I stumbled to my feet. The air was crisp with a bit of a chill. The rising sun was shining through the trees, only some of which were beginning to bud. It was a beautiful morning, but my muscle memory felt off. Looking down I think I’m a few inches taller and have acquired a decent level of unearned fitness. Strange, but certainly something I wouldn’t complain too much about.

  What I will complain about was the urgent and nagging question permeating my thoughts: why was I in a forest? Sure, hiking or backpacking’s fine, but where was my bed? I sure as hell know I went to bed, in my home no less, the night before.

  At least the universe, or whatever caused this to happen, was kind enough to give me some clothes. Sparse for the cool weather as they may be, but I suppose it’s a consolation prize for being abducted and thrown into the middle of nowhere. Not that I was graced with anything more. Nope, just a weird white robe, that I certainly didn't own, and similarly white pants. Hey universe, a knife, matches, string, and/or literally any tool would’ve been really helpful. That would be too generous now, wouldn’t it? I wasn't exactly a wilderness savant that can survive with nothing. In other words, I was probably screwed.

  Eh, whatever. I was due for another change anyways. Everyone else was moving on again, starting families, focusing on work, or some other nonsense. It was about time for me to pack up and move anyway. It wasn’t like I ever expected anyone to stick around. Waking up in a strange forest wasn’t the change of pace I had in mind. Sometimes you just need to do your best with the shit hand you’ve been dealt. Plus, how long will it be until anyone even notices I’m gone? Maybe a few days for my job at best.

  Plus, starving or freezing in the woods doesn’t seem particularly appealing. I guess I’ll give this ‘survival’ thing a try. It seems like a worthy enough distraction from thinking too deeply about the implications and ramifications of what it means for me to be here. That’s a box I don’t need to open quite yet.

  Traversing the forest wasn’t too bad. For the most part the terrain was fairly flat with mild slopes and hills at best. The underbrush was fairly sparse as well. Both of which were nice, as it meant the less I had to worry about expending too many calories getting around. Not that I imagine a more rigorous hike would’ve slowed my roll. Without a doubt, I had a lot better athleticism and stamina than I had before. Though food and water, or lack thereof, was certainly becoming an issue.

  It was only when the sun was starting to hang low in the sky when I stumbled across a small creek, the water was cool and tasted fresh at least. Finally some progress! Having spent most of the day kinda just aimlessly wandering, looking for signs of civilization or anything, it was a welcomed change. The sun was beginning to hang low in the sky. Gathering sticks and branches, I threw together a flimsy shelter. I wasn’t sure if I could’ve done something more productive with my day, but this seemed like a fine enough way to end it.

  As the sun began to set, the world was bathed in a purple light. The atmosphere had an unnatural feel: beautiful yet unsettling. Eventually, the last of the light faded and a myriad of stars filled the sky. Had I known constellations, perhaps, I could’ve had some clue to where I was. The moon, though, looked different. It was only half full, but its craters and markings didn’t sit right in my memory. Thus, in this small hovel, I spent my first night.

  A loud cracking sound woke me up. Sleep hadn’t come easy with the cold of the night. The moon and stars lit up the night decently. Though I could still mostly just make out shadows at a distance. I peered wearily out and saw a large creature. Its outline looked like a bear’s though it had a beak and dark feathers. It looked like it had cubs with it. Or maybe chicks was the better word. Semantics aside, all I could hope was that they didn’t come this way.

  I watched the shadows. They seemed to just be looking for a drink, but I couldn’t help but worry they’d want a meal to go along with it. The cubs started to play fighting in the water and the mother watched. It was cute in a way but didn’t help my worries. An hour went by with me watching. Eventually they headed away opposite to my direction. Once I was sure they were gone, I spent a bit of time finding a sturdy branch and did my best to break it into a spear. Or more accurately a pointy stick…

  Any doubts I had that I was in a fantasy world faded. The purple light that came with dusk, the moon’s face, and the fact I was suddenly a lot more physically fit were basically giveaways to begin with. Though, I didn’t want to believe it. At least not at the moment. All it meant was that I was stuck in the middle of the woods with no way to survive and truly no one looking for me.

  I also arrived here with no fanfare. What gives? This should be a special occurrence. For a traveler from another world to grace this one with her presence. If I’m going to get dumped in a fantasy world, at least show me how to do magic or something. My pleas went expectantly unanswered as I drifted back to uneasy sleep.

  The morning wasn’t an easy one. Hunger was getting to me and sleep was a luxury I didn’t have. Sure, this was a fantasy world, but there must be other people here, right? Or, if not, perhaps some intelligent and/or empathetic forest creatures that’ll help me. Come on, fantasy world show me a friendly druid willing to guide me to civilization.

  Nothing.

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  I have to find my way on my own, I guess. Water leads to civilization, or at least it should. If I follow the creek downstream, hopefully that’ll lead me to other people. Wait, other people… I’m not from this world, will I be able to speak their language? Would my being here bring diseases from my world, or would I get infected and die of magic flu or something? But since my body is different, could it be reconstituted in this world meaning my body’s microbiome is the same as a resident of this world? Is that even the right use of ‘microbiome’? I was a software developer in my last life, not a biologist.

  Surely I wouldn’t be thrown into this world with nothing, right? I went down the creek to a hefty-looking rock. I have a new body; I felt stronger. Tugging with all my might, it budged slightly, but stayed embedded in the river. This was likely a waste of energy, but hey curiosity and cats and whatnot. Trying and lifting some more for my little experiment was underwhelming. Respectable for mundane human standards, not so much for the hope of me being magically empowered. Physical enhancements were a bust… Maybe magic?

  Looking over the same rocks I did my strength training on. I pictured some of them shattering and others warping in my mind, nothing. Psychokinesis was a bust. Like a child playing pretend I started waving my hands in some hope of shooting fire or something. Threw in every magic or magic adjacent word I knew or imagined for good measure. After at least fifteen minutes of me being an idiot, with nothing to show for it, I clicked my tongue and looked down the creek. Yea… this wasn’t going to be fun was it…

  ***

  I munched sadly on some acorns as the sun began to set, and the world was bathed once again in the evening’s purple light for the third time. The temperature dropped. Got to love life in a fantasy world. I tried praying the other night; gods surely exist in worlds like these, right? If they heard my prayers, they didn’t seem willing to help.

  Arriving in a fantasy world only to die in the woods, sure why not. I didn’t have the energy to make a shelter that night. If anything my ‘shelters’ were probably just a waste of energy anyways. No way any of them would’ve actually kept me dry if it decided to rain and they were flimsy enough I’m sure some beast could’ve broken through. I just found a tree to lay against with my wanna-be stick spear. As I started to fade from consciousness, a faint rustle sprung me to attention. Spear readied, I scanned the horizon. Three exceptionally large wolves were encircling me. Dammit all.

  One began to charge. Reflexes took over and I somehow caught its bite with my stick-spear, but fell hard to the ground. Despite the wolf being nearly my size and bearing down on me with its jaw trying to snap my stick, it held strong. With its fangs blocked, the wolf began to dig at my flesh with its claws. I tried my best. My right arm held up the stick at an angle while my left arm tried to protect my vitals. The claws were unexpectedly sharp as ribbons of flesh fell away. Adrenaline was barely keeping me going as I tried to push the beast off with my legs. Pushing, kicking, anything. All to no avail. I didn’t want to die. Not yet. Though, all I could think at the moment was how I could make it painless.

  Suddenly I heard a woman’s voice. She spoke in an alien language I shouldn’t understand, but somehow instinctively knew. It was a prayer for the gods to smite her foe with radiant light.

  “[Radiant Flame]” A golden light erupted from the wolf, searing it slightly. The creature winced, drawing back. I tried getting up and running to the voice, but my left arm didn’t listen to me. Giving out when I tried to use it to get up. Something must have been broken or torn.

  I caught a quick glimpse of her, she wore what looked like a nun’s outfit, however, less puritanical than one would expect of ‘medieval times’. Instead of white trims on the headdress, cuffs, and around the neck it was a mix of fiery yellows and reds. The dress only went a bit below the knee and her dirty-blonde hair was exposed from the headdress at the bangs. Her whole outfit was off kilter like she ran some ways to get here.

  “Sofia! What happened? Why did you run off suddenly?” A man called out now before bursting through the foliage. His voice was clearly in English. He was a strange sight, like a knight who was interrupted mid-doffing of his armor. He still wore gambeson on his upper half, but shiny platemail leggings.

  “I… err. Look,” the nun who cast the spell, presumably Sofia, responded.

  “Bloody hells,” he grumbled. “How’d you know someone was out here?”

  Yea, less talking and more saving me please. As though listening to my thoughts the knight started running in my direction. The wolves returned to circling around me, looking for an opening while assessing the newcomers.

  “Ooh, are we having direwolf for dinner?” A second woman’s voice asked before an arrow thudded into the wolf closest to the knight. She was somewhere tucked in the trees that I couldn’t see. The creature winced back. Seizing the moment with a quick pivot and dash, he swung his sword down, severing the creature’s head.

  Seeing an opportunity to flee, I tried again to get up and move towards them only to fall over again. Fear and panic were all consuming. The nun, Sofia, started running over towards me. A low growl was followed by another wolf dashing towards me.

  “[Radiant Flame],” Sofia chanted again. The erupting light didn’t hit the wolf, but caused it to hesitate before lunging towards me. The knight was faster than what seemed humanly possible. Somehow getting to me and catching the lunging wolf with his shield. The weight of the giant beast seemed inconsequential to him.

  “Ivili, cover Sofia and the woman. If they get close I’ll try and rout them,” he said, throwing the wolf off his shield and into a tree. Yea sure, why not. Super strength/athleticism exists here, but I guess the universe didn’t want to throw me that bone. Or any…

  “Yea, yea. I still want at least two for the meat and pelts,” the hidden voice called out, shooting an arrow at the fallen wolf. The creature narrowly avoided her shot. Though not the second that came soon after.

  I was still struggling to move. Trying to put weight on my legs was a losing prospect and it felt like a miracle my left arm was even still attached. My white robes were sure to be dyed red by now. Eventually, the nun reached where I was and knelt next to me. With a look of curiosity and confusion more so than concern, she asked me, “A-are you alright?”

  “... What do you think?” I muttered. Whatever happened now was out of my hands. Giving into my exhaustion, I lost consciousness.