It took me far longer than I would have thought it would to find a place to hole up in safely. I had to stay high enough up in the trees to stay out of sight from the ground but low enough so as not to let any birds or other things that live in the sky spot me. It was a careful balance that I barely got right.
I eventually gave up on finding the perfect hiding place and made a shoddy nest in the crook of a branch that split a few times. I gathered some flexible branches and wove them together as best as I could remember how from less than half-remembered lessons I had at camp way back when I was an overactive kid. It wasn't pretty, but as I slipped leaves between the woven branches, I thought it would work well enough to hide me away.
After lining the bottom of my new nest with anything soft I could find. I curled up, hugging my soft, bushy tail, the only perk in my book of being a squirrel. I noticed I had a new flashing blue dot and opened my awaiting messages before diving into my level-up. Who knows how new Skills or Abilities would affect my options for leveling up.
Skill learned Ranger. EXP awarded for learning a skill without a trainer.
You have gained +2 to Agility and Dexterity along with 6 free stat points to place as you see fit.
'Well, not a whole lot of choices here, but that's not a bad thing. Let's split it between Strength and Con. I have a feeling that my other Stats are fine for now. Let's see if I can't look closer at my Ranger skill.'
Status
Name: [N/A]
Level:2
Race: Primae Nigrum Sciurus (Primal Black Squirrel)
Health: 38/40 Stamina:40/40 Mana:140/140
Strength:1->4
Agility: 10->12
Dexterity: 10->12
Constitution:1->4
Intelligence:14
Wisdom:12
Skills: Acrobatics level 1
Analyze level 1
Harvesting level 1
Natural Weapons level 1
Ranger level 1
Abilities:
Tongues level: 1
Spells:
Imbue Natural Weapons level: 1
Ranger: You have shown the basic skills for running, hiding, and general survival in the woods. This skill helps you ignore rough terrain, craft shelters, conceal your presence, and tracking
'Wow, that would certainly help out once it was leveled up. Tomorrow, I'll have to grind skills and try to find enemies at my own speed. Hopefully, I'll be fully healed once I wake up.'
I wiggled under some of the leaves I pulled up and rested my chin on my crossed arms, slowly drifting asleep.
A snapping and crackling caused me to stir in my sleep, but it wasn't until I smelled something lovely cooking that I dragged myself back to the land of the living. I had a moment where the sleep-addled my brain, and I thought I was back home. Sighing softly, I pushed away thoughts of loved ones and missed chances to focus on my new situation.
Climbing out of my nest, I looked around for where the scent of cooking meat was coming from. Leaping from branch to branch, I followed my nose until I saw the glow of a campfire. As I got closer, I started to hear grunts and what could be laughter. I peeked over the branch, looking down at the campfire. Short, ugly, gangly, green skins or, as most people knew them, Goblins. They stood no more than three feet tall but hunched over, putting their face in punting range, but that was if I was in my old body. As it was now, they were three times my height if I was to stand up on my hind legs.
The Goblins were ugly things both in body and mind. Even what armor they had was rough and ugly, hide barely even cured correctly judging by how parts seemed to have rotten flesh on them still as the three of them hunched around the fire, one reached for whatever they were cooking only to be hit on the head by the largest one. The big one started to babble something at the one who reached for the food. I moved closer, trying to hear the words to activate my Tongues ability.
"...stupid Zykz. You try that again, and Goltak eats you."
Zykz, I was guessing, seemed to be cowed and backing away from Goltak, arms up as he babbled apologies. The last goblin seemed to learn from Zykz and waited for its turn to eat. Only as Goltak moved forward to hit Zykz did I see what they were cooking. Four fat, juicy squirrels were roasting on a spit over the fire.
'Analyze'
Level 5 goblin
Level 4 goblin
Level 4 goblin
'Nope. Screw that."
I slowly backed away before a snapping branch drew my attention to the right of the goblins. A wolf was hunched low as it moved slowly closer to the arguing goblins. A trick of the light made it look as though the wolf seemed to scoff before purposefully stepping on another branch and snapping it loudly.
This finally got the unnamed goblin's attention. He frantically gestured at the wolf, drawing Goltak's and Zykz's attention as well. Something made me look behind the goblins. There! Movement of three more wolves sneaking up from behind. In a flash, off-white teeth flashed. Hide armor was easily ripped apart, and goblin necks were cut through like scissors snipping thread. The bodies dropped to the floor, heads bouncing into the fire. I spun around and sprinted back to my nest as howls rang out, filling the night.
Once I was back and had a modicum of safety, the instincts that took over my limbs finally quieted down enough for me to hear my own thoughts again. The first thing I noticed was that I had a notification waiting for me.
Congratulations, you've learned the goblin tongue, Ghukliak. EXP awarded for learning a language without a trainer.
'Oh nice, a new way to get experience. I need to avoid those wolves between them and the Goblins. I guess that explains what happened to the other squirrels and small...not the other low-level mobs in the area. Hmm, I guess I should head out in the opposite direction as I went off following my nose. I doubt that I'll be able to get to sleep again.'
I sighed heavily before getting out of the nest. I was a bit sad that I'd have to abandon it so soon. As I stretched, I noticed for the first time that I had grown a bit, maybe two or three inches in total. I carefully poked at myself, feeling that my muscles seemed the same size but more compact.
'Hmm, it seems like it takes a bit for my stats to affect my body. I might grow as my stats go up, but at least I won't have to look like a bodybuilder on steroids.'
I let out a soft chuckle before leaving my nest as it was and took off in the opposite direction of the goblin campsite. Jumping from tree to tree, I scanned for fruits or nuts or really anything as my stomach started to rumble.
I stopped once I started to pick up the sounds of the forest again, letting out a breath. Either I was out of the wolves' territory, or they went back to their den. Either way, it was good news for my poor stomach.
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I finally spotted something to eat as the forest started to thin out a bit. On the ground, just under the branch I was on, was a plump bird. It looked different than any bird I knew of. The size of a wild chicken, it was a bit smaller than I was with a hooked beak, sharp three-inch long claws, and an odd coloring. Its head, the tips of its wings, and the longer tail feathers were all vivid red. While most of its body seemed to have its feathers shimmer like an oil slick, shifting colors from blue to green to purple and back as it shifted in the light. Focusing in on my soon-to-be prey, I used Analyze as it was busy eating what looked like another snake
Level 3 Elemental Raptor
'Hmm, judging how I just got constrictor for the snake, I'm wondering if the system isn't just using vocabulary that I'd understand. Since I knew nothing about snakes other than some are venomous, and others are constrictors, that could be why I got so little information. Let's seem elemental probably means it has magic, I'm guessing fire. And a Raptor is a bird of prey. It's still only level three, so I should have this.'
Taking a deep breath, I willed my mana into the claws on all my limbs before rolling forward and falling straight down, my claws fully extended. A moment before my full weight slammed into the Raptor, it spotted me as it tied its head up to swallow a chunk of meat. Flapping its wings, the Raptor shifted forward, causing my claws to rip into its back at an odd angle. I slid down its back as it let out a cry of pain. Flames roared up from around its talons and neck. I pushed off its back before hitting the ground and rolled twice before popping up and baring my teeth and snapping at it. I flooded more mana into my teeth, feeling a slight headache come on as I burned over a third of my mana in quick succession.
We both charged at each other, flames burning in its eyes and building in its beak. I pushed my Agility to its limit, feeling my muscles and bones complain under the stress as I darted left then right before slamming into the Raptor. Its flames licked at my fur, burning me as my claws and teeth bit into its flesh, ripping away more feathers than flesh. I noticed its head turning down, the fire still in its beak. I panicked and trusted my right paw up as I stood up on my hind legs. My paw slammed under its beak, forcing it to close with a snap before a muffled explosion forced it back open.
Flames spewed out of the Raptor's mouth and washed over my extended right forelimb, wincing from pain. I forced myself forward and racked my claws across its face. One caught its eye, ripping it out as flaming talons slammed into my chest, knocking me away. Gasping, I dropped to all fours before pushing off with all the strength I had. I lurched up, my maw opening wide before my teeth snapped shut around its throat and bit cleanly through it.
I flopped down as the Raptor's body toppled over and spat out the feathery mess in my mouth. I rubbed my chest and shoulder, wincing at the burns. I could feel slowly, oh so slowly, healing. Tired from the fight, I just kicked the damn Fire Raptor's head and thought, Loot. The body shimmered before it broke apart into a cloud of shifting lights. Part of the lights flew into me, disappearing, while the others were just gone. Nothing was left behind. As I searched for my look, the pieces fell into place. Cursing, I kicked at the dead snake, now a bit more charged than before, looting it as well. I rushed up into the safety of the trees, my anger at myself dulling the pain I was in.
'Of course, I have an inventory. I'm such an idiot. That's the first thing you check after you find out that you have a character sheet.'
It was more of a struggle leaping tree to tree with my dominant arm and chest throwing waves of pain at me each time I moved, but I managed to get into a hollow in the tree and curled up and opened my system messages.
Congratulations, you've defeated a Level 3 Elemental Raptor. Increased EXP has been awarded for defeating a higher-tiered Opponent.
Natural Weapons leveled up. +1 to Strength
Imbue Natural Weapons leveled up. +1 to Intelligence
Congratulations, you've learned Fire Resistance. EXP has been awarded for learning a skill without a trainer.
'I have to be close to leveling up. Maybe just one more Hunt or a few Skills or Abilities. Inventory.'
A grid system popped up with five out of ten of the spots filled in with icons. Raptor meat 2 lbs, Flame touched feathers 20, Beast Core 1, Snake meat 1 lbs, Snakeskin 1. I reached through the screen and grabbed the Beast Core, pulling it out. A smooth, glossy black orb rested in my paw streaks of red seemed to ebb and flow thru it. Once it was fully in my grip, a screen popped up unprompted in my vision.
Congratulations, you have found a comparable Beast Core.
Absorb Yes/No
*Note Beast Cores may be absorbed in an attempt to learn one other of five of the highest leveled Skills, Abilities, or Spells the Beast Core was taken from or in crafting*
After slamming Yes as hard as I could, the Beast Core crumbled and flowed into me.
Congratulations, you've learned the Spell: Flame Breath. *Note: no EXP will be awarded for learning from a Beast Core*
Flame Breath
Cost:
Maximum=spell level×20 Mana
Minimum=10 Mana
Description:
Mana flows into your maw before being converted to flames. Once your Mana is fully converted to flames, they erupt forth in a cone in front of your open maw. Damage and Duration based on Mana spent.
'Damn, that's a good one. No wonder it did such damage even being mostly diverted.'
I rolled my shoulder, noticing the pain going down, and let out a sigh of relief. I pulled out the snake meat, squirreling it down. By the time I was done eating, my forelimb and chest was down to a light throb. I leaned back against the hollow's far wall.
'This forest is crazy, but I've learned quite a bit from being in the middle of nowhere. I'll have to look out for beasts with more than just a single name distribution. Either levels can reset, or some beasts are just born lucky. Maybe a mix of both.
Let's keep trying to get out of the forest for now. Hopefully, I'll get lucky by stumbling upon a town and be able to blend in with normal squirrels since I'm not sure I am one anymore.'
An idea made me sit back upright before hopping to my feet. I carefully made my way out and up the branch, searching for a thick limb at least to someone of my size. I found a limb that was long enough and about as thick as my wrist.
Infusing the claws on my uninjured forelimb, I cut the branch free and took it back to my temporary home. Once inside, I stripped the branch of its bark and started to sharpen the tip. I saved the shavings before thinking better of it.
Sticking the sharpened limb out of the hollow, I funneled the minimum cost to my new spell, aiming it so that the sharpened stick's tip would be fire hardened but not catch. Once done, I used my claws and the rough bark to sharpen and refine the hardened tip. The spear came out shorter than I first wanted, but it should be good as a ranged option. It was about half my height and fit comfortably in my paws. Just as I hoped, a notification popped up, blinking lightly in the lower right side of my vision.
Congratulations, you've learned Weapons Crafting. EXP awarded for learning a skill without a trainer.
Level up!
You have gained +1 to Agility and Dexterity with +3 free stats.
Status
Name: [N/A]
Level:3
Race: Primae Nigrum Sciurus (Primal Black Squirrel)
Health: 40/60 Stamina:60/60 Mana:140/150
Strength:5->6
Agility: 12->13
Dexterity: 12-13
Constitution:4->6
Intelligence:15
Wisdom:12
Skills:
Acrobatics level 1
Analyze level 1
Fire Resistance level 1
Harvesting level 1
Natural Weapons level 2
Ranger level 1
Weapons Crafting level:1
Abilities:
Tongues level: 1
Spells:
Flame Breath level:1
Imbue Natural Weapons level: 2
I'm not sure if it was because I was already focusing on my body or just because the changes hurt more as I grew stronger. All I know is that after leveling up this time, I felt my muscles grow, ripple, then condense as my whole body grew slightly. I shudder, dropping my makeshift spear and rubbing myself down, noticing for the first time my poor excuse for a thumb seemed like it would be of a lot more use now that it was a bit longer and stronger.
I needed to move after my little fire show. Taking the snake skin out of my inventory, I used it as a makeshift rope, tying the primitive spear to my back. I hurried out and up the tree before continuing away from the wolves. I kept my ears on a swivel as I leaped from branch to branch until the sun was setting and my stomach growled.
I weaved a new nest close to where a branch and tree met. I made sure to weave a few sharpened sticks pointing out towards the sky and ground. Next was filling the base with fallen leaves and needles. Once somewhat safe, I pulled my spear off my back and wrapped myself around it before using my tail to cover myself.