//------------------------------// // Waterlogged, survival, and confrontations // Story: Surviving Spark // by JackTheEpic //------------------------------// I wake with a start, gasping for air while trying to expel water from my lungs. I sit up slowly in soaked cloths that are partially torn to shreds. Around me lies torn metal, broken wood, cloth, glass bottles, and some bits of luggage laying on a beach. I try to stand up but find myself falling flat on my face. I try again, but this time grabbing a piece of what I believe was a broom, to help me keep my balance. I succeed this time, but a sharp pain in my left leg makes me want to sit back down. I take a quick glance and I can see that my pant leg is stained a crimson red, from what I assume is an unknown wound. Normally one would carefully remove said pant leg to find and treat the wound with medical supplies, but since one of the bags near me isn't marked with any medical symbol, I have to presume that I don't have any of said medical supplies. So using random bits of common knowledge, I searched through some of the bottles hoping to find some alcohol, preferably Vodka. Not only to clean the cause of the pain if it is indeed an open wound, but to drink so to dull the pain. Fortunately luck seemed to be on my side, for I found several bottles of Vodka. Next I grabbed some bits of cleanish cloth from the sands before the ocean can reclaim them. I plan to use them not only to clean off the wound, and to bandage it, but to also act as a tourniquet as a last resort. And to complete my make shift medical kit, I grab a bit of the torn metal to use as scissors. Now in hindsight I probably should have checked some of the luggage for any cosmetic supplies, since there are usually some tools like tweezers that I could have used, but from the fact that some of the sand was turning crimson I guessed I didn't have the luxury of time on my side. So sitting down on a larger piece of cloth I first feel up and down my leg for where the pain is the strongest. It doesn't take me long to find that it was strongest on the outside of the lower leg, between the knee and the foot. So carefully I separated my jeans from the knee down on my left leg from the rest of it. Then cutting the cut off part down the middle I carefully removed it from my leg. It felt much like taking off a bandage, but very slowly, feeling each of my hair either be pulled out of my skin or out of the dried blood. But after fully removing the fabric, I get a first look at the wound. I would be lying to say it was gushing blood, but there was blood none the less. And the culprit of the wound was there as well. It was a piece of wood, approximately 1/2 an inch across, that had gone in from the top down at an approximate angle of 10 degrees just by looking at it. Not knowing how deep it was in my leg, I took every precaution I could. I prepared the tourniquet just above my knee, cleaned off the surrounding area of where the wood entered with a piece of cloth soaked with vodka, and tore some of the cloth to make some makeshift bandages. I would like to say that I didn't scream like a baby, or that it wasn't painful. But it was very, very painful. after pulling it for a few second's I wanted to stop so badly, but I knew if I had pulled it far enough out that it had started to bleed again, stopping now would mean the end for me. So gritting my teeth and using all the strength I had, I continued to pull the wood rod out. I was hoping that it didn't go in too deep, and once again to my luck it hadn't gone too far in, only about an inch or two. So cleaning off the now open wound, I wrapped it up tightly and hobbled to my feet. I grabbed a the former broom from earlier to help me walk around. My leg still hurt, but it was manageable. For I knew that my leg would never heal right if I didn't sew the now stickless wound up. So my first task I set for my self was to search through some of the baggage for a sewing kit, food, and hopefully either a lighter or matches. I found all three, and I even found a rifle case that had an semi-automatic hunting rifle with a scope, suppressor, and about 200 rounds in a nearby box, I also found an old fashion wooden bow and about 30 arrow's in total. Needless to say after about 2 weeks of healing after I sewed the wound up, eating caned tuna, and practicing with the bow and arrow, I'd say I could, and would be able to sustainably survive out here for quite a while. But one thing still bothered me, and that was that I couldn't remember for the life of me what I was doing before I woke up on the beach. For the first 4 years, I spent most of my time on that beach and in a near by forest. Hunting animals for food, skin for clothing, and bones for tools, and armor. The armor by the way was little more than the bones stung together and covered with fur. I also gathered the cloth, wood, metal, and any useful supplies from luggage bags for reuse. For example I reused the metal, wood, cloth, and some of the luggage to make nails, a knife, hatchet, bag pack, quiver, some pouches, a bowl, and an under layer of clothing. I also took the time to search the beach for any other items that I could salvage, I did find some more bags but all they had were mostly useless items. I mean seriously, I found about 30 pairs of dentures in one of them, why in the name of god would someone need that many dentures! Though I did find a watch and a compass in one, and a pair of binoculars in another. I had even built a little hut at the edge of the forest, in which I lived there for a while. Also during these 4 years I have given up trying to repair the cloths I woke up in on the first day, and have instead made an outfit that you might have seen on an native American Indian back when England first came to America. I never did figure out what brand my hunting rifle was, but I have to assume from the way it appears to be built, that it was custom made by someone. But it didn't matter much anyways since I was getting more skilled with the bow and arrow each day. In fact I have gotten so skilled that I rarely use the rifle. Now I would have stayed at the little shack I built until rescue arrived, but it has been 4 years, so I have given up the hope that rescue it coming. But the main reason I decided to move on was the fact that most, if not all the game in the area is gone. So I simply packed up my things and left. The first days after that were dull to say the least. I had decided to walk down the beach until I find something that could lead me towards civilization, alas none presented themselves. Though I did find a fresh water river coming out of the forest. And at that point I decided for myself that following the river would be my best course of action. So I did, and to this day, I have never regretted it. For I found a part of the forest teaming with life that I had never seen before. So I found the sturdiest tree in that area, and decided to make my home there. ---8 years later--- I was leaping from tree to tree, bow and arrows on my back swaying with each step I took through the dense forest. My hair started to gray about 6 months ago, yet from what I can remember I'm about 34 years old. But now that I think of it, I probably should be slowing down so I can continue to live for many years to come. But that could wait for later, for I was hunting a big old bascorion. Well that's at least what I call the little bastards, they are basically a lion with bat wings and a scorpion tail. And this one was the last one that has been plagued my hunting grounds for the past month or two. I was not going to let it get away with my kills any longer. All I needed to do was catch up to him, and then leap down and put my knife through his neck. I looked ahead and saw the little devil weaving his way though the underbrush, trying desperately to escape death. But I had him, or at least I did if one of those wooden wolves hadn't knocked me out of the tree. Angered greatly by this, I stabbed the wolf right in the neck with my knife. As he fell limp I kicked his lifeless corpse off of me, I climbed back up the tree and tried to listen to where the bascorion went. It wasn't long before I heard six different feminine screams of terror not to far away. I should have been focused on saving the people screaming, but all I wanted to do was kill the bloody bascorion for all the times I have gone hungry. I ran though the trees to where the screaming came from, and low and behold I found six women backed up against a stone cliff with that little bastard approaching with murderous intent in its eyes. I had the high ground for I was up on the cliff directly above the girls, I could only see their hair but one stood out from all the rest, and that was the one that was dyed to look like a rainbow... or a gay pride flag. I crouched down low on the tree branch, waiting for the old bastard to get close enough so I could kill it with an air assassination. Down below me though the girls were crying and group hugging, probably thinking that this is the end for them. Again it didn't cross my mind, I just wanted to kill that bloody bascorion. And kill him I did, just as he got in range I leaped from the tree and half way down I started yelling, the beast didn't even have time to look up before I landed right on its neck, and with a satisfying sound of bones breaking, the beast lay still. Surviving for 12 years on my own made me appreciate every animal I kill, so I used every part of the animal I kill, and waste nothing. I forgot about the girls behind me as I started to skin and gut the beast. Severing the tail and wings with a swift swing of my hatchet, and pulling the skin off with force, but gentle enough not to tear it. I then pulled off my bag, put the pelt, wings, and tail into it, put it back on my back, and then proceeded to carry the beast back home. Little did I know... well actually I probably did know but I was to focused on my kill to notice, that those girls had opened their eyes and watched me do all those things, and now they were following me. It took me a good half-hour to an hour to get back to my home in the trees. But when I did I set the beast and my bag down on a makeshift elevator platform, climbed of the tree to my deck, and pulled the rope to bring my kill to my "kitchen". Well it was more like a space set aside for more thoroughly cleaning my kills. And as luck would have it, just as I finish pulling the dead bascorion into the kitchen, suddenly feel light headed, which it quickly followed with vomiting, though I had the time to turn my head so I didn't vomit on the meat, and something hard hitting me in the back of the head. Which resulted with me getting knock out cold. ---FILLER--- When I woke up, I suppressed the urge to groan in discomfort because of one strategic fact. I was in a bed, and actual fucking bed! I really wanted to just continue to lay there and get some actual quality sleep, but because it was a REAL bed, I knew that I wasn't anywhere near my house, or possibly even in the forest. Removing the covers, I noticed that all my non-hidden weapons were gone, but I did still have the small knife hidden just under my arm. Pulling it out I notice a window on the far side of the room. So I walk over towards it as quietly as I can, and I look out. First thing I see is that there are people here, and im in a town! A couple years ago this would have been great! But it has been a long time since I have had any social interaction. Stepping away from the window I hear voices emanating from below me. I walk towards the door and as I reach for the handle I stop myself, for paranoia has gotten the better of myself over the years. I thought that there was a good chance that the door would squeak if I were to open it, alerting who ever is below to the fact that I am awake. So instead I gently place my ear up against the door and try to listen to what they are saying. I only get bits and pieces, but out of them I hear a few names being said, of which they are: Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Princess Celestia, Spike, Zecora, and Rainbow Dash. That last one must have been the girl who had the rainbow hair. But what peaks my curiosity is the fact that I only hear 8 voices but 9 names said. So one of them must not be present. As I continue to listen I hear a clopping sound, and its getting closer. Quickly pulling away from the door, I look around for a place to hide, and what I do notice is that there are branches above me... So that must mean I'm in a tree. At this point I smile, as I climb up and hide amongst the foliage. I make it just in time as well, for as soon as I get up there the door opens and 7 girls walk in... or is it trot in? I really don't know for aside from the fact that two of them have horns and two of them have wings, they all have hooves a backwards ankle, and fur, yet aside from those facts they appear to be human. When they notice that I'm not in the bed they start to talk to each other. "Where did he go!? There is no way he could have woken up yet! We just got him here!" the purple one said while panicking . "Now calm down sugah cube, we didn't hear the door open, and the window is still closed, so he must till be in the room." said the orange one in the hat "Now calm down Twilight Sparkle, I have lived in that forest for a long time, and my senses have heightened in that time, and I can still hear him breathing in here. But where I do not know." said the one who looked like a zebra "Oh, I can find him! Lets see... Nope! Nope! Nope!" Said the pink one while appearing out of everything in the room in a random order... Personally I'm scared or her. "Ha! FOUND HIM!" she screamed as her head appeared right in front of mine, which caused me to ball backwards and land on the yellow one, who let out a small "eep!" when I landed on her. Some of her hair also got in my face, which by the way smelled like daisies. And being a kind women the rainbow haired one that I'm gonna go ahead and say that her name is Rainbow Dash, grabbed me and threw me off the yellow one, and face first into a book shelf, which then proceeded to fall on top of me. I was then pulled out by the orange one, and Rainbow Dash and pinned up against the wall. Miss Twilight Sparkle then walked up to be and looked me sternly in the eyes and asked, "Who are you, and what were you doing following us!" I was going to respond but Rainbow Dash decided to punch me in the gut, which was followed by me coughing up blood. "Well I was going to tell you, that is until your impatient friend over here decided to punch me in the gut. So for now, all your getting out of me, is that my name is Connor." I said looking at Miss Twilight. I then turned my head and spat blood right into Rainbow's face. Right before he punched me in the face and threw me to the floor, but I didn't black out right away, instead I tried to get up but she proceeded to kick me in my legs while the other women tried to restrain her. I then was starting to black out, but I remember getting rolled over by the yellow one, who was crying. But I wonder if it was for me, or for the fact that Rainbow most likely broke my legs. Then I blacked out.