[Material Acquired]

[Stick: Large]

[Quality: Good - Foundation Aspect Boosting Material Quality]

Starling roared in fear and anger and swung the stick in a large arc trying to intercept the huge claw coming down towards them.

[Warning! Class restrictions prevent damaging living creatures!]

[Continued attempts to harm others will result in rapid degradation of building materials!]

What!

The shock of the message actually saved Starling’s life. The sudden large flashing warning obscuring their vision surprised them so much they awkwardly fell over, and the tree-crabs' large club-claw crashed into the ferns where they had been standing moments before. The stick they were holding was planted in the mud next to them at an almost perfect 90 degree angle to the ground.

[Foundation Established]

[Would you like to set this as your first settlement?]

The notifications were all encompassing and so distracting. With a shout of frustration Starling cleared them and tried to master themselves. “Panic is the first step on a short journey to disaster”, Walt’s voice echoed in their mind as they recalled their teaching “First things first, always have a plan, and if you don’t have a plan - improvise”

I can’t fight? And… I can found a settlement?!

Starling’s mind raced at the implications and options, but it was too much to properly take in as they kept dodging through the ferns to avoid being crushed by the chattering crab wreaking havoc next to them.

The creature rattled out a tattoo on its carapace with its mouth parts, making an intimidating hollow noise. The staccato drumming was repeated from trees in the nearby area as other crabs hidden in the murky violet un-light picked up the beat. As the crabs rumbled around them into a deafening cacophony Starling flinched and had to drop [Environmental Awareness]. The increased sensitivity made the noise painful so close to the source. Their Stamina had dropped as well, there must be some sort of link there.

[Caution, damage detected. Seek shelter and safety]

Starling realised they were surrounded by the creatures, there were more in the trees and ferns around them. The darker light must have brought them out of hiding. Starling looked around, desperate for a plan. The Tree-phalants tooted in the background near the water, splashing and holding their defensive huddle.

With a grunt of exertion Starling pushed themselves to their feet, running and ducking past the crab. Its heavy club arm made it clumsy when it was flailing about, shifting its balance all over the place. Starling re-activated [Environmental Awareness] again.

[Warning: Stamina is very Low!]

They used the skill to find the best places to put their feet as they ran, the ground itself glowing softly to show the most stable footing and they raced past the creature towards the tree-phalants and one of the few trees that stood alone in the clearing.

The drumming behind them grew louder as the crab gave chase, now that it could follow Starling in a straight line it was quickly gaining on them. The tree ahead loomed closer, and with a quick glance at their Stamina.

[Warning: Stamina is Very Low and Draining!]

Starling activated [Natural Climbing], dropping [Environmental Awareness] in an attempt to reduce the drain while they climbed. With a grunt of effort Starling jumped at the trunk. As they flew through the air the tree in front of them lit up like a Christmas tree, hand holds shining in the darkness and using these guides Starling scrambled up in the tree in seconds.

The large crab reached the bottom of the tree scant moments after Starling pulled their feet up out of its reach. The crab paused and inspected the trunk curiously before it too, started to climb. The branches around Starling shifted and repeated little drumming noises, smaller versions of the large creatures echoing the noise from below.

This tree was infested with smaller crabs.

[Warning: Area unsuitable for construction - hostile creature infestation detected!]

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

[Warning: Stamina is at a critical level!]

The tree was full of them, but the creatures were small, no bigger than Starling’s hand. For now they seemed as scared of Starling as Starling was of them. Starling tried to ignore the fact that the leathery bark of the tree was warm to the touch, or that they could feel the trees need to turn into some useful structure, or aid in construction. It was a similar effect to the first time they touched that tree after waking up in the clearing but less intense.

Maybe it wasn’t so extreme because my Stamina is so low?

Starling pushed the analytical part of their brain aside and looked down at the crab making its way up the tree. They desperately cast around for any inspiration. Starling could see the Tree-phalants about 200 yards away, most of them seemingly watching this encounter with interest. The smaller crabs swarmed around in the branches of the tree, not getting too close but slowly getting braver as time went by.

There was very little time to take action, it was time to put aside careful planning and think on their feet.

Stamina is low, so I can’t use my skills for long, but…

Tapping [Environmental Awareness] for just a few seconds, and staying as still as possible Starling studied the tree.

[Tree - Species Undiscovered]

[Height - 18m]

[Age - 47.63 Years]

[Condition - Infestation of immature predator species]

That was surprising, but what it also highlighted to Starling was the status of the tree's limbs, using the same colour coding as [Natural Climbing], and one of the large branches had a flare of red where it merged with the trunk, showing that section was rotten.

Dropping [Environmental Awareness], Starling switched to [Natural Climbing] and flung themselves from the crown of the tree, just as the large crab started to push through to them.

I really hope this works…

They reached for the perfect spot on the rotten branch to grab it as they covered the gap to it over open air. Their hand -snapped- to the spot as though guided by a magnet, [Natural Climbing] guiding them to the best hand hold. Their remaining Stamina plummeted.

[Caution, Stamina Drained! Further use of skills and activity will result in Health Drain!]

The second their weight hit the branch it groaned and there was a half crack as it started to give way from the tree, but it held on. Starling started to swing back and forward, watching their Heath stat flashing in the corner of their view as it screamed at them to stop what they were doing and rest. Then, finally, the branch tore from the tree with a loud snap that reverberated through the night. The crab, now pushing up through the tree's crown, saw Starling fall from the tree holding the large branch and leapt after them, claws and legs flailing as it fell.

Starling dropped [Natural Climbing] and focused on the branch.

Strong, sharp, a stake or a pole, please.

Starling willed everything they had into the branch, their Health draining from the depth of their being. They pushed with the willpower of a survivor, the desperation of the lucky. In their hands they could feel the branch shift and flow, it was changing. Menu’s floated in front of their eyes but their vision was swimming and all they could focus on was the shape descending towards them as they fell. Looking up, the crab opened its legs, spreading them out to make sure it caught them when they hit the ground. Its body blocked the light of the purple sun, making it a dark silhouette made out in purple flashes and lines. The air rushed past Starling as their vision started to narrow. They could make out sad sounding trumpets from the waters edge as they fell, and gasped as their gaze fell past the crab and up at the sky, seeing the vast star filled eternity spread out across it. If this was it, if taking risks yet again ended in disaster, what a view to go out on.

[Warning: Health Critical!]

Starling hit the ground with a heavy WHUMP! The ferns and soft loamy soil beneath cushioned the impact somewhat, but it still stole their breath from them. They could feel the branch in their hands wanting to snap to a specific angle against the ground, and they stopped fighting it, letting it fit into place with a satisfying feeling just as the crab was about to land. Suddenly, there was a raised, sturdy, sharpened stake in the way, and the crab landed on it with its belly, the wood strong enough to pierce the carapace and pass through, impaling the crab.

Its momentum carried it so far through the stake, before stopping, its mouthparts drumming frantically, its legs and claws waggling in its confusion. Starling lay below it, just out of its reach, face pale with terror and eyes wide as they realized how close they were to disaster.

Finally the movements of the impaled crab slowed and stopped, a thick blue ichor had begun to leak from the crack in the shell where the stake had broken through, the smell was pungent and reminded Starling of rotten shellfish.

[Defensive Structure Deployed]

[Warning: Defensive Structure Damaged by Creature attack!]

[Attacking Creature Damaged by Defensive Structure]

[Juvenile Arboreal Hunter-Crab Has been killed by Defensive Structure!]

[New Construction Insight gained: Defensive Structures and Traps]