Chapter 15 – Surviving the Wild
Cedric woke up to the sound of the wind blowing through the ruined temple. His stomach growled, a painful reminder that he hadn't eaten anything since being cast down from Sky City.
He sat up, rubbing his aching arms. His whole body felt sore. His fight with the Pandemonium had drained him more than he realized.
"I need food," he muttered to himself.
But there was nothing around him. Just broken stone and old moss.
Cedric pushed himself up and walked outside.
The sun was just beginning to rise. The forest stretched in every direction, the trees swaying gently. He knew he had to find food if he wanted to survive.
He took a deep breath and started walking.
The Search for Food
The forest was quiet, except for the occasional rustling of leaves. Cedric kept his swords in hand, just in case. He knew there were more demons out there.
His stomach growled again. He clenched his jaw, trying to ignore the hunger, but it was getting worse.
After a while, he saw something that gave him hope—a small river.
Water.
He rushed forward, kneeling by the riverbank. The water was clear, reflecting the sky. Cedric cupped his hands and drank deeply.
It was cold and fresh, easing some of his exhaustion.
But it wasn't enough.
He needed food.
He stood up and looked around.
There had to be something he could hunt.
The Hunt Begins
Cedric moved carefully through the forest, looking for any sign of small animals.
He saw a few squirrels, but they were too fast.
Then, he spotted something.
A bird.
It was perched on a low branch, pecking at something on the bark.
Cedric knew this was his chance.
He didn't have a bow, and his swords were too big for a precise strike. He would have to climb.
He moved toward the tree as quietly as possible, gripping the rough bark.
Taking a deep breath, he pulled himself up.
His arms and legs burned from the effort, but he forced himself to keep climbing. The bird didn't notice him yet.
He reached a thicker branch and balanced himself carefully.
The bird was just above him now.
Cedric slowly reached out.
Then—
SNAP!
The branch beneath his foot broke.
The bird flapped its wings, startled.
Cedric lunged forward, grabbing it with both hands before it could escape.
It squawked and struggled, but he held on tight.
He climbed back down, landing on the ground with a thud.
The bird was still flapping, trying to escape his grip.
Cedric stared at it.
Could he really eat it like this?
His stomach growled, and he knew the answer.
He tightened his grip around the bird's neck and twisted.
A soft crack.
The flapping stopped.
Cedric took a deep breath.
This was survival.
A Desperate Meal
Cedric sat by the river, staring at the bird's body.
He had no fire, no tools. He had to eat it raw.
It made him feel sick just thinking about it.
But he had no choice.
He took a deep breath and bit into the flesh.
The taste was horrible—metallic and cold—but he forced himself to chew.
Each bite was a struggle, but as he swallowed, he could feel his strength slowly returning.
He ate as much as he could before tossing the remains into the river.
Cedric wiped his mouth, his face blank.
"This is what it means to survive."
A Moment of Rest
After eating, Cedric sat under a tree, resting.
His body felt a little stronger now.
But he was still alone.
Still hunted.
He needed a plan.
He couldn't stay in this forest forever. He had to find shelter—real shelter—and figure out what to do next.
For now, he would rest.
Tomorrow, he would continue moving forward.
No matter what.