As time slid by and each snake tried to lunge at me, I noticed they seemed to be getting…slower. By the time I'd killed the last one and set up a fire to cook them, dodging their strikes was laughably easy. Even when I missed my swing to kill them cleanly, getting out of their attack range took barely any effort.

The urge to check my stats rose again, and this time I gave in––the curiosity was too much to ignore. When I opened the menu, I nearly choked on my bite of snake.

Strength: 13

Stamina: 12

Intelligence: 10

Agility: 11

Charisma: 16

Wisdom: 12

Endurance: 9

Perception: 12

I'd expected my Agility to raise, but not by two points! On the one hand, it had been nine, so it didn't take much to level, but on the other…two whole points! When I glanced upward and saw what else had increased, triumph surged through me.

One more point to Stamina, too. Apparently, jogging for hours with a pack full of stones had been a good idea after all, though my Strength stat was still the same.

Whatever, there was no use crying over it. As my second highest stat, it was sure to take longer to level. I'd keep up the training and work on my other stats while my Strength built slowly. Besides, being able to dodge attacks was just as important as having power behind my hits.

You couldn’t pick up a sword or maul if you were dead.

I finished off two of the snakes, yet again while ignoring the taste, before wrapping the rest. Unfortunately for me, there had been no sign of herbs or any real foliage since I'd left Dawncrest. Even after nearly a full day of jogging, only hills and plains sprawled out around me. Usually, I’d prefer that, since it was easy terrain to run through.

At this rate, I'd have to pray Starkfell sold spices; otherwise, this was going to be a very long, tasteless journey.

Shaking off the pang of disappointment the thought brought, I shouldered my pack, put out the fire, and started jogging again. Who knows, maybe I’d get lucky and some plant based monsters would have herbs growing off them.

I’d heard a few adventurers talking about snails that grew garlic and onion bulbs along their shells. My stomach growled at the thought and I clutched it, willing it to settle.

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Finding those snails would be a worthwhile side quest, if I could figure out where they lived… Maybe, I’d even keep one of each as a pet. Thoughts of onion and garlic kept me company for the next hour, only for a crack of thunder overhead to snap me back to the present.

Dark gray clouds floated across the sky now, a warning for poor weather to come. I’d barely been running for two hours and this would doubtlessly put me further behind. I’d reach Starkfell the day after tomorrow, if I was lucky.

Then again, if the rain cleared quickly, I could be on my way within the hour.

As if in response, another crack ripped through the air and this time, a torrent of rain came down with it. The cold drops bit into my skin, mocking my previous positivity, and I heaved a sigh.

I might as well make camp since this was clearly not going to clear up anytime soon.

A bolt of lightning broke across the gray expanse, briefly bathing everything in iridescent white, and I eyed where it struck. It was far enough away to not be a threat…for now.

But there was no guarantee that would stay true for long. Plains were the last place you wanted to be when a storm like this was brewing. Well, unless you wanted to get struck by lightning.

I doubted I could survive a direct hit, even if I were at a higher level. Without some kind of charm or relic to grant me lightning resistance, I’d be fried crispy on the spot.

At least I wasn’t my highly conductive metal plate armor. Something told me, my odds of becoming a human lightning rod were noticeably higher at that point.

Shaking off the morbid thought, I scanned the area through the downpour. Seeing anything past a few feet was difficult, but after a minute of surveying my surroundings, I spotted it.

Just off the road was a cave tucked into one of the hills, the entrance barely visible from this distance.

It didn't look all that big––hardly enough space for me to slide in and turn around if my estimate was accurate––but it would do until the rain cleared. With my new course set, I made for the opening at a jog.

Another crash shook me straight down to my bones, and I picked up the pace to a full run. The hair on my arms prickled and static built in the air. I knew those signs; I’d warned Daedra and the others what they meant more times than I could count.

There were no trees or structures around to take that bolt, which meant I needed to get in that cave now.

My arms pulsed in protest, but I ignored them, adrenaline rising to muffle any soreness as the wind picked up around me. The hair on the back of my neck seemed to sizzle sharply, a final warning. The cave’s entrance loomed a handful of yards away and I lunged inside.

Just as I cleared the stone overhang, a bolt of lightning struck down in a blinding flash. It slammed into the dirt I’d just stood on and my teeth ached from the residual electricity that pulsed through the air. The grass didn't catch fire, but the scorched spot left behind was more than enough to send a chill up my spine.

Good thing I'd hustled. That was entirely too close for comfort.

Heaving a sigh of relief, I dropped my pack and slumped against the jagged wall. The scent of musty dirt and moss wafted through the cave, and I breathed it in with relish. I’d have to wait until the storm passed before I could continue, lest I get fried crispy via a stray lightning bolt, but at least it was a nice, safe spot to rest.

Plucking at my shirt, I grimaced when it slapped back onto my chest with a loud smack. Maybe I’d have enough time to dry my clothes before heading out again…

I grabbed the hem and started to pull it over my head. Only for a throat to clear from close behind me.

“Much as I'd enjoy the free show, I believe now is a good time to inform you that you're not alone.”

My heart surged into my throat, beating against my ribs like a blacksmith’s hammer, and I spun around to face the other occupant of the cave.