Waking up that morning, Scott felt fantastic, even better than great. He felt amazing. With a quick glance at the system he saw…..

  **Survive 171 / 180 days left in the tutorial**

  He checked his status and saw that his stamina was almost fully recovered, and his HP was nearly back to normal. Just one point of Vitality damage remained, and he would be back to his new baseline. Looking around, he found a sturdy ironwood branch that could serve as a walking stick and decided to convert it into a fishing pole.

  Using the strong vines he found nearby, he fashioned a makeshift hook from a smaller piece of ironwood, using his axe. It took him at least ten attempts before he finally created one that worked, the hook not breaking under the pressure of the sharp blade. He also tied a shiny piece of metal he found in Chad's bag to the end as a lure and headed to the river.

  The river wasn't too far from the tree where he had slept. Once he arrived, he started fishing. Now, Scott was a decent fisherman, but he had a little secret: he didn't particularly enjoy the taste of fish unless it was smothered in tartar sauce. He forced himself to eat them for the protein they provided.

  After a few minutes of waiting, he finally got a bite. He gave a slight tug, and the fish came flying out of the water, nearly slapping him in the face with its tail fin before landing beside him. "I guess I don't know my own strength," he mused. He scanned the fish:

  [Draconic River Trout (lvl 1)]

  "Okay, not bad, about 25 inches," he noted. Using more vine as rope, he hung it from a tree next to him to keep it fresh. He checked the line to make sure it was still intact and cast it again. A few minutes later, he got another bite. This time, it gave him a real fight, nearly snapping the line. But he managed to pull it in, and it turned out to be another:

  [Draconic River Trout (lvl 3)]

  "Okay, this sucker was huge, weighing about double the size of the other one, and it's sitting at around 48 inches long," he observed. He hung that one up as well and decided to try for one more. "Why not? I'm on a roll here," he thought. He dropped the line, and this time, he got a bite after a few more minutes, but this one was a big one. He pulled and pulled, and as it came out of the water, it started glowing. This time, it wasn't a fish. It was a magical chest! He kept yanking until finally, the line snapped. He dropped the makeshift pole on the side of the river and jumped in after it. Using his Beast Mode to keep up with the current, he caught up with the chest and managed to pull it out of the river.

  "Man, it's my lucky day," he thought. He dragged the chest up the riverbank to his fishing spot and sat down to examine his prize. The lure and hook were still embedded in the chest. "Bonus! I thought I would have to make another," he said, pleased. He stashed the hook in his bag and opened the chest to find... a magical cowboy hat.

  [Cowboy Hat of the Raging Bull(Rare)]

  This sturdy, well-worn cowboy hat is fashioned from the premium hide of a wild bull, and it carries the faint scent of leather and dust. The brim is wide and curved, giving the wearer an imposing silhouette, and its solid construction seems to instill a sense of untamed freedom. Abilities: Bull's Rider (Passive): This hat grants the wearer an innate connection to large, powerful creatures. You gain a significant bonus to riding and taming with large beasts, making you feel more secure and confident on their backs.

  "Eh, it's at least black, which is my favorite color. But it's not really me. I'll wear it until I get something better," Scott decided, placing the hat on his head. He reached into the chest again and pulled out another item:

  [Compass of Searching(Ancient)]

  This compass is an ancient relic, its bronze casing weathered and etched with symbols that predate recorded history. Its needle, made of an unknown, iridescent material, does not point north, but instead trembles with a faint, otherworldly energy. It was thought to be lost for centuries, only to be rediscovered and found to be in perfect working condition, as if time itself has no effect on it. Abilities: The Heart's Desire (Active): Once a month, the wielder can activate the compass. Its needle will spin wildly before settling on a single, unwavering direction. This path, though it may be long and arduous, will lead the user to their deepest, most profound desire, be it a forgotten treasure, a lost loved one, or a long-sought answer.

  "So I found my ticket to my group," Scott mused. "Even though the once-a-month usage is harsh, I can also use it to find my family. Decisions, decisions."

  “Something I just realized is that once an item is removed, the chest vanishes. Oh well, maybe someday I will find a Bag of Holding or something," he said aloud, half-jokingly, directing the comment towards the "System", hoping to plant a suggestion for future magical item drops.

  Scott grabbed all his belongings and headed back to his tree, deciding to set up a fire and cook the fish he had caught. On the way, he gathered more sticks and kindling for the fire. Once back at his campsite, he moved about 20 yards away from the tree to avoid accidentally setting it ablaze and constructed a rotisserie-style campfire using ironwood branches. While the food was cooking, he decided to fix his makeshift fishing pole and make another one for David. Taking his time, he carved intricate designs into the pole, depicting an owl and a bear playing among the pines. He then grabbed another sturdy branch and began crafting twenty fishing hooks for future use.

  The smaller fish was soon cooked to perfection. Scott carefully removed it from the fire and offered a silent prayer of thanks before digging in. Instead of using his poisonous dagger, he opted for his mundane one, but a thought occurred to him. "It's actually a great idea to try a little bit at a time so I can become less and less affected by poisons," he mused. He cleaned the fish, removing the scales, fins, and tail, and then took his first bite. "Okay, not bad. Cooked fish isn't too bad. Cooking it over a fire adds a slight smoky flavor," he thought.

  As he was enjoying his meal, two large men, who bore a striking resemblance to Chad, walked up to the fire. "Greetings, dude. Have you seen a big dude like us around these woods? We're looking for our brother," the first man said.

  "Ah, not this again," Scott thought. Aloud, he replied, "Can you give me a second to finish my meal? Just have a seat near the fire and take a load off your feet." He paused, then asked, "Are you hungry?" He pulled the larger fish off the spit and began to prepare it in front of them on a stump he was using as a makeshift table.

  "Ha ha, yeah, I could go for some food," the big guy on the right said.

  "No, brother, we should find Chad and head back to the Fallen," the other man countered.

  "May I ask, who is 'The Fallen'? And what are your names, again? I must've missed it," Scott asked, offering them pieces of the cooked fish.

  "I'm Leroy, and this dude here is my dude Holland," Leroy said.

  "Dude, we're not supposed to tell anyone anything. Just find Chad," Holland countered.

  "What, we're fine. This little guy here isn't going to hurt us. I mean, he's giving us food," Leroy said, gesturing to the fish.

  Holland, however, stood up, his eyes narrowing as he took in Scott's gear. "Dude, that's Chad's chest guard."

  "Wait, what? Dude, and that's Chad's axe," Leroy added, moving to stand beside Holland, his expression hardening.

  "Now, now, guys, let's not do anything crazy. Calm down," Scott said, trying to defuse the situation.

  "Dude, what did you do to my brother?" Holland demanded, pulling out an axe similar to Chad's. Leroy hefted a great sword onto his shoulder. "Dude, you're a dead man."

  "Well, I guess the pleasantries are over," Scott said, his tone shifting. "Yes, your brother has passed, and it was by my sword. Though I didn't do it out of spite or anger. The lady, Natalia, tried to kill him, and I tried to save his life. He, in turn, attacked me."

  "He killed Chad! Get him!" Holland roared, rushing forward with his axe raised high.

  Scott transformed, his eyes glowing yellow and then shifting to a menacing red as he activated Mark of Prey (An ability that he forgets about often) on Holland and into his heat vision. He drew both of his short swords from their sheaths and lunged forward to meet Holland head-on. Scott struck first, slicing one short sword across Holland's fingers, severing his pinky and ring fingers, while the other sword struck the side of his temple with the hilt. He landed on his feet as Holland stumbled into the fire, screaming in pain.

  Leroy charged in with his great sword, slashing down at Scott. Scott rolled backward, planting his feet on the stump he had been sitting on, and launched himself forward. This time, he crossed his blades to block the great sword, his body flipping in mid-air and pushing the great sword down. Leroy's upward swing overpowered him, launching Scott straight up into the air. Scott rotated and kicked Leroy's chest, sending himself flying backward to land on one of the ironwood tree branches piercing his right arm.

  Holland was now screaming in agony as he rolled out of the fire, his face charred. Ignoring his own injuries Leroy pulled the stick out of his arm, picking up his sword he dropped, he bolted forward and chopped at the tree, intending to bring it down on Scott, but the sword became lodged in the trunk. Scott, perched on the branch, turned his body and dropped down, both swords pointed downward, sinking his blades deep into the back of Leroy’s neck as he landed on him, riding him to the ground. He tried to pull his swords free, but they were stuck.

  Holland, fueled by rage and pain, stood up and roared, his fingers bleeding from the wound caused by Scott's sword. He charged at Scott as fast as he could, using his axe as a makeshift crutch, and grabbing his deceased brother's axe that was leaning against a tree before swinging Chad's axe with one hand at Scott's midsection. Scott, seeing the attack, bailed, leaving his swords behind, and ducked under the swing, dropping into a push-up position as the axe narrowly missed his scalp, knocking his cowboy hat off. He pushed up with all his might and moved to Holland's backside, pulling out Chad's [Dagger of Reckoning(Rare)] stabbing the dagger into the back of Holland's right knee and activated its power. An explosion blew Holland's knee off, separating his lower leg from his body.

  But there was a miscalculation on Scott's part. Holland, still spinning with the momentum of his attack, caught Scott's chest plate with the edge of his axe, launching him twenty yards until he slammed into the trunk of a tree. A large branch impaled his right forearm, and his shoulder dislocated from the impact. Now, Scott was hanging ten feet up in the air, impaled and helpless. He lost his grip on the dagger, and it fell to the ground beneath him.

  Holland, still driven by a murderous rage, crawled towards Scott. Using his legs, Scott swung back and forth until he could grab hold of the branch with his left hand. He began to move his impaled forearm towards the end of the branch to free himself. Holland, using both axes as crutches, got up onto his knees and hobbled over to Scott.

  Scott finally freed himself and dropped to the ground, landing on his feet. Holland, moving forward, lifted Chad's axe again in one hand while leaning on the other axe. Scott, his right arm hanging limply at his side, grabbed the dagger in his left hand and ran towards the crippled giant. Holland swung at him again and missed as Scott rammed his dislocated shoulder into the axe, which Holland was using as a crutch, popping his shoulder back into place. Holland fell to the ground, his axe clattering to the side.

  Scott, now enraged and desperate, grew his fangs as he rolled to his feet and moved towards Holland, who was attempting to get up onto his knee. Scott jumped onto Holland's back, jamming the dagger into the back of his collar, just above his armor. He pulled himself towards Holland's neck and bit down hard, tearing into the side of his throat. Holland thrashed and failed to dislodge Scott, even managing to hit him in the head a few times, until Holland finally stopped moving.

  Scott, covered in blood, realized he was losing a lot of blood from his impaled forearm. He began to feel lightheaded and dizzy. His vision blurring, Scott stood up and stumbled towards the campfire, managing a few steps before collapsing face-first onto the ground.

  With a groan, he pushed himself back up onto his hand and knees and crawled the rest of the way to his bag. Pulling out a healing potion, he uncorked it with his mouth, spitting the cork to the side, and downed the liquid as quickly as he could. The world swam around him, and then, mercifully, he began to pass out. “Not again…”

  An owl flew high above the forest under the moonlight, searching far and wide, and spotted fresh bodies lying below the treetops. Landing nearby, only a few feet away, the owl transformed into David, a human with a cloak and an axe-staff that he created in his free time attached to his back by leather straps. Moving cautiously into the camp, keeping an eye out for any lurking danger, he noticed three bodies.

  Checking the first body, which was missing part of a leg and had its throat ripped out. "Ha ha, well, that guy is definitely dead," David said, moving on to the next body. This one had two short swords impaled in its shoulder. He checked the pulse and found none. "This one is too," he whispered.

  Moving along, he noticed one more person lying on the ground with a bottle in hand and a large, gaping wound in his forearm. He checked for a pulse. "Well, this one's alive," he mumbled, moving the hunched body back to see Scott's face, unconscious and bleeding.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  "Again, dude?" he said with a sigh of relief. "Hang in there, buddy," David said loudly, trying to rouse him. After casting a few healing spells, he saw Scott's forearm begin to seal up, and Scott's eyes fluttered open. "Ha ha, welcome back to the living," David said, handing him another bottle of healing potion.

  "David, is that you? Am I dead?" Scott asked, coming to.

  "Not yet, buddy. Stay still for a bit until your body heals up," David replied.

  "So, how's it going?" Scott asked jokingly, pulling himself over to a tree to sit against.

  "Ha ha, not bad. We found a new camp and are doing well. How about you? Looks like you've been roughing it," David said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

  "Heh, yeah, so it's been hell and great at the same time. Oh, that reminds me, I made you something," Scott said, pointing towards his bag. "There are two fishing poles made of ironwood sitting there, and yours is the one with the bear fighting an owl in the forest etched into it. I managed to make a few hooks out of ironwood branches too."

  "Very nice," David said, looking it over with appreciation before sitting down by the fire. "Hey, is there any fish left?" Scott asked, looking around.

  David walked over and found one large piece lying on the ground. "Do you want some of it? I found it lying here on the ground next to the fire," David said, picking it up and dusting the dirt off the large chunk of meat. "We can toss it on the fire and burn the dirt off."

  "Eh, I just wondered if you were hungry, since I caught it myself. I wanted to share it with you," Scott replied, a hint of playful sarcasm in his tone.

  "No, thank you. I'm not hungry. I already had a good meal before the search. George made some rabbit stew," David replied.

  "Nice. Is everyone still alive? How is Geist doing?" Scott asked.

  "They are fine. I made it to level 10 today," David said with a smile.

  "Oh, what did that entail?" Scott asked, popping the cork on a healing potion and gulping it down.

  "You get to choose a new race and another ability," David explained, setting the fish back over the fire.

  "What race did you choose? I mean, you still look human," Scott asked curiously.

  "So, you start to take on bits and pieces of the race, like the race abilities. I went for Trollkin, a half-giant-looking troll that regenerates health unless affected by fire. The ability I took allows me to now heal limbs, but the downside is that it takes a lot of mana," David said.

  "Nice. I see you have some new snazzy gloves," Scott replied, attempting to get up but then sitting back down with a wince.

  "Dude, you need to rest," David cautioned.

  "I know, I just want my weapons that are in that guy over there with the big sword," Scott said, gesturing weakly.

  "Ah, I can grab those for you," David said, walking over to Leroy's corpse. He transformed into an Owlbear and, after a few tugs, pulled both swords free. As he did so, Leroy's body fell, and a stein came rolling out. "Is that a magic stein?" David asked, bending over to pick it up.

  [Singing Stein(Rare)]

  This ornate pewter stein is cool to the touch and engraved with intricate musical notes that seem to dance along its surface. When empty, it feels impossibly light. It is said that the stein has a personality of its own, but it will only reveal itself to those who share its love of song. Abilities: The Bartender's Song (Active): To activate the stein's magic, you must sing a song. As you do, the stein will join in with a beautiful harmony of its own. Once the song is complete, the stein will fill itself with any non-magical drink of your choosing. This ability can be used once every 5 minutes. Bottomless Stein (Passive): This stein can hold up to 1 liter of fluid. Once filled, the drink will never spoil or lose its flavor.

  "Can I have this?" David asked, his eyes wide with excitement and a huge smile on his face.

  "Yeah, if you share, I don't care. But would you mind looting the bodies and tossing them into the river while I check my system messages?" Scott asked.

  "Yeah, sure," David said, already starting to sing campfire songs to the stein, which began to fill with a frothy liquid as the stein began singing with him.

  A few minutes passed, and David returned with a pile of items, setting them down before Scott. "After looking over the bodies, this is what I found,"

  [Great sword of Blood Reign(Rare)]

  This great sword is a terrifying sight to behold. Its blade is a deep, crimson hue, and it seems to perpetually drip with a non-existent liquid. The hilt is wrapped in the leather of an unknown creature, and the pommel is a small, menacing skull. The sword feels heavy in your hands, as if it has a thirst for blood. Abilities: Blood Harvester (Passive): The sword is an exceptional tool for collecting blood from the battlefield. When it is swung, it can gather blood droplets from the ground and the air, storing them within the blade for later use. Sanguine Shards (Active): Once per day, you can lift the blood in a 30ft radius as powerful projectiles. The sword will use your mana to crystallize the collected blood into countless sharp, razor-thin blades, which you can then fling towards your enemies with incredible force, dealing massive damage.

  [Great axe of Winged Supreme(Rare)]

  This great axe is an impressive and fearsome weapon. Its long, curved blade is a masterpiece of steelwork, but its true power lies in the intricate, feather-like carvings that cover its surface. The hilt is wrapped in the hide of a majestic wyvern, giving it a powerful and untamed feel. It feels surprisingly light for a weapon of its size, as if it is waiting to take flight. Abilities: Winged Assault: This grand weapon is enchanted with the spirit of the sky. When you perform a melee attack, the axe's magic will aid you, allowing you to jump higher or lunge further, giving you an unexpected advantage in combat. +30 Str, +30 End.

  [Leather Boots of the Feather fall(Rare)]

  These sleek leather boots are a marvel of subtle magic. Small, perfectly formed wings crafted from supple leather and imbued with feather-light enchantments are embedded on the ankles. The boots feel almost weightless and seem to hum with a gentle, upward-pulling energy. Abilities: Feather fall (Active): When a fall is imminent, you can activate the boots' magic, causing the small wings to glow and slow your descent to a gentle drift. This ability can be used for a short duration, allowing you to land softly from great heights, avoiding all fall damage. +30 End, +30 Tough.

  [Studded leather (Common)]x2

  [Dagger(Common)]

  [Stamina Potion (Uncommon)] x2

  [Mana Potion(Common)] x2

  [Cooking Knife(Common)]

  [Water Skins(Large)(Common)] x2

  [Backpacks(Large)(Common)] x2

  "We'll split the backpacks, potions, and waterskins," Scott said. "You can also have one of the great axes, stein, and dagger, and I'll take the armor to work on for leatherworking. I'll also take the boots and the cooking knife. I believe George would love the cooking knife."

  "Sounds good," David replied.

  "Okay, it's system time," Scott whispered quietly.

  **Slayed [Human Warrior level 9]**

  **Slayed [Human Ranger level 9]**

  **Level Gained[Slayer] level 10**

  **You have unlocked a new feature [Choose Race]**

  **What race would you like to be?**

  After pondering for a moment, Scott decided. "I choose Beastkin."

  **Beastkin is not a race.**

  "Okay, system, I choose to create the race Beastkin," Scott declared.

  **Access override Granted**

  **What is Beastkin?**

  “Wow the system seems to be working with me on this.” Scott mused. “Maybe the system likes to create things just like I do?”

  Scott described his vision. "Beastkin can transform back and forth between a beast form and a human form at will. They have thick, hairy hide, claws, and fangs. Also, enhanced senses and stats by 20%."

  **15 %**

  "Okay, that's acceptable. Now we're getting somewhere," Scott said, satisfied.

  **New Race Created**

  **You have acquired Race Beastkin**

  [Beastkin]

  Beastkin are a rare race, their bloodline a mix of human and bestial lineage. This duality allows them to shift between a human and a primal beast form at will. In their beast form, their skin grows thick with hair, their fingers and toes extend into sharp claws, and their teeth become razor-sharp fangs. Abilities: Primal Shift (Active): At will, you can transform between your human and beast form. Savage Nature (Passive): Your primal form grants you enhanced senses and a +15% boost to all of your stats. You gain the keen senses of a predator, allowing you to track prey by scent and hear even the faintest sounds.

  **level 10 Ability Unlocked**

  **Please Choose One**

  [Fangs of the Beast(Rare)]

  These are no ordinary fangs, but a product of your beastial lineage honed to a razor-sharp edge. They are unnaturally long, with a faint, almost imperceptible red glow that hints at their true nature. Abilities: Blood Letting: Your fangs are now more potent and are able to cause a wound that is difficult to close. When you land a successful bite attack, the target will suffer from a powerful bleed effect that is resistant to normal healing methods. Serrated Edges: The fangs’ extreme sharpness allows them to cut through even tough hides and armor, making them a formidable weapon.

  [Poison Absorption(Rare)]

  You have a natural resistance to poisons, a result of a mutation that allows your body to process and absorb toxins more efficiently than a normal creature. Your body has developed a specialized internal sack to store these poisons for later use. Abilities: Poison Immunity (Passive): You gain a major resistance to all poisons. You can take on more poison than a normal creature, and in small cases, you can absorb the poison and use it to fuel your own abilities. Toxin Release (Active): You can store and release poison from the sack in your body. Once per day, you can choose to release the stored poison onto your weapons, granting them a powerful, debilitating effect for a short amount of time.

  [Jumping Tiger(Rare)]

  Your constant practice and dedication to jumping and lunging have honed your abilities to a level of unmatched superiority. Your movements are fluid and precise, and you can leap with the grace and power of a wild predator. Abilities: Feline Leap (Passive): Your constant use of jumping and lunging has resulted in an enhanced ability to leap. This grants you a significant bonus to the distance and height of your jumps, allowing you to easily close the gap between you and your enemies. Hunter's Lunge (Passive): Your ability to lunge has become a powerful offensive tool. When you perform a lunge, you gain a temporary boost to your agility, allowing you to evade attacks and quickly reposition yourself on the battlefield.

  [Dual Blades(Common)]

  You have a natural affinity for wielding two blades at once, a path that few dare to tread. Your movements are fluid and precise, your hands working in perfect unison to deliver a storm of strikes. Time will tell if this path leads you to become a true blade master. Abilities: Ambidextrous Proficiency (Passive): Your ability to fight with two blades at once is significantly enhanced, granting a small bonus to your attack speed and precision when dual-wielding. Flurry of Blows (Passive): Your fighting style allows you to strike with incredible speed, enabling you to land multiple strikes in a single attack, overwhelming your foes.

  "Training with dual blades has already helped a ton, even though it was my first fight with two. Training with dual weapons in Taekwondo has been a life-saver with this tutorial. We trained with dual nun chucks, Escrima sticks, and Kamas. It feels natural with two short swords. But I want something else," Scott thought.

  [Surging Speed (Common)]

  With the wind in your hair and time on your side, your movement is sped up for a short time, but the use of stamina is taxing with this ability. Abilities: Momentum Burst (Active): When activated, you gain a significant burst of speed, allowing you to move with unnatural swiftness for a short duration. This effect is taxing, and you will lose a large amount of stamina upon its use.

  "Now, if you know me, I like to speed into things. The ability to go faster is a definite yes for me. For example, I always chose the faster classes in video games. Even when I took lessons playing drums, I couldn't help but drum faster and faster, kind of like the drummer in the band Slipknot in the song 'Psychosocial' – I loved the fast beats. Another tidbit about myself: when I stopped playing drums, I began beatboxing. Though a lot of people who know me don't know that I do it when I'm by myself," Scott mused, a grin spreading across his face.

  “After looking it all over there were a lot of good things I would like to add, like Fangs of the beast is a definite good one. Also the poison sack and poison absorption is a cool one but I don't think it is needed right now.” Scott though.

  "I'll take [Surging Speed (Common)]," Scott declared, "and let's check out my stats now."

  [Name: Scott Armidais Wheaton]

  [Race: [Beastkin]Iota]

  [Class: Slayer (level 10)] [Hero]

  Profession: Skinner/Leather Worker

  Health Points (HP): 1470/1470

  Mana Points (MP): 300/300

  Stamina: 200/940

  Stats:

  Strength: 94

  Agility: 238

  Vitality: 147

  Wisdom: 25

  Intelligence: 30

  Endurance: 150

  Toughness: 85

  Perception: 36

  Willpower: 25

  Skills-

  [Bloodline:(Nature of the Beast(Common)(10%)]

  [Craft[Leather Working level 3 (Primary)]

  [Craft[ Skinning level 1(Lesser)]

  [Dagger Mastery(Common)]

  [Medium armor proficient]

  [Short bow Mastery(Common)]

  [Short Sword Mastery(Uncommon)]

  [Weapons proficient all]

  Abilities-

  [Beastmode(Common)(5%)]

  [Mark of Prey(Common)]

  [Surging Speed(Common)]

  [Scan]

  Titles-

  [First kill In Tutorial]

  [Den Mother]

  [Hero(5%)]

  "Looking good, I see," Scott said aloud, examining his stats.

  "Ah, shucks," David replied, twirling his hair playfully.

  "Not you, my stats," Scott said, laughing. "So, check out my race," he added with excitement.

  David looked him over, and Scott felt a strange sensation, almost as if he were being thoroughly scanned. "Oh, so no longer a human, but a beast," David observed. Then, he began to sing:

  "Through the mist..."

  "Oh no, here we go," Scott mumbled, half-amused, half-resigned.

  David continued, "Through the woods, through the darkness and the shadows, it's a nightmare, but it's one exciting ride!"

  "Now the stein is joining in," Scott said, smiling and humming along as the magical stein began to chime in with the song.

  "Say a prayer, then we're there, at the drawbridge of a castle, and there's something truly terrible inside... It's a beast!" David finished with a flourish.

  Scott clapped. "You're too funny, but you sang that to fill your cup up, didn't you?"

  "Yep," David admitted, lifting the stein to take a drink.

  "That was epic, by the way. But can I get a drink? I'm getting thirsty," Scott asked with a sigh.

  "Mine. No touch," David said in a childish voice, clutching the stein protectively.

  "Please?" Scott said in a girlish tone, batting his eyelashes playfully.

  "Since you asked so nicely, I suppose," David relented, walking over and handing Scott the stein.

  Scott took a big gulp and sighed contentedly. "Man, that was good. What did you ask for?" he asked, handing the stein back.

  "Cheap whiskey the way that I like it," David replied.

  "Ah, your go to drink. What's the plan? Do we want to head back to the cave in the morning, or go fishing, and after that, we can head to the new Mancave?" Scott asked.

  "You rest and heal up, and I will take guard duty all night while you rest. In the morning, we can try out the fishing poles and head back after that," David answered, transforming into an Owlbear. He moved over near a large rock and lay down, attempting to blend in.

  "Dude, what are you doing?" Scott asked, amused.

  "Hiding. Be a hill, look like a hill. I am the hill," David mumbled, his voice muffled by feathers and fur.

  "I can still see your beak," Scott pointed out.

  "How about now?" David said, covering his beak with a large paw.

  "Much better," Scott laughed.

  Standing up, Scott walked over to the fish and pulled it off the fire, dividing it between them. He set the meat on a stump near David and walked back to his tree to sit and finish his meal. They talked and joked for a little longer, and then Scott went to sleep.