Ch-4
'But right now there's not use of contemplating about it, because I can't do anything about it, so I have to be careful in the future or check the limits of this body before taking on risks like this that can endanger my body.' While thinking this, I went near the goblin to collect it's wooden spear and basket - filled with fishes and went near the river. Leaving the corpse of the goblin behind.
It took me about 5-6 minutes to get near the river as I carefully navigated the area, making sure not to be ambushed by any creatures.
With the blood-stained spear in my right hand and a basket filled with fish on my back, I had two roots tied to its end to make it easier to carry, like a makeshift backpack.
As night fell, I arrived at a peaceful spot near the river that seemed like the perfect place to spend the night.
The small hole I mentioned is nestled right beside the river, almost resembling a hidden cave. It gave me the impression of being a potential hibernation or birthing spot for some kind of creature. The interior was surprisingly cozy and looked like a well-hidden sanctuary, unlikely to catch the eye of any predators.
I with my size had to crawl inside to enter, but unlike the entrance, the living area had breathing space and more or less felt safe. Unfortunately I had no light so I was unable to illuminate the place I was living at but it was a blessing as well because no one will expect me to be inside this place.
With the river nearby supplying me with water, the fish providing my food, and the small, cozy cave offering me shelter, all I need is fire to cook my meals. Unfortunately, I left the necessary sticks at the site where I defeated the goblin while hastily escaping his potential accomplice. Contemplating the situation, I decided to leave the basket inside and venture outside with my spear to gather dry sticks for igniting and cooking the fish.
Following a short stroll, I stumbled upon a smattering of dry sticks scattered about. I simply gathered them up, and in the event that I found them to be insufficiently dry, I easily plucked some extra bark from the trees nearby.
After collecting a few handfuls of sticks, I followed the marks I had carved into the trees with my spear to find my way back to my shelter.
'With the sticks all gathered, the real challenge begins - starting the fire. After carefully arranging the sticks in a pyramid shape, I will have to place the tree barks in the centre of the wood pile. Using the sticks, I will have to methodically create friction, generating enough heat to ignite the tree bark. As the bark will catch fire, I will gently blow on it, helping the flames spread to the rest of the wood. And just like that, fire will be achieved.'
After carefully following the mind map on creating fire, I executed each step flawlessly and successfully achieved it on my very first attempt. This accomplishment was only possible thanks to my familiarity with essential survival skills like this. It's reassuring to know that I am well-prepared for challenging situations like this one due to the training i went through in my past.
As the small fire grew and spread quickly over the dry sticks, I realized that igniting it outside the small cave was a wise decision. Starting the fire inside would have meant suffocation and unbearable heat, as the cave was only suitable for someone my size and had a very small entrance.
The fire cast a warm, golden glow in its immediate surroundings, though not as expansive or magnificent as the sun's radiant light that blankets the world. However, unlike the sun's rays, the fire I ignited provided a gentle illumination that enveloped the space around me.
I had started the fire a few meters away from my cave, I brought the fishes outside and, started cleaning the fishes with my hand and discarding the parts that could be bitter while eating and their defences - like organs, scales, gills. And after discarding the parts, I washed the fishes thoroughly and used a stick to roast it in the fire. I did it with all the fishes that was in the basket. I had brought extra sticks, to keep the fire ignited, if took around 15-20 minutes for the fishes to be cooked for me to consume it.
'After putting in so much hard work to make a meal, the satisfaction of finally getting to eat it takes the experience to a whole new level.' Feeling famished, I devoured every last fish, leaving no trace, not even a bone.
Once I had enough food to fuel my activities without overfilling my stomach, I put out the fire. I had kept it burning while I ate to ward off any potential attacks from wild creatures.
As I ventured into the cave, I cradled the spear, nestling my head against the basket. As I drifted off to sleep, I gazed at the moonlight streaming in from three moons, casting a mesmerizing glow over the entrance and creating captivating shadows.
The sight of the moons in the night sky reinforced my certainty that I was somewhere other than Earth. I observed two nearly identical moons, while a third, smaller and dimmer, still unmistakably resembled a moon from my vantage point.
As I pondered this, I gradually drifted off to sleep. Even in slumber, I remained alert, ready to spring into action at the slightest movement.
[3rd person POV]
Next Day...
Our protagonist awoke to the cheerful chirping of the birds, greeted by the warmth of the morning sun shining in all its glory illuminating the world.
After waking up, he did his morning routine, of washing his face and doing some exercises and stretching.
He continued for an hour until he began to sweat. Then he took a refreshing bath in the river and skilfully hunted for fish with his spear, as nimble as a goblin.
Somewhere else in the depths of the forest, the goblin that the main character killed had its body riddled with holes while missing body parts, that showed that it was eaten by predators, it had gathered flies and insects and the body was covered in bad stench but that was not the main attraction as there was group of goblins standing near their dead companion, they looked angry and was blooming with rage for their dead companion.
But the goblin that was a little lacking in height from all the other goblins was a little calm and composed as it looked around the scene, trying to find clues to who could have done it.
They had discovered the body not to long ago, after they noticed that one of their kin was missing, and they searched for him on the routes he used to travel and it didn't take too long for them to find the body of the dead goblin in a state they couldn't even imagine, on the route that was used as emergency for goblins to travel back to the hideout but it seemed like the dead goblin had someone chasing him but before he could reach back to the hideout for help, he was killed.
The goblin that was analysing the scene and trying to imagine the scenario reached a conclusion that this was done by someone that were not in good terms with their kind as the goblin was killed in a very brutal way, as well as his iteams were also missing.
The goblin who analysed this was the leader of the group, he lacked strength and ferocity of an average goblin but this lack was overcome by his intelligence and composition that the goblins lacked highly.
His name was Ko, he is a very high ranking goblin in his tribe. Due to his intellect, he got at such a high position, he would strategic and help the chief take necessary decision for the betterment of their tribe. In lay man term, he could be called an adviser to the chief. And it was a very honourable position for any goblin as it was second to the chief.
So he became the group leader of this group that was assigned to find the missing goblin.
He would not have even bat an eye for the death goblin and would have left it to his subordinates to deal with this as it was not uncommon to find missing goblins after that incident took place.
But he himself came here was because, the dead goblin was his friend, they both grew up with each other's company but due to the twist of fate, the dead goblin was only average and couldn't achieve anything significant but he had achieved something that would have been impossible for normal goblins without the chief's blood.
But at the end they were still friends, and after the tribe reported his disappearance, he took it up himself to look for his friend and it didn't take him too long to find his friend that was already dead.
Ko was extremely angry but he didn't take any irrational steps and suspected the lizard men their enemies for this to instigate them to start a feud with them. Or he was making it too complex and it could be a direct warning by them to signify that it would not be long before they targeted him or someone close to another high ranking official or even worse the chief.
It would be the worst case scenario and the tribe would be nothing more than a ripped fruit ready to be plucked by their enemies, as the goblins would go into a frenzy if something were to happen to their chief or a high ranking official of the tribe, then people would start loosing trust and it would be really bad.
Ko though of multiple scenarios of what could be the motive and who could have done this, but before taking any actions, he must first report it to the chief.
If he desired, he can take actions but it would not be good if the suffer any causalities and he would be undermined by the other officials in front of the chief and his position would be jeopardized and he would definitely not want that to happen.
So he returned back to the tribe, after analysing evrything as well as collecting the weapon that killed his friend to give it to the allies of their tribe so they can smell it and confirm the creature behind this, as every creature has a scent of their own and it would not disappear until it is over a day or two and if it gets washed in the rain and neither of those two occurred.
Unbeknownst to the main character, a lethal threat loomed over him, setting off a chain reaction when he unwittingly took the life of a seemingly inconsequential goblin, thus triggering an unexpected twist of fate...
_____________________________________