The Trees -Jake-

.X.

Why was he here again? Jake could almost punch himself for yet again forgetting the reason why he came back to the forest. At least this time he actually had clothes on that would hopefully keep him warm. Plus, this time around he actually brought his sword without when he left the inn. It already has been a week since he showed up to Aledon. The sixteen year old already missed his home town, but more importantly his family. When will he be able to go home or is he going to be stuck here for the rest of his life? That was the one question that has been eating at him since the day he arrived here. “I should just go back to town.” He said to himself, turning around. There was no point in staying here. After all, the idiot had forgotten the reason to why he even came here to the forest anyway.

Then it hit him, the reason to why he came here was to see if there was a way to get back home to Umacia. Now the only problem was that he needed to find the area to which he came here through. Jake wasn’t the brightest person you’ll ever meet, but if he wanted something enough he is willing to do anything to get it. “Everything looks the same when it’s winter! There’s no way in hell that I’ll find where I arrived here!" At this point, Jake was starting to get a little angry at himself for even coming to this place. Not to mention that he was most likely risking his life coming to the forest. He should have listened to the townspeople and not have come alone.

The sixteen year did not even notice there was another person here. He was in too deep of thought of trying to find a way to get home. Nothing else matter to him at the moment. As far as Jake could tell, he was strong enough to fed off anything or anyone if he had to.

.X.

As soon as the sixteen year old heard the voice of another, Jake immediately put his hand on the hilt of his sword. He didn’t know what to think, the townspeople warned him of the danger, but as usual he didn’t listen. Even though he was kind of sure of the voice belonged to a young girl. “I’m trying to find a way back home to Umacia.” The teen just figured to answer the girl’s question. It was probably for the best, it wasn’t like he knew where exactly where she was located. Jake guessed that she was nearby. “Why don’t you come out? I won’t hurt you. I promise.” It was probably pointless to ask for to come out, but he had to give it a try, right? Besides, this was Jake we were talking about there was no way he would here hurt anyone unless they did something to deserve it.

The sixteen year old sighed. It was pointless to be out here. If there was a way home, wouldn’t people from the different worlds go back? And it wasn’t like the magic he had was even strong enough to do anything like that. Plus, there was the little fact that Jake was too scared of using his magic in the first place. “My name is Jake by the way. What’s yours?” He said, looking around the forest to try and spot Rue, but couldn’t. Where could someone even be hiding? It was dead winter and the only thing that Jake saw was snow and trees everywhere. But, then again he was not the smartest guy around.

.X.

Jake lifted his hand from his sword and looked up at Rue. It had been forever since he had climbed a tree. His father would always yell at him and Jacob for doing climbing trees. Last time he actually did had to be what eight years ago? “Aren’t you a bit too young to be out here alone? And why are you even out here? It’s freezing” The sixteen year old asked. When he first arrived here, he was wearing shorts with a short sleeve shirt on due to the fact the back in his world it was in the middle of summer. He could have froze to death without the help of Ruby. “Do you even know where you are? Besides in a forest?” Yet another question from Jake, which was usually for him. Besides, it didn’t really seem that Rue even know what was going. Was she another that was taken from her world and sent here? Jake didn’t hope it was so. He was not much help since also just got here only a week ago. Aledon was still a new place to him.

"Umacia? I'm afraid I don't even know where a town is so I can't help you there."

The sixteen year old couldn’t help, but laugh at Rue’s last comment. He knew it was wrong of him since she didn’t know any better, but Umacia was not a town. It was a huge, powerful kingdom that resides in his world. “Sorry, but Umacia is not a town. It’s a great and powerful kingdom to which lies in my world. I’m not from around here.” Jake just decided to leave it at that. It was very likely that he had a lot of explaining to do.

.X.

Jake was starting to get a little confused. He had never heard of a place called Panem. The only neighboring kingdom to Umacia was Bilkia. And games? What games? There were the knight games that the sixteen year was not allowed to take park in just yet. But why would a girl here age take any part of such games? “What is Panem…? I never heard of it… I don’t even know what games you are talking about.” He signed, thinking about his family. He missed them so much. Jake like Aledon was fine. The people here were for the most part kind, but he preferred to be back in Umacia. “This forest is dangerous to be in. The townspeople warned me not to come, so you shouldn’t be out here alone.” The teen already had to fight off a monster or two. He was just happy this go around he actually brought his trusty sword with him. If he didn’t, there was no telling what would have happened to him.

Was he really the one that had to explain the situation that Rue was in? He just got here himself and did not understand most of the stuff going on. Then again, Jake was not the smartest kid around. “Um…. Where ever you’re from, you are not there anymore. That’s probably why I never heard of the games or Panem. I myself just got not so long along. Anyway, you are in a place called Aledon.” The sixteen year old did not know how exactly to explain it to the younger girl before him. He probably was the best person to even be telling Rue all this however, he will be able to understand what she will have to go through.

When Jake heard the bird repeat after him, he actually thought it was kind of funny. It did remind him of the various talking birds that the princess had. The sixteen year old didn’t mind at all, he kind of liked it. “What kind of bird is that?” He couldn’t help, but ask. Jake was curious to know if it was the kind like the birds back home.

.X.

At this point, Jake was just utterly confused. Nothing that Rue just explained to him made any sense. Why would people do such a thing? But in the end he just left it at that. Surely, the sixteen year old was not the right one to be explaining Aledon to the younger girl. He did not fully understand the situation he and apparently Rue were placed in. “I’m probably not the best one to be explaining the situation you are in…. I don’t understand fully myself…” He decided to leave it at that. Everything was so different here than to what he was used to. The only thing he really enjoyed about this world was that nobody knew or cared about who he was. “Are you going to come down?” Jake asked. Was it a good idea to bring her into town? Maybe he was just too kind for his own good. Other people would most likely just leave her here in the forest, however the sixteen year old could never do such a thing.

It fell quite for moment. When Jake was about to speak out once again, a group of about five orcs came running with sword in hand ready to attack the teen. Just great like he hadn’t have enough fighting for his life in day. He was clearly outnumbered, but that didn’t matter to him. He wouldn’t want Rue to get a part of this fight even if it was the death of him. “Never mind, stay there. I can hopefully handle this on my own.” He said, pulling out his own sword. It had been a while since he had fought orcs, but then again they were probably not like the ones back in Umacia. Within a few minutes, the sixteen year old was able to kill three out of five orcs, leaving tow he had to deal with. He was breathing hard, already tired from the battle. These orcs were nothing like the ones back home. They were a lot stronger and faster than what he was used to.

Jake was able to dodge one of the orc’s attack, only to be attacked by the other. However, he did not enough time to dodge the other. The orc’s blade sliced through the teen’s right arm, his sword wielding arm, causing blood to gush out and land on the pure white snow. A small yelp of pain escaped Jake’s lips; he tried his best to ignore the pain. There was no way in hell he would be beaten by these morons. He was able to pull through enough strength to dodge another attack, which lead to his own stabbing of the orc. In the end the damned thing fell over dead. Only one more left, but in the condition Jake was in, it was not likely he had enough strength left to defeat another.