Can A Woman Alone Survive This Harsh World?, Kylah's Story (Rather Long!)

Kylah opened her eyes to the glaring sunlight. Daggers of pain stabbed through her head. Confused, she looked up at the waving branches and blue sky directly above her. Why was she laying on the ground, rocks digging into her soft skin? She reached a hand up to feel her throbbing skull and felt a warm, sticky substance on her fingers. Turning her head carefully, Kylah looked at her surroundings. She saw blood pooling around her, soaking into the greedy earth. No one else was in sight. Panicking, she tried to sit up only to collapse back to the ground as nausea and dizziness flooded through her.

Closing her eyes, Kylah took a deep breath and tried to control the icy fingers of terror clawing at her stomach. She would be alright if she remained calm, she reassured herself. The others must be nearby, they would never abandon her in the wilderness. She remembered leaving her home 5 days earlier as she began the long journey to the village of her soon-to-be husband. Kylah's father had sent two of his best warriors with her as escorts. Surely Thrann and Joryn were close by, perhaps hunting for food or bringing water.

Kylah lay still on the ground, waiting. She listened for the sound of feet drawing near, but heard only the wind, birdsong and the distant sound of water. The pounding pain in her head grew stronger. Her face also felt strange, as if it was stiff, and the vision in her left eye was blurry. She began to notice other aches and pains. In fact, her entire body felt as if she had tumbled down a cliffside.

It was thirst that finally drove Kylah to try to rise again. If she could just make it to water she would feel better... she could almost feel the cold, clear taste of it soothing her parched throat. After several failed attempts Kylah managed to get to her hands and knees. Dizziness threatened to overcome her, but she slowly crawled toward the sound of trickling water. Blood dripped from her head in a steady rhythm as she crept forward.

Inch by inch she made her way to the shoreline. Finally, when she thought she could not make it another foot, she saw the lapping waves of the small lake before her. Falling to her stomach, Kylah dropped her face to the water and drank in long, deep gulps. She layed her head down, letting the cool waves bath her face. Time passed, and she again rose to her knees to scoop some water into her hands.

Leaning over the lake, she looked into the glassy surface and cried out in shock and horror. Her face... the face many warriors in her tribe had dreamed about... was ripped to shreds. Her left eye was swelled nearly shut. Four diagonal claw marks tore her skin from the side of her head down her left cheek to her jawline. Dried blood caked the oozing wounds. Looking down, she saw that her left leg was also slashed and bleeding. Various bruises and gashes covered her arms.

Kylah collapsed back to the ground, crying. Even if she survived, no man would ever have her now. A disfigured, crippled woman was worth less than a dog. Her handsome husband-to-be would be sickened at the sight of her. Filled with self-pity, Kylah continued to sob as the sun moved accross the sky. Maybe she should just lay here and die, she thought to herself. Who would care? Who would even know?

She thought about her family. Her father, so proud of his strong, beautiful young daughter. Her mother, who tought her so many things in preparation of her new life as a wife herself. Her sisters and brothers with whom she had grown up so carefree and sure of their parent's love. They would love her no matter what scars marred her face and body.

Determination to survive replaced the self-pity Kylah had been indulging in. She would make it home, somehow. She had no idea where she was, or which way her village lay. She was hurt, and in dire need of food and shelter. Worst of all, she was completely alone. But she was young and strong. Her vision may now be lacking, but she was agile and fast. She had rudimentary medicinal skills and was a very good cook. She knew how to skin an animal and prepare the hide. Hope filled her. She could make it if she was smart and careful. There was no one to take care of her now.

Frowning, Kylah remembered that she had no real weapon and little skill in using them. Her father and brothers had always provided food and clothing. Perhaps she could fish if she was able to carve a javelin with her small dagger still strapped to her waist. But first she needed to care for her wounds. Pulling the now ragged cloak from her shoulders, she ripped it into strips. She washed her face and head as best she could in the lake waters and then moved to the remaining gashes. Finally, she bound the ones she could with bandages. Later she would search for some healing herbs.

Exhausted, she lay back on the ground beside the peaceful lake. After she rested for a few minutes she would try to make a shelter. Then perhaps she could try to carve the javelin. Closing her eyes, Kylah slipped into a light sleep, and dreamed of home.

((If this didnt bore you all too much, I plan to continue Kylah's struggle. Hopefully she doesnt fall prey to a Lynx upon awakening!))

Nice. I still wish that I could write stories as good as this one.

This is a real good story! It's not a story about playing the game and pressing buttons but depicting "real-life". It has good english and great detail. I'm thirsting for more from you Kassiah! Actually when I joined these forums I thought all the stories were supposed to be like this. Way to GO!!!

Yeah, the one reason I haven't been writing stories, my "Enligshis" skills
And you sure do have to hope you won't face a lynx, my storie there ended to a lynx attack and now I'm trying to continue from the last spot where I died (Made new char etc.)
But, Really nice story... Wonder what happened to Thrann and Joryn, Find it in the next episode of .:LOST PRINCESS:.

The chill of cold rain spattering on her face snapped Kylah out of her dreams. Disoriented, she looked around the forest in confusion. It wasn’t like her to take a nap in the middle of the day. Naps were for old women and babies. And she *never* slept out in the open! Kylah brought a fist up to rub the raindrops from her eyes. Pain shot through her, causing to her cry out. Then she remembered. She was alone, injured and had no idea where she was.

Hunger pangs echoed through her belly. Never before in her life had Kylah gone without food or shelter. She would need to provide both for herself now. The thought was overwhelming and fear joined the hunger clenching her stomach. She could barely walk much less hunt for food and build a safe place to sleep. Shivering, she realized she also needed to make a fire if she hoped to survive. The nights were long and cold, winter having only recently lessened its grip on the world.

Taking a stabilizing breath, Kylah slowly pulled herself to her feet. Wavering, she feared she would topple over if she dared to take a step. In addition to the gashes and bruises, it felt as if her left ankle was severely sprained. But there was nothing else to do but endure the pain, or give up and die. And she would not give up.

Step by step Kylah made her way to the edge of the forest and found a thicket. Pulling out her dagger, she sent a prayer of thanks to the Gods that her father had always insisted she carry one. She managed to hack out several slender trunks and lay them aside. Sitting down, she began to awkwardly carve out a javelin. She had seen her father do this hundreds of times, but had never paid much attention. Daydreaming and flirting with boys always seemed more important! Frowning, she focused on her task and eventually held a sharp although slightly crooked javelin in her hand.

Feeling victorious, Kylah hobbled to the lake and peered into the water. Surely if she was patient a fish would soon meander by. Hunger pangs continued to claw at her as time passed. Her legs cramped up and her head was spinning. Blood continued to seep from her many wounds. She felt tears welling up in her eyes and stubbornly held them back. Crying would not put food in her belly! Suddenly out of the corner of her good eye Kylah saw a flash in the water. Holding her breath, she plunged the javelin down with all her strength, nearly causing herself to fall face first. She yanked the javelin back and whooped with joy at the sight of a large pike twitching on the point.

Pike gripped in hand, Kylah stumbled back to the remaining slender trunks. Laying her precious fish on a rock, she gathered up some spruce twigs and completed a rough lean-to which would give her some limited protection from the elements. Next she scavenged some branches from the base of a large tree and placed them before her shelter. Exhaustion threatened to overcome her, but she knew she had to hold out long enough to cook the fish and feed her starving body.

Fortunately, her mother had been very thorough in teaching her how to start a fire. Within a few minutes Kylah had a strong blaze going. The warmth felt wonderful and she took a moment to heat her chilled skin. Wrapping the pike in leaves, she tucked it under the fire and let it bake while she gathered more branches to fuel the fire overnight. Finally, she lowered herself to the hard ground, pulled out the steaming fish and hungrily devoured half of it.

Packing the remaining portion of her dinner into a corner of the lean-to, Kylah crawled inside and curled into a ball. She had no fur to cover herself with, but at least there was a roof over her head. Closing her eyes, she listened to the sounds of the woods around her. As she drifted to sleep, a slight smile passed over her lips. She had survived her first day. She had a full belly, bandages on her wounds, shelter overhead and food to carry her through the next morning. Maybe, just maybe, she could survive after all.

W(orld)O(f)W(arcraft) these are great! Keep 'em coming This could become a real never-ending story.
Ps. Slaver, are you a WOW-fan?

Yeah keep em coming untill cripple cuts your troath whit small knife!
Ps. I would like to be WoW player, but not time or money here...

[FONT=Arial][SIZE=1][COLOR=purple] I have never read a story that was so indepth keep it going I'm an UnReal follower although I only have the shareware version caus I don't have the money to Buy the f/v myself any Hi.

Good stuff Kassiah! Nice, coherent style.