probusicus? If so then this must be some sort of insect. This green goo is also kind of similar to the tracks I found earlier, maybe they are connected.
Despite my thoughts, I act swiftly, using the spiral horn to make a hole where the proboscis is.
To my surprise the 'balloon' proves to be quite tough, making me use all my strength to pierce through.
Eventually though, it explodes quietly with a satisfying *POP*, green goo spilling out carelessly.
I simply pinch the bottom part and turn it upside down, letting all the liquid fall out.
Most of the liquid falls together, with no trace remaining inside the now shriveled balloon.
This goo also probably has some use, but I would rather not risk it.
Leaving my mess aside, I arrive at the creek.
Weary, I throw multiple rocks at the water in different spots, testing for any of the jumping face huggers.
A few get 'embraced' by those things, but some rocks remain unaffected.
Please don't have something else jump.
I grab the opening I cut into the balloon and place it on the water where none of the rocks got hugged.
Thankfully nothing else came out
Now with the 'balloon' filled, I lift it in the air along the path of a ray of sunlight
If friction doesn't work, then light could be useful
It takes a few attempts but eventually the light passes smoothly and gets focused into the small tinder I got from before.
Not much happens at first.
My mood souring as my arms get tired once again.
But more than 10 minutes later, something happens.
Smoke starts to come out as a fire forms.
Seems like years of engineering school have their use.
I quickly add some small sticks, making a shoddy campfire.
Washing the dirty rabbit leg on the water, I then pierce it with a stick and hover it on top of the fire.
While roasting the rabbit I look up.
It looks like it might soon turn dark.
I really want to sleep, but it is way too risky.
Although wandering at night might be even more dangerous.
I take a few bites of the tough meat. Its unusually bitter taste filling my mouth.
I haven't thought much about why I am here.
But It doesnt matter.
For now I at least have something interesting to do.
Something to explore.
And much to explore I have. Such a strange ecosystem must be the result of very interesting factors.
So many trees reaching mountain levels of height shows that the nutrients are ridiculously abundant, possibly with some supernatural aspect involved.
I mean, if the organisms on the lower part of the food chain are so monstrous, then the rest must be even more so.
Especially with the crazy growling and howling that is going around and that huge shadow
Never been good at outdoor survival though
It's not like there are a lot of opportunities to truly be in the wilderness on Earth.
But I will learn, just like I have done before.
I have plenty of experience in other areas.
Hell, I was wanted in the US for having a scuffle with a gang.
I take another bite of the meat
I did get some combat skills experience though.
Yawn
Why am I so tired? This isn't normal, right?
I try to stand up from my sitting position, but fail miserably.
Fuck, the meat was poisonous.
Falling down for the nth time today, I struggle to keep my eyes open.
My breath faint as my entire body feels cold.
But I manage to maintain my consciousness long enough to see two monstrous shadows approaching.
Then, everything went dark.