While hunting proved more difficult than I initially thought, we were still able to bag a few rabbits. I wanted something bigger like a deer, but there isn't much sustenance here for them. The only creature that matches is a thing called a grift, which isn't any good for eating due to their unique bodies.
They're actually rather interesting, as they aren't a single creature, but a symbiotic one made up of dozens under its skin that live off of a host body that looks like a deer/mountain goat hybrid that never skipped leg day. They're relationship is so set that they're even born together. As for the the benefit of their union? The tiny creatures offer supreme protection against the elements and apparently even magic, according to Cera. She seems to like them a lot, which I can understand.
The host body in turn supplies them with nutrients and other stuff, as well as itself boasting very good defense against physical attacks. They're pretty much walking tanks that are a little smaller than a war horse.
Sadly they don't make good eating, since due to their body it's an incredible pain to properly butcher the creature, and even then they don't offer much in terms of nutrition as they make use of everything they consume, not needing fat since the symbiotes in their skin take care of protecting against the elements, as well as not needing to store energy since the symbiotes do it instead. The symbiotes can even pump the host body full of stimulants akin to adrenaline in a person. Pretty damn cool creatures.
Not to say these rabbits aren't cool, being all soft and soon to be delicious.
I tried out to see if I could taste while I was out with Cera and found that I could. A scraggly berry bush we came across not far from home base.
Another thing I found out was when I separated from Cera to hunt on my own, since she had to also collect some plants that'd help with some things. What things, I don't know, I'm not a wilderness survivalist. I'm not even alive.
The fact that I'm undead, and can remain completely still while nothing about me says I'm alive, not even a heartbeat, creatures completely ignore me much as they would a rock.
Unfortunately for them I'm a rock with a bow and half decent aim.
We make it back to camp, and Cera sets to setting aside her plant finds and then begins butchering the rabbits. Knowing I can taste food again, while my mouth doesn't produce any saliva I can feel my mouth water.
After looking at Cera though I berate myself, since the food should all go to her since I don't need it and for a child like her most definitely. Besides that, I want to return to meditating on my soul as I feel my understanding of the changes and what I can do with them improving. Plus since I can't sleep, losing myself in this action is as close as I can get, giving myself a mental refresher. I'm sure I'll get used to it as time goes, but since I turned undead the fact that my brain never need to shut off was mentally exhausting, even if my ability to think remained the same.
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
Deciding to just ask for a single bite sized piece, I return to my shed while the sun approaches the horizon, only a few more hours till night sets in. I glance at my axe and seeing the rust on it as well as the dried blood, I set to maintaining it before I settle in to meditating. After cleaning it I take a whetstone I found in the shed, and begin trying to sharper the axe blade. I say trying, because the material that makes the axe blade is stronger than steel. Seriously, where the hell did they find those initial corpses?
Thankfully, after enough time for the sun to finally reach the horizon, my axe was sharpened. Holding it up to the rapidly depleting light, pride filled me that such a wonderful weapon was mine. Truly it's splendor from whenever it was forged hasn't devalued at all. Again, where the hell did they find such treasures?!
Opening my mouth in a mock sigh, I put down my axe in its corner and hop onto the table to begin to meditate the night away.
Several days pass like this, helping Cera and meditating. All the more I grow suspicious about what's going on, and as much as I wish to continue on my journey, I can't bring myself to abandon her. This is strongly in part to the chaining emotions of what I'd done in my past. The idea of harming a child, even indirectly, has altered my soul more than the death energy that pulsates within it.
Besides that, I still have no clue where I am. I really haven't a clue which way towards the nearest road, except to return back to the torched town, but that'd lose me much more time than what I'm doing now. I could follow the tracks of the marching army of the dead, but I haven't any confidence in not attracting attention from the lich and necromancer, and whoever else they've added to the gang.
It's decided then. I'll confront Cera about it tomorrow, about her missing parents and what I'll do next.
Honestly, I like the girl. She's still timid but has gotten a lot more comfortable around me, the distance between us now around two armlengths, a significant improvement to the yelling distance of our first meeting.
She's naive, cute at times in manner, and clumsy, everything you'd expect from a girl her age, but at the same time she's determined, brave, and cautious. Her demeanor as well is mature, to the point that it gives me room to worry that such a young girl acts in such a way befitting a woman who's seen the worst of the world. I have my suspicions on her situation, but none of them are towards her out of malice. Truly she's a good person at heart, even giving myself, someone who admitted to being undead, shelter. Good people are generally naive, and a child more so. Thankfully I'm not someone to take advantage of it, and I hope to be someone who teaches her to have more caution against dangers such as strangers. I hope, but probably don't, since her personality looks to have it already ingrained, and I'm left to wonder why she is okay with someone like me.
Aside from her, there's one more thing that's on my mind. My new body. Being the helpful hand that I am, I had went out to acquire fire wood for Cera, my trusty axe in hand.
Coming across a rather hefty tree for a tree of its kind, I was prepared to swing plenty of times to chop it down.
It took just three.
Each swing held power I never had before, even when I had turned into a zombie. The speed as well was incredible, being far faster than previous. As I was now, I don't believe even a veteran soldier could bridge the gap in strength with technique, unless they were some sort of monster themself.
My only reasoning for such a thing is probably that my soul is ingrained with death energy, which is as well my power source as an undead.
This brought up many ideas on how to grow in power, as well as many thanks to Death for allowing me this power. Say what you will about the immense task she gave me, she gave me plenty of room to grow to meet the requirements to fulfill it.
Settling down to meditate, thinking about how to broach the topic of her situation with Cera, my surprise when tomorrow brought all the answers.