Chapter 22: The Call of the Hunt
The early morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of grass and dew as the sun peeked over the horizon. Alex sat by the fire, turning the spear in his hands as he stared at the dwindling supplies spread out before him.
Lila emerged from the ruined building they had claimed as their camp, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "You're up early," she said, stifling a yawn.
Alex gestured to their meager stockpile. "We're running out of food. The wildroots won't last much longer, and the mana-infused berries are nearly gone."
Lila knelt beside him, frowning as she took stock of their supplies. "Great. So what do we do? Starve?"
"Not if we hunt," Alex replied, gripping the spear tightly.
Lila raised an eyebrow. "Hunt? And what exactly are we hunting? The last thing we ran into out there nearly flattened us."
Alex smirked. "Which is why I'm bringing this guy." He gestured toward the Parasite-Infused Skeleton, which stood silently nearby, its armored frame gleaming faintly in the morning light.
Lila folded her arms, looking skeptical. "So your plan is to send the walking death knight out to pick a fight with something that might eat us?"
"It's a calculated risk," Alex said. "If we find something dangerous, we'll deal with it. If we find something edible, we bring it back. Either way, we're better off than sitting here waiting for the wildroots to grow back."
Lila sighed, shaking her head. "Fine. But if we get eaten, I'm blaming you."
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1. Setting Out
The grasslands stretched out before them like an endless sea of gold and green, dotted with patches of twisted trees and wildflowers. The ruins behind them faded into the distance as Alex, Lila, and the armored skeleton moved cautiously through the plains.
Lila scanned the horizon, her dagger drawn and ready. "I don't see anything moving. Are we even in the right place for hunting?"
Alex nodded. "The plains have to support something. Predators, prey—it's all part of the cycle. We just need to be patient."
"And hope the first thing we run into isn't the size of a house," Lila muttered.
The armored skeleton walked a few paces ahead, its glowing eyes scanning the area. Alex couldn't help but feel a small measure of confidence with the summon leading the way. It wasn't invincible, but it was tough enough to buy them time if something went wrong.
After nearly an hour of walking, Alex spotted something moving in the tall grass. He froze, raising a hand to signal Lila to stop.
"There," he whispered, pointing to the swaying grass ahead.
Lila squinted, her grip tightening on her dagger. "What is it?"
Alex activated Inspect, focusing on the movement.
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Inspect Activated:
Plains Strider
Type: Herbivore
Description: A swift, four-legged creature with elongated limbs and a soft, furred hide. Commonly hunted for meat and pelts.
Weakness: Low stamina; can be easily exhausted during a chase.
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"Plains Strider," Alex said quietly. "It's fast, but it tires quickly. If we can corner it, we might be able to take it down."
Lila smirked. "Finally, something we can eat."
Alex motioned for the skeleton to move forward, its presence silent but imposing as it approached the tall grass. The Strider darted out into the open, its sleek, furred body glinting in the sunlight.
"Now!" Alex shouted, charging after it.
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2. The Chase
The Strider bolted, its long legs carrying it across the plains in great, bounding strides. Alex sprinted after it, his spear at the ready, while Lila followed closely, her dagger gleaming in her hand.
The armored skeleton moved with eerie precision, its glowing eyes locked onto the fleeing prey. Though slower than the Strider, it advanced steadily, cutting off the creature's escape routes with calculated movements.
"It's heading for that tree line!" Lila called out, pointing to a cluster of twisted trees in the distance.
"We can't let it reach cover!" Alex replied, his voice tight with exertion.
He pushed himself harder, the spear in his hand feeling heavier with every step. The Strider's movements were growing more erratic, its stamina flagging as it struggled to maintain its pace.
"Now's our chance!" Alex shouted, closing the distance.
The Strider stumbled, its elongated limbs faltering as it skidded to a halt near the edge of the trees. Alex lunged forward, thrusting his spear toward its flank. The weapon struck true, piercing the creature's side and drawing a pained cry.
Lila was on it a second later, her dagger flashing as she delivered the final blow to its neck. The Strider collapsed, its body twitching briefly before falling still.
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3. Harvesting the Kill
Alex knelt beside the Strider, catching his breath as he inspected the creature. Its fur was soft and well-kept, and its body was lean but muscular—a promising source of meat.
"Good work," Alex said, glancing at Lila.
She wiped her dagger on the grass, her breathing steady. "Not bad for breakfast."
Alex activated Inspect again, focusing on the Strider's remains.
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Inspect Activated:
Plains Strider Remains
Materials:
Strider Meat: Nutritious and filling, with a high caloric value.
Strider Pelt: Soft and durable, suitable for crafting clothing or bedding.
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"Meat and pelts," Alex said, nodding. "This was worth it."
He pulled out a small knife, carefully cutting into the Strider's hide to harvest the meat. Lila helped, working quickly to strip the carcass of anything useful.
"This'll last us a few days if we ration it," Alex said, placing the cuts of meat into his satchel.
"And the pelts?" Lila asked, holding up a soft strip of fur.
"We'll bring them back to camp," Alex replied. "If nothing else, we can use them for bedding—or trade, if we ever find someone to trade with."
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4. The Bigger Picture
As they finished their work, Alex glanced toward the horizon. The plains stretched endlessly, their golden waves hiding both opportunity and danger.
"We're going to need more hunts like this," Alex said, standing and shouldering his spear.
Lila gave him a wary look. "You're already planning the next one?"
"If we don't keep moving, we'll stagnate," Alex replied. "Every fight, every hunt—it's not just about survival. It's about getting stronger."
Lila folded her arms, studying him. "You've been thinking about this a lot."
Alex nodded. "It's the only way forward. The stronger we get, the less we'll have to fear."
Lila sighed, shaking her head. "Just don't forget we're not invincible. That skeleton won't save you if you bite off more than you can chew."
Alex smirked. "Then we'll make sure we don't."
As they began the trek back to camp, the armored skeleton followed silently behind, its glowing eyes scanning the horizon. The hunt had been a success—but Alex knew it was only the beginning.
For now, they had meat, pelts, and a glimmer of hope. And tomorrow, the hunt would begin again.