Engulfed (Day 235)

Casnie knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she wasn't in the same place anymore. She'd not traveled the dark world of the Exod but it was unmistakable that she'd made some sort of journey. She looked behind her and the warped forest was nowhere to be seen. The ghostly mist that had permeated her surroundings was now gone, replaced only by the air--real air that filled her lungs. She drank it in in long, satisfying breaths. She felt as if she'd been freed from a prison. But where was she now? And where were Aisen and Terakiel?

There were trees there, as there had been in the forest--but they were spindly, living plants very unlike the pale ghasts that had reached out their limbs at her. The grass was thinner, and marked by patches of exposed soil baked by the sun. It was invitingly warm there, but very dry. She felt very thirsty all of a sudden, but there was no water in sight. On the horizon she could see that the spindly trees thinned out even more until there was nothing but a massive flat expanse of earth. She looked behind her again. She could have sworn that she had just passed by a massive grove of trees--but no, it was no longer there. She had been yet again deposited into the middle of an unfamiliar land, but this time she had no one to give her an idea of what was going on.

She listened intently to the dry wind rustling through the trees, perhaps hoping she could catch a hint of that wordless chant that had brought her here. If she strained her hearing just so, maybe she could hear it. If she closed her eyes tightly and let the world disappear, then maybe--but there was nothing. Nothing but the warm wind stirring the cloak draped around her shoulders. She suddenly felt overdressed for the weather, but she declined to remove her cloak. She'd likely never get it back. Who knew where she might end up next? Then again. . .she might be here for good.

Casnie shrugged her slender shoulders at no one in particular. She was done trying to figure out why these things were happening to her. There was no point in trying anymore. The air was dry and the soil was parched--but there were trees, grass, and greenery. There had to be water somewhere nearby. She wheeled around to face what had been a massive forest only a few moments before. She felt certain if she advanced in that direction she wouldn't be back to where she had been. She wasn't sure she wanted to go back there. It was just as unknown as her current location. At least here she wasn't being chased by murderous reptiles--at least not yet.

She took a few experimental steps back the way she came, but everything remained the same. She felt the rushing air, and the muted sounds of nature around her. The mist did not return. Her surroundings did not distort around her and make her unsure of her direction. For the first time in what seemed like forever she advanced in a straight line and was confident she was doing so correctly. The grass and trees were greener and more alive in this direction. Surely she would eventually find water if she kept up long enough.

She hoped she might find some sign of civilization on her way. The sooner she found people, the sooner she could figure out where she was and find her way home. She was worried about the plight of Aisen and Terakiel, but what could she do? She didn't have the faintest idea of how she might go about returning to that strange forest--and even if she did, how would she go about getting out again? She didn't even know how she'd gotten here.