Despite my slow movements, my mind raced as I moved further and further from the deadly beast. Pausing I took one deep breath after another and calmed my raging heart. I need a new plan and this isn't the place or time to panic or freeze. With new determination, I retraced my path heading back home.
Some time later, as I slowly made my way back to the river, I spotted one of the unfamiliar fruits again. It hung in groups of three and six off of a short and tangled bush. The bunches of six were a small, round, red colored berry. While the bunches of three were black with small white spots. Staring at the fruits inquisitively I couldn't remember any such odd plants. With swift cuts I took a bunch of each type of berry and continued on my path. The meat of the wolf would only last so long, and knowing what is good to eat or not would be crucial.
Once again arriving at the river a quiet sigh escaped me. My body ached in spite of not truly exerting myself. Old echoes of terror still coursed through me causing muscles to bind and tense. I walked quietly to the familiar encampment and cleared my mind. What was the path forward?
I had shelter, food, and water. My eyes glanced to the still tanning pelt, and cloths, eventually. But that was in the now, what was the long term? A frown settled on my face. I could survive on my own in the jungle, but it would be filled with terror and restless nights. Any mistake i made could be fatal as i walked the fine line of hunter and prey. This was not acceptable.
First long term priority, find my own kind. All but the apex predators followed a common rule, safety in numbers. I was no different in this rule. To do this I had to leave the area I was within, and find high ground. I glanced up the near shear cliff the outcrop resided on.
It was almost seamed unnatural in appearance. It formed a nearly imperceptible arc in either direction and at no points seemed to offer any solid purchase or anchor points. With this imposed challenge, even making a ladder to scale it would be difficult as it would have to stand alone. Or something would have to be driven or carved into the solid stone. All of that work would require tools. Hammers, chisels, flint stones carefully selected and broken down for axe heads, and on the list went. No matter how dependable my new spear was, it couldn't do all of those thing. All of which would take time. More time meant I would need more food. More food means more hunting. Which all leads back to more risk. The original reason I needed to find my kind. My empty stomach rumbled in response to the thought. Bringing me back to the peculiar berries I had found.
The berries themselves seemed to be a warning sign in themselves. Usually; red, white, black, and yellow were warning signs in nature. Adaptations that where to show danger or poison to predators. However even if all these berries where poisonous, they would still serve me well for the future danger I would encounter. Taking one of both the red and speckled berries i cleanly sliced them in half and rubbed the red on my left arm while doing to same with he speckled on my right. As a few minutes passed my right arm began to tingle slightly, and gently pressing the skin it felt slightly numbed.
Taking the other half of the red berry I placed it on my tongue a warm and slightly sweet sensation pervaded my mouth before i spit the berry out. It seemed the Red berries didn't have any adverse effect after a few minutes. They were probably ok to eat. The speckled berry however, the moment it touched my tongue i spit it out as well. My entire mouth quickly numbed and my tongue felt sluggish. Perhaps a numbing agent with some kind of muscle relaxant as well? Eating enough of these would probably prove fatal. The spark of a possibility came to mind. It might just save my life. especially with what i was planning.
I turned back to the river as I set to tasks while the sun was still out. I hefted my spear and brought the rest of the red berries, perhaps ill just call them sweet berries, as I stepped down the path to the river. I could have sworn i saw a few large flintstones in the river this morning. My feet dug into softer ground as I popped the sweet berries in my mouth looking for the familiar stones. Having spotted what I wanted, I took a few steps into the moving water. Before, I could even lean over to pick them up an unsettling feeling washed over me. My instincts prickled and flared at unseen signals.
leveling the only weapon I had, I whipped around. My sharp gaze racing across the river bank and the tree line further away. Seconds ticked by slowly but nothing moved, only the faint feeling of the cool water at my ankles gently tried tugging my attention away. As I began to relax the slight sway of underbrush alerted me once again. Some large creature seemed to have shifted underneath and turned padding away back into the dark jungle. The familiar feeling of fear that had lifted of a moment came crashing back down. I needed to work swiftly.
Still facing the forest, I bent down as my hands scrabbled against the river bed until I head the large piece of flint I wanted. Never once turning my back to the jungle i stumbled my way back up the path until i returned to my encampment and a shaky breath silently squeezed out of my lungs. Large predator, near silent movement, and wont attack while the prey is looking in its direction. In other words, an apex ambush predator. Unfortunately i knew one that just fit that description. The large tiger from earlier today had followed me back, probably following my scent.
There were a few hours of light left in the day before ended and i would likely receive an unwanted visit from said beast. Glancing around at the almost random assortment of items i had at my disposal and tentative plan began to form in my mind. Determination set on my features as i swiftly turned to prepare my trap. The silver lining of being hunted such a beast was i knew exactly what it would do. It was the devil I knew, I was the devil it didn't.