Chapter 26: Side Chapter: A New Fluffy Friend

It is snowing as usual in this forest. The weather is cold, and animals are scarce. Every day I tend my wounds with what I still have from my previous adventures and try to keep myself warm next to a fire pit I feed firewood I chopped a week ago. Once I managed to build a door after lengthy efforts to block the wind from coming into my cave, but it got destroyed in a brawl, and I don't have the power to fix it.

 

I had quite the rumble against that beast of a draugr. It was a hard fight. I got lots of bruises, lost equipment, hopefully, no ribs, and a door, and he lost his head, a fair trade for both of us. But all the fun aside, I am concerned, and it is not all the wounds aching on my body or my food piles that almost got drained, but what will I do next? I barely survived death in my last two encounters, and monsters are slowly getting stronger.

 

I see new and stronger predators lurking in the forests. Giant creatures that resemble moose are the first ones I encountered. They have two hammer-like stone antlers to smash any threat and steel-like teeth that they use to gnaw trees.

 

Even wolves that can easily body armored draugrs avoid them, which is fair enough, but even those massive beasts are prey to something. I didn't see one in action but stumbled on a dead one stuck to a deer corpse while looking around, giant bat-falcon hybrids with stingray-like tails. From what I see from all the messed up holes on the deer's remains, I assume these beasts dive towards their prey like a falcon and pierce their victims using their tails. Just thinking about such a ferocious hunter being near me makes me shiver. They hunt in packs and target giant beasts, so I am not a priority for them, but that doesn't mean I am not prey.

 

Still, there is just one thing scaring me. A monster that usually should be in hibernation is moving around. I cathed a glimpse of it ripping an adult bear into two with a single bite. It is almost large and almost strong as the boss wolf. King Ursa.

 

I learned its name from the adventurer's handbook. There was a simple sketch and a warning on a single page with a red skull on the top. [King Ursa, if seen, escape immediately.]

 

It could be fun to hunt if I had time, proper equipment, and health, but I don't want to swing my sword even against a single goblin. *sigh* I don't know how long I can afford this time of peace. Each day, new and stronger monsters appear as if the forest itself wants to kill me, and each day I eat what food got left in my reserves, I think about how hard my next hunt will be.

 

I could try to set up traps again to lure small game, but that would require materials. I don't have any rope left, and my remaining wood is only there to boil water and keep me warm.

 

Nothing seems bright around here. At least I have enough worries to keep my head busy. I can forget the past. There won't be anything good coming from remembering it anyways. 

 

                                           ***** Two days later.

 

I saw three more dawns. Will I see more? That's up to me and lady faith, but things don't look too bad right now. Most of my wounds are getting better. I think I can fight, not effectively as before, but good enough to fend off any weak monster, but there is also the fact that I rationed myself to a single meal a day.

 

Before things go south, I must hunt for food. I go outside and take small hikes around the cave. Those small scouting missions help me keep my head straight. 

 

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Overall, my mental health is better, despite a mysterious head living rent-free inside my head being my only companion. I do not crave violence, and the quiet moments do not itch my skin. Maybe it is the idea that I will never have to go to that war again. Perhaps the only thing keeping me in that state was the enemy next door still living.

 

 I wish I had one more chance to talk with the doctor. His company is usually enjoyable. He knows how to talk, jump between topics, and keep you interested and away while he slowly picks parts of a puzzle he tries to solve for your mental health. Well, his mouth is rude for his education level, but who doesn't swear every once in a while?

 

"This is boring." My arms feel better, and my chest doesn't hurt(much) when I take deep breaths. If this was a week or two ago, I could have gone out for a hunt. Right now, I have no intentions of doing it.

 

A pitiful whimper from the forest echoed in my ears. I dashed towards the entrance with the first thing I got into my hand. 

 

I see the cause of the whimpers. Nothing troublesome. The thing outside is just a little wolf with shining darkish-silver fur. He looks tired and hungry.

 

Then why are he approachings here? No, not to me. He is probably moving toward the smell of the food I cooked an hour ago.

 

"Passive ability activated: Alpha Wolf. The beast will not take any actions against the user." Voice said.

 

And its effects are pretty easy to see. Poor thing is shaking from cold, maybe from fear, or perhaps from hunger. From a closer look, I can see it very well now. Wolf's fluffy and bright fur deceived my eyes at first, but he has a very unhealthy body. "When did you last eat anything." I moved toward the wolf and grabbed him by the head. "You are not a threat to me right now, aren't you." I began petting the wolf's head like it was a dog.

 

I am low on food, and killing this creature can give me some days of food, but having a friend can save me from a lifetime of madness caused by loneliness. I left wolf alone outside and moved in. If we both ration it, I have enough dried meat and wild vegetables to let us go three more days.

 

With a piece of dried meat in my hand, I approached the wolf. "Just don't attack me when I sleep, and I will let you live here for a while. Here." I offered the meat to the beast, and it happily devoured it in a couple of bites.

 

"Then we have a deal." I put my hand over the wolf's head and started scratching right behind his ears. It feels oddly relaxing.

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