22 That Punk!

Once we were all finished, I packed up the bowls and washed them, placing them to dry on the stone rack. Following this, I dried my hands with the cotton cloth that Wincu had made; if you didn't look at it, you would not notice how hideous it was.

I then walked back to my seat and picked up the half-litre cup of tea to heat it with the warmer in my gloves. After thinking a bit, I spoke to the two leisurely sitting in various positions.

"With our shields, we can keep each other safe and to pass the extreme cold we can sleep for a week, waking to practice a few days to keep our bodies in shape." 

Finishing the tea, I stood and went outside, leaving them to think on that matter.

After three days of resting to naturally keep my vitality stable, I then glanced at the wrist band to see the time. When it appeared, with a swipe of my hand I noticed it was already seven in the morning, with the suns now rising to give the forest a beautiful red glow.

Gazing downward, I covered my head with the helmet then paused near the entrance to quickly send a message out to the others of my departure, least they started looking for me.

I then took a stroll through the trees looking around my surrounds for danger. It was a fair guess that even though I'm smart, I'm sure many other children here were also even smarter.

Only a fool would think they were the best at everything. Personally, like everyone else, I have no desire to die; of course, with my full understanding I was not afraid to. It is just I have the desire simply not to.

If I count this body and my body I've died already, so – was I counted as a zombie?

Or someone who resurrected?

The memories – even to the point I felt how this poor body had starved to death, feeding on itself; that pain was another pain I never wanted to feel, so I will hunt and kill everything possible to keep me alive.

Around thirty meters from my tree, I glimpsed children below.

"Chu Lin, this is not the time to think about friendship. He's injured and his wounds are not healing. On top of that, his blood had drawn beasts. Kytan has died already and her archery skills were excellent. What use is he?" 

This one was tall, his voice sounded as if it would break, cracking each time he spoke; a sign he is close to becoming a mid-teen. He looked agitated, making gestures.

The one he spoke about was probably the one draped over the shorter one, his long legs were dragging on the floor. From where I stood, several meters above them, I could smell his blood; it was rather sweet actually, which was strange.

Puzzled, I slipped closer, but was jolted when something huge crashed into me, jarring my bones.

I felt pain, but then I caught myself looking at the lion-like beast in front of me.

"A Zxgis, why is it here?" the words slipped from my lips upon getting a full glimpse of the beast, then I cursed inwardly at my luck, "This is shit luck! Fffs!"

This huge beast was a nuisance; it tended to add a drop of liquid from its claws when attacking prey, giving the blood a sweet scent where it can then be more easily tracked.

This explained why the boy was injured and his blood had such a sweet scent.

As far as I knew, there was no cure and to kill this beast was extremely hard.

"Run, guys – while he's distracting it!" one of them screamed.

I clenched my teeth, thinking about how to repay these little shits –  how dare that punk call me a "he"!

"Soon, I will collect this debt," I thought with a vengeance, but was soon busy trying to live while the beast slashed with its sharp deadly claws and fangs.

Thinking quickly, I pulled out one of the fangs I'd coated with volcanic ash and ebbed with diamonds. It was thin and sharp; by far among my favourites.

Revealing the dagger that was half the length of my arms and as wide as my palm – (since my palm is already small, the size of a ten-year-old girl, it was not so broad, but still) – the dagger was extremely sharp.

Sneering at the attacking beast, I made a move, swiping down at the beast to deal a blow.

Inwardly I thanked the Fythia for sacrificing its wonderful ox-like self for me in helping create this weapon and several other useful items.