Sunlight crashed against Adam's eyes, marking the start of the 5th day of the survival test.
With his primary needs of water, shelter, and food cared for, he could look into spending time into practicing defensive techniques.
This practice would constitute Adam swinging the spear in various stances.
As he had no relevant experience with weapons, it would be a very steep learning curve to have a semblance of half-baked skills.
Before that, Adam had to retrieve the water basin made of clay that should have hardened.
To prepare to head out of the cave, he moved the rocks near the entrance.
Standing outside, he delighted in the fresh air, and bright sky.
His excitement dialed down as his sense of caution restored, remembering where he was.
This was no field day, this was a test, taking place in a dangerous location.
Despite the wolves seemingly no longer a threat, the same said for the bear, he was much more concerned about what Areis said about there being monsters.
He quenched his thirst at the stream. This time, there were herbivores like rabbits and deer near the stream.
Keeping his distance, he went to retrieve the water basin.
When he found it, it had hardened like he anticipated, and it was in good shape too.
Truthfully, there was some warping, but as he was an amateur, that was the least to be expected.
Returning to the cave, with the water basin in tow-- that was filled, he closed off most of the entrance of the cave. Leaving enough room for there to be light for him to examine his own movements.
The afternoon breeze circling through, he picked up the spear and did some test motions.
The heft of the spear felt a bit off, but what could he do?
He could make it again if it got to him too much, he supposed.
Several minutes of light spear movements, the weapon was slightly less alien to him.
This pleased him, as he imagined that he would not be compatible initially.
His spent time appeared that it would not be fruitless.
He worked into core motions of weapon-based combat, he was aware of. Core principals such as slashing, piercing, guarding, parrying, and thrusting.
The workout helped him to narrow his focus, his hands that would otherwise be idle, could be productive.
In his practice, he sometimes extended his arms too far, or his grip placement on the haft was off.
It was general ideas of what Adam was doing wrong.
As for how he knew, thoughts of novels running through his mind where spears were the primary weapon used, and scenes in movies where spearbearers were prominent. How he moved his arms and hands aside, he knew that his footwork was a mess.
He simply wanted to know enough to defend himself, as Adam was sure the test would not end so nicely for him and the rest of the heroes.
It was too smooth, the last few days.
There was a inkling of danger Adam predicted would appear.
Wolves, and bears, both dangerous were not classified as monsters, dangers sure, but monsters are categorically a greater risk.
Getting his thoughts back to spear training he proceeded with practice.
The afternoon came and went.
His hands still needing a bit more time to return to form, couldn't be overstrained.
Adam's will helped him maintain motivation, when his nerves would have otherwise struck him down.
He would eat and see how he felt after.
Adam must have worked up a sweat, with him devouring an extra serving of cooked meat.
His stomach filled, and hands more at ease he got back to practicing with the spear.
Reach was vital in a forest, where danger could pop out around any corner, its spaciousness both a advantage and disadvantage.
A few more hours of laymen-quality practice, he relaxed. He rinsed his hands and face in the lukewarm water, and wiped himself down, with a small chunk of washed fur.
Feeling cleaner, he sat down.
Adam wondered how Elaina was doing. He did not want anything to do with Marcaine, and he was not all that familiar with Vinn.
Elaina, he recalled was not in the best shape mentally. She seemed fairly resilient putting aside her freezing at the sight of the goblins in the previous test.
Shrugging, his thoughts providing empty predictions, his mind settled, and walked to the entrance to close off the cave to sleep.
But, suddenly, a sharp sound pierced the forest.
A scream.
It was too high pitched for Vinn, thinking it was Marcaine slightly amused him. But his amusement crushed as he quickly realized, it was Elaina.
He grabbed the spear, and knife, and ran out to where he approximated the scream came from.
His courage skill and his practice with the spear gave him mild confidence that he could handle whatever the danger that caused Elaina to scream was.
When it came to escaping, his confidence skyrocketed.
However, there was the possibility he could be killed.
Such concerns were smashed by his [Dauntless Courage] skill.
The darkening sky made it slightly more difficult to locate her.
Keeping an eye out for threats, he wandered the forest.
Having more experience after a few days in the forest, he was able to find her.
Adams gaze froze as his eyes landed on a goblin. The goblin held a jagged knife, pointing it at Elaina.
A smile too wide to be friendly, shone weakly underneath the fading light of the sky.
A sinking feeling tried to worm out of Adam's stomach.
But, taking a deep breath, he felt particularly gutsy as his grip held the spear.
He was not who he was before.
It was the best way for him to realize himself, that he was not the old him.
By taking down something he could barely stand before.
Adam more closely examined Elaina.
She looked exhausted, scratches all over her face.
Elaina had it rough.
"You look well, Elaina." Adam remarked.
The goblin and Elaina looked back at the new voice, seeing him.
The goblin's carefree, and crazed stance, tensing.
"Human, another." The goblin seemed to hiss, their gaze sharpening.
In turn, Elaina's gaze brightened, calling out: "Yes! Very well." A slight shrillness in her voice.
Adam nodded.
His harsh grip on the spear reopening the cuts on his hand, blood trickling down the haft, Adam neared.