1 A Whole New World

The tragedy of life

Is not death

But what we let die

Inside of us

While we live

~Norman Cousins

A man

Begins to die

When he ceases

To expect anything

From tomorrow

~Abraham Miller

||???'s POV||

{INHALE}

I woke up panting and with an aching body while lying head-faced to the ground leaving me no choice but to sniff on the smelly odor of the dirt.

I lean my right cheek to the ground, confused of the vast mountain range that I'm currently staring at.

Each mountain was so big and so tall, it nearly convinced me that an entire capital city could fit into it- no it would even dwarf it in size. Adding to my disconcertion was the bright, golden sky filled with numerous flying creatures doing- um, flying things.

My mind is foggy. What exactly happened?

Where am I?

Who am I?

I feel uneasy, nervous... furious?

I tried to compile my thoughts into something usable but the anxiety and aching of my body is hindering my concentration. I must get up this instant-

{GRUNTS~~~Exhales~}

I can't get up? Am I paralyzed? Did I gain too much weight?

I couldn't feel much of my body but moving my hands and feet confirmed that I was not paralyzed, only a little numb. Then why can't I get up? I pondered for a moment and stopped at the conclusion that I was just too tired and too unsettled to move.

Rest and composure. Those are what I need.

{CHIRP~CHIRP~CHIRP~}

That's a weird ass sounding bird.

It descended on my back and pecked on it repeatedly. Annoying. But it was thanks to its voice that I managed to stay entertained for a good hour.

Speaking of hours, it's been an hour now and I still can't get up. I'm just gonna try again~

{GRUNT~~~EXHALES~}

It's no use to stand up, but I did manage to flip myself over to face the skies.

I could move my head much better now-

{Crack!}

"OW!"

This cursed neck pain... I moved my head from side to side, something that I could not do in the position I was in earlier. Now, I am facing the sky while lying on the ground.

It looks like I'm near a cliff, but not near enough to be in danger from falling. What greeted me is yet another surprise, the golden sky which I thought was caused by a sunrise never changed at all.

The mountain range seems to also stretch on the other side. These mountains are really gigantic and I can't stress it enough.

Finally, a better view-

{ROOOAR!!!}

"!!!"

A thundering roar echoed throughout the lands as a big figure suddenly appeared from the depths of the cliff, rising and flapping its gigantic wings producing a strong gale of wind followed by a terrifying growl.

I stood there, dumbfounded of what I just witnessed. Surely, I must be dreaming right? Dragons are not real... right?

{CRRRK!}

I pinched myself in the cheeks to confirm if all of this madness was really just a dream. It never hurts to make sure, but that pinch sure hurts.

A part of me was forcing me to accept it even though I don't want to. A fantasy that I often found in story books was now right in front of me, embracing reality. Was I supposed to feel great or terrified? I felt neither of the two. I was simply worried. Not because of the dragon, not even because of myself.

I am worried, but not for me. That uneasy feeling when you lost your identity, unable to remember my name. Yet, I feel that I lost something more important than even that. Maybe that 'something' is why I am worried.

I must find that 'something' out-

{squawk~}

"???"

A bird's faint cry echoed and reached my ears. I tried to look around the skies, but I saw nothing.

"Maybe it's just another bird or some-"

{SQUAWK!}

"!!!"

My eyes widened as a large, eagle-like creature with horns approached me swiftly with its claws ready to pounce on me at any moment. It would have been fine if it was just a normal sized eagle, but this one was at least 30 times my size!

I need to move... Now!

{GRUNT~~~~~~~}

"Why. can't. I. get. UP!"

It's no use. My body feels like it's being pressed down by weights!

{Eeeeng~ Swoosh!}

"AAAAAHHH!"

The eagle grabbed me like I was just some candy on a table. Its large, strong claws gripped unto me tightly which suffocated me. I passed out mid-air, with the only thing I saw before I blacked-out was a bright, golden sky.

{Moments Later~}

"..."

Where am I again?

I sat upward as the rough hay-like ground made me uncomfortable. This place smells like manure.

Wait, I can move now!

This is too weird of a place, not that the place where I was in earlier wasn't already weird enough to weird me out. Getting out of this place is my priority for now.

When I tried to stand up, I accidentally wounded myself by a shard of a broken white plate. Why are there plates in this place? Are there other people here?

I picked up a piece of the plate before finding a huge structure with the top-half of it missing. This oval figure, it reminds me of-

{Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!}

"Eggs..."

{THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!}

Three big hatchlings that dwarfed me stared at the entirety of my body, as if I was dinner.

{Chirp!}

The first one was tilting its head like a kid who just found a new kind of food.

{Chirp! Chirp!}

The second one was fighting with the third one for god-knows-why, maybe because of me.

I feel scared. Terrified. I am not safe.

Slowly, I backed off of them until I was on the edge of the nest. Looking down the edge, I gulped. How far is this place above ground? I can see even the clouds from here but no sign of the ground.

{Chiiirp!}

A chick rushed towards me, screaming and ready to gobble me up in one swoop. I don't wanna die here, not until I find that 'something' out!

{CRASH!}

I barely dodged the chick's charge. Another one came for me! The three hatchlings bombarded me with their charges but I somehow managed to dodge every single one despite of my fat stature. It must be because they were huge and slow.

Unfortunately, I can already feel my fatigue as I huffed and puffed while trying to distance myself as far away from the chicks as possible to gain some leisure. Their nest is a big one, and so is my body. At least for someone like me.

I cannot dodge forever, I must think of a way. Something- no, anything!

After a moment of dodging and pondering...

"!!!"

I got it!