Desolate Beasts

My second night went just like the previous one. I was both sleep deprived and paranoid. Survival was not easy, and trying to do so alone was worse.

My mind wandered to my family. I missed them so much, they deserved a chance just as much as me. My vision blurred. I pulled the hem of my shirt and wiped the tears forming in my eyes.

All of this was too much for me. The burden of everyone's hopes and dreams alongside my current situation was stifling.

I didn't want to do any of this, but I had to. My desire for a happy life was non-existent now, leaving only a need for revenge, not for myself but for my family. 

I trudged on with my daily activities, checking for water under the tarp, a quick check of my surroundings for any suspicious animal movement and gathering of fruits. 

It was necessary work. A routine that would generate habits and ensure my survival. I also made daily notes on Mama's... no my handheld device.

I didn't need to make fire. I had a portable electric stove inside the Jager, so any cooking could be done easily. This was extremely safe as well, as there would be no smoke or fire to attract any unwanted attention.

The one thing I liked here was the weather. The sunlight was just enough, I didn't hurt even if I stared at the sun. The days were just warm and the evenings were cool. I didn't care about the nights as I remained inside the Jager, which had temperature control.

Speaking of which, I should also do some checks on the Jager itself.

Today was a little different however, it was damp and stuffy. The humidty had also risen. Maybe it could indicate incoming rain, or it was just a result of seasons changing. Even then, I preferred this to the painful sunlight in the Melting Lands.

I later ventured into the jungle, a little deeper than usual. My mind was on full alert. I found the prints of my neighbour on the ground and claw marks on the trees. I followed them around a little. The ground was damp today, my footprints evident on it as I walked through the jungle. In order to not leave traces I started hopping on tree roots that sprouted out from the ground. There were a lot of them, since the jungle was covered with large, thick trees of considerable age, it was only natural that there would be roots above ground. Vines ran along the trees but they were at a height I couldn't possibly reach, even if I jumped normally.

My shoes were really dirty as well now, something I had to make do with since I had no other option and I was NOT roaming around barefoot in the jungle. My clothes were in a simple situation. I didn't need to take a bath either since the weather was pretty good but today seemed to change that. Hopefully it was a one off thing.

As I roamed further, I noticed new footprints. These were continuous and deeper, indicating a larger and heavier animal. It had normal prints. Not random prints like the previous one. This could lead me to one of three places. 

A. Watering hole

B. Hunting ground

C. Resting place

I followed it in hopes of it leading to the watering hole. I had brought a couple of small empty containers with me for that reason.

I could just boil and consume the water, or just try to distill the water. Even if a hundred percent pure water would just work in detriment to my health, I would take that over getting poisoned anyday.

SPLISHH SPLOOOSH BUBBBLEE

Water! That sounded like water. I forgot about the tracks in front of me and just moved toward the sound. My walk turned into a steady jog and eventually I broke out into a run. A water source right before I ran out of the water? What luck.

As I made my way past a couple trees and bushes, there it was. A single stream of clear water running through the forest.

I walked upto it and put my hand in it. The cool water flowed through my fingers. Clear water was a good indication for safety but still that was from from being safe. It was still safe for outside use and not for consumption. I cupped my hands and lifted some of the water in my hands. I smelled it. 

Nothing seemed wrong. I splashed it on my face. The sweat and grime had been annoying me for a while now and a quick face wash was incredibly refreshing. I filled three of my containers from this stream.

GROOWWLLLL

I dropped he fourth container and turned around instantly. 

Growling at me menacingly was a brown colored beast with six legs and two pairs of ears. This animal I recognized. Canis Wolven or just Wolven. They had evolved from the wolves before the Cosmic Radiance. They got strong legs and a longer body for large amounts of travel and two pairs of ears to be able to hear beyond normal capabilities. It was said that the wolven often stalk their prey till they sleep, where they hear the slowing heartbeat of the prey and then pounce.

It was also probably the cause of the howling and not the other creature.

Unlike their predecessor, these luckily, did not travel in packs. They couldn't sustain themselves in packs and resulted in lone hunting as they got older. Well, the prints led me to A. a Watering hole but the prints were in B. a Hunting ground.

I had been exploring its hunting grounds and it didn't seem happy to find me here. It slowly moved forward, with its body lowered.

With my eyes focused on it, I reached toward the fallen container and put it back in the little bag I had brought with me. I then slid out the bag and threw it behind me, past the stream. I lowered myself, straining my legs. I focused my eyes and the world slowed down, the stream in which I was standing in now, looked like it was barely moving, the wolven, which was moving slowly looked almost still.

Drops of water dripped from my hands and face. I shook my head as one of the drops covered my vision. 

Seizing this moment the wolven lurched forward. Its six legs generating incredible speed. It canine teeth barely missing as I rolled out of the way. It snarled and lept at me once again. I stepped back once more, its teeth barely missing me again.

BZTTTTT

I tocuhed the stream of water in which both of us were on. Current travelled through it shocking the wolven.

WHINE

It whined in pain and looked at me with renewed rage. Well, now I was sure we couldn't come to a comprimise. Only one of us would live and it had to be me.

This time I took the initiative. I sent a shock through the water, and dashed through it straight at the wolven.

I needed to rush to its side toward the back legs and then constantly maintain contant with the animal.

Despite the constant shocking, the wolven tried to bite me as I dashed past it. It could probably resist some of the stunning effects. I dodged past it and held onto its sides,its tail whipping around in an effort to knock my hands off, its head trying to snap at me, but its longer body blocking it from doing so, and I let everything out. 

The area around us lit up brightly and the wolven started smoking, parts of its fur catching fire. I didn't stop until I was sure it was dead. 

I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding in, and sat back in the water.

Then came a stinging pain in my side. I had been bitten by the wolven as I was dashing past it. I hadn't realized it due to the adrenaline and state of focus. I should have dodged that, I knew I should have been fast enought to do that so how? How did it get bit? I should have been more careful.

AHHHH

I looked back at the smoking corpse. Most of its fur had burnt off and my hand prints were left on the spot where I held it. In an effort to kill it, I had probably cooked a part of it as well.

I stood up holding my side and grabbed my bag. I filled the fourth container and put it back in. I looked at the wolven and decided that it would be my dinner. Dragging its corpse, I walked back into the jungle. With the bag slung over my shoulder and the wolven dragged behind me stopping my weak march by occasionally getting caught in the bushes. I felt heavy, not because I was dragging a corpse, but because I was wet. 

That's why I had been bit. The rolling in stream had gotten my clothes wet, making me overestimate my movement. I was heavier than I expected as I had run past it, giving it the chance to get me.

A costly mistake, one I aim to never replicate.

SHSHSH

SHSHSHSH

Ah I was fucked.

The other one showed up. This time, pretty quickly, I figured out where the sound came from. RIGHT. ABOVE. ME.

I looked up and bright yellow eyes stared right back. A Felis Cait. A decendant of a cat species, with incrediblly fast reflexes and balance. It resembled

Now it made sense, the footprints disappearing was just the cait jumping onto trees and that explained the claw marks as well. It served as a way to mark territory and was left as it climbed up the trees, longer marks were probably just the cait slipping.

I raised my hand and my eyes glowed a pale blue. A bolt of energy forming in my extended palm. It shrunk back into the darkness and growled. My bleeding probably excited it. It would probably just wait till I just fell over and died. 

I preemptively shot the bolt at it. Which it dodged easily. I wasn't the powerhouse that I thought I was, especially now that I was bleeding and bogged down by both wet clothes and a corpse.

The cait lept from tree to tree and out of my view. I slowly moved forward. But the sounds of it leaping through the trees let me know that it was stalking me, waiting to catch me the moment I lost concentration.

Then I made a hard decision. I dropped the corpse and ran. I needed to get to the Jager as soon as possible. There were some medical supplies in it that I could use. It would also work as a shield if the cait followed me there. The corpse, even if it was was spoil of war, would just act to my detriment with another hunter in play. 

Lets just hope the cait is satisfied with my offering and does not chase me any further.

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Back at the Jager, I sat on the back couch with my shirt off and bandages around my side. I had patched myself up after following a video on the display. These were the most important things in my arsenal. They just had so much to offer. Currently, I had pulled up the Jager's cameras showing my surrondings and also a list of information about the Felis Cait.

I stayed inside till nightfall. Sleep never came but I slowed down my breathing and remained calm throughout the night.

My goals had changed a little. I needed to make a weapon, something to put distance between me and my enemy. A staff or spear would be optimal. 

Reading through the weaknesses of both the beasts I faced today, I was filled with newfound energy.

The next time I faced that cait, I would be ready.

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