Spending the rest of the day making poultices, and enhancing his lean-to structure, hobbled on one leg as he was, he dined on jerky and berries. Exploring his surroundings, he found a few more edible plants, he harvested and brought back to his camp, planting them. In addition he found a few more medical plants, some poisonous some not.

Sage was quite proud, waking the next day, his undisturbed sleep left him refreshed and feeling strong. His camp, though robust, was quite functional, his wound was essentially healed, and his plants were flourishing, providing a large amount of black berries, poison berries, and broad leaves. Feeling relaxed, he stretched, deciding to explore even further today, ranging from his camp in what he hoped was large circles.

Finding unique sites, and taking in the tranquil forest Sage felt this trial suited him. Perhaps he could train himself for the next, whatever it may be; his peaceful self reflection interrupted by a sickening chuffing and noise. Crouching and approaching slowly Sage leaned from behind a tree his spear ready, his eyes going wide, he saw it. The brown furred demon that attacked him in the night, on its side its flank rising and falling in a labored breath.

His anger rising, Sage approached cautiously, careful to not make noise, his spear held ready to strike. Loping toward the creature, his face in a cruel rictus, attacking him unprovoked, disturbing his camp, he’d show this monster. His spear held high he screamed, the intake of breath halting him, the smell, the smell hit him first, he had never smelled death before but he recognized it still. The burned and scarred creature was dying, its wounds infected likely from their previous bout.

Approaching slowly, Sage pondered what he should do, leave it? Put it out of its misery? Shaking his head, Sage stared at his rival, the creature that attacked him for no reason so viciously, the pain in his leg though mostly healed physically but the remembrance of the pain still fresh in his mind.

Closing his eyes listening to its strangled breaths Sage sighed, he knew he wouldn't be able to leave this creature. Turning back and going to his camp, he grabbed several of the broad leaves, and a few berries. Traveling back to the brown furred demon, he approached slowly, its eyes locking on him, its hiss sickly and challenging. Hands open he approached, “calm… calm, I’m here to help” he spoke his mouth full, the creature though aggressive was too sick to move from its side.

Moving away from its sizable fangs, he dropped two of the leaves near its mouth and some berries, and slowly began making and applying a salve to its wounds, ripping the midriff of his shirt to clean the wound prior to applying the salve. Looking down at his tattered and torn shirt, Sage sighed, removing it and rolling the heavy viscous creature to tend to its other side.

Standing once more he proceeded to gather water, finding a large piece of bark to carry it in, he returned. The stubborn creature barely nibbled the leaves and berries he had left. Sighing he set the bark bowl filled with water near its still hissing mouth. Hesitantly applying the salve the scar his spear left across its scalp, the scar appearing to be fairly gruesome.

The creature oddly enough after drinking began eating the bark bowl, squinting his eyes. Sage gathered some small twigs and brought them over, and sure enough it ate those pieces as well, though it seemed to prefer twigs from certain trees to others. It eats wood? He thought, idly chewing a twig himself and grimacing, not easy on the teeth and he imagined it would be the same on his stomach.

Sitting with his thoughts seeing the creature use its considerable teeth to shred the twigs, he began looking at some of the markings on the trees, at about the creature's height. As if broken from a daze, watching his enemy eat, and recalling some of the strangely near fallen trees he used to create his shelter, Sage realized he came to this creature's home and took its food source.

Recalling the rage he felt when the first of these strange creatures attacked, in his space, where he kept his food. He grimaced, was it truly his space? He simply arrived and claimed it for his own due to the river and the berry bush, but perhaps… a weight in his chest, made him want to sob, the pure anger and wrath he felt toward these creatures morphing quickly to compassion, as he continued down this thought process.

The weight in his chest increased, thinking of the first he killed for attacking him, and the pain he caused this creature. Am I the monster? Looking at his hands once more, he didn’t recognize the grime covered appendages, what will I become before these trials are finished? Patting the creatures, furred flank he spoke ashamedly, “I’m sorry.”

Resolving himself, the last of his anger towards the creature vanishing, he gathered the choicest pieces of wood he could find and brought it over, along with more water. Petting the creatures flank and scraping and re-applying the salves when they dried out. He began speaking to his former enemy, about what he had done since arriving in this forest, his idle thoughts, and his feelings of guilt.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The time seemed to go by far more quickly than usual, his voice nearly hoarse from speaking so much, the creatures breathing much more even, he enjoyed running his hand through the creatures fur, its soft happy chuffs when he scratched a certain spot made Sage smile and feel warm. As night fell, he felt the cold start to set in, his body shivering slightly, he saw the creature deep in the grasp of sleep.

Hesitant to leave it there, he grabbed the tattered shirt, he rolled it on and pulled, making his way through the forest and to his camp. Making a small fire and going to his shelter, pulling out his knife, and spear prior to sleeping.

In his dream, he floated in the voice, the star that so sweetly called to him stood looming high overhead, the want in his stomach so great he ached,

IF YOU WANT IT, SEIZE POWER AND TAKE IT.

The flickering message read aloud in a deep voice the reverberated his being, his floating form crushed by the pressure, the star in the void seemingly getting farther and farther from his grasp.

Waking in the morning, a small tickling brushing his cheek and musky scent interrupting his strange dream about the starry void at the edge of the forest. He rapidly sits up, a small chuffing bringing his attention to the brown furred demon now looking at him. Sitting on his hind legs, its glossy black eyes meeting his own, its tail slapping the ear behind it, its wounds now nearly healed, though hairless in some patches, the creature seemed quite chipper compared to its pitiful form yesterday.

Hesitantly, Sage reached toward his side, grabbing the reddish pieces of wood he found earlier and passing it to the creature, who sat and picked it up with its small claws and began to chew rapidly. Wood chips flying and the dark pools that were its eyes not leaving Sage as it ate. His eyes unbidden going to the furs of its kin still over the smoldering coals of the fire, he winced, hoping this creature was as primal and basic as it appeared so he didn’t offend it.

Standing slowly, Sage stretched, the brown furred creature watching him while it chewed. Moving to the fire he removed the furs, wrapping it around his shoulders, and eyeing the creature for its reaction, or rather non-reaction as it appeared unbothered. Gathering berries, and eating more jerky, he gathered water for himself and the creature, creature… perhaps I should give it a name.

Squinting his eyes at the creature half way done its twig, he smiled, “I’ll call you twig,” the creature tilting its head after hearing his voice, slapped its tail on the floor and continued eating, eyeing the water and Sage in equal parts.

“Twig it is,” smiling quite contentedly and eating his fill he stood to explore the forest, deciding to go South through the river and exploring the other side he had yet to adventure too. Smiling at Twig, he waded into the river, his spear and knife ready and his fur around his shoulders. A splashing behind him made him startle but it appeared Twig was joining him in his exploration, laughing at the floating creature, its swimming much more elegant than he expected.

Arriving on the shore bank he shook off the wet of the river, Twig standing a few lengths away doing the same, Sage began traveling through the woods perpendicular to the rising sun. Spotting a few mushrooms, he picked a few he recognized from his training, and continued South.

A small hill in the distance captured his attention, moving towards the hill he noted the different trees, stopping time to time for Twig to taste them, it seemed this side of the river was a fair amount warmer then his own. The soil beneath his feet seemed sparser, sandier then it had been. Here some of the tree’s bore fruit, who’s flavor Sage hesitantly ate but enjoyed, truly this side of the river held untold mysteries, even the small animals and birds appeared different, strange small long furred creatures hiding in holes in the ground. Brightly colored large birds swooping into trees, and a sun that seemed much more dominant in the sky above, its heat slightly oppressive.

Through all of it Twig seemed just as excited, his tail slapping the ground excitedly at each new discovery. Perhaps Sage began to personify Twig but he swore the creature appeared to acknowledge some of Sage’s comments and gestures. Taking periodic breaks to cool off, and when they spotted water, Sage saw a strange creature whose head poked above the trees, it’s neck nearly twice the length of its body, it sat at a small pond and drank contentedly, barely sparing a glance for he and Twig.

As they traveled, Sage also couldn’t help but notice the trees were getting more sparse as he approached the hill in the distance. The first sign of the land changing in height so, the rest of the forest being predominantly flat. Traveling until the Sun was directly overhead in the sky and sitting at the edge of the tree line, he spotted the hill clearly, a strange dark entrance carved into the side, jutted rock surrounding the perimeter of the entrance, a cave, the thought coming unbidden to his mind.

As he stared another strange prompt filled his vision:

Optional Third Trial: From Aanvang

Defeat the Apex of the Forest, claim his power as your own.

Pinching his brows, he looked at Twig, his twitching nose and glossy eyes also looking at the cave, did you see the writing as well? He idly wondered, reaching his hand down and scratching the top of Twig’s head he resolved himself, approaching the Cave with his spear in hand.

Exiting the cave, the Apex comes into view, it moves with such grace and certainty, its every step emanating power and authority. Its golden-brown fur glistening under the sun, accentuated by darker shades along its mane. The mane creates an awe-inspiring crown around its head, proud and large flowing naturally as the rising wind dances through its fur.

The Apex's physique makes Sage miss a step - a massive, muscular build that exudes sheer strength. Its broad chest and strong limbs give the impression of unparalleled athleticism. As Sage observed it closely, he noted its razor-sharp claws, each one gleaming like polished daggers. Instinctively, his mind acknowledges the potential danger emanating from those lethal weapons.

But what truly drew the most attention are its facial features. Such piercing eyes, deep amber in color, convey a combination of intelligence and intensity. Coupled with a prominent snout filled with gleaming white fangs, it exhibits both a regal aura and a formidable predator's countenance.

The creature's vocalizations only amplify its grandeur. It emits an array of distinct roars that both captivate and send a shiver down his spine, ranging from a low growl that reverberates through the air to a commanding roar that shakes the ground beneath Sage’s feet. He felt it, the fear, the sheer domination this monster, the Apex could exert, taking a shaky breath Sage’s eyes harden, meeting the creature's cold amber glare with one of his own.

Not breaking eye contact, Sage continued his march, Twig traveling beside him made Sage take a more relaxing breath, whatever he faced, he wouldn’t face it alone. A preternatural danger radiating from the Apex’s sharp gaze, a hunger and dismissal toward Sage and Twig made his hands shake, as its slow lope toward him its disregard stirred the embers of anger in his chest, with a mighty roar Sage met the beast in the center of the clear, his spear thrusting forward with all the strength he could muster.