Chapter Text
The first thing Taeil was aware of was the ground. Wiggling his fingers around him he could feel damp earth. He was lying on it, this much was clear, his entire body pressed against dirt. Taeil slowly opened one eye, just a crack.
Yes, definitely lying on the ground, somewhere outside.
Taeil opened both eyes and began to assess his surroundings. He was in a forest, though exactly where he had no idea. Spruce trees rose all around him, their crisp scent filling his nose as he inhaled. The sky was lit with the first rays of the sun as it came over the horizon. Taeil closed his eyes again.
Okay, he thought, I don’t know where I am or how I got here. First things first, I have to make sure I’m not hurt, that I don’t have a concussion.
He raised his hands to his chest, feeling for his heartbeat, steady underneath his ribs. Slowly, he began to run through a mental checklist.
My name is Moon Taeil. I am sixteen years old. I was born on June 14th, 1994 in…
In…
Taeil’s eyes snapped open. He couldn’t remember where he was born. Taeil’s breaths began to accelerate slightly. For the first time since waking up on the ground, he began to talk.
“It’s okay. It’s okay,” he told himself, slowly sitting up.
He planted his hands on either side of his legs, letting his fingers find purchase in the dirt and pine needles that surrounded him.
Taeil looked all around himself. He seemed to be alone in the clearing. The only sound besides the wind and a slight buzzing of insects was that of slowly running water.
Water! Taeil’s mind supplied. That was important.
Checking his legs and arms for any injuries, Taeil stood up. His legs were a bit shaky but he didn’t seem to be hurt in any way. He was wearing a grey short-sleeved shirt and a pair of loose cloth shorts. He had no shoes and wiggled his bare toes in the dirt. Deciding that he would deal with his apparel later, Taeil set off towards the sound of the water.
The forest floor was soft underfoot, mostly grass and moss and pine needles. Taeil skirted around the occasional rock or branch, trying to avoid cutting the soles of his feet. A few birds flew overhead and Taeil saw a squirrel jump from one tree to another, but there were no signs of other people.
How did he get here? And where was here exactly?
The sound of flowing water began to get louder. It must be a stream or a small river. It didn’t sound loud enough to be a large one. Taeil’s steps grew faster.
There, just a few feet in front of him was a river. The water flowed downstream at a leisurely pace. The river wasn’t too wide nor did it look very deep. But Taeil was aware that depth could be an illusion and made no move to step into the water.
Instead, he settled on his knees by the bank and lowered his face to the surface taking large gulps of clean water. Raising his face from the river, Taeil took in his distorted reflection on the water’s surface. Cropped black hair and wide brown eyes looked back at him.
Taeil sat on the side of the river, taking in his new surroundings and a few deep breaths.
For whatever reason, and he was trying very hard not to panic about this, Taeil couldn’t remember much of anything. He knew who he was. His name, age, and face were all familiar to him. He had knowledge; of language, of movement, of the natural world, but no idea where that knowledge came from.
Closing his eyes, Taeil tried to remember his family, his home, because surely he had both if he knew such things existed, but nothing came to mind.
Somehow, he simply existed in this forest completely alone.
Taeil lay down, spreading his arms out in the grass. The world was beginning to warm up as the sun rose in the sky. Somehow, beyond just the weather, Taeil knew that it was Summer. July to be exact. He knew he had turned sixteen the month before and that now he was here.
Tears began to form in the corners of Taeil’s eyes.
He was still just a child. He wasn’t ready to be on his own. Why didn’t he have a family? Why was he all alone? And where was he?
Taeil curled in on himself.
It was going to be a long day.