He stood up into the mist, moistening his perfectly dry fur hat, and collected himself along with his belongings.

The potion skin went back in his bag, the bow went back onto his back, and some of his memories went back into his head. Salman had fallen out of a tree while hunting something. Big tree, too, he thought, looking up its bough. Luckily, the pain in his back was gone; at least he’d done something right while his brain was all jumbled. It still was. Only a little. Ok, he didn’t exactly remember who he was or what he had been doing exactly besides the hunting fiasco, but everything else was in place.

He could infer he was an outlander of some kind. Y’know, the type to climb quite a tall tree for little to no reason. So, I’m insane, he thought, or close to it. Who would willingly live in the wilderness alone like this? Look at these clothes, I must have killed it myself! He pulled on the shoulder of his beaverbear coat. The head was still intact on the collar.

For his second smart move of the day (first, if you don’t count the jiggling incident), he began to survey his surroundings.

Of course, there was the tree he’d fallen from, a great pine of the north. So I’m north of something. Then he took notice of the many other trees around him. I chose the tallest one. There must be a good reason for that. To his left, through the trees, he saw a great mountain range far out in the distance, snow capped and hazy in the mist. Not the safest path, I’d wager. And to his right, he saw flatlands leading to a shore. Though he couldn’t see beyond the water, he knew what was there. The Jub Desert.

It all came flooding back to him. Salman’s plan had been to scour it for ruins, a time honored tradition of the needy and the greedy. Ever since that crazy wizard split Jub in half, the remains of it had been looked over by many a nefarious ne'er do well. But Salman wasn’t one of them. No, he had the distinct feeling he had a different motive. Something more noble than simple graverobbing. He could do that anywhere. The Jub Desert was special somehow. Something to do with a dwarf. Oh, of course it had something to do with a dwarf. I am a dwarf, am I not?

Happy with his decision, Salman set off toward the coast of the unnamed forest. It was an uneventful journey, not including a quick riddle battle with a particularly stupid troll, so he got more time to think. He didn’t have the facilities to analyze his situation yet, but if he did he would be very annoyed. Presently, though, Salman was having the time of his life. The spring sun was gentle and warm, the wind was soft, and the walking was easy. Perhaps I should fall out of trees more often.

It wasn’t long before he got to the water. He didn’t know the sea’s name, but he loved it. Just like the sun and wind, the waves were soft and pleasant, making him feel even more like a winner. A great day, he thought, apparently throwing his memory away like a chicken bone.

Anyway, Salman was happy enough that he dipped himself in the water and started swimming to the opposite shore. All was going well except for one thing.

He didn’t know how to swim.

Fueled by a deep love for the natural world, Salman shambled deeper and deeper into a death via asphyxiation. Just as the water reached past his fully up-stretched hands, he remembered why he never went in water. But it was too late. He jumped and clamored and yelled but it was for naught.

Huh, he thought, so, this is it. This is how Salman dies. Well, it was a good life. I should pray. Hello again, Bulak, we haven’t talked for a long time, so please forgive me. I’d like to apol-

He was cut off by a tug at the beaverbear head on his collar. Salman opened his eyes to see a figure above the water, a shadow against the sun, who was pulling him up.

It was more of a bodyslam, really. Salman felt the once gentle breeze stab at his now waterlogged body, sending shivers down the length of his back as he dripped into the grass. He coughed for a good thirty-eight seconds before he got his bearings again, and sat up to a pair of boots not far from his own. He had to crane his neck to see the face. It looked to be a tall, bald man of demi-god physique.

“Hi!” was all he said. He had the stupidest grin.