[CENTER][B]Dwyer[/B][/CENTER] I think I'm lost. Probably not a good thing, considering I'm not with Zaiden right now or Aimee and Jace and Lacie are both off hunting small game. I really, [I]really[/I] shouldn't have wandered off so far, but hey, we needed food and by whatever god may exist, I'm going to get it. It's just... this path happens to be just [I]slightly[/I] darker than I'm comfortable with. Not that I'm afraid, merely... uneasy. I would say that's a perfectly reasonable reaction considering the fact that I [I]swear[/I] I'm hearing footsteps behind me and there sure are a lot of shadows out here and-- Okay. Deep breath. It'll be fine, I just need to get some food and-- [I]SNAP![/I] Ahh, crap, what was that? I quickly turn around, expecting to come face-to-face with some horrific nightmare-monster from the depths of hell itself, only to find.... a squirrel. Brilliant. I take a deep breath. Okay. Forget the food, I'm getting the feeling that figuring out where I am is probably more important. On my left: a tree, some more trees, a big tree and a bush.... Not helpful. To the right; trees... trees... a flower... more trees... trees.... None of this is distinct, I can't remember any of it, even with a photographic memory. All the trees look the same here... Maybe I should try following my footsteps. I check the ground, expecting to find [I]something[/I] but it appears the ground's completely solid. I left no trail. Okay, no problem. I'll just... wander aimlessly. I glance up at the jigsaw-puzzle of a sky, cross-hatched with branches like huge, ripping claws, and suddenly realize a much smarter idea has been staring me in the face the whole time. I search the trees for one that looks solid with branches I can get to, and manage to swing my way up a large purple and red-striped Seuss-esque looking thing, scaling the branches until I can spot open sky. I'm a damn good climber, especially with bare feet. I suppose that's one plus to losing my shoes. Swinging up to the top, I scan the horizon for the clearing Zaiden told me to meet him in. I think I can see it. About a mile off in the opposite direction I was going. Well... that's fine, I'll just turn around and go the right way. Shouldn't take me too long, I'm fast. Hey, who knows, maybe Zaiden stumbled upon one of those big bull-like things with three horns and killed it with his cross-bow. Man would that ever be great! We'd eat for [I]ages[/I]. ...Assuming it didn't kill him first, or Aimee if she's with him... or maybe Jace and Lacie found one... those things are brutal. Oh crap! I should really get back, then, in case they do need help... Also it is pretty lonely out here. I haven't passed by another sapient being in-- Hold it. What's that? I'm peering down through the branches, just a little bit off into the distance. There's some movement, and it isn't animal. The shape isn't right, and it looks like it just woke up or something, looking around, seeming confused... It must be another one. Yes! Another person! I haven't seen anyone new in-- No. Bad Dwyer. Don't get excited over another person getting trapped. That can't be good karma.... I take a deep breath, trying to get myself to calm down a little so I don't just scare the hell out of the newbie. After a moment I leap down branch-to-branch until I get to the forest floor, then take off like a bullet in the direction of the figure, crashing through the undergrowth loud enough to cause a stampede. I should really slow down. The idea is [I]not[/I] to scare the new person... why am I always doing this wrong. Forcing my legs to a calmer pace, I continue on until I come across a small stream. And sure enough, just a few paces off, a human. Another human. No antlers or anything. My heart is pounding so fast I feel like I might explode if I don't immediately run over to him. But I hold back. Somehow, I don't think he'd be as excited to see me as I am to see him. He might run. People have run before, a girl once got killed doing that. She ran right into the path of a tri-horned bull. It was... No. No, it's way too nice a day to be thinking about horrific memories. But the point remains. I need to approach with caution. That's just... a little easier said than done when it comes to me. I take a deep breath, and step over to him slowly, keeping my distance. But suddenly it's like my mouth has a mind of its own and I'm grinning like a madman, calling, "Hey! I'm Dwyer, you have no idea how amazing it is to see another human! Poor circumstances... but... oh wait! I forgot. Are you real? Because sometimes..." I'm going to stop now. I'm not sure he even registered any of that, he looks so... lost. Well... at least he's not running. That's something. ----- [CENTER][B]Zaiden[/B][/CENTER] Dwyer's been gone a while. I wonder if I should check on him. He does have tendencies to wander off. For someone with a photographic memory, he certainly gets lost often enough. Says it's something to do with the trees all looking the same here. Like a pattern. I've noticed, but I hadn't realized it was that severe. Every now and then they change drastically enough... occasionally overnight. I gave him a knife... he's probably lost it. Or decided he'd rather use his hands to kill something we can eat. The fruit can't be trusted. Not since Dwyer tried and nearly died because of it. Or we could-- No. We can't try the deer-people. They don't seem to like us.... more-so me, I'll admit. Every time they see me they run off, or one will try to challenge me to some kind of dual, which I have no intention of participating in. Dwyer keeps insisting there's nothing wrong with them, but if we're going to get attacked, I'd rather it not be by a sapient army with their own tools and weapons. I sigh, finishing up with the water and taking the last bucket back to the clearing. I should never have let him go in the first place. He's too impulsive. Too willing to take on something he can't handle. And he'd argue I used to be like that but I don't... I don't feel like anything's changed. I've always been cautious, haven't I? It's logical... it makes sense. And I don't think I was ever much for talking, despite what Dwyer says.... It doesn't feel right. I can't recall ever being anything other than who I currently am. He must be making things up again. Trying to justify his own actions. I drop the water off at the edge of the clearing and lean against a tree with my arms folded. I'm starting to get mixed feelings again... wanting to run after Dwyer while at the same time having a strong desire to stay exactly where I am. I remain standing. The forest is quiet today. I would hear if he cried out. And where did Aimee go? I thought she was here... huh. Oh well, I'm sure they're both fine. And Jace and Lacie are just out hunting, they're usually fine with that. And I don't see why Dwyer shouldn't be as well, he's been here longer than them. Somehow that decision feels wrong too... but I have no reason to question it. Sighing, I shift my weight back a little more so the tree is supporting me more. I feel tired. More tired than I should. Probably nothing, though. I just wish we could sleep... ----- [CENTER][B]Alec[/B][/CENTER] I remember the forest.... but not this one. I.. I think I... Goddamn it, what did I do? I can't remember. I mean, there was a long walk, and a forest, and I guess I... passed out somehow? But why is it all different? What the hell is this? Am I dreaming? ...Probably not. If I was I'd be lucid dreaming right now and somehow, I don't feel like I could fly. Actually, I feel more like I'd break if I moved. Did something hit me? I'm so dizzy. And.. kinda sick. Uuugh, this can't be a good sign. I didn't drink, did I? Because the last time I tried that, it didn't... yeah, no, I wouldn't be that stupid a second time. Something happened, though. Seriously, what is this place? I glance around the area. Striped trees with twisted trunks and gnarled branches, a green/yellow sun staining everything with a sort of eerie lime glow, pale purple sky and purple water running down a stream. Yeah, this isn't normal. Maybe I've finally snapped. Or maybe I just woke up in some bizarre children's book. Alec in Wonderland. Hilarious. I glance at my reflection. I look a little paler than usual. Maybe it's just the strange water, or the light or something. I wish I remembered what I did last night. Where I went. Well, the forest.. but how did I wind up here? I take a deep breath. Come on, think back... there must be something... I'm trying to recall what happened just before I got here. There must be something that formed my decision, otherwise, why would I go to the forest, especially at night? That would leave Evelyn all alone with-- Oh no. Goddamn it, [I]no![/I] Evelyn! I jump up suddenly, looking around, trying to figure out just where the [I]hell[/I] I wound up. What was I thinking? Why would I leave her alone? And with [I]him[/I]. How did I even [I]get[/I] here? I'm starting to panic. Like everything just hit all at once and I need to.. I need to... Shit, I don't know. I just need to get out of here somehow. --And suddenly a voice calls out behind me. I stiffen, turning around slowly to meet eyes with... the last thing I'd expect to see. An oddly cheerful-looking guy with deep red hair sticking up all over the place, bright blue eyes opened their widest as he blurts out his name and asks if I'm real. I stare at him. Well, what do you expect? I don't know where I am and suddenly this random person comes out of nowhere and decides to question reality for me... what do I even do with that? Aye. "Sorry! Was that too abrupt? For the record," he says, walking a little closer. I take a step back. "I do think you're real. It's just... you never can be sure here." I blink. "Just where is 'here'?" And then a thought occurs. What if I-- no. No, not even going to think about that. There's no way I'd do that to Evelyn or to anyone.... And what would it make this place? There must be a better explanation. The guy--Dwyer-- thought for a moment. "Well... I can't really answer that. Here is here. It's not your world anymore. Everyone's kinda... stuck here. And by everyone, I mean the few other people who wound up 'round the bend with us." "'Round the bend?'" I question. "A figure of speach," Dwyer replies with a shrug. "I'm sorry, can I explain this later? We really should get to a safer area. I'm pretty sure this part of the forest is where most of the animals live and pretty much all of them are dangerous... heh..." "Sounds like fun," I mutter, but deep down I'm actually pretty freaked out. What the hell is this place? Why am I here? Why is it dangerous? And... what about my world? If this is a different one.. how do I get back? ...Based on this guy's appearance, faded clothing and lack of shoes, I'm going to guess he doesn't know.... After a moment of thought, I sigh. It seems like following him is really my only option here. I don't know where I am, how I got here or what this place even is.... At least this Dwyer person seems to have some idea as to what he's doing... sort of. Well... better than nothing, I guess... I just.. I wish I could remember everything.