Day 6
The soft rustling of leaves and chirping of birds filled the air as the morning sun filtered through the forest canopy. Alexander Maxwell leaned against his spear, his gaze fixed on the barricade they had constructed the day before. It wasn't much—just a few sharpened stakes reinforced with logs—but it was better than nothing.
Elias emerged from the shelter, stretching his arms and yawning. His rusted sword dangled at his side, the blade worn but functional. Alexander had asked him about the weapon once—Elias had shrugged and said he'd stolen it from a mercenary camp years ago. It wasn't ideal, but it had saved his life more than once.
"Alright," Elias said, adjusting the sword's belt. "What's on the agenda today? More chopping wood? Or do we get to do something a little more exciting?"
Alexander rolled his shoulders, his expression calm but focused. "We'll gather more resources first—wood, stone, and anything useful we find. After that, we'll see."
Elias smirked. "You're not much for small talk, are you?"
Alexander glanced at him briefly, his tone dry. "Do you want small talk, or do you want a roof over your head?"
Elias laughed, grabbing his gear. "Fair point."
Gathering Resources
The morning passed quickly as the two men worked in the forest. Alexander's stone axe made steady progress through the smaller trees, while Elias carried the logs back to camp. They had developed an unspoken rhythm, their tasks divided naturally between them.
By the time they stopped to rest, they had gathered enough wood to reinforce another section of the barricade. Alexander sat on a fallen log, wiping sweat from his brow as he drank from his waterskin.
Elias dropped his bundle of wood with a groan, leaning against a tree. "I'll say this much—you work harder than anyone I've ever met. Do you even get tired?"
Alexander gave him a faint smirk. "Not if I can help it."
Elias gave him a wry look. "Let's hope I don't have to keep up with you forever."
Alexander ignored the comment, his focus already shifting back to the work ahead.
A Reminder of Defenses
As they prepared to head back to camp, Alexander's mind returned to the barricade and the unfinished task of fortifying the camp. The stakes they had planted the day before were a good start, but they weren't enough. He would need something stronger, something more organized to protect the growing settlement.
Elias noticed Alexander's furrowed brow. "What's on your mind?"
Alexander glanced at him, hesitating for a moment. "The camp. It's still vulnerable. We'll need to fortify it before anything else."
Elias nodded, his expression turning serious. "You're not wrong. This place is nice and all, but it won't take much to knock it down."
Alexander stood, grabbing his spear. "Then we'll make sure that doesn't happen."
The Discovery
On their way back to camp, Alexander spotted something unusual—a faint trail of broken branches and disturbed leaves leading deeper into the forest. He crouched to inspect the ground, his fingers brushing against the fresh tracks pressed into the soil.
"What's wrong?" Elias asked, stepping closer.
Alexander frowned, gesturing to the tracks. "Something big came through here recently. Look at the depth—this wasn't just a wolf or a deer."
Elias crouched beside him, squinting at the marks. "Great. Just what we need. Another problem."
Alexander straightened, his grip tightening on his spear. "We'll follow it."
Elias raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? You just said we're not safe, and now you want to go poking around after whatever made these tracks?"
Alexander's expression was calm but resolute. "If it's a threat, we need to know what we're dealing with. Better to face it now than wait for it to come to us."
Elias sighed, shaking his head. "Fine. But if I get eaten, I'm blaming you."
Into the Forest
The trail led them deeper into the woods, where the air grew cooler and the shadows darker. Alexander moved cautiously, his spear held at the ready. The tracks became more distinct as they progressed—deep indentations in the soil, broken branches hanging at odd angles.
The faint sound of running water reached their ears, mingling with the rustling of leaves. They came to a small clearing, and Alexander froze, his eyes narrowing.
In the center of the clearing lay the remains of a large animal, its bones stripped clean of flesh. The ground was marked with deep claw marks, and the scent of decay hung heavy in the air.
Elias wrinkled his nose. "Well, that's charming."
Alexander stepped forward cautiously, his gaze scanning the area. "This wasn't a wolf. The bite marks are too big."
Elias glanced around nervously. "Then what was it?"
Before Alexander could answer, a low growl rumbled from the shadows at the edge of the clearing. Both men tensed, their weapons raised as a massive creature stepped into the light.
It was a bear—larger than any Alexander had ever seen, its fur matted with dirt and blood. Its eyes gleamed with a wild, feral light, and its claws scraped against the ground as it advanced.
Elias tightened his grip on his sword. "Well, boss, looks like we found your trail."
The massive bear growled low, its yellowed teeth bared as it advanced into the clearing. Alexander's heart pounded in his chest, his grip tightening on the haft of his spear. The beast was larger than any predator he had faced before, its matted fur and bloodshot eyes giving it a wild, feral look.
"Back slowly," Alexander muttered to Elias, his voice calm but firm. "Don't provoke it."
Elias nodded, his rusted sword raised defensively. "Not planning on poking the bear, trust me."
The bear, however, had no intention of letting them retreat. It roared, shaking the forest with its thunderous cry, and charged.
A Desperate Fight
Alexander sidestepped the beast's initial rush, thrusting his spear into its side. The sharp stone tip pierced through the thick fur and hide, drawing a spurt of blood. The bear roared in pain, swiping with its massive paw. Alexander barely managed to dodge, the claws grazing his shoulder.
"Elias, flank it!" Alexander shouted.
Elias circled around, swinging his sword at the bear's hind legs. The blade bit into muscle, causing the creature to stumble. But the wound only seemed to enrage it further. It whirled around, swiping at Elias, who dove out of the way just in time.
"This thing's insane!" Elias panted, his back pressed against a tree. "What did it eat—rocks?"
Alexander ignored the comment, his mind racing. The bear was too strong to take head-on. Think, focus. Use its strength against it.
An Unexpected Ally
Before the bear could charge again, a voice rang out from the trees. "Duck!"
Without hesitation, Alexander and Elias dropped to the ground as a spear flew through the air, striking the bear squarely in the chest. The beast staggered back, blood oozing from the wound.
A man stepped into the clearing, his movements quick and purposeful. He was tall and lean, with a rugged face and piercing green eyes. His clothing was patched and worn, but he carried himself with confidence. In his hand was a second spear, its tip gleaming in the dim light.
"You two look like you could use some help," the man said, his tone light despite the situation.
Alexander didn't waste time with introductions. "It's not down yet!"
The newcomer nodded, his gaze fixed on the bear. "Then let's finish it."
The bear roared, shaking off the spear embedded in its chest. It lunged toward the man, who sidestepped gracefully and slashed at its neck with a knife he pulled from his belt. The blade struck deep, opening a gash that sent blood spraying across the clearing.
Alexander took the opportunity to strike again, driving his spear into the bear's side. The beast let out a final, pitiful roar before collapsing to the ground, its massive body shaking the earth.
Elias leaned against a tree, his chest heaving. "You've got to be kidding me. That thing just kept going."
Alexander stood over the bear's body, his breathing heavy. "It's done now."
The newcomer wiped his knife on the bear's fur and turned to face them. "Not bad teamwork for a couple of amateurs."
Elias frowned, his eyes narrowing. "And who the hell are you?"
The man smirked. "Name's Tyrell. I was tracking this beast when I heard the commotion. Figured I'd lend a hand before it tore you apart."
Alexander studied Tyrell carefully, his gaze sharp. "What are you doing out here?"
"Same as you, I imagine," Tyrell replied, leaning on his spear. "Trying to survive. Saw your camp a few days back—looked promising. Thought I'd see what kind of people were running it."
Elias muttered under his breath, clearly annoyed. Alexander, however, nodded slowly. "You're welcome to stay, but you'll pull your weight."
Tyrell's smirk widened. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
Mission Complete
As the three men stood in the clearing, the system chimed softly in Alexander's mind.
[Mission Complete: Investigate the Tracks]
Reward: Unlock Second Idea for Path of Hunting.
[Path of Hunting: Second Idea Unlocked]
Idea 2: Predator's Insight Active
Personal Buff: +15% damage against large predators.
Territory Buff: Settlers gain +10% efficiency in hunting large game.
Alexander barely acknowledged the notification, his focus still on Tyrell. The man was clearly skilled, and his help had been invaluable. But Alexander couldn't ignore the nagging question of why Tyrell had been watching their camp in the first place.
"Let's get back to camp," Alexander said, breaking the silence. "We'll talk more there."
Elias groaned, wiping his sword on the grass. "Yeah, because hauling this thing back sounds like a great time."
Tyrell chuckled. "Don't worry. I'll handle the heavy lifting." He slung the bear's massive carcass over his shoulders with surprising ease, his lean frame belying his strength.
Alexander raised an eyebrow but said nothing. As the group began their trek back to camp, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of relief and caution. Tyrell might be useful, but I'll need to keep an eye on him. Trust is earned, not given.