Stumbling Into The Unknown

𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆

The moon, the stars and the pungent scent of blood...

That last observation caused me to get up from the ground as I looked around at my surroundings and recognized that it was midnight.

Before I knew it, I heard footsteps, and I rushed behind a nearby tree, trying my best to blend in.

As soon as the footsteps halted, I peered from behind the tree to see two tall figures.

"Where is that bloody girl? " a deep voice said, snapping.

"I-I swear Le-eft her he-ere" a more pip-squeaked voice said, nerves betraying him.

"I-I don't be-believe you, " he taunted..

"If you don't find her in a week," he paused

"You're gonna end up like that guy" he pointed to my tree.

I looked down, my eyes widening as the 'rock' I nearly tripped on turned out to be a lifeless figure.

I heard the footsteps start again, but now they're becoming distant. I sighed and moved from behind the tall tree, weary of the figure.

What was I doing earlier that day? For some reason, I can't remember anything.

What did that guy do to me?

I stayed for half an hour before walking around to be cautious. Then I patted myself down to see if I had anything on me that could be of use. I just had a watch with me.

The first thing I need to do is get out of this forest; why, you may ask? Because that nervous guy is scouring around, possibly with backup.

First things first, find out which direction I need to go through. The only resources I have are gravel, dirt, and sticks on the ground.

Wait, I've got an idea.

I thought as I picked up two sticks, one shorter than the other.

First, I laid on the ground, then drove the shorter stick to my eye level, then the longer one behind it, before waiting for a few minutes.

To explain what I'm doing, I'm focusing on a star's "movement".

Keep in mind that the star doesn't move.

The Earth rotates, so it makes the star seem like it moved. The way that the star "moves" will help me determine the direction I'm in.

Now the star is moving to the left.

Ah, so I'm facing the north.

The men went to the west, so they're camping there or roaming in that area.

The south has the body I nearly walked on, so it's safe to assume that direction is the usual dumping ground for bodies.

So either the east or the north.

The north has loads of bushes that I can't tell apart now, plus there might be poisonous or rabid animals there. The East is the safest choice I have.

I got up from the ground and began walking in that direction, switching routes from time to time until I arrived at a cliff that wasn't much above the ground.

I could rest below for a while, considering I don't know how long I've been in the forest, on the ground, knocked out.

I proceeded to the edge of the cliff and dangled from it and then jumped off. As I said, it wasn't much above the ground, or I would've fractured my skull.