Chapter Three
Katla woke refreshed; amazed at how much of an impact having a crude bed combined with the warmth from the fire had offered. Her breakfast consisted of another bit of roastboar, some raspberries, and a handful of mushrooms. Full for the moment she looked over her workbench flipping through her internal recipe book.
'Bow or pants?' The question tossed back and forth in her mind. Deer would be more satisfying as a meal and she would bet their hides offered better protection among other items to improve on survival. The question was rhetorical anyways since she didn't have enough in the way of leather scraps or other resources. Appraisingly she shook her rucksack, feeling the weight of it.
"Too heavy, how do I fix this?" She grabbed the crudely shaped stone axe before stepping outside of her meager shelter. The sun had just started to cast its warm golden light across the small clearing. She could see those golden eyed pieces of compost still wandering around, limbs flailing as it skulked about. "Hmm not that way.."
Katla turned towards the riverbank and the shadow dappled water. Smaller trees dotted the bank interspersed between the bits of brush and bald patches where the ground was more stone than soil. The flash of scales and soft splash added promise in her scouting along this line, versus continuing her pursuit of more boars.
She worked her way along the shore, cutting the thin saplings to repeat the strange performance of falling then thumping into her rucksack. The weight started to stagger her and she paused at the edge of where the river curled inwards to a small pond. Katla paused here as she debated working her way back in a rough circle. Movement from the corner of her eye had Katla turning. A reptile of some sort waded from the water.
She had brief seconds to catalog its appearance. A broad head that was mostly a mouth that hung open. Bulging dark glossy eyes tracked her with malice, deep green skin patterned with lighter splotches to resemble the floating lily pads on the top of the pond. The thing was suddenly rushing at her. The garbled sounds that erupted from the creature were nearly as distressing as the fact there were three of them, all focused on her.
Katla paused and swung her axe as the creature got within striking range. Surprisingly it stopped then fell into that glittering dust before a large chunk of its tail dropped. The other two creatures attempted to escape. Driven by an unnamable rage, something that stirred and settled deep within her very essence, Katla plunged into the hip deep water giving chase. One of the creatures escaped the wildly swinging weapon, but the other was not so fortunate.
Panting and soaked with both sweat and stagnant algae rich pond water, Katla scooped up the dropped tail. She barely twitched as the quick bit of knowledge impressed on her mind. The tail was edible and another source to add to her stockpile of food. As she waded back to the muddy shore Katla flicked off the clinging strands of ropy algae before swiping up the first tail that had dropped.
Her pack's weight continued to press on her, reminding her of the first portion of her mission. With a wiggle she resettled the back between her shoulders before swapping the axe out for her spear. More boar meat and leather was needed. Habit had her pause before leaving to swipe up a few more pieces of flint adding to the weight on her shoulders.
Her slow trek back through the forest served to find a few more handfuls of raspberries to add to her stockpile. A soft rustling to her right had Katla pausing. The loose hold she kept on her spear tightened until the wood threatened to crack beneath her grip. Slowly she turned her head towards the noise to spot the hesitant approach of a deer.
She weighed the opportunity, debating on the effort of chasing the creature. Before she realized she had decided Katla sprinted towards the animal. Startled, the terrified creature whirled, running towards the safety of the trees only to find itself trapped in a tightly grouped grotto of saplings.
Without wasting the opportunity she threw herself in range of those striking hooves to stab her spear into the creature's side. It tried to shove past her, to kick, to run for its life but the fight was over with another strike of her spear through the animal's neck. An almost violet burst of purple glitter replaced the deer and her spear fell to the ground in a loud clatter. Two pieces of meat and beige colored leather pieces joined it on the ground.
That voice once more chimed in her head 'Run skill increased 3.' A breath passed before it followed 'Spear Skill increased 2'. Katla tried to ponder what these things meant, if she was just hearing voices in desperation or loneliness. The concerns were pushed back as the cool air caressed the bare skin around thighs and legs and brought her back to the reality of her current world.
"Handy.. I feel like this used to be a far messier task." She uttered as she scooped up the new items. Her mind expanded with each item she added. Tools she could use to expand what she could create in her tiny shack. What she needed more of and more importantly the knowledge that she could roast the meat dropped.
"Two more food sources, so much better than just boar and berries." Later she would worry about this odd propensity for talking to herself. Now, she just focused on the looping circuit that would take her back to her shelter over time. A few more berries and branches followed into her sack. Occasionally she would jog along to see how these increased 'skill' levels played out. Her speed seemed slightly faster, a little longer lasting, and as she dropped back into a walk.
The soft snuffling snort of a foraging boar interrupted her self exploration. Meat and leather scraps, her life boiled down to those two needs at this moment. She stepped from behind a bush with a yell, startling the creature. Its tiny eyes narrowed and lips curled back show off the curving white tusks that protruded from both upper and lower jaws.
The animal snorted and pawed at the ground. Its head tossed as the tiny little bristly tail slashed to either side of its flanks. Katla crouched slightly, her feet planted to provide the best stability as the beast charged her. She spun, placing all her weight on one hip as the weightless leg tucked behind her bringing her body just out of line from the rushing pig.
She waited until it was just past her before stabbing out with her spear. Its angry scream verified the strike. It ran further out, turning into its oblong orbit, before rushing back at her. This time she held her ground and jammed her weapon down. The flint head pierced through the creature's shoulders and back driving towards the ground, over the animal's dying scream she heard the sound of a dull crack. Once again she was left with just a couple pieces of scrap leather and boar meat.
Concerned over the noise Katla searched the ground for anything indicating an issue. Nothing, no waiting monster waited to jump up from her, just the eerie rustling silence of the leaves interrupted in short breeches by the piercing cries of the circling gulls. She shifted her spear to pick up the dropped items. There it caught her eye. The head of her spear was chipped, nearly shattered in places, and the bindings that held the head on was nearly frayed in half.
"Well shit…" The spear was unusable like this. Quickly Katla jerked her head upwards towards the sky, measuring the remaining light. It was too light to call it for the day, but not enough to have time to run back to the hut and make the needed repairs then return to her hunt. "Fine, I guess back to the trusty stone tools."
The spear again tucked itself into her pack in the strange phenomenon she was becoming accustomed with. The desired tool made itself available as her fingers brushed along the sides of the rucksack. Back with the hunt, she startled up another set of boars. The battle seemed over before it began.
'Axe Skill Increased 5' The chime entered her mind as she readied herself for the third boar to rush her. Another two slashes with the axe left her shoulders aching but another chunk of meat and scrap leather was added. 'Axe Skill Increased 6' She started to take those little mental intrusions as signs of encouragement. Another push to keep trying and working towards the missions the giant bird had thrown at her.
Speaking of, she hadn't seen him today. A frown touched over her lips as she scanned the sky for Hugin or Hunin, whatever the creature called itself. Good riddance, she thought sourly. The bird didn't provide much assistance, but he did add some limited company. How sad was this afterlife if the highlight so far had been a giant cryptic raven.
With a grunt she settled her sack again and started the direct path back towards her hut. First something to take the literal weight off her back and then assess from there. Katla sighed as she returned to her hut. The lazy drift of woodsmoke scented the air and the hints of flickering orange flame made the lopsided and almost leaning hut seem cozy.
"Hammer!" She shouted before laughing almost manically as the axe switched out with the carpenter's mallet. People were social creatures; the thought came to her mind. They needed company to not lose their minds; and Katla feared she was on her way to that direction. Still, she wasn't in condition to travel far. Not without food supplies, clothing, and adequate tools.
"Alright, storage first," She eyed the shack for a place with just enough room to stick a chest. The materials were there, in the pack, and with a tap of her hammer the storage container appeared. Simple, like the ones crafted in Osburg. The lid pushed open and the slanted sides offered stability while not sacrificing on interior space.
Another idea popped into her mind as the hammer and her went to work. Quickly she ducked outside and against the back tapped her hammer. Once more the pack lightened and a chopping block to smooth out the wood pieces and craft them into smaller items appeared. A cheer threatened to erupt from the back of her throat.
"I bring tidings." She whirled at the sound of that gravelly voice. The flap of oversized wings and rustle of feathers announced where the creature had landed. Carpenter hammer still in hand Katla stalked towards the bird.
"Did you bring clothes though? Or tools, maybe some food? Or how about something to help me find other people." The list of things she needed rolled over her tongue before the Raven could start on his great tidings. The bird cocked its head until one golden eye focused solely on her. The feathers along the crest of its head lifted and the quiet clacking of its beak gave Katla the impression of mocking laughter.
"You have improved your workspace. With each improvement new knowledge and items will become available to you. Grow your skills and increase your ability to survive. You must defeat the Eldest, find the first shrine of the Beast Lord." Again with that nugget of information the raven took off. The furious flapping feathers served to counter the scream of anger she gave as the bird departed, once more leaving her on her own.