Forced to Start Again

Success to an Extent

He was plummeting towards the ground, air rushing in his face and the sound of the helicopter was getting more and more distant as the sound of speeding air took over. He was sure he was yelling and he knew he was already scrambling to pull on the string. Since he was flailing his arms and legs wildly he didn't even know how close he was to the ground, and maybe having his eyes squeezed shut didn't help.

After some failed hand eye coordination, the string was tugged on and the parachute sprung out.. though he was upside down. He was falling back down with the parachute flapping against his back, not doing him a bit of good. Catching on quick, he tried to barrel roll, and luckily succeeded.

The ground below him was clear and so close he felt as if he could touch it. The parachute slowed him down, but not fast enough considering he had now crashed into one of the taller trees. The branches snapped against his weight as he broke through each level, face scrunched up in pain and hands desperately looking for something to grab.

After he broke through the tree's branches he fell straight in the middle of a group of thorny bushes. He grunted, dazed.

The parachute now lay useless and torn splayed under him as he tried to figure out what the hell just happened. Blinking a few times, he carefully made his way out of the brush, hissing at all the small cuts the branches and thorns had left behind on him.

A couple days before now they let him pick out clothing to wear, encouraging him to dress warm for the winter. It wasn't winter right now, but his guess was he should be glad. Though, the clothes he picked out already looked shabby and as if had rolled around in dirt for a good few minutes.

He wore heavy combat boots along with black jeans. A flannel shirt was tied tight and sloppily around his waist and a thick leather jacket laid on top of a white, and now stained, polo shirt.

He hoped this was warm enough.

Making a disgruntled noise, he clenched and unclenched his fingers, quick to shed off the backpack and ruined parachute. This was a great start. He was already tired, aching, and out of breath. He just wanted to find a nice cozy place, curl up and go to sleep, but his needy stomach wanted other wise.

The sun was already beginning to fall and he didn't want to be out in the open at night. Raina told him a few tricks, let him in on a few secrets to help him survive, so as fast as he could, he went in search for a small dig out or cave to take shelter in.

After an hour or so, he found one that met his low standards. Almost nighttime now, he gathered some leaves and small sticks along with other things he thought might be a help and stashed them. Sitting in the front of his claimed cave he grabbed the strongest and largest pieces of wood he could find, sitting them all in a cone shape, the branches coming to a point.

Sparing some of the smaller twigs, he tossed them around it, and after he had pretty much used up all of his supplies, he grabbed some rocks from in the cave and put them around the formation in a circle.

Pleased, he now decided to attempt the hardest part, actually starting a contained fire.

The sun now gone from sight, he shivered in fear, snatching up a single stick and carving a small hole in it. Grabbing some surrounding foliage from the ground, he stuffed it in there before grabbed yet another stick and placing one end in the carved out hole.

Taking the second stick between his hands, he rubbed his hands together quickly with the stick in between, causing the end of the second stick build up friction from moving so fast in the leaf filled hole.

After a few tries, groups of sparks flew and a couple flames sprung to life. He threw the now flaming stick to his pile he made before and lightly blew on it to try and to get the fire going - and success again.

Staring at it intently, he rubbed the palms of his hands softly together, gently blowing on them since they had gotten red and irritated and they seemed to be slightly burning. Doing all this in the warmth and natural light of his self made fire, he sat against the wall of the cave in thought.

He was still hungry, but he'd have to wait till morning to go in search for something to eat. He craved meat, but the chance of catching something alive without any kind of weapon was almost impossible, so he'd just have to try and get some berries or something. Getting slightly chilled, he held his hands over the fire as he continued to ponder his thoughts.

Cut from his thoughts by a rustling in the bushes, he jumped to his feet, getting in a stance so he'd be ready to fight whatever it was. Steadying his breath, he tensed when it sounded as if it was nearing him. Focusing everything on his hearing, he searched for the sound of a heartbeat, and found one.

It was normal as if whoever or whatever it was wasn't even aware of his presence. Then the creature revealed itself by calmly jumping out from behind cover and almost scaring Xander to death. The creature was still acting normal, tiny noise twitching and its bobbed, fluffy tail doing the same action. Beady eyes stared up at him with no fear in them.

It was making no want or need to attack him or run, but he knew the creature was known to him. He was pretty sure it was a rabbit, and this was the perfect opportunity. He wanted meat, and this seemed like the best he had. Why things were working out in his favor, he had no idea why, but he was taking his chance.

Gently, he picked the large rabbit up, trying to find a way to kill it. He didn't have any weapons and he didn't want it's death to be brutal, but he seemed that it would have to be.

Closing his eyes and changing the position of his hands, he winced when he wrung the creature's neck. Guilt filled him at the action, his species were always close with animals and he never ate meat before he crashed, and actually he hasn't had meat ever, but since whatever they did to him he's just had this craving for it.

He can't believe he killed it, the wild rabbit was innocent after all.. and he thought that they were supposed to mean. That's what Raina told him. That they could be vicious with sharp teeth and powerful back legs, but he just proved her wrong.

The way she was looking at him before he jumped, it was as if she didn't gave any faith in him. Maybe it would be that he would be too soft or unable to defend for himself. And he was going to prove her wrong again.

He has seen destruction she couldn't even imagine, he has done things that are unforgivable, why was he being so helpless now? He's dealt with worse. Much, much worse.