East towards the river

At first I'm still in shock as the great deer turns away from me. Its massive antlers whistling through the air as it leaves me. My breath is caught in my throat for some time before I'm able to really relax. Without the imposing entity standing over me I can finally breath in and accept any of this. I can finally come to terms with the reality of my situation. Taking the moment to look around I'm in a massive sequoia forest. Between larges swaths of darkness brought by the canopy up high there are beams of shimmering light. Tall, flaky red bark climbing high into the sky in every direction. Their gigantic trunks spanning thirty feet around, some with entire tunnels bored out of them large enough to fit a Buick with ease. I fall back onto my haunches as I take inventory.

Looking my body over I look virtually the same as I remember. My clothes are the same, my faded jeans and black chyoa shirt. Granted there's significantly more dirt than I remember... though... assuming I really was buried for god knows how long a bit of dirt is nothing to cry over. Following the same theme my body itself is simply dirtier than it should be. Dried earth coating my skin all over. Reaching up my hair is also completely caked in crust. Digging my fingers in I try to move them through but get caught immediately as my hair knots up and fights me. I try to scratch the dirt away from my arms but face more pain as the hard dirt flakes off, pulling any and all body hair with it. It isn't long before I give up on that venture all together. Climbing to my feet I take another look over. For some reason my clothes feel... tighter? Lifting up my stiff shirt I'm stuck in awe once more. Where once was a completely normal physique now rests a six pack. I flex my arms and face a similar situation. I'm not much bigger but every one of my muscles are substantially more honed. Nothing adding any real bulk to me but its far from the average I'm accustomed to.

After the revelation that my body was altered so much only one thought came to my mind. One fear. Looking towards the sun, I took the first steps in this new world. My mind brimming with questions as to what's going on. Each thought going back to my last memory before waking up bound by tree roots. The last image in my mind being the ground cracking. The road in front of my house breaking into two pieces. Rain from the fire hydrant's showering me as my car was swallowed into the earth. The horn blaring for some time before it faded deeper and deeper. Falling into some unknown abyss. I had seen the news reports of these cracks forming in other places. Buildings in China being broken in half. A mountain range in South America suddenly having a mile wide canyon. I saw the reports but only after half of my town was eaten by the planet did it really hit. My last memory is watching my neighbor running towards me. Watching them coming closer and closer as the sky gave way to darkness. My last memory is of my falling. Of the dark...

I keep my feet moving as my mind runs. No real thought as to where I'm going save for following the morning sun. Keeping the bright light in my face. The woody giants looming over me. Their ancient bark watching me as I make my way east. It isn't long before I can hear rushing water. Speeding up I quickly crash through the brush into a steep embankment. Try as I might to catch the branches behind me I stumble back. Tumbling down the ridge, smacking my sides into rough rocks and stabbing roots. Coming to an abrupt stop at the bottom I can't fight back the exasperated groan as the pain sets in. My ribs throbbing and as I reach up and graze my hand over them I'm not surprised when it comes back with blood. Not a startling amount but it's no surprise something cut me along the way. Slowly climbing to my feet I ready myself for the pain that doesn't come. For some reason as I get my feet under me what should be incredibly painful just goes away. Looking down my shirts shredded, blood still bubbling from my side as it soaks into my shirt, yet the pain is gone. Shaking my head I turn my attention to the water. The roaring river spans almost half a mile across. Just up river is a large section of white rapids. Down river I can barely see a large bridge around the distant bend. I can see the top of thing's making their way across.

Kneeling in front of the water I take a handful and throw it into my face. Continuing the process as I wash away the dirt and grime. Going so far as to dunk my head into the water and let the river itself break away the caked in dirt. Letting the natural flow help as I scrub away and after a few minutes my skin finally shows through. Still kneeling at the foot of the river I watch my reflection as it shimmers in the ripples. For the first time I'm able to take a look at myself. To really see the man behind my thoughts. Though my facial structure is largely the same I look years older. When the crack took me I was sixteen, almost seventeen, but now? No... There's no way I'm still the teen I remember. Looking back at me is an older version of the man I know to be. Pure speculation I appear to be in my mid twenties now. To be easily ten years older. The next most startling change is the eyes peering back. Where once lay dark chocolate orbs now rest golden orbs. Bright gold watching me in return. Looking down at my freshly washed arms my veins seem to glow under my skin. Each thin line giving a soft bluish green light instead of normal. Besides that I'm largely the same, my hairs a little longer, same for my nails.

Rising from the ground I face the bridge in the distance. What can only be a mile at most. Taking on last look at the strange reflection I make my way down the rocky river bank. Smooth stones sliding under my feet as I slowly make the trek. Having to catch myself more than a few times as the slick stones give way under me. It takes awhile but eventually I finally reach the bridge. At first I'm a little speechless. The large cobble bridge spans the entire river's width. Multiple tall stone pillars holding it up as dozens of wagons make their way over in either direction. The ones going west carrying very little while the others seem to all be loaded with produce. Some carrying animals and two out of the many transporting lumber. Clambering up the embankment I get better view. Pulling each car is tall imposing buck. Their antlers pointing forward, some wearing decorative beads. Even though all of the animals easily stand eight feet none of them come close to matching Eros. Not in point count or size. As I stand idle off to the side I can't help but be mesmerized by them. The massive animals working in pairs for the most part with a few pulling wagons alone. As I stand in awe I don't even notice one the aforementioned carts stop just before me. The man on top speaking to me in some strange language. At first I can't understand a single word he's saying. Reaching up to swipe the hair out of my eyes my attention is drawn to my arm, to my veins. The glowing lines become even brighter for a moment before suddenly the man is yelling at me in english.

"Are you alright? Kid!" Facing the man once more his mouth moves in a different pattern but as he speaks it seems to match up. As though a different language slowly became my own. No... As though I learned to understand it! The man isn't speaking english! I'm understanding his words! It takes a moment for me to come to realize it but as he speaks once more I find the words in my mind. "Kid, are you ok? You look rather rattled. Your shirts all ruined and you're bleeding. Kid?"

Though unfamiliar I find the words coming off of my tongue. "I... I'm a little lost. I... I'm sorry, I fell in the river and don't really know where I am or... what's going on." Taking the moment I really get a good look at the man before me. His skin is olive with speckled grey hair. He has high cheekbones with rather expressive eyes. Nothing out of proportion but... he's not human. Long pointy ears adorn either side of his face and his clothes are simple. If not for Eros I would have thought myself in some isekai. "Where am I? How... how far to the village?"

"Well you speak well for a one of your kind. Certainly not the run of the mill, that's for sure. Forgive me, the village isn't far. If you're planning on walking it however it'll take you a few hours." The man watches me for a few moments. I can't tell if he's sizing me up or what. "Keep your hands to yourself and you can climb in the back. I'm not one for leaving people stranded. Not carrying anything dangerous, are you?"

"I, no, nothing. Just what you see." Seeming to accept my answer the man nods and gestures for me to climb in. Following his request I make my way to the back. Inside are large bushels of what looks to be wheat. Resting down against the side wall as he snaps the reins and the large deer trudges along. Following the carts in front of it after rejoining the line ahead. As we travel I simply take in the sight. Behind us are the sequoia trees. Giant elders standing watch over the forest. On either side however are simply tall oaks. Each of them easily hundreds of years old. Looking ahead it seems to be more of the same. Simply thick forest for miles and miles but as we crest one of the taller hills I get the first view from above the majority of the canopy. Somewhere ahead it seems to break into plains. Nearly an hour or two pass before we finally break through the canopy and I can see the village. Acres and acres of farms surrounding a decently large settlement. According to Eros... someone waits for me.