Obsidian Bone

1. Prologue

I whimpered as I tripped over a rotten tree stump that was surely classed as overgrown by then. I hissed as my hands bled, I quickly wiped my blood off of my hands, examining the damage.

It wasn't terrible - which was a big relief - but it would need to be cleaned if I didn't want an infection: I didn't. Unfortunately for, well, myself really, I was unwilling to suck on the wounds like I did with simple paper cuts.

So I had to find a clean source of water. I sighed, running water would be my best bet. I sucked in a deep breath and let my eyes flutter to a close. I listened intently.

My eyes snapped open at the sound of water, rushing water. I turned on my heels, looking to my right, before I walked on ahead - I felt a smile play on my lips and a sigh of relief; the sound of running water was becoming louder and louder, until...

There it was, sitting in the ground - water flowing fast. It looked clean enough so I quickly knelt down next to the water and placed the tip of my finger in - it seemed safe. I put my whole hand in, then the other.

I sigh and washed the dirt off my hands, I would bandage it when I got... home.

No, don't think of them. Explore. Laugh. Have fun.

I smiled to myself, I've temporarily been released of my leash and my collar felt loose - no pulling, no tugging, no being screamed at. For now, I suppose.

I shook my head, before cupping the water in my hands and washing my face. The water felt cold and refreshing against my skin and I laughed through my nose, fun: I think I'm going to have some fun.

I stood and followed the stream balancing on the curve, the stream had made it's own valley with erosion over time, and felt the breeze brushing through my hair; the trees whispering to me as I passed; the animals talking among themselves.

The air was crisp here, crisp and clean and...perfect. I laughed, covering my mouth as I giggled. Perfection is impertinent, fleeting, momentary: Temporary. One day this forest will cease to exist, the animals - gone. The trees - gone. The plants - gone.

The trees began to thin and the simple glide of the water began to sound like...

My foot moved forward and I began to put pressure on the ground beneath my front foot, before I began tapping the floor. The ledge was close to my foot and I feared the entire ground would crumble under my body weight, but it didn't.

I took a step forward, another, then another, before I was right in front of the edge. A dangerous smile played on my lips. "Oh, yes."

The cascading water reflected the blue sky and pounded on the lake below, the massive expanse of reflected sky blue inviting me to dive in.

I really, really, really wanted to dive in, but...

Come on, live a little.

Come on, die a little.

I stared at the water below and felt the sun beating on my exposed skin, sweat creeping down my neck.

I shrugged, before taking a few steps back. I ran for the edge and leaped off. I could feel the wind whipping past and hear a rushing sound in my ears. I kept my eyes firmly shut.

How long was I falling for? Well, it felt like forever to me. Just as I began to question my decision of jumping, I felt my breath being knocked out of my lungs.

The water submerging me, trying to drag me down and leave me to lie at the bottom for eternity.

My legs kicked and I felt the pressure decrease, before my head burst through the surface of the water. I breathed in and out, fresh air filling my lungs. I coughed and spluttered, but I smiled throughout it all.