Chereads / Reborn as a fox in a game like world / Chapter 13 - Curiosity killed the fox?

Chapter 13 - Curiosity killed the fox?

As I traveled back towards where I fist saw the pair of moss rats I encounter 2 more, both at separate occasions. I had no trouble taking them down with my new technique, gaining myself another 60 xp in the process.

As I get deeper into the forest, I start to see moss rats in groups of 3 and even some in groups of 4. They all seem to be carrying some kind of beast somewhere, some are carrying some strange looking birds, whilst others are carrying what looks like, green rabbits.

I don't attack any of them, there's no way I can deal with more than two at a time but I do start following them from a distance, using my sneak skill.

I would also like to know where they got the rabbits from but I doubt they would just tell me, so I'll have to work it out my self. I've taken note of the direction they came from so I can explore it later anyways.

After following one of the groups for a little while, I see the groups I'm following enter a large thicket of bushes, I don't follow them in because that would just be suicide. I am curious why they're taking so much food back though.

I'm guessing this is where their nest is located and judging by the amount of food they're bringing back, there's a lot of them in there.

I decide I hang around to see if I can follow either a singles moss rat or a pair. I feel like I am close to leveling up, just a few more kills and I can reach level 4. I'm a good 20 meters away from the thicket of bushes that they keep disappearing into, so the only time I really have to worry is if they pass by my hiding spot.

After waiting about 15 minutes, I start to doubt that I will find any prey this way. The only moss rats that I have seen leave the thicket, are all in groups of 4 or 5, but just as the sixth group emerges from the thicket something disastrous happened.

My stealth skill deactivates. I hurriedly try to reactivate it, but I can tell before I even try that its not going to work.

In a panic, I check my status. Yep my MP's all gone. Only now did I realise that I've stupidly using my stealth skill without knowing anything about it. Not only that but I've repeatedly been using my shadow magic and dash skill to fight. Of course it run out. How stupid must I be not to realise this sooner? 

As I'm thinking about my own negligence, several loud screeches bring me back to my senses.

Damn! I got distracted when skill deactivated! This isn't good. I've got no MP, so I can't use shadow magic or my dash skill!

I start sprinting back towards the stream. I can already hear several more screeches behind me with can only mean more rats are joining in. I got discovered way to close to there home, with all the noice they're making, I wouldn't be surprised if the whole nest comes chasing after me!

I sprint through the forest, weaving in and out of the trees, trying to make any mistakes because I know as soon as I do, my life is going to be over.

Why did I even follow them this far? I knew I couldn't fight more than 2 of them at a time, yet I followed them to their nest where there are tens, if not hundreds of them! All these thoughts are running through my mind as I run for my life.

SCREEEECH!

For some reason that last screech sounded louder than the rest, but also further away at the same time. I want to look back to see what it was but I can't risk tripping over. I carry on sprinting, but I am unsure how much longer I can keep going. 

SCREEEECH!

It's the same screech as before, but it sounds a lot closer now! I can't help it. I have to take a quick look. I take a quick glance back , just to turn back around and start running even more vigorously.

Oh god I'm going to die! 

Behind me is a moss rat at least twice the size of the others. its claws were black instead of the user greenish colour and its teeth were pointed like daggers, fitting perfectly into its mouth unlike the other moss rats who had square teeth producing from the mouth. It was charging towards me, not caring about all the other moss rats it was barging out off its path. 

This must have been the rat boss! 

Why was it chasing me? the boss is meant to stay at home, and let all the minions do the work! It has no place charging through the forest chasing me! The only good this is, most of the other moss rats seem to have backed off, trusting the mr boss rat to kill me.

That is until I see the 3 rats infant of me! I don't know if they planned to corner me, or if they just heard the commotion and came running, but either way I'm screwed! I have no choice but to try and get threw them! 

Running straight at them, I duck as the first one takes a swing at me with its claws, immediately jumping after and using bite on its neck, nearly detaching its head from its body.

[ding!] 

[you have killed a moss rat and gained 30 xp]

as soon as I land on the floor another claw comes swinging at me. I don't get a chance to dodge this one and am left with no choice but to take the hit.

"Ahh!"

I grunt in pain before returning a scratch at its face with my own claws, knowing it's not going to be enough to kill it, I lunge at it and use bite ending its life quickly.

[ding]

[you have killed a moss rat and gained 30 xp]

I turn thinking the last one is going to attack me just to see it go flying past me! 

The rat boss is finally upon me! I try to start running again but before I get more than 2 steps a huge impact sends me flying. Feeling a searing pain in my side I can't help but think about how stupid I was.

if only I hadn't followed the rats to there nest. If only I hadn't let my curiosity get the better of me. I can't help remember the old saying 'curiosity killed the cat'. well I guess in this case it's curiosity killed the fox!