At the time, Love fell into an unknown part of the forest, which was filled with a wide range of predators and prey. While she managed a 'safe' landing on the soft, vernal foliage, the saber-snake that had almost claimed her life fell nearby and was injured.
Despite its injury, the snake quickly became king of the southern jungle. Meanwhile, after mastering her element for quick combat, Love conquered the far reaches of the east and west. Concurrently, a group of grizzly bears she had once scouted in the far north took command of the northern region.
Although Love was a predator in the wild and had conquered a large expanse of both the east and west, the regions she conquered were no closer to the place marked on her map. As she ventured farther, she discovered she couldn't move any closer because it seemed a dark blue ocean was all that awaited her on the horizon.
After that discovery, she realized she had only one choice: claim the territory of either the Northern or Southern King to progress across the map.
During her scouting trip, she discovered that the Grizzlies stationed in the north were a group of only three. However, those three were the most dangerous in existence to have taken control of the region.
Although they lacked elemental or magical powers, their sheer strength, indomitable will, and impenetrable bodies turned the tides of battle in their favor. When the three worked together, they could turn a rival who might challenge one of them into a mere "ordinary" foe.
Tackling three indomitable foes seemed more like a death sentence than facing a single injured enemy. However, when Love scouted the southern region where the saber-toothed snake resided, she discovered it had developed an elemental power of its own.
The entire region was blanketed in a fog of poisonous gas; merely breathing it almost claimed Love's life. She quickly recuperated by holding her breath and retreating from the mist. Although she couldn't spot the snake in the green haze, it seemed likely that time and a wide selection of poisoned prey to choose from had healed most, if not all, of the creature's wounds.
All of this meant that while Love was adapting to the woes nature threw at her, the wild was busy breeding more insidious foes to bend her to its will. Love weighed her options aloud: the bears held the numerical advantage with bodies built like tanks, while the snake possessed elemental powers and the lethal stealth of its poisonous fog. And then there was her. She had... well, she had Flame Weave, flame projectiles, a wooden spear, sharpened hunter's senses, and a single ball of fire. Deep down, she knew her current arsenal wouldn't be enough to overcome the monsters standing between her and freedom.
Although taking on a single foe seemed wise, Love chose a safer path. Her knowledge of the terrain allowed her to plan an ambush, and unlike the fog-obscured movements of the snake, the grizzly bears offered targets she could actually see, parry, and dodge. Rather than gambling everything on a hidden elemental threat, she chose the grizzlies; they were a known quantity she could systematically dismantle, one by one.
Confident that her choice was wise, Love proceeded with her strategy. She gathered her gear, including a newly crafted wooden spear. Her previous weapon had been lost during her descent into the waterfall; this replacement was far more refined. Unlike her first crude tool, this spear featured a sharp, pointed rock fitted perfectly to the head. She had designed it specifically for her survival combat style: while the stone tip delivered piercing damage, the weighted butt-end was built for blunt force—an impact capable of shattering bone and dazing an enemy long enough for Love to strike a fatal blow.
After packing the ragged tent Willow had given her, Love equipped her spear and shoulder her makeshift basket—a pack fashioned from leather straps and woven branches. Her time in this world had taught her that speed was synonymous with survival; a split second often drew the line between life and death. She had experimented tirelessly to create the perfect carriage: a device that could transport loot without compromising her agility.
Though the resulting bag appeared bulky, its materials were remarkably light. To handle the weight during a frantic escape from a horde, Love had engineered a unique design. The leather straps attached to the center of the basket rather than the top, allowing the upper portion to act as a cushion for her head and shifting the center of gravity to reduce strain on her back while running. Since leather and wood were difficult to join permanently, she had improvised adjustable, belt-like buckles to secure the straps to the frame. Surveying her craftsmanship with pride, Love began stowing her essentials, ready for the journey ahead.
She added the map she had received from Willow. She had spent so much time with it that the entire figure of the world she found herself in was now almost completely drawn. She had made lucky guesses that were often correct; for those that weren't, she inked the correct motifs onto the leather skin.
However, due to her constant handling—and the map being with her through sunshine and rain, battles and peace—its appearance had changed from the onset. It had hardened dog-ears that refused to stay down, no matter how many times they were pressed flat. The brown leather had developed a darkened hue, smeared with drops of blood and soot from Love's 'Fire Control' classes. Some parts were even partly burnt, albeit the less useful edges. Mud had also caused the perfect brown to take on a different shade. The map was a circus of colors, seasons, and conditions—a total mess—but Love didn't mind as she dropped the folded leather map into the base of her basket bag.
Next came the ragged tent. It still looked much the same as when she first packed it, though a few patches here and there caused it to assume a rainbow of colors. Then came the sorting. She organized fruits, pieces of beef jerky wrapped in a large broad leaf, and a gourd full of water. On the other side, she packed small rags to repair her clothes in case they burned, enough leather to make either a shirt or trouser, and a large fur-lined leather blanket to ward off the cold. Sticks, perishable foods, and other items considered useless were left behind. The lid was woven stiffly onto the top of the basket to prevent the contents from spilling out.
Clenching her wooden spear, Love spared a final look at the camp where she had stayed for nearly half a month. She wouldn't be coming back. She felt a bit sentimental leaving the place she had called home; but after buckling the leather straps of her bag, she heaved a sigh and walked briskly out of the camp, disappearing into the northern horizon.