Hidden Allure

Meeting Danger 3

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

I jumped off the tree, jerking my arms and legs back from the tree. Gravity forcefully pulled me to the ground, my toes meeting the colorful leaf cover. I wasn’t sure if the crunching was the leaves, or my big toe. Judging by the searing pain in my foot, it was the latter.  

What was that? That thing seemed so familiar. Whatever it was, it scared me. Many intimidating pairs of jet black eyes had stared down at me. Sparse, brown hair covered its body. Even though it was only about the size of my palm, it looked like it was going to eat me.

It’s okay, I told myself. Now just think, where have you seen this before? I racked my brain, trying to figure out what it was. Finally, it hit me. It was one of those things we had read about in class under the extinct section of animals. What was it called again? I asked myself. Like a Spik or something? No.... I remembered that the name sounded a lot more deadly than that.

I sighed. If only Caleb were here, he would remember things like this. He loved all kinds of animals, especially ones that didn’t exist anymore. That’s why when we would go through the Simulatus  Forest, I never had to worry about any dangers we might find, even though the Elders made sure there were no real dangers. Caleb was always there for me. I wish I had his company now...

STOP! I told myself. I can’t focus on these things. These memories will just slow me down. I just need to focus on finding Maia. I forced myself to take a deep breath and clear my mind. I couldn’t look back on the decision I made, it was too late. It would be even worse if I went back now.

I decided to focus on what was important. First priority: injuries. I told myself.

I reluctantly looked at my foot. It was not a pretty sight. Blood was smeared all over my foot and the ground and my toe was bent at an awkward angle to the left. Gross. Reaching out, I brushed my fingertips over the toe nail. “Ow!” I yelled out loud.

Okay, I decided. Time for Plan B.

First I grabbed some leaves on the ground and started dabbing my toe ever so softly to clean the wound, but no matter how hard I tried I could not prevent the unbearable pain. Everytime my toe was touched, I winced, but forced myself to continue. Finally all that was left of the blood was a pink stain and the wound.

Next step: Bandage the injury. What could I use? I reached out to my pouch lying a couple feet away from me and looked inside. The first thing I saw was the shawl. No, I told myself. I’m not that desperate. I flipped through my things. The only other thing that could kind of work as a bandage was the paper I had brought. I sighed. “Oh well,” I said aloud. “I gotta work with what I have.”

I grabbed two sheets of paper and tried to wrap them around my discombobulated toe. I ended up crumpling down the excess paper that was sticking up from the wound.  Already the paper was coming off. I thought about what I could do to keep it in place. I decided to use more paper. I took another sheet, ripped of a long, thin piece and tied it around the paper, careful not to rip the “ribbon”. It’ll have to do.

At least I had solved one of the many problems in my life.

Next problem: breakfast. I needed to eat now, because I literally was starving. I decided to eat some of my emergency food supply because this seemed like a pretty reasonable emergency to me. I grabbed a couple crackers, stuffed them in my mouth, and wolfed them down, not caring that I hadn’t eaten them with the cheese. I was just too hungry to be picky with those things. I ate a little more of my food and decided to save the rest, even though I hadn’t satisfied myself yet.

I had to get started on the search. It was already midday now and I hadn’t gotten anywhere. I decided to see if I could walk okay or not. Putting my hands on the ground for support, I hoisted myself up, putting as little pressure on my right foot as possible.There was still a little pain, but it wasn’t that bad.

Good, I told myself. At least I can stand. I prepared myself to move. I put left foot first, then pulled my right leg along. I repeated these short steps over and over. Right when I thought I was starting to get used to it, I put a little too much pressure on my right foot. The pain was indescribable. 

“OOOOOOWWWWW!” I screamed to the open space. I was not expecting it to hurt that much! Who knew a toe could cause so much pain?

But I was not a wimp.

Grimacing, I tentatively set my right heel in front of my left foot. Okay, now right foot forward. I quickly realized that if I just kept walking on the heel, I would be fine. I had a feeling that it would be very sore by the end of the day...

I still had to complete my checklist. Picking berries on trees that were twenty feet tall were definitely out of the question, at least for now. I guess I could still find a good water source. My canteen would last me only about two more days, maximum. If I could find a clean, clear river or pond to get water from, that would be one worry lifted from my mind.

While hobbling aimlessly around the forest, I heard a rustling of leaves. My eyes widened. I could not deal with any kind of danger right now.

The rustling came closer, and closer... until I saw a brown jackal come out of the trees. Its coat was a beautiful shade of brown, and it had a diamond shaped mark between its eyes. Instantly, I knew this was unlike any other fox Caleb and I had ever seen while wandering the Simulatus. As I stared into its black eyes, a sense of peace came over me like a fuzzy, warm blanket. Something about it’s presence made me sure that it would not attack.

“Come here boy! I won’t hurt you.” I whispered, my expressions following my words.

It cocked its head at me quizzically, as if pondering over what in the world I said. Gesturing with my arm, I waved him over to me. My jaw dropped to the ground as I watched the creature jog over, stopping right in front of me.

Curious, I told him, “Sit.” It plopped down in the pile of leaves that it was on, and then continue staring at me, waiting for a command.

Instead, I knelt down(extremely careful of my toe) until I was at its level. As I extended my arm out, I noticed that my hand was slightly shaking. What am I so afraid of? I scolded myself, It won’t hurt me.

I’d never been so close to a fox, or as a matter of fact, any animal. My fingertips brushed its skin. lightly. When I pulled back, what I saw and felt took a while to register in my mind. It was wet! It must have just taken a bath in a body of water nearby! I was so excited, I nearly stubbed my toe as I got up from the ground.

“ Ok boy, take me to the water, please!”

Somehow, it must have understood what I said, because he took off running into the woods.