Chapter 8- Returns

Traversing the forest was slowly becoming easier for August, physically at least. Even though the soles of his shoes had begun to wear down and some of the cuts on his arms and legs had started to show signs of infection.

He did not know what kind of bacteria existed in this world, and he certainly did not want to find out.

It wasn't like he had any method of treating them at the moment.

Maneuvering his way through the depths of the forest was originally quite simple, but slowly became more difficult as he went further along.

The trees and greenery had been torn and uprooted, either from the battling creatures of the ecosystem or the stampede that had happened days earlier. The answer was probably both.

Either way, August was not very keen on delving into monster infested territory with no cover.

Nevertheless, he made his way through, getting lost multiple times due to the fact that the landmarks he had originally learned to follow had now been trampled or uprooted.

This was not helped by the fact that he had to change course multiple times because of the increased frequency of creatures he would rather not meet head on. Coupled with the flattened area, August found himself hiding in bushes or under felled trees more times than he could count.

The hunger had also begun to turn him ravenous and desperate. Two days of little rest and strenuous physical activity had caused him to work up an appetite more befitting of a beast than a man.

His growling stomach had become louder, which made it harder to hide from the creatures that called the dark forest home, leading to more than a few close calls. He had to hurry, or sooner rather than later, one of his close calls would turn into an encounter.

'Just why in the world is my stomach this loud?' He groaned internally, knowing the answer was probably that his sense of hearing had been heightened just like his physical ability when he crossed into this world.

His hunger also made him lightheaded, though it may have been best for what was to come.

On the bright side, the surrounding air– even though filled with the revolting stench of wild creatures with no sense of cleanliness, was slowly starting to fill with the scent of fresh, rotting corpses. If one could even call that a bright side.

Though it did mean he was getting closer to the place where the monsters had come to eat.

August forced himself to attribute this stench solely to the clashes between the monsters of the forest, which it most likely was. Even though his mind wanted him to think differently.

The scenery had started to shift to something more familiar as well, and he began to recognize places where he had been, changed as they were.

It wasn't long before he saw it. Looking on ahead, August saw the line of trees that once surrounded the clearing. Most of them were toppled entirely, some leaned and bent.

He could only imagine the size of the beast, or beasts, that could cause such destruction. The clearing was by no means small, in fact, the open space of it was quite massive, so much so that the armored behemoth was able to walk between them.

Even so, a few trees had been ripped apart entirely, totally shredded and torn as if they were paper. August both shuddered and scowled at the sight, but he kept looking.

Among the ring of trees, only one remained standing. As he got closer, he recognized it. Or to be more accurate, August recognized the deep, sword inflicted wound left on the tree, made by his first sword.

He cast the memories aside and did what he was coming here for. He had searched for this tree in particular because it was often used as a marker for the directions Alia and he took when exploring, something akin to a mental map.

Following his memory, and ignoring the blood on the ground with teary eyes. August walked to the east of the tree, returning to the cover of the forest, whilst refusing to look at the bloody ground.

He walked through the now uprooted underbrush and ducked into a few of the ones still standing to avoid a creature with silver matted fur that was covered in bloodstains.

The beast looked like a bear, and a fearsomely muscular one at that.

It paused then sniffed the air, which made August hold his breath, the creature then continued on without so much as a second glance. Allowing him to then breath a sigh of relief.

Walking away, much more hurriedly this time as pulsing sensations of hunger flooded his body and made him question how long he could retain his sanity. August saw his target come into view.

A tall tree with pitch black bark that looked like burnt coal stood, green leaves covering it's sturdy branches. Most importantly of all however, among the leaves, copious amounts of black berries stood out. August couldn't help his mouth watering.

This tree had never lacked fruit, no matter how much they picked. Alia had suggested that the tree always bore fruit as a result of years of damage and the need to evolve to repair that damage. August faintly remembered reading that trees stored nutrients in their fruit and leaves, so bearing many fruit meant that the tree had quite a bit of nutrients to use when damaged.

Though he didn't focus on this at the moment, laying his eyes upon all the food in front of him. August lost his mind, charging the tree in a ravenous fit of starvation.

He scaled the tree with practiced skill, clawing at it so hard his fingers burst and his nails cracked under the pressure, but he did not care. Sitting himself firmly on a thick branch in the lower regions of the tree, August began to consume berries at an alarming rate.

He paid no attention to the world around him as he scarfed down berries by the dozen, slowly satiating his hunger. Some of them fell of course, but he couldn't be bothered.

Until the tree shook, almost throwing him from the branch he was sat upon.

August looked down, and right below him, the silver bear from earlier had wrapped it's limbs around the tree trunk and began to shuffle it's way up. He paled and looked around, but already knew why;

The falling berries.

In his ravenous fit, he had neglected caution, and now this world was insistent on making him pay the price.