Kohaku was running, sprinting through the dense foliage of some strange area of land he was definitely not familiar with. The small rucksack on his back holding down his naginata and the cloak he wore whipping about him were not the only noises to be heard in the forest. Some distance to the north of Kohaku there were the sounds of ruffling leaves and branches being snapped and broken as something pursued Kohaku with persistence. Kohaku's lungs burned, as did his face, arms and legs. He didn't know how long he had been running, he only knew that to stop would mean his death, and this fueled Kohaku with the energy to keep running despite the protests of his weary body.
In truth, Kohaku didn't quite remember how he had been spotted by Fire Nation scouts, he only knew that the moment the alarm was raised in that out of the way village he had needed to run. Kohaku had only stopped briefly to eat and try to figure out where he was. He hadn't actually slept in almost two days at this point, and his body was nearly at its limit of functioning semi-normally. After a few more moments of full-out-sprinting, Kohaku had to stop, practically falling to the ground when he felt he had gained enough distance between him and the scouts. Kohaku had no idea how many scouts were there, nor did he know how well equipped they were to deal with the kind of trek both parties had just endured.
"They've got to be getting tired now don't they?" Kohaku panted to himself through shallow gasps for air, his eyes closed as he tried to calm his breathing. Speaking was more to keep himself focused and awake than to actually elicit a response, something he knew he wouldn't get out here.
After a few seconds of gaining his breath, Kohaku pushed himself gingerly to his feet, and looked around trying to find out where he was. He knew that he had passed by a river at some point, possibly two, but the days had all blurred together for him so he himself wasn't sure. Where he was now was in the center of a few small gnolls in the forest floor, deep enough for him to be hidden by anything that was running past but not quite so deep that he felt he could remain here to try and hide out from the Fire Nation scouts that were behind him. The sun was high in the sky, so Kohaku decided that it must mean it was near midday. From the gap in the forest canopy, Kohaku could just vaguely make out mountains in the distance, how far in the distance he wasn't sure but he knew he'd come to them eventually and possibly even be able to hide in them to escape. There didn't seem to be any wildlife around him, he must have scared it off when he crashed down in the divot. Kohaku grimaced as he heard the sounds of breaking branches behind him again, knowing that meant he'd have to start running again.
I'd better make it to those mountains... and soon, otherwise I might not make it to them at all. Kohaku thought to himself as he started running again, his legs aching and ready to give up, but pushing through the pain anyway.
A fair amount of time passed, sprinting through the forest and dodging gorges and cliffs however took away that sensation of time passing, before Kohaku found himself on the cusp of the mountains, the feeling of relief that swept over him almost a complete revitalizing boost to his drained stamina and muscles. He broke free of the forest that had so agonizingly eaten at his stamina and his nerves, only to feel the world around him tilt and then flip. There was a split-second of realization as Kohaku tumbled out of the forest and straight down the edge of a small cliff, not having seen such a thing in his excitement to be rid of the forest behind him. Kohaku tried his best to roll with his fall, but landed hard against the cliff wall, smacking into the hard surface and losing what little wind he had left in his burning lungs. He rolled to the bottom of the cliff, the naginata strapped to his back making the tumble as physically uncomfortable and painful as possible, yet not snapping or bending under the pressure of his weight.
Laying at the bottom of the cliff, Kohaku struggled to gain some small semblance of breath before pushing himself to his feet wearily and struggling up a small rocky path that led to what appeared to be an outcropping above. His body was even more worn now that he had taken his tumble, but he fought off the urge to collapse, for he knew that the Fire Nation scouts were still out in the forest and they couldn't be that far behind. Climbing up the small path was no easy feat, as many of the smaller rocks gave way under Kohaku's weight and tumbled down the cliff to rest in the small gorge below. A few moments of tedium and weary climbing, and Kohaku found himself at the top of the path, only to realize where he was.
A large cave opening stood before him, nearly pitch-black inside once the light of day had been devoured by the lingering blackness of the cave's innards. The cave entrance was no natural entrance, nor was the tunnel from what little could be seen from standing outside of the cave, and above the cave's entrance read something Kohaku knew even without having to look at the words.
"The Cave of Two Lovers? No... that can't be where I ended up. Of all places why did I have to run here?" Kohaku said, a sad tone of defeat prevalent in his cracked voice. Kohaku stared up at the cave entrance for a moment, thinking to himself whether it was a better option to die within the cave or to allow himself to be captured by the Fire Nation to be brought back to the Capital for his certain execution.
As the sounds of shouting could be heard from behind him, Kohaku knew what the answer to that question was, and without even looking back to the Forest below, Kohaku dashed into the cave, swallowed up by a blackness he had never once known in his life. Kohaku kept running until he could no longer see the entrance to the cave, no trace of light could be found, before he collapsed on the ground panting and exhausted, knowing that those outside wouldn't dare to follow him into the cave for they knew that all who entered the cave died within its stony walls.
Kohaku allowed himself to rest finally after two days, his legs refusing to move for the moment even if he willed them to, and his lungs refusing to push his body any further. Kohaku managed just barely to push himself up against a cave wall and sat there, slowly letting himself drift off into sleep. He knew he was by no means safe from harm, but he knew that he couldn't push himself any further without at least a little rest. As he drifted off into sleep the same nightmare that had haunted his dream for months once again resurfacing and making sure he wouldn't be getting a peaceful rest at all.