An Impossible Journey

I thought I'd have pleasant dreams after such a wonderful night. I mean, I got to eat Mom's cooking, we spent the entire day together traveling, and tomorrow was surely a birthday I wouldn't forget! But what followed shortly after was anything but pleasant. Instead, it was a horrific nightmare. One that I would never forget.

It began with me feeling like I was being thrown into a river, its current carrying me away to who knows where. At least I assumed it was a river, since I could feel water start seeping into whatever material I was trapped in.

Knowing it was only a matter of time before I would be completely submerged, I tried desperately to find a way out of here, but it was no use. The panic, coupled with my constant struggle to keep my ahead above water, made it too difficult to find an opening, if there even was one.

As the water finally engulfed me, I tried holding my breath, still trying to grasp for something, anything, that can get me out of this. That's when I hit the edge of something hard, like a rock, causing me to gasp in pain, which only led to me swallowing water.

Why was this happening? Why can't I just wake up? 

Mom... 

Dad... 

Please... save me...

I could feel my consciousness begin to slip away, the last thing I can recall were my brutish hands ripping something apart...

***

The sun hitting my face stirred me awake. Despite being groggy and exhausted, I could tell something wasn't right. My clothes felt damp, like I just swam in them not too long ago. I tried squeezing them dry, like mom taught me, but realized they weren't just wet, but also mildly torn at the hems.

That's when I realized where I was. Or I guess it was better to say where I wasn't. Instead of being in the cozy tent with my family, I was on the edge of a riverbank in the middle of nowhere.

"Mom?! Dad!?" I shouted, hoping they could hear me, but there was no response. There were some trees here and there in the distance, but none that matched the forest we were in. As I continued searching, I saw something familiar clinging onto a rock near the river.

As I got closer, I could tell that it was one of the tarps my father had brought along for the trip. That's when it all clicked. That was no nightmare last night. I had, somehow, gotten stuck in my father's tarp and fell into the river. At least, I think that's what happened.

I grabbed ahold of the tarp, hoping it could still be of some use as I wrapped it around me. Plus, Dad might be happy if I managed to bring it back to him.

Dad... Mom...

Just thinking about them brought tears to my eyes. How could I have let this happen? I don't know what caused this, but I could tell it must have been my fault.

No, there's no time to cry! I have to make it back to them, no matter what! I wiped away the tears from my eyes, resolving to make the journey back home. The only problem was... where is home? As I looked around for clues, the shimmering river caught my attention.

That's it! If I go the opposite direction of the river's current, then maybe it'll help me reach where our campsite was. From there, I can backtrack to our home! Heck, if I get there fast enough, they might still be around looking for me!

Feeling optimistic, I started making my way up the river, hoping to make it back before my birthday ended. That's right, it was my birthday. The thought of it left me conflicted at first, unsure if I should be happy or sad this was happening on my special day. But I thought to myself, what if I treat it as the start of my first adventure? It was almost like I was one of the heroes Mom used to tell me about during story time!

Filled to the brim with excitement now, I marched onward, already thinking how I'd be the one telling the epic tale to Mom and Dad this time! Little did I know, adventuring is not as easy as the stories make it out to be.

***

I started my journey at a quick pace, but that ended up tiring me out pretty quickly. I realized if I was going to make it back, I'd have to conserve my energy. This was a bit upsetting, knowing I wouldn't make it back as fast as I had hoped, but as long as I made it back at all is what really mattered.

Over time, my walk became a trudge, still holding onto the tarp that was completely dried out by now thanks to the sun's warmth. I wasn't sure how much time had passed, but considering the sun was about to set, it definitely must have been awhile. Yet the forest I had come from was still nowhere in sight.

"But I won't give up!" I said aloud to myself, hoping to keep my own spirits high. That's when the next issue came about, as my stomach growled shortly after my declaration. Hunger, huh? A part of me really thought I would have made it back by now and eating with my family, but it was looking more and more like that wasn't going to happen. At least not today.

Still, the hunger did distract me from my any discouraging thoughts. I imagined it now, Mom cooking a meal Dad had just hunted for. Speaking of hunting, Dad never had the chance to teach me. He said I was too young and to wait a few more years. But now I needed it more then ever. I couldn't blame him, though. After all, he probably never expected me to need it at such a young age.

Before I could lament on it any further, I noticed a small pack of animals ahead of me. I dropped to the ground, covering myself with the tarp hoping they wouldn't notice me. I took a closer look and they sort of looked like the animals my dad would hunt now and again. I think Dad said they were called deer. I also remember him telling me that they weren't dangerous, unlike the wolves or boars he hunted, but they were tricky to catch.

Not like it mattered right now, since I had no means of catching them in the first place. At least, that's what I thought until I saw the smaller ones following along.

Those were kids, right? I thought to myself, thinking that if I could capture any of them, it would be the little ones. I knew I was in over my head, but it's not like I had much of a choice. I started creeping closer to them, using the tarp to hide my presence.

That's when the closest one, who was drinking water from the river, snapped its head up, like it sensed me. It ended up running away, the others quickly following suit, to fast for me to ever catch.

But I could tell that it wasn't because I gave myself away. No, from the the look it had on its face, it was the same look our horse had every time I got close.

This made things even more difficult, knowing that even if there was something small enough for me to catch, it would probably run away before I had a chance to get near. I tried to not let it get to. I mean, it's not like I even knew how to cook. I continued my walk, occasionally taking sips from the river whenever I got thirsty.

C'mon, Abel, I know you can do it! I tried to motivate myself, the sun nearly done setting with faint stars appearing in the darkening sky. This was just the beginning of my arduous journey.