I was hyperaware of everything after that snow rabbit got away. Barely thinking about anything. And for a change, I'm not talking to myself either. Constantly checking my surroundings for any movement or anything that could hint at nearby animals.
So much so that I almost missed that it was getting dark. And by the time I noticed how late it had gotten, I had to rush to find a suitable place to build a shelter.
Luckily, not too far away, there was a young tree. So I could build a tarp shelter just like yesterday. And just as before with the snow cave shelters I built, I was a bit faster on my second attempt.
Securing a place to sleep before, in the fading light, quickly eating something. Then came my least favorite part. Using the toilet.
It was, after all, the only time throughout my journey when I really felt how cold it actually is. What with having to drop my pants and all.
"I'm really freezing my ass off here." I whine through chattering teeth. Finishing my business and cleaning up as best I can as fast as possible. I pulled my pants up and crawled into the shelter for warmth quickly.
`Well, at least it's not as bad as out on the plains.` The forest was at least a bit warmer. Though I wouldn't know why. `Probably because of the trees blocking the cold wind from rushing through.`
And many other thoughts run through my head as I lie on the ground trying to sleep. Like my brain was catching up on all the useless thinking I didn't do throughout the day.
Even so. Sleep soon claimed me. I was still exhausted from yesterday, after all. Though without any dreams, it felt like morning arrived in the blink of an eye. But that's how it always is.
I'm not surprised. If anything, I'm grateful nothing disturbed me throughout the night. My body is feeling much better today, considering I still walked about nine or ten kilometers yesterday.
Fresh and energized, I do my morning stretches. Eat breakfast. And collect my things in record time. Before I head out. Once again, barely thinking. Just doing.
By the time I'm walking, though, my incessant thoughts return. Because, as so many times before, nothing happens for a while.
Well, I mean. Nothing important. I see the occasional small animal now that I'm deeper in the woods. Squirrels and rabbits. And one time I even see a snow-white fox off in the distance.
But the critters are always either faster or more attentive than I am. Always gone long before I can even get close enough to throw my spear. My crunchy footsteps in the snow gave me away far earlier than if I were hunting in a normal forest.
While their little weight and adaptations to this harsh climate give them every advantage over me.
"Well. At least it's not Monsters. Because, unlike animals, they are really adapted to this life." Of course, I refer to the fact that, on top of everything, the animals can do. Monsters can also use magic to their advantage.
`You know. Having normal animals makes little to no sense if this weren't a game.` Any animal that can't use magic would obviously be left in the dust in the evolutionary race. Unless it can find a niche to occupy that isn't already filled by a monster.
"I suppose it could be because there are more tame areas and more magically weird areas in this world." Of course, this argument needs this world to work on actual, real-life logic.
Where creatures aren't just haphazardly placed together by some devs with little sense or knowledge of how ecosystems work.
I muse about this to myself while scratching my chin like I tend to. "Of course, that in turn would-"
Everything went white for a moment. My vision blurred. And then I was already in the air. My right arm and side are screaming in pain.
"Hnn." I grunt as I hit the ground. The impact knocked the last bit of air out of my lungs. And then I just lie there. Confused. Surprised. Baffled.
Knowing that whatever hit me could be coming in for the kill right now. But I can't move. I'm stunned. My brain took several seconds to recover from the sudden attack.
And when I finally regain my senses and suck in a deep breath, instead of rolling away and looking for my opponent, I groan in pain. "Ahhh. Fuck."
My right side hurts the worst. But so do my left and back. Even lifting and turning my head in the direction from which I was attacked was painful. Causing me to wince before I finally see my opponent. Or opponents.
Three Skjálfhirta (Skal-fitra). Also commonly referred to as "tremble deer." A one-star threat, if you can even call it a threat, in the Monster Compendium. As they are usually far too skittish and afraid of humans to attack any of them.
Unless, of course, that age-old adage comes into play. "Do not approach a wild animal with babies. It will fuck you up." Two of the three Skjálfhirta (Skal-fitra) are just babies or young kids. Only about half the size of the Mother that had rammed into me.
It was honestly my fault. I instantly recognize that. I was so busy thinking that I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. A bad habit of mine. So I let my head fall back into the snow with a strained chuckle. Just looking up.
Not presenting a threat to the Mother. Or so I hoped. And I was quickly proven right when the mother Skjálfhirta (Skal-fitra) turned and galloped off. The two kids are hot on her heels.
"Ahhhhhhh." I moan as I slowly sit up. "Fuck. This hurts." But as much as I complain, I also know that I'm lucky. A male Skjálfhirta (Skal-fitra) would have skewered me with its crystalline antlers. I would have died for sure.
The female lacking antlers had simply barreled into me with her head in defense of her kids. And unlike males, who are territorial as hell, she backed off once she saw I was no threat to her or her children.
On top of that, I was lucky that I had my right arm pulled in close to my body. So it took the brunt of the impact. Which hurt like hell, but at least I didn't break a rib
"Pffffff." I breathe deeply through my nose as I get up. Taking it slow and steady to get on my feet. Before I check myself over. Pulling up my shirt. Checking the mobility of my arm. Shaking out my body. That kind of thing.
I whistle low at the bruises already sprouting on my body. Especially the big purple bruise on my arm. But luckily, that was the worst I had to deal with, it seems. "Alright. Looks like I'm just bruised and banged up. But otherwise, I don't think anything is wrong."
My very first fight in this world, much like my first hunt, is not going so well. But as long as I'm alive, I'm fine.
"Some great warrior you are." Doesn't stop me from talking smack about myself. Because I was sure that if it came to fighting in this world, I would be fine. But as it turns out, I was not like that.
Though somewhere in the back of my mind, I already knew that. Gaming skills do not directly translate to fighting well. That much was obvious for anyone with two brain cells to rub together.
And I would like to think I have at least a few more.
"Yeah. Like three. Four, tops." `Otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten so distracted to miss a whole ass deer charging me.` But it's then that I remember something.
"Wait. Don't tremble deer have camouflage in the snow?" I look towards the direction where the trio of Skjálfhirta (Skal-fitra) had run off to.
Not seeing them anymore. But that was probably more so because of the trees and distance than any actual magical abilities that camouflage them. They took off pretty fast after all.
"Hmmmm." I hum in thought as I wonder why I could see them. Not just the mother who had attacked me, but the children, too.
All monsters know instinctively from birth how to use their magical abilities to their advantage. That's how monsters are.
`So why would they show themselves to me. Because I wasn't a threat?`
It was funny. Even though I had just gotten my shit rocked because I was walking around while lost in thought. I was already doing the same exact thing again.
But at least this time, fate spared me another humiliation like before. Nothing attacks me for the rest of the day. I spend dragging myself through the forest. My feet luckily didn't take any damage in the ambush.
So I can walk normally. Though I make sure to set more time aside for building my shelter ahead of time.
And am I ever thankful for at least having that much foresight. Because trying to build a shelter. Trying to chop branches off a tree and shoveling snow with a bruise was not easy.
The relief flooding through my body when I finally manage to wiggle myself into my shelter almost makes me crumble and fall asleep right there and then.
But I pull myself together. Enough to eat something before I finally hit the sack. Lying on my stomach instead of my back like I did before.
A bit uncomfortable. But much better than any other position because of the bruises and pain. Pain, I hope, will be gone by tomorrow. Or at least I hope I feel better than when I finally fall asleep.
Another day passing by just like that. With nothing to show for it. A sound like tinkling bells tugging at the edge of my consciousness as I fall asleep.