Day 7

Growing some legs was much tougher than i expected.

First, i had to work out how i wanted, and that was a whole lot of bother about strength, sense of touch, sensitivity and more. Compared to it, my vine was a joke.

When i was done, i had to grow my leaves and then my trunk to gather enough light in a reasonable time. Not quite knowing how to grow my trunk properly yet, i managed only two ugly lumps at the base, just large enough for me to store what i wanted. In the leaf department i made some nice discoveries, making some big leaves that soaked up the light like sponges.

After all of this was done, i fired up the process, almost expecting to sprout my legs right away.

I was wrong. It took HOURS for the damn things to grow. Only now i realized that i was just a little bush. Branches as long as my hand was quick and easy to grow, but a pair of legs were another pair of roots.

Ah. That's funny.

Eventually, i was done. Now i was a little plant, with a thin trunk wider to the base, with haggard branches and leaves small and large, and two oversized legs sprouting from the truck. Don't even ask.

I tried flexing my new legs a few times. They weren't very flexible but they were tough as nails and more than enough to sustain my weight. More importantly, they would be great for running and kicking if it came to that. One of the reasons it took me so long to make them was that i had just the bear as a reference for the outside world. If there were many more beasts like that one, i wanted to be sure i'd be able to run away.

One hell of a problem was taking my roots off the ground. Ripping them didn't really hurt me, - my trunk was where my light was stored -, but the first time i did so i almost had a bark attack.

Until that moment air, water and sun were a constant. But when i took my roots out, water was gone and with it my light production. It was like suddenly losing an arm and a leg and it took me a massive effort not just to plop back down.

I realized that when i was with my roots out, my supply of light was limited. I couldn't refill it if i didn't stop and plant myself back down again.

I instantly felt anxious. What if something happened? What if my light ran out? What if i needed it bad and there was no good soil for me to plant myself in? What's more, out of the ground i felt a horrible sense of disconnection, like a babe ripped out of his mother's arms.

Did humans really live like that? It was horrible!

I forced myself to calm down. Get a grip, moron! Wasn't that the same as having to eat and drink? And you had your share of that, haven't you?

Those thoughts didn't erase the deep feeling of wrongness i felt, but eased my anxiety a bit.

Trying not to think about it, i focused my attention on moving.

Getting up wasn't too difficult, not with the help of the two thick vines i had grown on each side of my trunk. Legs were good, but one needed hands as well. And they were reasonably strong as well, even if my still thin trunk limited me in what I could do.

I suppose i could have worked more on myself, thickened myself up, but honestly, with the little light i managed to get, i didn't trust myself being able to grow to an appreciable size before the end of the century. Also, something inside told me that neither the soil nor the water would be enough to sustain much more. Mr. Inner Voice didn't need to tell me. After the bear, i was anxious enough to be on my way that i'd be running with one leg.

Grabbing onto the walls, i heaved myself up.

My feet were made of roots, thick and hardy, and they easily sank into the ground, spreading a bit as they did so.

As i stood up, i wobbled a bit, swaying left and right for a moment before coming to a tentative stop.

The next moments were passed gaining confidence with my new stance. I lifted one foot then the other, stomped, attempted some steps and returned back to my place. My feet's grip on the ground was excellent. If i had some more mass, i wouldn't be easy to dislodge.

Eventually, i was satisfied. Ding dong! Walking unlocked! Erect posture unlocked!

If the first monkey to walk erect felt half as satisfied as i felt in that moment, he was a happy little monkey indeed.

Turning, i leaned to gather the rabbits.

In those days, mama rabbit had been regaining her strength, with her children constantly at her side. I had been working to accostumate them to me moving, slithering my vines on them and using them to provide them with food, water and even play. They were intelligent little critters and it didn't take long for them to realize i was a friend. The boldest of the children even mustered enough courage to tumble in the dirt with my vine. Only mama was still a bit suspicious, but i couldn't really blame her there.

Now, the kids swarmed my legs, sniffing with curiosity.

Leaning down, i gathered both them and mama. I had a nice wooden spot just beside my trunk, grown just for them with soft bark and a few leaves to snack over. I laid them there, holding them securely with a few shorter vines.

Huff. Kinda heavy. Well, nothing surprising. My legs were kinda human-sized, maybe even longer, but the rest was just a thin trunk and some branches and vines. Height-wise, i didn't think i surpassed a teenager by much.

Oh well. We'll call it a work in progress.

Satisfied with the bindings, i turned to the hole.

I'd lie if i said i wasn't a bit anxious. A whole new world… with bears… just waiting outside…

Ah, to hell with it!

I never was the fidgety type so i just shrugged and went to work.

Despite having been growing myself thinly just for that moment, i still needed to work to widen the hole. My old whip-club served me by playing the part of the improvised shovel.

The ground was much softer than i expected, easily yielding to my efforts. It was kinda distressing. If that damn bear had been smarter…

Grumbling, i worked until the hole was wide enough for me to crawl through. Then i eased myself through it.

I already expected the tunnel to be short since the bear had managed to fit his head in it, but it was still a surprise to see how short it actually was.

In a few moments, i was on the other side, shrugging dirt from my bark.

And the other side was… well, not quite what i expected.

The cavern was vast, maybe enough that a soccer field could have fit in it. The walls had been made velvety smooth by centuries of water, the rock glinting with the colors of the rainbow. The ceiling sparkled, looking like miniature stars were embedded into it. Stalactites hung from it, dripping with a tune that was almost musical. All over, beautiful rock formations rose from the floor, smoothed into wave-like sculptures by who knows how many ages.

I was blown straight out of my bark. That place was incredible. I wouldn't have ever have expected such magnificence.

Still, what was happening in the cavern soon took me out of my admiration.

It had to be the most bizarre stand-off i had ever seen.

On one side, a group of what looked like dwarves roughly carved out of clay and sand. There were seven of them, all growling and gurgling and waving stick arms threateningly. The one on front was bigger than the others, and one of his arms ended with a block of compacted rock that looked tough enough to break skulls.

And yet, they made a sorry sight compared to the other one.

The giant had to be two-man tall, and maybe even more if he didn't stand all hunched over. His arms reached to the ground and he stood on it like an oversized gorilla. What was more impressive was that he was made of stone, his rocky skin glinting with the same reflexes of the walls.

A rough-carved head was planted on top of his shoulders, with a massive jaw and stone teeth that looked strong enough to shatter wood like it was paper. Deeply embedded into sockets, two flaming eyes rolled threateningly.

Contrary to the band that faced him, the giant was still apart from his eyes, but that only made him look more threatening.

As i watched, the monster cracked his jaw open and let out a grinding, crackling noise that almost had me jump out of my bark. It felt like two rocks sliding against each other, and was just as terrifying.

The sand-men looked just as intimidated but they tried to cover it by hollering with more strength. The big one was the noisiest. He stomped his feet and waved his mace around, looking ready to rumble.

His foolhardiness shocked me. Honestly, i had half of an idea of shouting to stop being so stupid and leg it before he ended knocked down.

I never had the chance.

Suddenly, the rock monster lunged. Moving with much more speed than his bulk suggested, he threw a hand out, smacking the leading mudman with his knuckles. The moron went down like a sack of potatoes hit by a lightning bolt, without even the chance of making a sound.

Seeing their leader dropped like that took the fight out of the rest of the group.

Gurgling and yelping, the sandmen quickly gathered their fallen champion and scurried away. They were still making disgruntled noises and waving their arms as they disappeared out of an opening in the far wall.

The giant watched them go, before quickly losing interest.

Walking on all four, he lumbered to a rock formation that sprouted from the floor. It was a marvel, looking like a storm of waves frozen into twinkling stone.

The giant set himself beside it and started to pass his large hands over it, with a careful gentleness completely at odds with his appearance.

I had no idea what he was doing and honestly, i didn't much mind knowing.

Trying my best to be sneaky, i edged toward the opening the sandmen had disappeared into. It was better to face them than that monster. At least with them i could still hope to be able to run away. I didn't really fancy my chances with that rock thing.

Midway, i realized something that almost scared me out of my trunk.

There was another pair of eyes on the back of the rock monster's head, topping what looked to be a rough approximation of his already rough face. And they were fixed on me.

Still, he hadn't moved to squash me so i got the hint that i better be on my way, real quick.

Taking that as my cue to leave, i turned and legged it, thinking only to hold my rabbits and be out of there as quick as possible.

It didn't take me long to leave the cavern by the same way the mudmen had left. Beyond the opening, there was a series of tunnels, snaking their way through the earth. Thankfully, the mudmen had left a clear set of traces for me to follow and strange crystals embedded into the walls and ceilings gave off a glow for me to see. Without them, i would have ended hopelessly lost in a matter of minutes.

Instead, i was hit by a slight breeze carrying the scents of pines and flowers.

Eager, i scrambled over a decline, on top of which i could see light pour out.

The opening was a tight fit but i'd have bit my way through a boulder if it was in my way.

Eventually, i was out.

Let me tell you, i never felt like i was finally coming home as the first time i stepped into the sunlight. I was born - in this life at least - between the rocks, and never seen anything but that thin ray of light coming down on me. And yet, as i stood on that grassy meadow surrounded by trees, i felt like i had been finally reunited with my long-lost family. Joy filled me. I could have hugged all those pines, one by one, like if each was my beloved little brother.

And the sun, oh the sun! It smiled down on me like mother's arms, its light feeling as light as a feather's caress and as vital as… as… as the sun!

It was the most beautiful sight i ever saw and i didn't go down in tears just because i couldn't.

Turning, i saw the group of mudmen. They were as ugly as ever, but i was so excited that i couldn't repress throwing them a happy waving of vines. Thank you, guys!

Not noticing me, the mudmen fretted over their fallen comrade.

There was a small brook behind them, happily babbling its way toward the forest. Someone - them, i guessed - had dug a pit beside it, then closed the connecting opening with a bunch of rotten wood and refuse. The resulting pit had been filled to the brim with clay mud, with the little water leaking from the blockage keeping it moist.

As i watched, another mudman emerged from the pit. This one was far smaller than the others, but he had stick-like arms that were as long as he was tall and short legs ending in large feet. He held a bunch of mud in massive, talon-like hands.

His gurgling brethren moving aside to letting him pass, the strange mudman waddled to the fallen leader. The poor guy had a big indent in his head, courtesy of the rock monster. The small mudman slapped the mud into it, then started to mold it with his long fingers.

It was quite the sight but, excited to be outside as i was, i barely noticed it.

But they noticed me, a waving, dancing - yes, i was stomping around in joy - long-legged bush with a family of rabbits perched on a shoulder.

I have no idea what's going on inside mud heads, but the way they yelped and jumped told me that they were very taken aback. I suppose that something like me trumping around was strange even in that neighborhood.

I just laughed - it came out as a fluttering of leaves -, wished them luck and the wounded a speedy recovery and dashed toward the trees.

Their surprised yelps chased me but i already forgot about them, so eager and happy i was to be outside.

Out of curiosity, i glanced back. I didn't like caverns, not one bit, but that was always the place i was born into - or reborn - and i wanted to glance at it once at least.

I almost tripped on my own feet.

There was a wall behind me. And i don't mean a wall like the wall of a house, or the side of a barn. That wall was made of grey and white stone, veined with similarly colored minerals. And it was freaking immense. Honestly, if they told me that the world ended with that wall, i'd have believed it. It reached to the sky, disappearing among the clouds even as it went on left and right as far as the eye could see.

I almost tripped again as, in awe, i tried to see the end of it. I couldn't manage so i just gave up and focused on my running again. Holy shit. Was that a mountain? Had to be.

Still on a full sprint, i entered the trees. The lighting dimmed instantly as i passed under the thick canopy, but to me it felt like a wave of freshness coming over me. The distant sounds of animals. The chirping of the birds. The winds stirring the branches.

I was home. I was home!

Happy like a puppy, i ran without looking where i was going.

Everything seemed to me beautiful and i couldn't turn without spotting something that had me jumping in delight and running at it to admire it. Every blade of grass glinting with dew. Every branch fluttering in the breeze. Every mushroom hiding in the nooks of trunks. Each and every single of these had me like a schoolgirl at her first crush. And the trees, oh, the trees. I didn't hug them only because some part of me felt that it wouldn't be proper, and even that part struggled to rein me in.

I have no idea how long i ran around like that, but eventually my tummy - or whatever i had for it - reminded me that it was some time i hadn't put my roots down.

Stopping, i looked around, trying to understand where i was.

Obviously, i had no idea but i didn't care. Everywhere i looked, there were trees and that was as good as home for me. What i looked for right now was water, not for me but for the rabbits. In my moronic running around, i had disregarded them and now they looked tired.

It took me some exploring but thankfully i didn't get too far, and i guess that the brook i saw previously ended in a bigger river. I soon heard the sound of rushing water and, making my way in that direction, it didn't take me long to reach the source.

The river made its way through the forest, sloshing and gurgling among the big stones littering its bed.

Carefully, i untangled my vines and let the rabbits down.

After that bumpy ride, the poor critters were only too happy to be able to stretch their limbs, hopping around while exploring the new place with twitching noses.

Part of me expected them to bolt, especially after that running around like a moron. After all, accustomed to my presence they may be, but we weren't exactly family.

But they surprised me.

After drinking from the river and passing some time nibbling on the grass, the rabbits hopped back to me. While the children tumbled and played, mama set herself beside me, her gem-like eyes sharing their attention between me and her pups.

I'd lie if i said i wasn't moved. We were a team now, me and those rabbits, ready to take on whatever danger that forest hid.

Even as i thought that, i didn't really believe it. That stunt with the bear had been a thing of a kind. Here, i was just a tree in a forest. No way something could be interested in me, and i didn't think that keeping the rabbits safe would have been much difficult. I just had to build a shelter and we'd be just fine.

But now it was time to rest.

Happy, i found a nice, sun-lit spot and planted my roots.

That was good soil, soft and humid. It was much better than the rocky ground i was born into. What's more, there was no interruption in direct sunlight there.

Light filled me, more rich and abundant than ever, and i gladly lost myself into it, happy for replenishing my supply and happier for feeling once more connected and in my right place.

I couldn't have asked for more. I was with my roots in the ground, in a sun-lit forest. My rabbits played, happy and safe, and there was no danger to be wary of.

All was fine in the world.

Who knows how long would have i remained there if there wasn't an interruption?

Well, we'll never know, because there was an interruption, and a very unpleasant one to that.

A low growl roused me from the happy dooziness i had fallen into. Turning, i saw a trio of eyes watching me from the foliage.

For a moment, i thought about some kind of animal and was concerned for the rabbits. But then i realized: that thing was looking at me!

It was all the warning i got before a form darted out of the bushes and toward me.

I moved on instinct.

My vines lashed out, slapping the thing out of the air and sending it tumbling to the ground. I had the quick image of some kind of big, green lizard.

I made to turn but just then, don't ask how the blasted thing had ever got there, another lizard clamped on my leg. His teeth, or whatever other devilry he had on his mouth, sheared straight through my wood and, what's worse, i felt my light take a dip, like a bite had been gouged out of it.

Panicking, i kicked, sending the animal tumbling away.

Some more, five of them, were emerging from the undergrowth, all darting tongues and reptilian eyes aimed at me.

I was outmatched and i knew it.

They surrounded me, but thankfully the river was still free.

Without stopping to think, i unrooted myself and jumped straight into it and toward one of the rocks protruding from the water. I was lucky there: i landed on a stone tall enough that the water hadn't made it too slippery. Nor the river was too wide for my long legs to clear in more than three jumps. I got soaked for good, landing in the low water before managing to reach the shore, but at least i was safe.

For a time. Turning,i saw the damn lizards - there were ten of them now - already diving into the water and swimming toward me.

I made to run when the realization hit me. The rabbits! I forgot the rabbits!

Just then, the intelligent little critters climbed up the shore, all soaking wet and with mama carrying one of her children by the scruff.

Relieved and bewildered, i threw my vines and snatched them all up. From that, it was a run for my life.

My thoughts ran. What the hell were those lizard-things? Herbivores? That little monster went for my wood!

I barely believed it, but the bite mark on my foot was unmistakable. They were aiming for me.

Troubled, i kept running. Alright, forget rest time. If there was animals like that prowling around, i needed shelter.

The next hours were all me trying to find a good, defensible spot. I found a satisfying enough place on a small hill rising from the forest. To reach the top, one had to climb a decline without cover: it would have been easy for me to spot intruders. The top itself was grassy apart from a little copse of trees. A good spot for hiding and, i didn't doubt it, easy enough to fortify.

I didn't have tools, but i wasn't too concerned. It would have been easy to make myself some basic ones. Back in my old life, i had always been quite the survivalist.

And so, i worked and you can be sure i worked fast and without interruption. There was my hide on the way after all!

Day 8

Working helped me put my mind somewhat at ease. I wasn't calm by any stretch. The meeting with the lizards had shattered whatever confidence i had of being left alone. Now, i give myself the moron for having believed that from the start. I had lived in a world, but that was a different one, with walking mudmen and whatnot. Why the hell had i thought i could just trust blindly?

Goddammit!

Whatever!

I worked hard and fast, determined to make myself a shelter. Thankfully, i didn't need to sleep and i found that i didn't get tired easily.

First, i made myself an axe. I didn't have anything with me so i just grabbed a big stick off the ground, dug a hole into it using a rock and another stick as a hammer and chisel and then hammered another rock into it. It took me a mountain of work and the result was something caveman could have used but it made the job.

With my new axe, i went among the copse of trees on the hill. It was a dense bunch, with plenty of thin, younger plants. Asking for forgiveness, i went to work on these, hammering on them with my stone axe until they were chipped enough for me to just break.

As i worked, i noticed another thing: i was pretty strong for my size.

Once i judged i had enough poles, i cleaned a stretch of ground among the copse, ripping shrubbery and sweeping leaves away with my vines. In this i then made a series of holes - using a flat piece of wood like an improvised shovel - in which i then shoved the pools, hammering them and mounding earth around them until i was sure that no animal would have been able to rip them out.

Like that, i made myself a tight fence in which to run to in case of danger. It was a primitive thing but thankfully i didn't need much.

But i was forgetting to say. Before all this, i made myself, very carefully, a small fire with some sticks and used it to blacken the tips of longer sticks i had gathered and sharpened. After that, i made small mounds of stones. Thankfully, there were many, half-buried in the vegetation or poking from the ground.

Like that, i made myself a supply of throwing spears and stones.

Whoever tried coming slithering up the hill wouldn't have done so without risking a rock on the head.

And you can be sure i had to use them!

While i was working, the damn lizards emerged from the forest. I don't know if it was the same pack or what, but the damn things just started scurrying over the decline and toward me.

Sucks for them. I had a good aim and with my vines and my angry will to live, i could throw very fast very far.

After three of their group ended with their heads broken or skewered, the others decided to just cut their losses and run.

I watched them go, stomping and fluttering my branches in angry triumph. No snacks for you, you damn lizards!

It was mighty satisfying, you can bet on that, but it ended being more work as well. I didn't want to attract attention from more predators, so i had to drag the carcasses away and into the forest.

Still, it was worthy. What a victory! That'd teach them!

Happy and relieved, i took some time to rest. Strong and resilient as i was, i still got tired after a night and half a day of work.

I got just enough time to kick my legs up a bit before a roar almost had me jump out of my bark.

Honestly, i have no idea how to describe the massive thing that lumbered out of the forest. It was as big as an elephant but the similarities ended there. The monster was furry on some bits and scaly on another, like a patchwork made by a child. An ugly snout that looked a mix of wolf and lizard topped a long neck, sporting rows upon rows of mismatched fangs and teeth. The animal advanced on six, thick legs ending in razor-sharp claws, each looking like it could have impaled a man.

I didn't even try to stop him.

In a panic, i took the rabbits and started running the other way.

As i legged it into the forest, i heard the monster roar and the sounds of my work ending into splinters. I didn't even turn back. He could choke on those sticks for all i cared!

I was so panicked that i didn't stop running even after the sounds of the monster disappeared behind me.

I just kept going, eventually shooting straight through into a glade. And into more animals.

These ones looked like someone had taken a hog and a wolf and mashed them together, making a thing that looked as ugly and threatening as it sounded.

The beasts had to be on the hunt, because, after the first moments of dismay for my abrupt arrival, their beady eyes quickly moved on my rabbits and they started stalking forward.

To my shame, i felt a bit of relief at not being the target for once and the thought of just dumping the rabbits and making a run for it crossed my mind. Almost a night and a day of working had taken their toll on me and now the panic had done the rest. And, well, there were three of those hog-things and they were big and nasty.

I repelled the thought a moment later, shame coursing through me to having it even only entertained.

Those rabbits were my friends, dammit. And i didn't keep them safe until that moment to give them up to some strange stuff of the forest. I had already lost my shelter. What else do those damn monsters want more?

Furious, picked up a branch and started swinging.

I'd love to say that it was some glamorous fight but it really wasn't. They threw me down more than once and all too soon everything degenerated in a confused crawl for my life. And you can bet i fought. Kicking and slapping and poking eyes with my vines. By the end, i was beaten black and blue but i sent those mutts running.

I could be losing my house to dinosaur-looing things but nobody was taking my rabbits!

And so there i was, lost in that damn forest once again.

I tried to look at the bright side. At least, it had been an instructing experience. I learned that if they damaged my trunk, i got hit by a loss of light that was akin to physical pain. Good to know, yes?

Goddammit… but at least the rabbits were okay, and i was alive. I'd just start back from the beginning.

Hopefully, things would improve.

Day 9

Things didn't improve. There was a thing stalking me.

I caught only glimpses of it, but it's big and tenacious. I had to shake it off before it managed to get me.

Day 12

I'd love to tell you that the following days were better, but they really weren't.

Animal attacks, ambushes, chases, one after the other and each more bizarre than the next. I was attacked by a giant plant that tried to shove me in its eating pitchers. Squirrels the size of small dogs and with a single talon tipping their tails came swinging at me from the canopy. A strange, cameleon-like thing stalked me for hours.

It was relentless, with lulls maybe even lasting hours if i was lucky, but the danger always ended returning.

I have no idea what it was, but there was something in me attracting everything, be it carnivores or herbivores. And the few times it wasn't me, it was my poor rabbits.

I thought i had reached heaven, but i was mistaken.

That was hell.