I awoke the next day from some grumbling and heavy breathing, coming from farther back in the cool damp cave. As I fell to the floor I went to investigate just what was making the noise. After a few silent shade steps I reached the back side l, where a strange looking dark grey bear lay sleeping. It was without a doubt the most weird bear I had ever seen. It had black tribal markings across its head, and long pointed ears, each pierced with leafy earrings. The bear was only level twenty, so it would be worth a ton of experience, and I wasn't feeling like bear blood was going to be a sturdy breakfast, which I wasn't hungry anyway. I had just had a healthy meal the night before of a higher level human warrior. However it would be important to scout out the area for any source of food that I may need later. I didn't really want to survive off of animal blood, but I would if it was the only option available. I had hoped to find some higher leveled monsters to kill for level up purposes, not to eat. I needed to find a human settlement for sustenance nearby, or move to an area with one readily available. I left the odd bear sleeping in the cave, and made my way out into the morning light.
I stretch out my arms and wings, and let out an uncontrollable yawn as I stepped out of the cave. I bolted up above the trees and began to scout out the area. I couldn't see through the trees all too well, but I knew that what I was searching for would have a large clearing. "Humans need to clear the trees for building structures and cultivating land.", I said aloud to myself. As I panned around I didn't find a clearing, however I did spot a a river slightly farther east that ran from north to south. Just beyond the river the land looked much different. The trees were darker shades with dark colored leaves. Large spider webs strung from one to another, but there were no arachnids within my sight. "Humans need water more than anything.", I once more spoke to the wind. I dropped down a bit and flew just above the trees, in a northern direction. It wasn't long before I spotted what I was search for. I flew up slightly higher to pull some reconnaissance on the area. There it was . A mid sized village, I'd say with roughly one thousand people lived there. A large wooden wall lined the place, each long wooded post sharpened to a point. At each corner, was a guard tower equipped with a large ballista crossbow, and a war horn. There were two more at the main gate, two guards in every tower and two more at the gate. Just outside the dwelling were large freshly tilled fields, that gave off a scent of manure. The farms were protected by a small fence, with grazing cattle beyond them. Many people were out working the fields, and many more carried out their daily work inside the walls.
As my attention was on the fields my ears began to ring at the sound of a horn being blown, and the rushing of the wind as a gigantic wooden bolt blew past my face. The people all ran for the open gate in a panic as the horn sounded. I turned my gaze back to the towers and noticed one ballista being reloaded while a second one was being aimed in my direction. I could count them all, but I estimated around one hundred men began to take a formation in the center of the village. They had armed themselves with any weapon they could find. Swords, axes, bows, even farming tools like pitchforks and hoes. This was an inconvenience. I wasn't hungry as of this moment, and the hassle wasn't worth it to me. I had found what I was looking for, and it wasn't like they could pack it up and move it. That is when I had the idea to take a bolt to the chest, just for good measure. If the people thought they had wounded or killed me it would be much easier to pick them off later.
I was far enough away that I'm certain they could tell exactly what they were shooting at, just a large winged creature. As the second bolt fired out I made sure to line up with the bolt. It whistled through the air and smashed into my chest with a loud thud. I allowed the force of the bolt to carry me backwards, as I let out a blood curdling cry. I fell down into the tall trees as the bolt struck the middle of the truck of one in its path. The vain cheers of the people filled the air.
Using spacial movement I easily walked the bolt through my chest and then turned to face the tree. Using blood manipulation I recreate my body still being impaled. Without rain of blood active the double would drip more and more blood until it fades, which if anyone comes to check for the body should add to its believability. I stayed nearby the body for awhile to make sure someone would come to see the corpse. As I waited I thought more about my strategy. I didn't want something like this to happen every time I tried to hunt. Night time would be much more preferable, it will help to conceal my presence, making for an easier kill and escape. The only disadvantage that came to mine was there would be the pick of the crop. Only watchmen and guards would be out that late. That would mean more experience however as the fighters would be higher level than the farmers and ranchers. As I collected my thoughts I heard promising sounds coming from the north. The sounds of feet trampling through leave and twigs. Out from the thick shrubbery came ten men walking side by side. "Look here men! There is blood here!", one man shouted as the others gathered around. "This is the direction the beast would have fallen.", another said as a drop of blood dripped onto his forehead and rolled down his nose. The men looked up to confirm that the beast was dead. Praise fell from their lips as the walked back through the brush. "What a shot! Straight through the things heart!".
Pleased that my scheme had worked so well I slipped out of hiding and flew off in search of my second objective, farming experience. As I flew back to the southwest I realized that the forests tree tops were much too thick to scout out any decent monsters. My plan was to return to the cave and see where the strange bear would go to find his meal. If there was ever a good time for a predator to strike at another predator it would be while he was eating. So if I could find where the bear goes I might could find some higher leveled monsters lying in wait.