After that horrifying night, we were struck with the realization of our folly. It was a miracle that it actually took 3 days of peaceful eating and sleeping until something bad happened. I can still recall that even before 'the event', every few days a brother or sister will mysteriously disappear. At that time we actually did not care since all we know is how to sleep or how to eat more. But by doing something like that here in this forest surrounded by tall trees and zero to none protection is a stupid conduct indeed, since it actually resulted in a death.
We are currently gathered near the 'Chief's Tree', no one was in the mood of sleeping or eating since the safety of each and everyone is of concern. Some brothers suggested that we should leave this place as soon as possible, but it was automatically rejected since we know nothing about the outside world. Some also suggested of going back to the farm our 'old little village'. Some agreed to that, but the Chief strongly object the idea saying that the farm was a place where we are raised in order to be eaten later on. That made the people who agreed to gulp since they too remembered the 'mysterious disappearances'.
The Chief suggested that we should stand our ground and make defense preparations for incoming predators. The 'horde' was left with question marks. The Chief later said that our current location is the best habitat that we can have since we have no neighboring race to fight against resources or territorial war, there was also food and water in the area. If we face the forest and make the river our backs, we can see the enemy across the river and that will give us time to prepare. We only need to always keep watch towards the forest, as for our current sleeping quarters which consist of turnover sand near the river bank, we can try and change that. The Chief asked for suggestions on how to fortify our 'camp'.
And that is the reason why I am currently walking deeper into the forest with Pic and Nic.
Pic is one weird hog, he always picks something that catches his eye and later on keeps them. His sleeping area actually has many things littered around it with different kinds of miscellaneous stuff from twigs to figs and stone to bone.
"INSPECT"
NAME: PIC TITLE: NONE RACE: HOG SKILLS: FORAGE, STORAGE, ???, ???,
HP: 290
MP: 90
STA: 110
STR: 10
INT: 20
AGI: 10
END: 6
?????
?????
LV. 2
ATK: 30 - 38
DEF: 5
M-ATK: 5
RES: 3
I closed the screen and went closer to Nic since I noticed that being closer to the target provides better success chance of inspecting and as well as more information.
"INSPECT"
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NAME: NIC TITLE: NONE RACE: HOG SKILLS: PROVOKE, GUARD, ???, ???, ???
HP: 505
MP: 25
STA: 340
STR: 15
INT: 5
AGI: 5
END: 15
?????
?????
LV. 2
ATK: 46 - 48
DEF: 25
M-ATK: 2.5
RES: 7.5
Ever since our 'horde' members got named, I wholeheartedly used "INSPECT" and noticed something similar, most of my brothers have 2 skills and as well as this thing called 'LV. 2'. I remember seeing something like this from that bastard cat he was 'LV. 11'. I don't really know what this thing is but I got this when I was named and as well as this thing called status screen.
"STATUS SCREEN".
NAME: FIG RUBBERNECK TITLE: MULTILINGUIST RACE: HOG SKILLS: INSPECT, BASH, CALM, BEMUSE, ANALYZE
HP: 610
MP: 465
STA: 110
STR: 15
INT: 25
AGI: 5
END: 10
WIS: 35
VIT: 10
PER: 25
LV. 3
ATK: 42 - 51
DEF: 3
M-ATK: 12.5
RES: 5
The Chief told me that my name was supposed to be Staring Pig, but when I received the said name it was automatically changed into "Fig Rubberneck" by unknown reasons. I also got 2 skills from the name and as well as a stat called (END) + 10. But the 'LV 2' that I got became 'LV 3' after the fiasco last night. Therefore, fighting or having experienced fighting will change the 'LV' thing. I also tried using analyze on it, a skill I got after being named. This particular skill is quite handy since it clears up the things that I don't know or the things that are new to me.
"ANALYZE LV"
ANALYZE - I (RARE) ACTIVATED.
LEVEL (LV) - is an indicator of progress for the 'enlightened'. The level of experience earned by an individual in its daily life.
#$)*)%&#&#&($#**$&
#$)(*%)#&%#)#%#)@
ANALYZE SKILL level insufficient
Is what the skill said, in my opinion, the stronger the individual, the higher its level. Though that may vary in what strength we are talking about.So in order for us to level or should I say we need more experiences in order for us to be leveled higher.
As I was in my 'dumb state' while checking out stuff, Nic came and snout-poked my butt. 'What a rude fellow'. That is why he is called Nic because he is always snickering around like a happy go lucky pig.
"Hey Fig, we should really move faster you know." as he pushed me forward.
Pic smiled and added, "Fig I don't know what you are doing but at least don't slow our pace, the sun will not wait for you, ya know".
"Sorry bout that", I insincerely apologized as I fasten my pace. We really don't want to get lost in this murky forest at night so I reminded myself to not use my skills when we are moving.
As we walk onwards Pic saw some long green vines clinging to a tree. He went closer to it and looked in my direction.
"It is safe Pic," I said as I close my inspect screen.
We've been doing this for a while now, Pic will be doing the picking and I will be doing the inspecting as for Nic, he will cover our backs when we are doing our stuff. Pic, Nic and I were chosen to do this troublesome mission of gathering materials that are going to be used in our camp fortification since we, among the others, are the most suitable for the task because of our skills. Pic has this EPIC grade skill called STORAGE, the guy can store items inside his belly space.
The hog actually is a walking warehouse which makes this mission 200 times easier. He said that there are things that cannot go inside, like items that are bigger than his mass and items that have no definite shape like water who needs a container to go inside. Pic also said that before the mission started he made sure to empty his stomach space in order for us to have more items stored in it. He said we can store about 15 items as long as we won't break those rules.
Pic picked the hanging vines and rolled it in so it would not eat up space. We decided to go back for now because Pic's belly storage was already full. We got a 10-meterish vine, 10 short poles that we got earlier by bashing a plant called bamboo and 4 irregular looking pig-sized rocks.
We went back gloomily thinking about the long trek ahead of us.