Kapitel 24: Surviving the wild

During breakfast, I could see Hope's impatient expression. Today is her 18th birthday which means that she can start playing the Age of Gods. She couldn't wait anymore. But she will have to wait to return from school and then birthday dinner before she can log into the game. Our grandparents are also coming so that we can all celebrate her birthday together. We haven't seen them in a couple of months so they will probably be all over us.

I heard mom talking over the phone the other day with grandma about me having a girlfriend, so I am not sure who will get more attention from grandparents, me or Hope. Either way, we can only log into the game when we go to sleep tonight. I just hope that I won't be eaten by something until then.

School day passed as usual. Except that I started sitting with Maria and Anna every break between classes. Nick still pestered Anna from time to time but since I was with them more often he started behaving properly. After school, I walked two of them to their station and then I went to mine. When I arrived home grandpa and grandma were already there. They were with Hope talking about something, but when they saw me they immediately asked me about Maria. I talked with them until lunch and then they finally eased a little with girlfriend talk.

Just before lunch came my uncle, my father's brother, with his family, his wife and two of my brothers so we all celebrated Hope's birthday together. After the cake and presents, we all talked a little more and then uncle and his family left home. Since our grandparents will stay for a couple of days more they let Hope to go and start playing the game, but I was not as lucky. I stayed with them for almost an hour talking about Maria. Not that I mind, but I wanted to go into the game as quickly as possible, who knows if something will happen. I somehow managed to get an excuse of being tired and went into my room, put my helmet on and logged into the game.

I showed up at the same place I logged out from and thought that everything is okay. But I was wrong. I didn't even have time to get up before I heard a grunt behind me. I rolled myself on the ground and something passed by me. I quickly stood up putting my staff in front of me ready to block the next attack. Looking ahead I saw a wild boar, not as big as the one I killed before in the form of Rage Beast but still big enough to know that that impact would hurt me a lot.

Using appraisal I found out that the boar was Level 7, which should be easy for me. I didn't want to fight with it, afraid that our fight will attract more wild beasts, but it was very insistent on fighting me. I could only oblige and try to finish it as soon as possible. A few minutes later boar fell dead on the ground, giving me some time to look around me. Getting attacked as soon as entering the game is not so great. If it was a stronger opponent I would be the one lying down on the ground.

But what to do now with this boar? I have neither skinning nor cooking skills and carrying it with me to the town is a foolish thing to do. I could try skinning it with my small knife and try to make a fire and then fry it a little, but that would take a long time.

I should first check all of my things. Maybe that boar trampled on them. I was close to them but I hope everything is in order. Thankfully nothing was trampled. Leather bags were near the tree and the boar didn't pass near them. The only thing I got was 2000 EXP. That much I got from wild boar Rage Beasts, which means that regular boars are weaker than Rage Beasts. That makes sense.

Just as I took all of my things and put the bags over my shoulders I heard a new sound not far from me. Now what? Looking around me I slowly started walking south. Good thing I did. A bear showed up. And it was a big one. I guess this one didn't yet enter winter sleep. He must have somehow smelled the boar I killed and was nearby. Using Appraisal after forth try I found out that the bear was level 15. There is no chance that I would win that fight. I better leave. Bears are not kings of the forest for nothing.

Going downstream I was paying attention to every sound or movement I saw. How did our ancestors survive in this kind of environment in ancient times with all those wild beasts is beyond me. If even mythological beings really existed mankind wouldn't have lasted until now. The good thing is that mythology is just that, a mythology.

Just as I was thinking about my grandpa's teachings I sensed shiver down my back. Few drops of sweat slid down my face and all of a sudden a bad feeling came over me. I stooped at once and slowly looked around me. There was nothing in front, on my left was the river so no danger came from there, yet, and on my right was the forest. At first, I thought that the danger came from the forest but I soon found out that I was wrong.

Well, technically I was not wrong, the danger was behind me, but it did come from the forest. Looking back I saw a boar. Or what was left of it to be more precise. Half of its face was missing, its belly was almost all eaten and from it, I could see innards dangling when it moved. One of its back legs were almost gone, but it still moved like it had all four.

It seems that the bear didn't finish his meal. He was probably interrupted midway. Good thing it was only that. As soon as my brain gave the order my legs started a sprint. Boar or what was left of it started chasing me right away. It was even faster than when it was alive. But why did I run away? I could kill one undead boar right? I probably could, but not what was behind it. There was nothing behind it for now but I know that it watched from the forest.

The only thing that could bring back a dead animal to life was a Lesnik. Lesnik was a forest demon from Slavic mythology. Its powers were that it could sprout new flesh on a long-deceased animal and bring it back to life. It would seem that here even recently dead animals could be brought back. It can also transform into a tree or an animal. Its true form was similar to centaurs but that's where similarities ended. I didn't want to think about its appearance, my only thought was to escape.

I ran as fast as I could but the boar followed me without any difficulty. I think that I ran at least 10 minutes with boar behind me. I could feel that I was getting tired. Full sprint would do that. What to do? If I entangle in battle with boar, Lesnik may show up and that would be the end for me. If I continue to run I would tire out. Boar doesn't have that problem. If I run into the forest... Neither option is good for me.

There is one more option but that one was even more uncertain. I didn't have the time to second guess myself. I turned left right away, towards the river. Since I was already close, it didn't take long to reach it. I took one more glance at the boar and seeing that it is getting closer, I entered the river. First few meters river was deep until my waist. After that, I couldn't reach the bottom anymore.

I put my thoughts about undead boar and Lesnik aside and concentrated on swimming over to the other side. I was not a bad swimmer. We went to the sea every year with our parents when we were little and there is also a river at the grandparent's place. I still go swimming in the river when I go there and if the weather is good. So, I was a good swimmer. The only thing I was concerned was demons. Yes, demons. Just like there are forest demons there are also water or river demons.

This river didn't apparently have them or they just didn't live at this particular place. I managed to swim on the other side very quickly. After I got out I lied down on my back and spread out my arms and legs. I even took out my tongue out of my mouth like dogs do when they are tired.

I took a quick look of the other shore where undead boar stood calmly. I think that I saw some branches move in the forest and then undead boar moved towards that place. When the boar entered the forest I felt relief and put my head on the ground.

I didn't rest for long. Who knows what lives on this side of the forest. I remembered those wolves from yesterday and a new shiver came over me. I quickly looked at my things to see if I dropped anything. Everything was here but only some herbs and bandages on top of the leather bags got wet. Good thing was that my jerky stayed dry. Herbs I had to throw away since they couldn't be used now but bandages I could still use after drying them off.

I also had to dry my clothes. I don't know if I can get sick in the game but better safe than sorry. I found a safe place, I guessed it was safe and started a fire. Then I found some branches and made a makeshift dryer. I also took something to eat and drink since I a had to wait for my clothes to dry and I was tired from running away and swimming through the river.

I tried to chat a little with Wolf and Marco and see how are they doing, but it seems that they were busy with something. I didn't want to distract them so I ended the chat. While I was sitting and drying myself I could hear some howls in the distance. Judging by the volume of the sound they were rather far away, which was good for me. I didn't want to encounter another close death situation just as I escaped one.

After the clothes dried enough to be worn I got dressed and was ready to continue. I spent almost an hour drying my clothes. I had to travel on this side now since danger was lurking from the other. But not being sure how big the forest extended in this direction I could travel just near the river. This was both safe and dangerous. It was safe since I didn't need to go into unknown and dangerous if someone stronger than me chased me and I had to cross the river again.

From time to time I entered deeper into the forest to explore more and to get used to the new environment. For some reason, I had a feeling that I will need to go deeper into the forest sometime in the future.

By the end of the day, I didn't encounter anything which would present me danger. I did saw some smaller animals but I left them alone and when they saw that I don't represent any danger they also left me.

I made camp a little further in the forest. I found a place where trees were a little denser. This should be a place to hide me better from beasts and demons, I thought. I just hope that tomorrow I won't need to wake up in the game like I did today.