So. A raccoon. A big one. A strong one. And it’s approaching me. What the hell am I supposed to do?! Run?! I quietly clacked my beak. I don’t think I can out run it. I backed up further into the bush. I looked around the inside of the bush. It had twig-like branches and a thick, woody stem. All along the branches and stem were long thorns. Pointy… Remind me not to fall on one. The leaves of the bush were only on the outermost tips of the branches, making the inside quite open.

The raccoon sniffed the eggshell and chittered to itself. It raised it’s nose, sniffing the air more. It sat down next to my eggshell and picked one up. It chittered again as it inspected the bits of shell. I held my breath as the raccoon nibbled on the brown eggshell. It has to know I’m here, right? I’m so screwed. I slowly backed away, not taking my eyes off what I could see of the raccoon. I felt a sharp pain in my rear and let out an involuntary squawk of pain.

You were poked by a thorn. -1 HP

Eh? I looked behind me, and sure enough, a thorn did indeed poke my butt. It hurt. I turned and pecked at the thorn. Stupid plant. The other side of the bush shook as the raccoon tried to push the leaves aside. I froze. Shit. I turned my head towards the noise. I let out another sqwak and jumped back. The raccoon’s narrow snout snapped at the air towards me. It was, thankfully, just out of range. But that would change as it was still trying to force its way into my bush.

Get out! My bush! I hissed at it. It just stared at me with hungry eyes. It let out a bark and renewed its efforts to get me. I retreated deeper into the bush. I looked around for anything that could help me. I don’t dare leave the bush, I’ll only get caught by that stupid creature. The raccoon barked again and tried to bite me again. I scrambled back just in time for it to bite the branch above me. It shrieked as the thorns on the branch dug into the soft palette of its mouth. It let go of the branch and pulled away.

The thorns! I backed up a bit further before I took a running leap. I flapped my wings as hard as a little chick could and found purchase on a higher branch. I leaped again and landed on a branch a little higher. I looked over at the raccoon. It had recovered from its thorny mouthful and was trying to claw and break the branches. Well, I wasn’t going to let it. As I said, My bush! I readied myself for another jump just as the raccoon took a swipe at me. It was a little off and I sailed right over it. I landed on the branch next to a pair of thorns. I turned and locked onto the next branch above. I leaped… and my foot slipped at the last moment. I squeaked in surprise. I flapped my wings hard as I started to fall… right into the raccoon’s reach. Gods damn it! The raccoon reached up to claw me.

You were nicked by a claw. -2 HP

I shrieked. I shrieked as loud as my newborn lungs could. That hurt! The raccoon recoiled at the sudden earsplitting sound. I fell further towards the raccoon. Fortunately it was trying to back away and paw at its ears. I landed with a thump on the raccoon’s head. I blinked. It blinked. We stared at each other for a moment before I kicked out at its eyes. My leg with the long gash dug its claws into the raccoon’s left eye with an unpleasant squelch.

You landed a strike on a Vital Point!

Critical! You deal 4 damage.

Your opponent is blinded in one eye.

Yeeeessss! Take that, you ugly rodent! The raccoon screeched in pain as the fluid in its eye gushed out. Urp. Gross. It reached up and pawed at its damaged eye. I hopped onto the top of its head to avoid its paw. The raccoon writhed and twisted as it tried to pull itself out of the bush. I held my wings out for balance. Not so fast! I jumped forward and grabbed hold of one of its whiskers. I pulled with all my insignificant might. I felt the whisker release and quickly grabbed another one. I did this a few more times before the raccoon’s thrashing tossed me off. I flapped to the ground and landed with a wumph and practically bounced. I jumped to my feet and turned on the raccoon. In its attempts to get at me, it had gotten itself caught on the thorns, preventing it from pulling out. The thorns dug into its fur and skin all while it shrieked and thrashed, which only made it worse. I chirped in victory as the raccoon practically shredded its own flesh.

Stolen story; please report.

I watched the raccoon for a moment longer before clacking my beak. Okay, it’s… distracted. What now? I looked around once more, but nothing stood out to me. If I stayed in the bush, I was mostly safe. A quiet rumble broke me out of my thoughts and I looked around in terror. Another thing trying to eat me?! The rumble happened again, right below me. I hopped away from the spot, but the rumble followed. I stopped and looked down, listening. The rumble happened again, this time I found where it was coming from. Oh. I’m hungry. Like… really hungry. I felt my legs wobble with that realization. Food. I need food. I cheeped in realization. I need to get past the raccoon.

I looked over just in time to see the raccoon try to charge me. I shrieked in fear and backpedaled as fast as I could. The raccoon’s claw smacked me away and I bounced off a branch.

You were poked by a thorn. -1 HP

Yeowch! I landed on a low branch and a thorn. I rolled off the branch and plopped onto the ground. I looked at the bastard who backhanded me. Our eye locked and he screeched at me. I hissed back. Come get me, ugly! I fluffed myself up to look bigger and rocked back and forth in a ‘threatening’ manner with my tiny wings out. I hissed with all my might. That’s right! I’m big! I’m threatening! I already hurt you! Go away! We hissed and screeched at each other for a few moments. The raccoon started to renew its efforts to get me. I lashed out to bite it, but it was futile as I was too far away. Still, it didn't stop me from attempting to. Gotta make sure it knows who's boss! I watched it break a branch before its crawling stopped. It let out a pained ‘eep’ as its eyes went wide. With a terrifying shriek, the raccoon was pulled out of the bush.

I blinked, stunned. I picked my beak up off the floor with a clack. Uh… Okay? I warily stepped towards the hole the raccoon occupied only moments ago. The branches and thorns around the hole had blood and fur stuck to them. That must have hurt… Good! That’s what you get for trying to eat me! I puffed back up in victory once again. Though… what would be bigger than that raccoon? It was huge! I poked my head out of the leaves and looked around for the raccoon or its attacker. I didn’t see anything and only heard the faint shriek of the raccoon somewhere in the distance. I retreated into the bush and huddled next to the stem. That was… I started to shake as the adrenaline faded. I shut my eyes tight against the terror that still gripped me… but beneath that was something else. Something far stronger than fear.

I never want to be something else’s meal. Never again. I will get strong enough to stop things making a meal of me. I hissed in determination and opened my eyes, only to be jump-scared by the stupid blue box.

Foe defeated.

EXP reduced due to outside aid.

Level up!

[Magic Chicken] - Lvl. 1 -> Lvl. 3

Learned Skill:

Choco Kick

Lash out with a swift kick and claw.

MP cost: 1

Name: N/A

Species: [Mythical Bird]

Subspecies: [Magic Chicken] - Lvl. 1 -> Lvl. 3

Age: >1 day

HP: 6/10 -> 8/12

MP: 1/1 -> 3/3

STR: 2 -> 4

DEX: 5 -> 6

END: 2 -> 3

INT: 3 -> 5

WIS: 1 -> 2

LCK: 5 -> 6

(Available Stat Points: 4)

Skills: (Available Skill points: 2)

General: [Identify] - Lvl. 1

Race: [Choco Kick] - Lvl. 1

Class:

Eh? What? Whaaaaat?