I took the cauldron off the bonfire and placed it in the dirt. I ate my fill first of the broth, vegetables, and some of the leaner pieces of meat I had cut until my stomach was bulging.
Boo cried and I smiled helplessly. I know dude, just one second. He kept trying to crawl inside the cauldron, and I had to hold him back by the scruff of his neck.
Once his tiny stomach started protruding, I said enough and put the stew away. There was a little left that I was going to save for later. He already had an entire raw rabbit earlier anyway.
What can I give him to—The bones. While I was resting I gave them to Boo to gnaw on so he could calm down. He clawed and chewed on them while I took a nap. When I woke up again the sun was still shining and Boo had made a pillow of my lap.
Grinning softly, I played with his tail and peeked at the meadow. Phew. Stillthere.
The bonfire was still going, but it had burned through a significant amount of wood. My clothes were dry, and I had an idea.
"Let's practice."
I sighed, removed Boo from my lap and took out the bow again. Retrieving the arrow I had failed to shoot earlier, I picked a tree twenty feet away and tried shooting at it.
It failed again, and I groaned. Over and over, I shot the arrow. Every time I got a little closer to my target, but failed to hit anything.
I threw the bow away and had a quick mental breakdown before trying again.
"Come on. Come on."
I shot the arrow, and it shot out but fell in the air. Moredrawback? I drew the string holding the arrow back and grounded myself. One more time.
I took a deep breath and released it. Thud!
"..."
The arrow barely sunk in the trunk and slowly fell off, but…a win is a win!
I screamed in delight and woke Boo up.
"I did it!"
[Basic Archery]
"Huh?"
I clicked on it and realized I had earned a skill. Penguin did say something about that. This time, I aimed at the tree again, and my arrow sank deeper into the trunk.
[+15 EXP]
Over and over until I trained the skill enough that I was confident I could use it again.
Two days passed that way, and I tried not to let it bother me. I tried not to think too hard at all. Yet, my nights were filled with it, though. Thoughts of being stuck here and dying and never telling the people I needed to that I appreciated them.
Especially her. Surprisingly, Niathe was included in that list of people. Absent as she was. Deep down, I knew it would kill her to know that I was gone.
And the people who had contributed to this dilemma I was in…Just what even are they? Why are they doing this to me? Why is it so bad if people know about them?
It helped me to sleep when I thought of sinking my fangs in their throats. Imaginary robotic penguins. Warm blood that tasted like gasoline gushed down my throat.
Thud!
My arrow sank to the hilt, and I wiped a hand across my face. Boo waved his tail in the air and enjoyed a piece of raw rabbit meat.
Dried blood cracked and fell off my face. Yuck! I stuck my tongue out, and my slightly elongated ears twitched. My white hair was caked in blood, too. I need a shower.
No more spare water, though. I picked up my arrow and examined it. Can't afford to use too many I have to find a way to keep my supply from running out. I don't think I know how to actually make arrows…Although it seems like simple wood carving, I have a feeling it's not. I should put at least half of them in my backpack for easy access, though.
"We have to go now Boo. Let's go collect some wood and maybe some plants."
Boo finished chewing and pranced after me. His teeth had gotten sharper, and his appetite leaned more towards the carnivorous side due to his time here. Pet feed and vegetables just didn't interest him anymore.
I grabbed a couple of long branches and cut them down. I have no idea if there will be any wood where we're going. So I should collect flint, wood, leaves, hay, and anything else useful. The meadow was mostly filled with flowers and bugs. Normal ones that avoided me like the plague. Boo chased after them though.
"Huh?"
Near where the circle was glowing was a pile of stuff. Coins, arrows, and a set of fur underpants my size.
"..."
"Rewards?"
I picked them up and put them on. At least I have pants now. I collected the arrows and put them in my inventory. The coins, however, went directly to my status.
[Equipment: Knife, Cloak, Boots, Bow, and Arrows.]
[Balance: 20 GD]
Stingyasever.
"Ready Boo?"
He raised his head and meowed adorably. I smiled gratefully and put him in my backpack. He poked his head out, and I pushed his head down. He did it again, and I left him alone.
I shrugged my backpack on, bounced on my heels, and stretched. Alright.
"Let's do this."
I entered the circle and vanished from the meadow.
When I opened them again, I was in a slightly different area. Plain grassland with no trees in sight and a bunch of hopping blobs.
"..."
"..."
Inspect.
[Slime Lvl 10]
[HP : 2000/2000]
[MP : 500/500]
"..."
Silently, I took out some firewood and the flint rock.
A couple of minutes later, the notifications came flooding in.
[ + 300 EXP]
[ + 300 EXP]
[ + 300 EXP]
[ + 300 EXP]
[Level Up!]
A refreshing feeling washed over me, and I felt the injury on the back of my head stop itching. Maybe that means it's fully healed now?
I beamed as the slimes hopped around, trying to get away from the fire that raged on their formerly peaceful lands. They scrambled away, but no matter what, the flame wouldn't go out.
Whenever they got far enough away that the flame wouldn't reach them, I would put a big branch inside the fire and throw it in their direction. I didn't even have to hit them. The fire would encircle them, and they'd die screaming.
"This has been kind of too easy."
I avoided the flames and walked away from the intentional arson. Boo watched with curious eyes and cried for food. "Later Boo. Let's try to find something interesting."