Domia Abr Wyrda (Inheritance Cycle Book 5)

Chapter 2

I made sure to salvage as much of the deer pelt as I could. Nights got really cold this close to the ocean, and I,  being the smart person that I am, forgot to bring a blanket. I would wash the pelt later, and attempt to rid it of the blood stains from the doe. It's not a real blanket, but it will have to suffice.

By then,  the shale was hot enough to cook the deer meat. I sliced the meat into strips to cook above the fire, and retreated to the mouth of the cave. I need water. The thought came out of nowhere. I realized I was thirsty. I can't believe I forgot about water! I'll need to find a stream or something, I thought. Think, Lilli,  think! Do you remember any streams or rivers? But try as I might, I couldn't remember ever seeing a water source while hunting with my...while hunting. I didn't want to leave the cave again, and I couldn't leave the fire unattended. I guess I have to go without water for a day. I sighed, laying down and closing my eyes. As I stared at the insides of my eyelids, I pondered the events of the day.

I didn't know when it was that I fell asleep. I had just been resting my eyes, when BAM! I smelled Smoke. At first, I dismissed it as the fire, but then I realized the wind had been blowing in the opposite direction. Sure, the wind can change directions, but if it had, I would be able to smell the sea as well. The fire wouldn't be strong enough to block that out completely. That's what alerted me to the fact that this was not just my little cooking fire.

I pried open my eyes to see a terrifying sight. Flames surrounded the cave I was in! My fire had caught on a few blades of grass, but somehow, that was enough to start a full out forest fire! I snatched up the slightly burnt strips of deer meat, and retreated further into the cave. There was no way I was going to find a path out of the fire unscathed, I determined that I had to wait it out.

That was the problem. Forest fires could last for days. I could last a few days, but eventually, I would die from dehydration. At least I have food, I thought to myself.

Getting as close to the mouth of the cave as I could, I scanned the roaring scene before me. Flames leapt, surrounding the clearing, and blocking my view of the rest of the forest. I figured the grass would burn out soon enough, and I would be able to expand the perimeter of the space I could safely walk through. That could help me find a suitable water source in the area, I thought. Even though I hadn't seen any before didn't mean there wasn't one.

I sighed, beginning to envy my life before all this happened. The times when I could crawl into my almost-moms lap as she told me a story, or even when my almost-dad taught me how to write the alphabet to prepare me for a chore I had to do in Kuasta. What I would give to feel my almost-moms comforting arm around my shoulders one more time. A silent tear slid down my face. In that moment, I knew my life had changed forever. I would never have a normal life again.

*****

2 days had past. I had barely any food left, and I still had no water. On the bright side, the fire had dissipated. The minute I lost sight of the flames I had packed my things and stumbled out of the cave. On the second day, I had gone deeper into the cave, to see if somehow, someway, there might be water, but to no avail.

And there lied the problem. I had gone almost 3 full days without water! I had to find some source of it, or else, I would face imminent death.

As I had originally planned, I headed north. At least, I thought it was north. I quickly checked over my left shoulder to ensure that the sea was still there, and set off into the charred forest. I had only been walking for a few minutes when I started seeing them. Monsters in the shadows. Goblins in the trees. Creatures flickering just on the edge of my sight. The trees around me became disfigured and appeared to move upon their own will. Bushes grew legs and baaad at me. I saw the lifeless form of my almost-mom flooding the forest with her blood. I stumbled forward,  tears flowing out of my eyes. My eyelids shut, as I attempted to block out the world, but I did not see the usual sight of my eyelids.