The two kobolds walked ahead of me with the smaller one seeming to lead us. She moved warily through the forest. Often looking from side to side, checking an area carefully before ushering us to move forward. She took such great care in watching her surroundings, it made me nervous. Was the forest really that dangerous?
*SNAP*
The female kobold jumped in surprise as a twig broke under my foot. She whirled around giving me a look.
"Sorry..."
She turned back, resuming leading us. This went on, and on...for about an hour without seeing a single creature. Was hunting always like this? I went on hunting trips with my uncle to shoot things when I was younger and they were never this tedious. Of course...I wasn't actually allowed to touch the guns.
"Ah!" To my right about 30 feet away, a rabbit was busily chewing on some leaves of a bush with it's back to us.
Fleetfoot Rabbit: Lv. 1
Hp: 3/3
As silently as I could, I caught up to the female kobold and tapped her shoulder.
"What you want now?" she hissed quietly, impatience in her voice. I quickly lifted a clawed finger to my lips pointing towards the distracted rabbit, and her eyes lit up.
"You two, no move..."
Rakuta frowned at this, glaring at the busy prey, but reluctantly complied. Koro put her spear in her mouth, and got down on all fours, slowly creeping towards the rabbit. Each of her steps were slow and measured, carefully making as little noise as possible as she moved closer. 25 feet...20 feet...15... she slowly circled around to the left of the rabbit. All of the sudden, the rabbit stopped, lifting it's head. Koro went completely still as the rabbit's ears twitched, attempting to hear if anything was around. After about 30 seconds, the rabbit lowered it's head and resumed eating.
Slowly taking the spear out of her mouth, Koro raised the weapon and threw it. The spear sailed through the air towards the creature. The rabbit's body jerked, sensing something was off, but it was too late. The crude spear planted itself into the rabbit's body. The creature fell to the ground with it's legs making a few twitching motions, as if it's last command to run had just been processed, before becoming still. It's status screen disappearing from my view.
"Hahahaha!" Rakuta roared with laughter, running over to her. "You kill good!" he said giving her a rough pat on the back. "But you take long time. Rakuta kill much faster." Koro seemed to ignore him, picking up the rabbit and holding onto it.
************************
"Hmm..." Arydia watched as the three kobold began their trek back to the camp, with the rabbit stuffed away. "This won't do." the goddess said with a frown. "That skinny one is far too cautious, it could be an entire week before Marek ends up dying."
Beside her, a cat as black the void stretched and yawned, kneading it's claws on the silken bed. It nuzzled itself against the goddess's leg before jumping up onto her lap. Arydia took notice of the cat but continued to watch the three. "Looks like I'll have to step in once more." A smile crossed her lips as she snapped her fingers. Arydia sat back with a content expression, stroking the cat. "Now to just sit back and watch the show." The feline purred, enjoying it's affections and getting comfy. "Ooh you wanna watch too Midnight?" the goddess cooed, further lavishing it. "What a good kitty."
************************
That was pretty impressive stealth of Koro. Overall the hunting mission was pretty boring, but at least we caught something. More importantly, we're heading back to camp. This means I can finally ask about the things weighing on my mind.
"Haha! If I hunt prey I smash it quickly! No sneak around!"
"Fool! How we eat smashed up meat?"
...Maybe I shouldn't set my expectations too high on their answers...
*SNORT*
"Huh?" I stopped walking, Rakuta accidentally crashing into me.
"HEY! Why you-" he stopped midsentence his body stiffening up, and it wasn't hard to see why. Just ahead was a large brown boar with quills coming out of it's back, reminiscent of a porcupine. About three feet tall and long, it glared at us, pawing the ground and snorting.
"Oh shit..."
Bristleback Boar: Lv. 7
Hp: 30/30
"We...leave...carefully..." Koro said, slowly backing away. Facing the bull, she took her usual slow steps back, not making any sudden movements. I mimicked her to the best of my ability, carefully retreating. Knowing its level, I REALLY don't want to get involved with something as strong as that so soon. However.
"Rakuta! What you doing?!" Koro quietly hissed. Rakuta stood his ground glaring at the boar, crude spear clenched in hand. He set his feet, seemingly intent on fighting it. The boar let out a squealing roar before charging.
Rakuta charged as well, running with his spear forward. As the two collided, he was immediately thrown backward by the impact, a hole appearing in his stomach. He fell to the ground, with a groan, barely moving. Though the exchange wasn't one-sided.
*SQEEEEEEE*
The boar roared in pain, thrashing its head as Rakuta's spear had become lodged in its left eye. Blood seeped out of the wound and the spear was flung from it. The creature turned it's head to us, it's single eye filled with rage.
Bristleback Boar: Lv. 7
Hp: 23/30
"Oh hell no!" Turning back around, I bolted with Koro immediately following. There was a furious roar behind us followed by heavy hoofbeats. The female Kobold shot past me in an instant, immediately overtaking me. The hoofbeats behind me quickly getting louder.
"GODDAMN IT, I REALLY DON'T NEED TO BE LEVEL ONE RIGHT NOW!" I cast a quick glance behind me, but I almost wish I hadn't. The boar was less than 10 feet behind me and closing fast. Looking at me with intense hatred as if I were the one who had gouged out its eye.
"Come on! The guy who did that to you is groaning in a puddle of his own blood, go take it out on HIM!"
There's just too much of a gap in our stats. I can't outrun the boar, and I can't fight it. Exhaustion filled my body, my muscles starting to ache. That 1 endurance point is about to cost me my life...
"HAAAAAAAAAH!"
Mustering up the small amounts of my energy, I shot towards a nearby tree. Running as close as possible, I darted to the side at the last second, hearing a loud thud as the Bristleback crashed into the tree with its full momentum.
"How's...*huff*...THAT?!"
The boar was dazed for a moment, before standing. The wound on its eye had gotten even worse, blood spilling down the left side of its body.
Bristleback Boar: Lv. 7
Hp: 19/30
It wasn't dead yet. Still, it seems I did SOMETHING as it's HP had fallen. "Hey dumbass, over here! Nice juicy kobold waiting for you!" The boar snorted, lowering its head once more, pawing the ground. Huh...so this why the term 'Stubborn as a boar' exists. As the boar made its charge, I ran in front of another tree, darting away at the last second, once more slamming the creature into the tree."
*GWEEEEEEEE!*
Bristleback Boar: Lv. 7
Hp: 15/30
This time it let out a pitiful squeal, dropping to the ground. Hey, it's not my fault you won't learn your lesson. The boar took longer this time to stand, it's feet were lightly shaking.
"Hey! You!"
"Huh?" I looked around but couldn't find the voice.
"I up here!" Following the sound, I spotted Koro up in a tree. She looked down at me gesturing with her hand. "You lead pig to this tree next. Yes?"
It seems she has something in mind. I gave an affirmative nod. "Got it." Picking up a rock and, hurling it at the boar, striking it in the face. It didn't deal any damage to it's HP, but it certainly got its attention. "Hey pig! Don't tell me you're gonna let a level 1 kobold make a fool out of you!"
***************
You have acquired Provoke Lv. 1
***************
"Huh?"
***************
Provoke Lv. 1
Using a series of actions or words to goad the target into your desired outcome or action. Capabilities are increased by intelligence, skill level, as well as words and actions used.
***************
Huh...I got a skill unexpected, though not unwelcome. My taunt was certainly effective as the boar seemed to forget it's pain and charge at me once more. This time, dashing over to Koro's tree, I once more threw myself to the side as the boar crashed into it causing a fresh spurt of blood to come out of its wounded eye.
Bristleback Boar: Lv. 7
Hp: 11/30
Koro didn't wait for the boar to recover. Immediately, she dropped down, spear in hand, plunging the weapon into the boar's injured eye.
*SQUEEEEEEEEEE*
The creature cried out and thrashed, but it was still dazed, and far weaker than when it was at its peak. Rushing over to her, we both held fast on the spear, pushing it further into its eye. With one final cry, the Bristleback Boar collapsed, it's body hitting the ground with a thud.
"We...we did it!"
***************
You have leveled up!
You have leveled up!
***************
STATUS
Name: Marek Antos
Species: Kobold
Level: 3/20 Progress to level 4: 33%
HP: 7/8 Strength: 4
Agility: 5 Resistance: 4
Endurance: 3 Dexterity: 3
Intelligence: 2 Wisdom: 2
Available points: 2
Element: N/A
Skills: Provoke Lv. 1
Abilities: God tongue, Hard scales Lv. 2
***************
Pulling up my status screen, my level had shot up by two, and experience for the fourth level was at 76%. And this was AFTER Rakuta and Koro helped. I mean I'm happy I leveled up but...
*Huff* "...Why is the first thing I have to *huff* fight so much stronger than *huff* me?!"
Honestly, I'd much rather have to hunt like 10 lv. 1 rabbits than nearly get killed like I did fighting something strong. It seems that even in this new life, my luck is just as bad...
************************
"NO!" Arydia thundered, immediately jumping out of her throne to her feet. The mythical cat Midnight yowled, bolting off of her lap and running off. "How did he survive that?!" The goddess clenched her fists, striking the armrest of her throne and turning it into dust. "Ugh...why is this human so annoying? Why can't he just die already?" She stood there fuming for a while before taking in deep breaths and calming down. "It's fine, it's fine." Arydia told herself, creating a new throne and sitting in it. "It's only been a single day, I have plenty of time. In fact, I have all the time in the world..."