I awoke to the sun's harsh light, its rays piercing through my eyelids. Beneath me, the grass swayed gently, a soothing contrast.
My head was hazy; memories seemed lost to me. Getting up, I was caught by surprise.
Blue trees glistened, their leaves shimmering like sapphires in the sunlight.
The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the gentle hum of pink frogs flying without a care in the world.
Questions swirled in my mind: How did I get here? Who am I? Why do I not recognize anything?
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. It was better not to overthink it.
As I breathed in the sweet-scented air, the beauty of this place struck me – the blue trees and grass, the flying frogs, and the lavender sky all blended into a breathtaking scene.
While admiring the scenery, my ears stung at the piercing roar of a massive creature flying above. Gazing up, I saw what could only exist in fantasy.
A great, fire-breathing creature of myth.
A dragon.
Instinct kicked in, telling me to run before it spots me and makes a morning snack out of me. I quickly scrambled to my feet and ran to hide inside the hollow trunk of a huge, ancient tree.
Inside, I calmed my nerves and took a deep breath. While examining the small space, I finally noticed the bag hanging from my shoulder.
Opening the bag, I find a map, which was not exactly helpful since I did not recognize any of its contents and did not even know where I am.
My heart thrummed in my chest, I gazed out, the unfamiliar forest stretched out before me like a canvas waiting to be explored. I felt an inexplicable sense of purpose.
I poke my head out to gaze up at the lavender sky speckled with puffy white clouds. The sun, a fiery orb, shone majestically overhead.
No sign or sound of the dragon.
I step out, my feet sinking into the grass, which darkened from vivid sapphire to ebony black. I barely register the change.
As I wander through this fantastical landscape, I marvel at the wondrous sights around me. Pink frogs with delicate butterfly wings soaring through the sunny sky, their iridescent wings glimmering in the light.
Mythical creatures darted across the land, playfully chasing one another. In the lake, schools of fish in every size and hue swam together in perfect harmony, their scales shimmering like diamonds in the sunlight.
I spotted fruits in every color of the rainbow, their vibrant hues tantalizing my senses. Some were large and yellowish-white, resembling mangoes with their sweet, golden flesh. Others were small and pink, blending the juicy texture of apples with the tartness of berries. Bundles of spotted blue and gold fruit clusters caught my eye, blending the lushness of grapes with the earthy charm of mushrooms.
Mangoes, apples, berries, grapes, and mushrooms...I guess I can remember small things such as that.
I wished to grab some but hesitated, wondering if they could be poisonous.
I kept moving, leaving groups of rotting inky grass underneath my bare feet.
As the Sun started dipping below the horizon, it was best to settle down to camp for the night. And since I had nothing except a small bag, I laid down and gazed up to the night sky, a vast, inky black canvas dotted with millions of twinkling stars, trying to figure out any constellation. To my dissatisfaction, I found none.
My mind wandered on its own. Wondering how many lost travelers like me gazed upon the soothing and beautiful night sky before, admiring its beauty, and how many will after.
After a while of contemplating the night sky, a haunting melody pierced the night air, the low notes vibrating through my bones.
My breath got caught in my throat, and my legs propelled me forward, the sound of my footsteps echoing through the forest.
As I ran, the sound of my ragged breathing filled my ears, and my legs pumped furiously, driven by adrenaline.
But gradually, the haunting melody faded into the distance, and my frantic pace slowed.
Finally, I stumbled to a stop, my eyes fixed on a cozy cottage that seemed to materialize before me. Its windows glowed like warm embers, and the scent of baking wafted through the air, a stark contrast to the terror that had driven me.
I stood there, frozen, as the calm atmosphere enveloped me, slowly seeping into my panicked mind.
I trudged forward.
I rapped my knuckles against the wooden door, the hollow thud echoing through the stillness, and waited.
A sliver of light spilled onto the ground as the door creaked open, and a small figure stood silhouetted in the doorway.