Chapter 2

The first step in figuring out a foreign world is…..

Well, Casey didn't really know. He could understand the language and he could read the signs, but he had no idea where he was. Any time he tried to ask for help, he'd get ignored or cursed at so he figured that his appearance was the first problem he had to solve. 

Casey wandered around the town and found no usable water sources. He had seen a big fountain but it wasn't for bathing. Any type of water spout was on private property and Casey didn't want to risk getting into trouble. Since there was nothing here for him, Casey decided that it was time to venture outside of town. Following a path or road would just lead towards more people, so he went into the woods looking for a water source. Casey desperately needed a bath, and more importantly, some water to drink. 

The woods were somewhat calming. Casey enjoyed the chirping birds more than the chattering of people. He preferred being perceived as a threat to these small animals than being a nuisance to his own kind. Well, he was sure the people of this planet were different from the people of his own. He wasn't sure just how different or even this body he was currently inhabiting. Casey decided to figure out his own body, at least.

Since this was obviously a fantasy world, Casey hoped and even assumed it would also have magic. He saw it all the time in the media of his old world. Maybe he was even the main character? He needed to know, so he threw his hands out and yelled "fire!" to trigger his main character magic abilities. 

And he fails miserably. 

In trying the other natural elements, like water, earth, and air, including light and dark of course, he finds that none of them work. Either he has no affinity for this magic, or he just doesn't know how to activate it. Maybe it only activates when he's in danger? 

Consumed with his own thoughts, Casey almost misses the sound of running water nearby.

Finally, he finds a solution to one of his many problems. 

The river he finds is very calm and clean enough to drink, so he drinks. He then handwashes his overclothes and leaves them on a branch exposed by the beaming sun to dry. He doesn't touch his underwear, so he has something to wear while his clothes dry. 

The water is surprisingly warm, considering that it was a river, and he finally relaxes for the first time in this world. The warm and gentle water sweeps away the blood, dirt, and exhaustion from his body as he drifts asleep, naked in the shallow shore. 

***

Casey wakes up to a feeling of something licking at his face. Disoriented from these unfamiliar surroundings, he jolts awake, ready to run at the sight of danger. His eyes met with the brown ones of a scruffy and old dog wagging his tail, towering above the small boy. 

"Now now, Figgy. Give the boy sum'space!" 

Caseys eyes darted from the dog to the older looking man behind it. He was a bigger man and half of his size looked to be muscle. His rolled up sleeves revealed scarred up arms. Scanning his body, Casey found they were all over. The man had a few scattered across his face and neck and they looked to be from battle. He also had scary dark eyes that put Casey on high alert. 

"Ya alright kid?" 

Unsure of the situation, Casey only nods. And the man huffs before he whistles the dog over. Now realizing how exposed he was, Casey quickly turns himself away from the man to save his last bit of dignity. This earns a laugh from the man.

"I ain't no weirdo kid! We all got the same parts here!"

The man turns around.

"Hurry an' cover 'yerself!"

Relieved at the man's gesture, Casey quickly gets out of the water to put his now dry clothes back on. When he was finished, being totally vulnerable, he contemplated running. After all, he didn't know this man, and he didn't look all that friendly. Casey quickly discarded the thought after noticing how content and friendly the dog seemed, and from the previous kind gesture. The lone boy didn't know where he was or how to survive this world, so he decided on trusting this man…and possibly asking for help. Then, the man took the words off his tongue.

"Ya needin' help boy?" 

The lone boy was hesitant in nodding. He really did need the help, but he didn't know this man's true intentions. The man looked menacing, but he could see the softness in his sharp eyes, and the safe distance he kept, as if to tell the boy that he really meant no harm. So when the man waved him along, Casey followed. 

After walking a few minutes from the river, Casey could hear the laughter of multiple children before he saw the light smoke emerging from the chimney. Passing the trees, the decently sized cabin came into view. It looked old but well kept and cared for, judging by the patches of fresh wood, or new shingles littering the walls and roof of the building. Not only that, but there were fresh flowers decorating the windows and sides of the house. Maybe from a woman's touch? This scary-looking man didn't seem like he would have an interest in flowers. But then again, the man didn't look kind enough to help like he did either. Casey just thought it off as 'looks can be deceiving.' 

The source of the laughter was a pair of small children seemingly playing tag in the front yard. Casey wondered if these were the man's children. And if so, what was his wife like? The boy spotted a girl who looked older than him, but still very young, tending to the flowers on one of the windows. Now that he thought about it, Casey wasn't sure about his own age. But, weirdly, he had a strong feeling that it was around 7. 

The man stopped and gestured to the cottage. 

"Would ye like to stay here? Ye don't look like ye got any other option."

When Casey didn't answer, the man continued, " I mean, you'd have sum chores but it's a roof over yer head and food to fill yer belly. Ye can stay awhile and think it over if ya like?" 

This was good for Casey. It was the perfect opportunity to figure this world out, so he nodded his head and followed the man into his temporary home.