Packing up and receiving the warforce infusion from Sir Patrick, I went to find Sia.

Knocking on her door, I waited for but a moment before the door opened, and she peeked at me from behind it.

Seeing me, she shut the door even more, until only a slit remained from which one eye stared at me.

Puzzled, I asked, “I can come back later, if you want?”

“No! No! Just.. tell me what you want to say.” came Sia’s muffled voice from beyond the door.

Scratching my head, I spoke, “I’m heading off to the forest of death, and I might not be back for a few days.”

“A few days?” Sia cried out, her voice still muffled, followed by curses that carried through crystal clear as sounds of things being dropped were heard.

“Everything alright?” I asked, concerned.

“Everything’s alright, everything’s alright! Just, stay right where you are!”

Pausing mid step, I sank back on my feet, and awkwardly stood there before I spoke up, “I’ll be going then,”

“Wait!” came a yelp before more crashes were heard, and then the door flew open and Sia hugged me tight before disappearing inside again and leaving behind the words, “You better stay safe. I’ll come to find you a week later if you don’t show up! Do you understand, immortal boy?”.

Bemused, I stared at the shut door for a while before I shrugged and made my way out and to the forest of death.

Treading the now familiar path, I felt a vague sense of happiness and calm wash over me.

Lifting my head up, and taking in the rolling terrain, the rising hills, and the chirp of birds nestled on trees; I felt it was good to be alive.

Seeing a stream gurgle by me, I paused for a second before I went to its banks and stared down at the running water.

Seeing the face that looked back at me, I reached out a hand and paused again.

I saw long black hair that really needed to be cut or pulled back and combed. I saw black eyes that sparkled with humor; I saw brows that were smooth and sharp, and I saw ruddy lips that were pulled back over white teeth.

Touching the water, and causing my reflection that was smiling to ripple, I stood up and shouted out, “It’s good to be aliiive!”

But as usual, it was too early in the morning for anyone to be up, and wincing at the thought of irate people coming after me with pitchforks for disturbing their beauty sleep, I quickly picked up my pace toward the forest.

Soon, I was within it, and fighting my way through beasts that didn’t take kindly to my presence; I wandered around the outer area until I found the route that I had walked just a few days ago with Duncan and the rest.

Plunging deeper into the forest, I found it was strangely quiet and eerie.

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No roars shook the treetops, no birds flew. It was like the calm before the storm.

Uneasily, I gripped the pommel of my sword in its sheath tighter and warily looked around.

Until I reached the clearing where the spiders had ambushed us.

Crouching in the undergrowth surrounding the clearing, I scanned the place and saw many giant ants carrying the dead spiders to a spot where already a mound of spiders had been placed upon.

Counting, the ants numbered close to two dozen, and they were big, red, and eminently scary; what with their terrifying mandibles that kept opening and closing. This, along with their jaws that looked capable of crunching me up in seconds, drew a soft whistle of appreciation from me in respect for nature’s ferocity.

Calmly checking my equipment, I waited until there were only two ants in front of me, with the rest forming a trail stretching all the way to the mound.

With a deep breath, I readied myself, and I pushed off and flashed forward and lost myself in the battle flow.

First ant, beheaded. Second ant, stabbed and thrown backward with a kick.

Third ant, screeching. Bal, these ants are loud. Fourth ant is trying to flank. Kill it first.

Killed it, next target? Bal, that screeching ant is really annoying. Take care of it first? No. There’s three ants charging together. Break through their middle?

Broke through, but bal, that was close and these ants are heavier than I expected.

Situation? Behind, 3 ants. In the front to the left, there are 7 ants. To the right…. three, no four ants. Which way?

Right.

Dodge to the right, step to the left, stab with the dagger in my left hand, move away, roll... evaluate.

Too far to the right of the clearing. Ants are grouping up. Undergrowth?

Undergrowth and circle around it is.

Mound is not defended, steal?

Steal.

Flashing forward, I slew the solitary ant guarding the pile of dead spiders, and swept all the corpses into my finite ring as the ants screeched in anger.

Then, running away into the undergrowth again, I watched as the ants barreled toward me, incensed.

Jumping up and grabbing a tree’s branch, I pulled myself up, and silently hid as the ants passed by underneath in rage.

Tail of the snake, behead it?

Behead.

Jumping down, I landed on the last ant, brutally driving my sword into its chitinous armor, and pulling it back in one fluid motion.

Then, driving it down again, I stabbed once, twice, thrice, and a final fourth time as the ant slumped weakly to the ground.

Rising, I stared in front at the rest of the ants, who were turning, livid with anger.

Grinning, I flipped off the dead ants back, and then I…. I ran back into the clearing… sweeping up all the corpses of the ants and spiders as the remaining ants screeched behind me.

Run?

Run.

And I ran.

The ants chased after me, but then they stopped as they shivered and prostrated themselves.

Confused, I slowed down.

Until I looked in front of me to see the biggest Baling wolf that I have ever had the misfortune of seeing.

Direwolf looked at me.

I looked at Direwolf.

Run?

Of course, baling run!!

And I ran.

From being the hunter, to being the hunted in but a few brief moments.

Law of the Jungle.

And this was no jungle, but the forest of death.

Where I was the hunted.