Chapter 26 Predator or Prey?

I’ve been running for a while now at pretty high speeds, but I think I’m starting to actually get tired.

Oh shit this body never actually ate anything.

I’ve been running on empty this whole time!

Coming to a stop somewhere in this forest of sky scrapers sized tree, I bend down resting my hands on my knees to catch my breath.

While catching my breath I notice some strange tracks, almost human but smaller with long pointed toes that leave deep impressions in the ground at the end.

Probably claws….

Subconsciously I begin to follow the tracks not realizing that I’m no longer winded.

I stop when I see the tracks meet up with a huge road of numerous footprints seemingly belonging to at least a hundred different creatures if not more.

As I stop in awe of this phenomena I look up from the road of tracks to see where they are heading.

I see a massive mountain range fairly nearby, the peaks twice the height of the skyscraper sized trees.

“That wasn’t there before. Just how long did I run?”

Marveling at the rough, jagged, brown mountain range I begin to make my way toward them following the tracks.

Maybe I can steal some food?

………………………………………………………………………………………

A few hours later and I’m climbing one the mountains cliff faces, the tracks lead to a cave but I didn’t want to have to fight it out again.

So when I saw smoke coming from an opening on the cliff face I decided to climb.

After climbing up the face of the cliff and peering into the opening I see a bunch of animal hides and furs covering the ground around a fire pit.

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A leg of meat burning in a fire that has long been out, a few ember and coals all that’s still cooking the leg of meat.

As I climb in through the opening and land on the stone floor, I spot a few dozen clay pots with some stone tools against the walls.

Immediately my I eyes go back to the burnt meat smoking in the fire pit my mouth already drooling as I quickly walk toward it before diving for the roast.

The hot coals and ember brush against my skin but all I feel is the heat no burning.

I quickly bite into the burnt leg of meat, the juices burst out from under the hard charred surface.

It’s like brisket.

Savoring the taste similar to beef I proceed to wolf down the entire leg in what seems to be a few seconds but is likely longer.

Nibbling on the bones after having eaten even the cartilage of the joints and tendons I realize just how thirsty I am.

“Crap I haven’t even drank anything since earth. Maybe theres some water or something in those pots.”

I walk over to one of the pots lifting one of them up I see a clear liquid with no smell in it. I then lift it up to my lips and drink.

Water.

I then proceed to chug the entire pot of water down before realizing there’s no more in the clay pot.

I head over to another clay pot and look into it seeing it filled with purple apples.

I take a bite of one and it tastes surprisingly like a mix of raspberry and grape.

Looking into the next pot I see a violet liquid with a sweet scent and begin to drink some before spitting it out.

“Uuugh thats bitter, what is that!?”

I take another quick smell.

“Wait is that? Liquor?”

I then begin to chug the wine like liquor probably made from purple apples.

All while thinking chug chug chug chug over and over.

After finishing the pot of liquor I realize I don’t feel any different.

“Wait can I not get drunk? Well f*****k. D*mn who knew I would never be able to get drunk again, oh well wasn’t that great anyway.”

I say the last part with a slight feeling of loss in my chest and my head down.

“Either way I need to find civilization.

As great as this place is… I need the social factor, I ain’t about to go crazy in a cave.

Now lets see if I can find a bag.”

I say scratching my head.

………………………………………………………………………………………

After managing to make a makeshift bag out an animal fur and rope, then tying two more animal furs around my waist for clothing…

I set off out a cave I found in the mountain, and begin following the now even bigger road of tracks.

As much as I want I want to find civilization I have yet to find a river or a legit road and these tracks are all I have to go on soo……

“Leroy Jenkins!”