Jessica stared in shock as the small, aardvark-like creature twitched. She had thrown her spear as it fled from Iris and somehow managed to score a direct hit. She hadn’t thought about it and just chucked the spear on instinct, completely surprising herself.

  “I actually did it…”

  Monster Eliminated - Chardbark LvL 4

  Experience gained.

  “Chardbark, huh? Seems appropriate.”

  The creature was certainly similar to an aardvark from Earth, at least as far as its face and size went. However, its hide looked like tree bark, like it had glued some to itself to use as armor. Even stranger were the veins along the ridges of the bark, glowing faintly like there was a smoldering fire just beneath the surface.

  Kind of like when you ember up in Dark Souls 3, Jessica thought.

  That was her dad’s favorite Soulsborne game, though he didn’t play games too often. She personally preferred Elden Ring. Her brother was actually the one who had gotten her into—

  Something flew at her, yanking her out of her thoughts.

  “Aaah!!!”

  No, more like popping into existence. It was blue, square, and glowed softly… A System screen.

  You have learned a new active skill!

  Spear Throw lvl 1

  Throw your spear with force and precision.

  Accuracy scales with Dexterity; damage scales with Strength.

  “Oh… It’s a new skill?” she muttered, rubbing the back of her hand to soothe the trembling as she stared at it. “Guess I… did something right, huh?”

  She flicked the messages away and then checked for Iris, who approached the kill and then used a single paw to turn it over, the spear embedded in its back not allowing her to get it all the way around. She pulled and pushed at it, apparently wanting to get at its belly.

  “Oh! Let me,” Jessica said, running over and then quickly dislodging the spear. She then grimaced as Iris began biting into its belly.

  Well, we’re going to have to eat something other than jerky while we’re out here… I can’t eat raw meat like she can, though. I’d most likely get sick…

  She decided to let Iris enjoy her meal and simply paced around for a moment, eyes scanning through the trees. The forest was getting darker and darker as the sun came down, and the air was beginning to take on a bit of a chill.

  After killing the “Feral Scalehound,” most of the day had been spent following Iris around as the pup sniffed at the ground, seeking prey. This was only their second successful kill since then.

  We need to camp somewhere… But arn’t we at risk of being attacked in the middle of the night? Where can we go that’s safe?

  She held her hand in front of her face, observing the slight shaking still in her fingertips. She then closed a fist to stop it and took a deep breath. There was nothing quite like the experience of fighting that bigger monster when they had first gotten here. Though her nerves still shook her, she felt more and more like she could handle all of this.

  She didn’t know what kind of kill would get Valrok’s approval. Probably something bigger than the Scalehound. While she didn’t feel particularly intent on gaining his approval, she also didn’t want to be stuck out here for even longer if he made good on his threat to leave her.

  Besides… killing things is how I get stronger in this world… This isn’t like Earth, where I can study something safe in a classroom, and I don’t think this world or my situation is going to change any time soon.

  She sighed, realizing this is the only kind of life that was available to her now. The life of a warrior. She enjoyed playing video games, but it only took her a day out here in the wilderness to realize she never wanted to live in one.

  A faint crunch made her look back. Iris was licking her muzzle clean, tail flicking once in satisfaction before she turned her head sharply toward the deepening shadows between the trees. Her ears perked, pupils narrowing as she sniffed the air.

  “All done?” Jessica asked.

  Iris didn’t answer, of course, but she stepped away from the Chardbark corpse and gave a low, rumbling huff—her “this way” signal, as Jessica was learning.

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  “Um, I think we should stop hunting for the night, Iris,” Jessica said. She didn’t know why she tried talking to the pup, it’s not like she could truly understand her.

  Jessica sighed as she followed, still glancing around at the ever-darkening woods.

  Should I look for things to make a fire? She wondered, directing her focus to the ground. There were plenty of old leaves to use as kindling, and while she had seen how her father from earth would start bonfires behind their trailer, he had kerosene and a proper torch lighter to get it started. Not to mention plenty of dried pine wood, which he would get burning real nicely before throwing some hardwood on top. He also had an axe to split the bigger logs into more easily burnable wedges.

  How the heck was she supposed to start a fire with nothing but flint and dried leaves?

  Well, that’s how people used to do it. People can even do it just by rubbing sticks together…

  She and her brother had tried the stick method when they were little, but the attempt only lasted a few minutes before they lost interest and went to find something else to do.

  Iris led her deeper into the woods, and looking up and around, Jessica realized the woodland was actually thickening. That seemed more dangerous, where something could come at them from literally any angle.

  “Iris, I really think we should…” Jessica sighed as the pup ignored her and continued on. “Never mind…”

  She definitely did not feel like the master in this relationship. She could only imagine what Valrok would say if he were here now. Even her aunt might have given her some kind of dressing down about needing to grow a backbone and being commanded by something a fifth of her size. However, last time Jessica tried to raise her voice and command the pup, it was met with an eyebream being shot at her feet, so she didn’t dare.

  Besides, Jessica didn't really have any desire to be in a position to boss Iris around. If the pup trusted her, that would be one thing, but not the way Valrok wanted.

  As the forest got darker, she noticed a green glow of some luminescent mushrooms clinging to a tree. Jessica looked at them curiously but did not consider eating them for even a second. She was sure anything that glowed like that would certainly poison her, and she had already used her healing potion, so she couldn’t risk it.

  Finally, Iris stopped, stared into the thickets for a moment, then proceeded forward. However, this time she didn’t drop into a stalking crouch like she usually would when she had tracked some prey.

  Instead, the pup walked towards a cluster of thick roots and tangled vines at the base of a large tree. She trotted back and forth around it for a moment, sniffing as if searching for something. Then, she looked back at Jessica expectantly.

  “Huh? What is it, girl?”

  Iris gave a short grunt and poked her nose into a shadowed space beneath the root. She forced it up with her head, then got low as she crawled inside.

  Jessica blinked, then followed, getting down on her hands and knees to see Iris turning circles around the enclosed space until finally lying down.

  Oh, she was looking for a shelter. I guess this is the best we can ask for right now.

  Jessica took off the backpack so it wouldn’t snag, and lifted the roots as she crawled inside. It was spacious enough, she supposed. She didn’t love the idea of sleeping on the ground or the thought of how many bugs would be crawling over her throughout the night, but she figured this was as good as it was going to get.

  Besides, Iris had already made her decision, and Jessica didn’t have any better ideas herself.

  Once inside, Jessica lay on her side, hugging her backpack to her chest, knees curled up under it. There wasn’t enough room to stretch out her legs. She adjusted herself in the small space, getting a little closer to Iris, who promptly gave her a growl that said, “Don’t even think about it.”

  “Okay, okay, personal space. Fine,” Jessica muttered and backed off an inch or two, which was all the space she really had.

  Jessica laid her head on the ground, wondering if she’d actually be able to get any sleep like this. This place didn’t offer much protection, but it was better than being out in the open, she supposed.

  Her eyes drifted over to Iris, who had positioned herself so that her nose was pointing out of the little den. Everywhere else the roots were so thick, so from that position, nothing could get at them without Iris at least seeing it first.

  Jessica felt her stomach rumble and realized she hadn’t had a proper meal all day. Iris was at least well fed on their kills throughout the day. Jessica shuffled the backpack around and reached blindly inside until she found the jerky. She tore off a strip and put it into her mouth. It was the best-tasting jerky she ever had in her life. She had once heard someone say, “Hunger is the best spice,” and that was certainly proving itself true at the moment.

  After that strip, she tore off another, then another. When finally there was only one strip left, she didn’t even think it was worth rationing, so she ate that as well.

  If I can’t make a fire tomorrow, I won’t be able to eat… unless I take a chance on some berries.

  It took a long time for her to fall asleep, and the night grew colder and colder. The vines may have given them relative safety, but they were not quite thick enough to hold in her body heat. Jessica curled around the backpack even tighter. She could hear Iris’s soft breathing.

  Iris probably isn’t cold. She has a nice, thick, natural coat. Wish she liked me a little better. She’d probably be warmer than this backpack…

  Somehow, Jessica did finally manage to drift off to sleep, though it wasn’t a very deep sleep.

  But soon, her eyes shot open again as she heard a sound.

  Her breath caught as she strained her ears. This wasn’t the chirping of insects or the cracking of branches swaying in the breeze.

  It was a low, rhythmic thud… thud… thud…

  Iris had already lifted her head and scooted further back into hiding, away from the opening. Her ears were folded back.

  Jessica didn’t dare move or make a sound.

  The thud grew louder and closer. It vibrated the ground beneath her.

  Through the thin gap between roots, just enough moonlight filtered through the canopy to reveal a massive silhouette moving through the trees.

  It was thick and four-legged, but she couldn’t make out much else.

  The behemoth lumbered closer, and Jessica stopped breathing, feeling like that alone would be enough to give away where they were hiding.

  The beast stopped, something lifting away from its face. It looked like tentacles, snapping down along the ground.

  What the hell is that thing!? she cried internally.

  Then, it lifted its head and turned in the opposite direction, slowly lumbering away from her.

  She must have let herself breathe at some point, but it felt like at least a full five minutes before she took her next breath.

  Is something like that what Valrok wanted her to kill? She couldn’t possibly do that!

  But it was gone, at least.

  Jessica lay there, trying to get her nerves under control enough to sleep. She wouldn’t be any good tomorrow if she didn’t get at least some rest in.

  Then, she heard a slight rustling much closer, and it made her heart jump. But it was only Iris.

  The pup scooted a little closer to her, not quite snuggling with her, but not trying to force as much distance as possible anymore.

  Jessica, despite everything else, couldn’t help smiling at that.

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