As I woke up, I reached out for my friend. Only to find his spot empty… I quickly scanned the cave. Not here. I ran out of the cave emoting panic! I found the fox at the pond drinking and looking at me with humor in his eyes. As I look him over, I say “Stalker you are up! Are you ok?” a stupid thing to ask. As he was obviously up and yes, he looked fine. With a slight growling he turned back to the water to drink.

  I tried to relax. Stalker was ok, I was ok, and we had made progress in my Lorekeeper quest and I had upgraded my weapon (From rusty knife to not rusty knife!) and scored me an axe head. In terms of my new reality? Yesterday was a win!

  I looked at the pond and the creek that flowed into it. The soft gurgling of the water, the buzzing of the insects and the rings spreading as Stalker drank.

  Tranquil!

  I took a deep breath. The air was free from pollution and smelled sweet and fragrant! Pure nature! In a way that would have made me rich, had I been able to bottle it and sell it back home. I looked at the cave. Safe and secure. A base on which to build a life here.

  Yet I was strung like a bowstring inside. I wanted to enjoy this unexpected second chance at living… I really did! However yesterday had shown me how fragile these things were. I had been here less than a week and already I was taking it all for granted! The same stupid mistake I had made in my prior life…

  Stuck in this thought loop, I did the only thing I could. I took a running leap, over Stalker, into the pond and splashed the fox with water as I waterbombed my friend. Grinning I watched Stalker huf and whine, as he danced away from the water, with indignation… He was not amused!

  “Stalker! Don’t be like that. Come join me in the water! I yelled with laughter in my eyes. Stalker looked at me and emoted betrayal and hunger, as he turned around and with a swish of his tail he left for the cave. “Your loss!” I yelled ducking my head under the water again.

  I took the opportunity to wash some of the grime and blood of me and my clothes (I was frankly feeling and looking nasty and needed that bath). Feeling a little better about myself, as I lay down in the grass to dry.

  Looking up at the blue sky. The clouds drifting by and the occasional bird flying over. I wondered what else was out there in Limbo? What dangers lurked here and in the past? It would seem the system wanted me to find out about the past. But why, why, and why!

  Why me? Because I was a librarian? Come on! I knew librarians who like to talk smack about being information warriors. But I was in it primarily for the stories and the joy of sharing them.

  Secondly why did the system want someone digging in the past? It looked like there had been quite an effort to bury it. Also did the system have wants? Was it a sentient mind invader? STILL NOT OK WITH THIS YOU CREEP! I shouted in my mind at the unseen system…

  The last why was this. If the system wanted me to know? Why didn’t it just tell me? Is it bound by rules? If so, can I learn them and use them? Does it have a master? Would that be the endboss, the big bad, in this world?

  Suddenly a shadow darkened the sky and with a thud a dead rabbit monster hit my chest… I let out a high pitched (manly) shriek! Flung the dead monster away from me. I scrambled to get up and get ready for whatever danger was around. The amusement emote and hufhuf hufhuf reached me seconds later… Stalker was dancing with joy at his little prank. I joined in and we shared a moment just laughing together.

  “Thank you” I smiled at Stalker. “I’m sorry My friend” Stalker tilted his head emoting curiosity “I tend to get stuck with my thoughts” I sighed, as I picked up the dead rabbit “Habits from another life” Stalker bumped my leg with his head and emoted hunger. I chuckled a bit at that.

  “Let’s make some breakfast!” Stalker emoted joy and rushed into the cave. Breakfast was rabbit and water. While grilling the meat. I said to the fox with eyes glued to the food, “We really should look into finding vegetables, fruits and stuff” Stalker huffed doubtful at that. “I know I know priorities; Survive, Eat, unravel the ancient mysteries of the world… Who has time for carrots!”

  Eating together was another of those happy moments. Unfortunately, the moment didn’t last. They never do. A frightening roar sounded from the forest. Loud enough that we could hear it clearly inside the cave. I grabbed my knife and the axe head. Together with Stalker I watched the entrance to the cave. Minutes went by… Nothing happened… This time.

  It was clear that I needed to be stronger to protect my friend! To protect those precious moments! To do that, I needed to stop thinking and start acting! So far experience came from kills. So, I would have to fight to get stronger! Also, if someone expected me to dive into the history of this world and survive. A little help would be appreciated…

  The blue flashing started 30 seconds later… Before I opened my status screen I took a moment to think, at the unknown system: I HOPE YOU DO NOT EXPECT A THANK YOU?

  Quest: Thinning the Pack

  Duration: 2 days (1 day 23 hours 59 minutes 57 seconds)

  Objective: Kill 5 scaled hounds of equal or higher. Complete within 24 to chain into the next quest.

  Reward: Melee weapon (Novice) skill.

  A kill quest? I mean it made sense… It was just so disappointing. I looked at Stalker. “Ok, what do you say we get some revenge for yesterday?” He looked at me emoting curiosity “Let’s go find some scaled hounds and teach them not to mess with our pack!” Stalker growled and emoted anger.

  This time I prepared! I might not have the greatest survival skills, but I had read hundreds of stories of battle and strategy! I sharpened some sticks and made some thick crappy spears. Thick because those scales were no joke! I wish I had time to make some rope, dig a pit or something more elaborate. But I wanted to see the next quest if possible. So, spears it was.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  We started our hunt by going after some dropbears. That terror from my first day? Not so terrible or frightening, when you knew it was coming. I almost felt sorry as the second dropbear of the day almost skewered itself on a spear.

  You have slain a Dropbear (lvl 2)!

  You have gained experience!

  Next Stalker and I returned to the area, where we had fought the scaled hound yesterday. I started to use the spears to create little fortifications around a tree big enough to support me. Rows of spears, pointing outwards.

  The idea was that the hounds would have to come from the front. If more than one attacked, they would have trouble surrounding us. If we got overwhelmed, we could escape up the tree!

  It was hard work, and I was happy that there was a cooling breeze. While I was doing this, Stalker was standing guard or looking for the monsters. Swiping sweat off my brow I looked proudly, at the small pointy obstacles! This would make it so much safer! I also left a spear on the ground and took one up in the tree. Easy to pick up, just in case.

  We then slid the throat of the dropbears. Spreading blood out in a wide area around our little fortified ground. Using them as bait. Then we waited…

  Stalker coped with the wait much better than me. I nervously stepped from one side to the other of our little funnel. Checking my weapons again and again. Knife and head of axe. Spears ready for pickup.

  Suddenly Stalker stood up. His body tense and his attention on the brush in front of us. The forest almost seemed to quiet for a moment. Two scaled hounds broke out of the brush and bounded towards the dead dropbears… And us!

  The hounds were growling, as they rushed towards us, maws open, dripping with saliva and the teeth… why so many? They were a bit smaller than the one from yesterday. The right one had some discolored scales on the side of his head, as from an old wound and it raced straight towards the dropbears, Stalker and me! Stalker engaged and broke the discolored one’s charge, as they started circling and biting at each other.

  The other tried to flank us but had to navigate the spears and lost some momentum. I focused on it and was ready when it jumped! The hound was going for my throat, and I swung my knife! The hound yelped with pain as the knife entered, driven deep by its own momentum.

  We ended up on the ground. It trying to bite me, while I tried to hold it down with the knife. The hound got its head free and managed to nip my hand, just as I bashed the axe head into it. A whimper, then silence.

  You have slain a Scaled Hound (lvl 2)!

  You have gained experience!

  I had barely registered its bite, yet the blood was flowing. No time for that! I threw myself into the fight between Stalker and his hound and two on one we quickly managed to get it down. Stalker got through that fight with scratches.

  You have slain a Scaled Hound (lvl 3)!

  You have gained experience!

  My quest updated. I bandaged my hand and had a thought. I quickly stripped more of the elastic all purpose bark off and started really packing and padding my arm…

  “Good job!” I said to Stalker, emoting pride. The fox growled fiercely and emoted aggression. “Ready for more?” Stalker danced around “We need three more” I scanned the bushes and listened to the once again silent forest “Let’s hope they come one at a time!”

  No such luck… With loud barks three hounds came running for us! I picked up the spear and readied myself for a charge. “Careful Stalker!” I said as they closed in.

  You have slain a Scaled Hound (lvl 2)!

  You have gained experience!

  You have slain a Scaled Hound (lvl 2)!

  You have gained experience!

  You have slain a Scaled Hound (lvl 1)!

  You have gained experience!

  Five hectic minutes later the last hound died with a pitiful howl. Stalker limped over to me and slumped down emoting pain. I winced as I bend down to bandage him. This fight had been hard! I was down to 11 hp and glad it was over.

  I went to check the quest. Still active… What the fuck? Looking over the combat log, I found the problem. I still needed a level 2 or higher hound to complete the quest…

  I looked at Stalker. He was not fit for another fight. “ok Stalker, let’s go home!” The fox got to his feet slowly and whimpered slightly “Sorry Stalker, I promise we will do better next time” Stalker emoted amusement and gave me a brave little growl. I was so tired that I left the fortifications, the spears and even the padding on my arm. It could wait.

  We left the clearing and turned towards home. As we were walking, suddenly a huge hound exploded out of a bush! My survival instinct activated, and I managed to lift my padded arm up to block the massive hounds open maw. With a soft crunch it closed around my arm and the many layers of bark…

  Even with my Lesser Pain Resistance that hurt! The hound was hanging onto my arm like a dog with a bone. Stalker started biting at its face and neck. I braced for the pain, as I lifted my arm with hound up, so it didn’t have a solid footing.

  I was down to 5 hp now and I was close to panicking as the red crept into my vision and the smell of blood hung in the air. Stalker whimpered and emoted helplessness, as he tried to get through the scales.

  I steadied my other hand and pressed the knife along the snout of the hound; up until I hit the eye. My hp was now down to 2, the crushing strength of the hound’s maw doing damage even without breaking my skin. I pressed on beyond the soft resistance of the eye and into its brain.

  You have slain a Scaled Hound (lvl 4)!

  You have gained experience!

  Finally, the pain relented. The hound slipped off my arm. I slumped down. Stalker anxiously bumped its head into my knee emoting concern. “It’s ok Stalker” I looked at the mangled bark “I just need a minute.”

  I held off on checking my status screen until we were safely back in our cave. With food roasting over a fire and blood washed off. I checked the status:

  Quest: Thinning the Pack

  Duration: Completed

  Objective: Kill 5 scaled hounds of equal or higher. Complete within 24 to chain into the next quest.

  Reward: Melee weapon (Novice) skill.

  Ok, let’s see what the next quest is!

  Quest: The Green menace

  Duration: 3 days (2 days 23 hours 59 minutes 25 seconds)

  Objective: Kill a jadeclaw panther

  Reward: Combat Skill selection

  I should have seen this coming. The system was sending us after the monster we barely escaped from last time…