In a Tree, On a Bird(Cartuertie, Chacuteire, Charcuterie?)

Jerarme needed to do something, and quickly. The bird swooped down again. This time, slicing his shoulder. Blood poured from the cut and stained his ripped shirt.

Lips thinning into a line, he dove into a field of tall grass, hoping it would hide his figure. Dirt mixed with his long hair and smudged his clothes.

He knew he couldn't last long. He had little to no strength or speed, along with the fact that he was desperately hungry and sleepy. 'What can I do?' There was no option of flee or fight, he knew he wouldn't last long enough to escape. And if he couldn't escape, what were the chances he could fight?

'The only option is to hide.' A bitter smile on his face, his hair a mess, he steadied his breathing, not moving except for the breathing of his chest. 'Maybe it was safe here?'

"Swoosh!"

The patch of grass next to him was in shambles. His heart beat wildly in his chest, it felt like it would explode out. He ran to a more forested area. 'The bird is so big, if it's this huge, it may be difficult to move in more crowded place… should have thought of that first.' Crouching down low to the forest floor, Jerarme headed for cover in the bushes.

He needed to find a more decent place to hide. 'This place would be ruined in a single swoop.' His brows scrunched up, darkness eating up his vision. He felt the land around him, simultaneously activating [Appraisal].

[Small Bush] [Small Leaf] [Large Tree] [Large Rock] [Small Tree Branch] [Small Bug]

Nothing at all, he looked more frantically, eyes darting wildly everywhere. The bird swooped down again, mangling the bush next to him.

[Medium Squirrel] [Small Nest] [Medium Feather] [Large Tree Hollow]

There! There it was! A place for cover! Jerarme's eyes zeroed down on the faint outline of an empty hollow. Leaping out of the mangled bushes, he ran for the hollow.

The beating of his unsteady heart.

[Agility +1]

Rip. His sleeve had been torn, claws sinking into his skin. Something just rang in his mind but he couldn't focus. His body seized, pain overflowing his mind. His pupils dilated, black taking up much of the red.

"Caw!" The bird cried in triumph, its sharp talons in its victim. The bird rushed to the sky, intending on dropping its prey on the forest floor. He grit his teeth, sharp winds blasting him. Blood poured from his wounds. Knowing what was to come, Jerarme tried to hold on to the bird. Knowing if he let go, he would drop.

[Skill Obtained!] [Pain Tolerance!]

[Skill Obtained!] [Sheer Will!]

His body suddenly lit up with burning energy, his mind clear as crystal. "Caw! Caw!" The bird had let go, but he held on. He swung his legs, wrapping his legs around the bird's foot. Adrenaline rushing through him, he stretched his arms up to grab its wing. He bit the wing, ignoring the screech, trying to steady himself. Then, Jerarme brought his legs up to wrap the bird's wing, adding a heavy weight to one side of the bird.

He knew if there was an uneven enough weight on one side, it would not be able to fly properly. With the fact he was half the size of the bird, it was sure that the bird's flight will be, at least, lopsided. 'Hopefully,' Jerarme thought. 'It'll lower itself closer to the ground, or I'll die.' Feathers in his mouth, he bit down harder. The bird flapping its wings wildly, trying to get rid of him. There wasn't much time left, Jerarme could feel the mysterious energy draining away.

Out of the corner of his eyes, Jerarme could see the ground getting closer. But it was getting too close too fast, Jerarme glanced at the bird. Intelligence shined along with malice. It was planning to sacrifice a bit of its wing to get rid of him. He was first in line for impact.

He couldn't allow that. Using the last of his energy, he moved directly to the joint of its wing. His arms holding onto one side of the joint and his legs wrapped around the other side. Grabbing ahold tightly, braced himself, and bent backward.

"Crack!"

"Caw! Caw! Caw!"

Spitting out the feathers in his mouth, he grinned wearily, long hair whipping in his face. "It's quite lonely in the burning sun, won't you join me."

[Skill Obtained!] [Insanity!]

The bird and the boy fell, down, down, down from the high skies.

————

Jerarme awoke on top of a dead bird, in a tree. The brutal memories of yesterday assaulting him.

He needed to treat his arm fast, the possibility of an infection lingered high. But he could do nothing but feel the gaping hunger and the searing pain of his arm and shoulder.

Slowly, Jerarme reached his trembling hand out to the leaves around him. It was a bad idea, filled with unsafe and dangerous outcomes. Plucking a leaf from a nearby branch, Jerarme placed it in his mouth and chewed.

Swallowing with a dry throat, it slid down like fire.

He grabbed more, wavering hand at the task. He gradually ate more and more until-

[Poison Resistance Leveled Up!] [Poison Resistance Lv. 5]

'Knew it was a bad idea.' A fragile, dry smile on his face. Which was instantly wiped off as an even more intense burning pain filled his body.

[Pain Tolerance Leveled Up!] [Pain Tolerance Lv. 2]

Though the pain had decreased, it had only enough he could move his good arm. Jerarme raised his hand again towards the leaves around him and ate.

[Instanity Leveled Up!] [Insanity Lv. 2]

'How rude,' Jerarme thought as pain flowed through his body. He thought he had a logical idea. 'Even if the leaves are poisonous, they might have some fuel for me to run on.' Jerarme chewed a leaf. 'The poison resistance maybe can help me on that too.' If it was really [Poison Resistance], eating more could build up his immunity. Maybe it'll help me actually digest the plant.' Slowly he chewed.

'Besides, what else can I do?' Jerarme was right. What else could he do if he was too hungry and hurt to walk? Could he actually get down from this tree in this state, without slipping and dying? No, he couldn't, so he dealt with what he had at his disposal, and if that turned out to be eating poisonous leaves to live, it was what it was.

Lying on the dead body of a bird as the dark feathers blended with his hair, Jerarme spoke. "Maybe I am going insane."