"OK," thought James. "Either this is real, or I'm hallucinating, and if I am hallucinating, either I've wandered back out of the caves, or I'm so out of it I'm really just huddled in a ball or something. Can't do anything about that, so say that's not happening. I'm either out here getting fresh air and recovering, or I'm dealing with some weird magical crap but still on the trail. No matter what, just... moving forward is the way to go."
Finding the river and splashing some water in his face, really trying to ignore just how unfamiliar his reflection was, James headed downstream at a quick pace, keeping his eyes peeled. This definitely wasn't a desert anymore. Didn't take long to start seeing trees. Trees with bright violet leaves and near-black bark. Definitely some birds flitting around. Probably weird alien birds, but James didn't care enough at this point to investigate.
Continuing to follow along the shore, the river meandered through the trees, before pouring out into a huge lake, in the middle of the forest. Great. James grabbed a flat, hot pink stone and skipped it across the water in frustration, and was surprised to hear a shout. "Hey! Thought I was alone out here! Feel like swimming over!?"
That had to be Alan. Looking around, there was a small low island out in the lake with... something bright and someone waving. Not seeing any other real options, James set down his things, stripped off the boots and vest, and stepped into the water. It was nice and cool, nothing too weird looking on the bottom, and it wasn't too terribly far.
"Would have been better off ditching it all there sexy, don't want to catch a cold, and that top's not hiding a thing that wet."
James sighed, ringing some water from his hair and trying to squeeze some out of the tank top. It was a lot harder to deny he'd sprouted breasts with it clinging to him like this this. Turning to tell Alan off, James was a bit shocked to see an incredibly fit man with bright red skin and jet black hair just lounging stark naked by some glowing yellow crystal jutting from the ground. "Jesus Christ Alan! Can you cross your legs or something at least!?" James was a little surprised by the sound of his own voice, but it fit with everything else.
"Wait, do I know you?"
"YES, Alan. It's James. Do you have any clue how long you've been here? They're probably going to declare you legally dead if you don't turn back up soon."
"James!? Wow, modern medicine really is something isn't it. Never would have guessed. I mean I guess you were always into some girly comics..."
"Oh screw you! I only look like this because of this... magic cave of yours or whatever the hell is going on here. Can we get back to reality already?"
"OK, OK, just chill out a sec babe- sorry... bro? This place is as mellow as it gets. Perfect weather, nobody to bother you... I mean you should at least hang out until sundown. There's like... three moons here, and this whole aurora thing. It's totally like something off an old album cover or something. And I mean here, try one of these. I've basically been living off'em all week. They'll blow your mind." Alan reached behind the crystal and offered James something that looked like a three tiered mushroom and smelled like bacon and oranges.