Sam jolted awake, a sharp pain radiating from his side that felt like a fiery brand. He gasped, instinctively clutching the bandage that covered his injury. As he lifted it slightly, the sight sent a wave of nausea crashing over him. The wound was an angry shade of red, pus oozing out and pooling at the edges.
His heart raced as the interface flickered to life before him, a reminder of his grim reality: "Your wound will become infected with bacteria if you don't treat it."
"New Objective: Cauterize the wound.
Reward: 10 Primal Points"
Panic surged through him as he understood the implication. Cauterize. It meant searing the flesh, a painful method to stop the spread of bacteria. He glanced at the flickering fire, its warm glow contrasting the dread pooling in his gut.
Taking a deep breath, he focused on the knife he had crafted, holding it up to his gaze. It gleamed in the light, a makeshift tool that suddenly felt far too inadequate for the task ahead. He knew he had to act fast.
With shaky hands, he grabbed the knife, his heart racing. He positioned himself close to the fire, the flames dancing like hungry spirits. He heated the blade until it glowed, each second stretching into eternity. The heat radiated toward him, mixing with the cold sweat on his brow.
Kira stirred beside him, her innocent gaze looking up as if sensing the gravity of the moment. "I've got to do this," he whispered to her, trying to muster courage.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the knife was ready. Sam swallowed hard, the taste of iron in his mouth as he raised the knife to his side. He hesitated, gritting his teeth as the heat of the blade barely tickled the gash.
"Okay... One, two..."
"Three!"
He pressed the blade to his wound, feeling the heat sear his skin. A scream clawed its way up his throat, but he bit down hard, forcing himself to stay still. The pain exploded, sharp and white-hot, sending shockwaves through his body.
"Aghmmffff!"
He pressed harder, willing himself to stay conscious. The scent of singed flesh filled the air, mingling with the smoke from the fire. The world around him faded, leaving only the focus on Kira, who watched him intently, her big eyes filled with concern.
When it was over, he fell back against the cave wall, panting. The pain still throbbed, but he felt a rush of relief wash over him—he had done it.
The system chimed in with a notification: Objective completed: Cauterize the wound. Reward: 10 Primal Points.
As the pain from the cauterization subsided into a dull throb, Sam felt his eyelids growing heavy.
He fought to stay awake, but exhaustion pulled at him, deeper and deeper, until he could no longer resist. Just as he felt himself slipping into the darkness, he whispered, "Kira... stay close," before everything faded to black.
When Sam finally blinked his eyes open, the dim light of the fire revealed a world that felt both familiar and foreign. The flickering flames cast dancing shadows on the cave walls, and he could see Kira curled up in his lap, her tiny form breathing softly. He smiled at her innocence, a brief reprieve from the harsh reality outside.
With a sigh, he tossed a few branches onto the dwindling fire, watching as the flames sputtered and fought to regain their strength. The warmth enveloped him, but the chill of the night crept into his bones.
As he settled back against the cave wall, he shook his head. He couldn't shake the realization that survival was a relentless grind. He needed more resources—more firewood, more food, more everything. The world was unforgiving, and he had to adapt quickly if he wanted to keep both himself and Kira safe.
Sam opened his interface and navigated to the Starter Kit Module, his eyes landing on the spear. With a deep breath, he spent 10 Primal Points, and in an instant, the spear materialized in his hand. He set it down beside him with a weary sigh, too exhausted and in too much pain to celebrate this small victory.
"Survivalist Module unlocked," the system announced, and he couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope amidst his pain.
He opened the interface, his heart racing as he stared at the dazzling array of new crafting options laid out before him like a treasure map. Each glowing cube pulsed with potential—sharper tools, stronger gear, and items he could only dream of just hours ago. But as he scrolled through the options, the Primal Point costs caught his eye. They were higher.
The first crafting option that caught Sam's eye was a rugged Hidesack, crafted from animal pelts and designed for storing vital supplies. It promised to make gathering easier, allowing him to haul more without exhausting himself.
He focused on the Hidesack, noting the cost: 15 Primal Points.
As Sam absorbed the details of the Hidesack, the interface flickered again, a new prompt materializing before him:
New objective: Hunt for Food.
Reward: 10 Primal Points
His stomach growled in response, a painful reminder of how little he'd eaten lately. The thought of more berries didn't quite cut it anymore. He needed something substantial, something that would fuel him.
Glancing down at Kira, who was still peacefully curled up in his lap, he felt a surge of responsibility. He couldn't let her down. She needed real food too. Sam pushed himself to his feet, wincing as pain radiated from his side. He clutched the newly crafted spear, its weight reassuring in his hand, and held Kira to his chest.
"Alright, girl," he murmured, gently nudging Kira awake with his nose. Her big eyes blinked up at him, and she stretched, yawning. "Time to find us a real meal." Sam carefully tucked Kira into his jacket, her tiny body nestled close for warmth.
He stepped outside the cave, the chill biting at his skin. The world was quieter now, a soft blanket of snow covering everything in sight. Sam scanned the area, looking for any signs of movement. He recalled the bear from yesterday, but he couldn't afford to think about it now. He needed to focus.
He moved cautiously, his senses heightened, every rustle of snow or distant crack of ice amplifying his awareness. The spear felt like an extension of himself as he traversed the terrain, seeking out anything he could hunt. Sam knew he had to be smart about this—his injury made him vulnerable, and he couldn't afford another close call.
As he ventured further, a faint rustling caught his attention. He froze, crouching low behind a cluster of snow-dusted bushes. His heart raced as he spotted movement: a small herd of deer. They were grazing, blissfully unaware of the danger lurking nearby.
"Okay, this is it," Sam whispered, adrenaline surging through him. He carefully positioned himself, taking a deep breath to steady his shaking hands. He had one shot at this.
Sam's heart pounded as he took aim, the spear feeling solid and sure in his hands. He tensed his muscles, narrowing his focus on the nearest deer. This was his moment.
With a swift, confident thrust, he launched the spear forward. Sam's spear left his hand in an awkward arc.
The deer bolted.
The spear struck the snow with a dull thud, embedding itself uselessly in the ground where the deer had been standing just a second earlier. Sam blinked, his breath catching in his throat as the rest of the herd scattered, their white tails flashing as they disappeared into the woods.
"Dammit!" he hissed under his breath, frustration surging through him. His fingers twitched, and for a second, he stood frozen, watching the snow settle where his spear now lay uselessly.
His stomach growled again, reminding him of the stakes. He wasn't just hunting for sport—this was survival.
He trudged through the snow to retrieve his spear, his chest tight with disappointment.
"Great job," he muttered, pulling the spear out of the snow. His fingers felt cold, his breath misting in front of him. "That could've been food for days."
Sam crouched low, studying the tracks in the snow.
"Let's keep moving, Kira," he said, adjusting his grip on his spear. His side ached, but there wasn't time to rest now. He had a new objective and a dwindling fire back in the cave waiting for him.