Michael has been traveling the rough forest of Teremarae for days now in search of a home.
In the morning, he would evade the dangerous creatures that lurk in the forest while making sure to log any important information he could find. In the afternoon, he would hunt for food, for the afternoon, evening, and the next morning. In the evening, he would find a small place he could hide in so he does not get assailed or attacked by the forest’s dangerous denizens.
He wasn’t always successful. There were times when he couldn’t evade the dangerous creatures or find any food. The worst is at night when he is weak and tired and an animal attacks him. During those nights, Michael felt that would be the last time he could admire Teremarae.
This night was one of those sleepless nights.
Michael pushed through the foliage as he evaded the incoming bone knife. The boney object pierced a tree trunk, just slightly above Michael’s head.
Another one… Where to go?... Up.
Michael jumps up and catches a thick tree branch. Using the momentum of his jump, Michael spins upward, avoiding another flying bone knife. Once on top of the tree branch, Michael finally sees the creature that is hellbent on ruining his sleep.
A large creature with 8 legs and 8 eyes. Anyone who saw it would call it a spider. But unlike spiders, which usually had soft bodies, this monster had a bone-like carapace. Its legs were covered with dark yellowish bone plates. While this would be enough to fuel Michael’s dreams with nightmares, the truly fearsome part of this creature was its mouth. Unlike spiders who had mandibles, this spider had a full-on mouth with giant teeth, each one capable of rending Michael’s flesh from his bones.
Michael frowns. If this creature shared its less monstrous cousin’s ability to climb almost any surface, Michael would have been more scared. The creature opens its spiny mouth and its throat releases a sharp bony knife.
Oh…
Michael quickly hides behind the tree and he feels it shake a bit. Returning to look at the source of the shaking, he sees a bone knife embedded in the space of the tree where he was originally supposed to be.
The bone knife was sharp enough that Michael was tempted to grab it for future use but he became more cautious when he saw a dead animal explode when it was touched by other living creatures. Who knew what hellish effect this bone knife could inflict on Michael?
To be sure, Michael wanted to poke the knife first. Taking one of the carved sticks tied to his back, Michael pokes the bone knife. The bone spider seems to dislike this and it hisses.
Michael ignores it.
The bone knife didn’t react to Michael’s poking. It didn’t explode, turn to acid, or release mini bone knives around it, so Michael wraps his hand with one of his thatch gloves and grabs the knife. The knife feels like a tough piece of rock.
Yeah, I can add this to my sticks. I can make a spear with this.
Michael puts the bone knife beside him. Taking out some roughly made twine, Michael ties the bone knife on top of the stick. The spider seems to realize that it can’t kill Michael so it leaves or pretends to leave.
Michael doesn’t let his guard down.
After tying the bone knife on top of his sturdiest stick, Michael manages to fashion a primitive spear. Pushing the spear forward in a stabbing motion, Michael imagines killing an animal.
This will make hunting easier… I’ll be able to eat more meat…
Michael looks around and finds no sign of the bone spider.
After making sure the area is clear, Michael makes his way down from the tree. Never letting his guard down, Michael dodges to the side as a bone knife almost embeds itself onto Michael’s back.
Knowing that the bone spider still wants to kill him, Michael starts to run. He’s confident he can escape the bone spider. After a few minutes of jogging, Michael loses the bone spider.
Finally… I can sleep.
Looking around, Michael finds a tall tree with enough shade to protect him from any more flying bone knives.
Michael climbs the tree and ties himself to the tree trunk to make sure he doesn’t fall to his death. Once secured, Michael closes his eyes so he can get some shuteye.
A few hours before sunset…
Once his eyes close, darkness takes him, and sleep passes almost immediately. Opening his eyes, Michael sees that the sun was slowly going up.
Michael needed to move again.
He still hasn’t found a place to call home and if he failed to find one, he would have to spend one more day in danger.
After almost a day’s worth of travel, Michael finally finds a river. The river was rapidly moving but Michael could see the silhouettes of dangerous creatures under the water.
Not gonna enter that.
Michael strafes the edge of the river and leans forward to take a drink. He sighs in pleasure as he swallows some of the freshest water he’s ever tasted in his two lives.
Michael sighs a bit when he realizes that he doesn’t have a container to store the river water.
Okay… add that to the things I need to make, containers.
Taking out his log, Michael goes to the page which contains his “to-do” list. The log’s main ability is to store information regarding Teremarae but after fiddling with the log a bit more, Michael realized it also acts as a notebook. After realizing this, Michael started listing down the things he needed to do in the log.
Michael’s To-Do List
1. Find a safe home with easy access to food and water.
2. Create clothes.
3. Create weapons.
4. Create containers.
After listing down his 4th goal, Michael hides the log again. Once drinking his fill, Michael makes the journey upward.
If I follow the river, I’ll reach a higher elevation… then I’ll have a clearer view of the forest. By then, I’ll be able to hunt with ease and have easy access to water.
Michael was fantasizing about the good situation that is to come. While Michael was slowly getting used to the danger of Teremarae, he made sure to keep his guard up. When the afternoon came, Michael started to look for an area where he can rest.
Once on an elevated area, Michael takes out a rock from his leaf pack. The rock was slightly sharpened and he started to bash it into another piece of rock he had. For the past few days, Michael has been using some of his resting time bashing these two rocks. The purpose was to create a makeshift knife that would allow him to make sharp incisions. The bone spear was good for stabbing but it wasn’t ideal when it came to making cuts.
Michael continued to sharpen his rock. Today was the day it would become a functional knife. After a while, Michael examined his work. The stone was long enough that he could hold it like an actual knife. It seemed to shine a bit in the moonlight.
Oh… it’s already night?
Michael smiled to himself as he recounted the past few days. For the past few days, he’s been doing everything to survive, ranging from stoning small animals to carefully picking from fruits. For food, Michael has been eating a wide variety of nuts and fruits. For liquids, Michael has been drinking from the fruits he and the log have deemed safe. Using the large leaves he got from a variety of trees, Michael fashioned a pack where he stores most of his foodstuff.
Satisfied with his achievements, Michael goes to sleep.
In the morning, Michael washes up by the river, enjoying the cool water on his body.
Finally, a bath… even if it’s not the whole body. It’s still amazing...
After cleaning up, Michael continues his travels. While traveling up the river, Michael is shaving down a thick tree branch.
A spear for stabbing and a club for clubbing…
Michael remembers the times he almost entered a club but he was such a safe guy that he never did. It’s one of the many things he regrets in his past life.
Oh well, no use crying over spilled milk.
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
Once Michael is done with cleaning and carving his club, he ties it on his side using some of his remaining twine rope. He hides the stone knife in his leaf bag.
There… safe.
While traveling up the river, Michael notices that the river creatures are becoming bolder and braver. When he was doing his daily cleaning, a privilege he gained when he started traveling by the river, the river creatures were slowly approaching the shore.
If they’re not too big, they can be food… I hope they’re not too big.
Michael’s wishful thinking remained wishful thinking. He knew very well that those silhouettes belonged to big creatures. The thought of anacondas or some nightmarish version of that creature swam through Michael’s mind.
Michael can’t help but shudder thinking about the possibility of dying through vore.
Okay, let’s avoid the water for now.
Michael makes a mental note not to stay near the water for too long.
Eventually, Michael reaches the source of the river, a giant waterfall that fills up a large natural basin. Michael looks at the large pool of water and he sees dozens of giant water creatures.
Hmmm... I guess I’ll never be able to experience full-body bathing.
Michael moves to the left, following the edge of the waterfall. Once near the stone wall, Michael looks up and finds that the area is very steep. One wrong move while climbing the wall could spell Michael’s painful death due to a broken back or a very terrifying death due to being devoured alive while drowning.
Michael wanted neither form of death so he decides to be careful. Taking his stone dagger, Michael cuts some nearby vines to use for support. He continues to put vines around his body so that he can tie himself to the wall while making a makeshift vine ladder.
Once he had enough vines, he goes toward the wall.
Okay… let’s go.
Michael hypes himself up as he starts to climb. Using his body’s almost supernatural athleticism, Michael grabs a stone outcrop and pulls himself up.
The climb up is nothing short of terrifying. Using his multitude of sharpened sticks, Michael creates small holes in the soft parts of the wall. He hammers them in with his club. Once the sticks were hammered into the wall, Michael ties some of the vines he has with him to the secured sticks. This was to make a makeshift ladder, one that Michael can use in the future and so he can support himself in the worst-case scenario.
It takes a while but eventually, Michael’s hand touches the top of the steep wall. Hoisting himself up, Michael finds himself on top of the waterfalls. Standing up and turning to survey the forest, Michael is greeted by a beautiful view.
The sun was at its peak and the forest was lively. The rivers flowed deep into the forest and into a larger body of water that Michael couldn’t see. Large birdlike creatures flew in the distance. If one were to excuse the fact that the forest is full of murderous super animals, this would be a beautiful and calming picture.
When Michael surveys the area, he finds a large open area atop the waterfall. Looking around, Michael finds many fruits and plants that both he and the log have deemed safe and edible. He even sees a few aniotube plants which will be good for cleaning any wounds.
That’s good… I have fruits to eat… and some vegetables… I just hope, there’s nothing dangerous here… if there is… I’ll have to clear it.
Michael liked the area since it felt easier to defend than just an open area. While this area was open, it wasn’t easily accessible and Michael had a good vantage point. He would be able to plan future hunts easier.
Now, let’s clear this area.
Michael pulls out his wooden club and bone spear.
Carefully making his way to the open area on top of the waterfalls, Michael finds a few wolf-like animals. These wolf-like creatures had large teeth similar to the extinct sabertooth. Michael swallowed heavily as he imagined the pain he would experience if he failed to kill these things quickly. There were three of them.
Quick… I need to be quick.
Michael looked around and found that there was a tree he could climb. Michael climbed as quiet as he could. Once on top of the tree, Michael slowly walked on top of the branches. He reached an area just on top of one of the wolves.
Here…
Michael jumps off the branch. Using his weight and the momentum of falling, Michael impales the alpha of the pack with his bone spear. It releases no sound as its head was immediately impaled while its spine suffered Michael’s weight multiplied by gravity.
The two remaining saberwolves growled as they backed away. Usually, Michael would run after showing such a fearsome entrance but he wanted this place safe, he couldn’t let these two run away. The saberwolves knew this too and instead of running away, they charged Michael. Michael pulled out the spear and waved it around him.
The saberwolves growled as they circled Michael. They were testing Michael’s range.
Just enough.
Despite swinging the spear to keep the saberwolves away from him, the creatures were slowly getting closer to Michael. The next time Michael swung the spear, the saberwolves would charge toward him.
Then he swings his spear again. And just as predicted, the saberwolf on his right lunged forward but Michael was prepared.
The saberwolf that lunged forward felt a powerful blow strike its mouth as Michael swung his club. The other saberwolf lunged forward to help its family member but Michael took a step back and used the creature’s momentum so that it impales itself on the spear. It howls with pain as the spear stabs through its chest.
Without the momentum of gravity to empower Michael’s attack, the spear didn’t fully lodge itself in the wolf’s body. The wolf started to thrash around but it only served to worsen the wound. The saberwolf whose snout got smashed was slowly getting up. Michael couldn’t finish it off due to the impaled saberwolf trying to rip his throat off.
The clubbed saberwolf growls. Turning to it, Michael lost his focus for a moment which the impaled saberwolf took advantage of by using its weight to push against Michael.
Michael quickly lost some of his balance as he was being pushed back.
The clubbed saberwolf roars and lunges toward Michael’s back. Noticing that his back was exposed, Michael gambled and swings his spear that still had the impaled saberwolf toward the incoming saberwolf.
Both saberwolves yelp in pain as they crash into each other. Michael didn’t account for the impaled saberwolf’s heavy body and he accidentally lets go of the spear and the spear is dragged away from him.
Rushing forward, Michael tries to retrieve his spear but the clubbed saberwolf grabs the spear’s handle and pulls it out of the impaled saberwolf. It throws the spear to the side. Standing up, the previously impaled saberwolf glares at Michael. It was limping and it had a hole in its chest but it had enough fire in its eyes that terrified Michael. The two saberwolves growl in unison.
Fudge.
The saberwolves slowly approached Michael.
Michael slowly backed away.
He was holding a club in his right hand. One of the two saberwolves was weakened but an animal is so much more dangerous when they’re injured.
Michael stopped backing away.
If I back away more, I might fall down.
Seeing their prey stop backing away, the saberwolves roared.
To remove his fear, Michael screamed.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
The saberwolves were startled but it does nothing to stop them from charging. The two saberwolves charge forward but as expected, the weaker saberwolf lags a bit behind. Instead of running away, Michael charges forward with a rock in his left hand and a club in his right hand.
While running, Michael hefts the stone and lobs it toward the wounded saberwolf’s legs. The wounded saberwolf’s front limbs were struck and it loses its balance. It howls in pain as it falls to the ground with enough force to cause it to slightly dig into the ground.
That’s enough!
Michael meets the healthy saberwolf head-on. Raising his club, Michael swings it toward the monstrous creature. As his weapon moves toward the saberwolf, Michael mentally prepared himself to bash it to death.
But the saberwolf was prepared to meet Michael’s attack. It dodges the club by quickly lowering its head. Michael’s swing hits nothing but air and the saber wolf lunges toward Michael’s leg.
Fudge!
The saberwolf’s mouth closes on Michael’s leg.
“Ahhhh!”
Michael screams in pain as the saberwolf’s large canines pierce his flesh.
“LET GO WOLF!”
Michael starts to hit the saberwolf with his club in a panic. Instead of letting go, the saberwolf’s canines started to dig deeper. The pain forces Michael to focus. He starts to bash the creature’s head. It doesn’t matter if he can’t feel his arm. He’d rather be sore for a week than die now.
Then he hears an ominous growl. Without letting up with his bashing, Michael turns to the wounded saberwolf and sees it stand up. It starts to rush towards him again.
Immediately, Michael throws the club at it, hitting it square on the nose, stunning it again. Not missing a beat, Michael takes out his stone knife and stabs the saberwolf biting his leg in the eye.
It howls in pain and its bite weakens.
Its remaining eye glares at Michael which terrified the human.
Despite its animalistic nature, the creature realized that this was a “do-or-die” moment and whoever let go would die. Michael felt the creature’s teeth sink deeper and hit his bone and he started to internally panic.
One of us has to die!
Roaring with desperation, Michael put all his strength into wrenching the knife deeper into the saberwolf’s eye.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH”
Michael pushed the knife deeper and deeper into the saberwolf’s skull. When his knife hits a tough obstacle, Michael lets go of the knife, and then bashes its handle with enough force to drive it deeper. A powerful crunching sound comes from the saberwolf as it dies from its skull being split in half. Its jaw slacks open and releases Michael’s leg.
Panting in pain, Michael separates himself from the saberwolf. Putting the smallest amount of force on his mangled leg gives Michael an unbelievably large amount of pain.
Wait! Where’s the other on-
Michael hasn’t even finished his thought when the other wounded saberwolf charged him. Michael managed to raise his hand in reflex to defend his neck. The wounded saberwolf bites into Michael’s arm.
Expecting to be wrestled to the ground again, Michael’s eyes widen in surprise when the saberwolf continues its momentum and runs forward.
Due to the saberwolf’s strength, Michael is dragged forward as the saberwolf continues to rush forward while still ripping through Michael’s arm. Michael tries to stab the saberwolf but he’s in the wrong position for it and the saberwolf is on a side that is hard to strike.
Unable to stop the saberwolf’s rush, Michael realizes that he’s about to fall off the cliff.
Oh, fu…
In a bid to suicidal action, the saberwolf jumps off the cliff with Michael in tow. Realizing the danger of this situation, Michael lets go of the stone dagger and starts to freefall with the saberwolf. Looking at the saberwolf’s eyes, Michael sees an almost intelligent gleam, the result of a phenomenon he didn’t understand yet.
This behavior terrified Michael.
While he wasn’t a person who was an expert in animals, Michael knew that no animal would sacrifice itself just to get vengeance.
Michael frantically thinks of a way to escape the saberwolf’s death grip as the two of them fall faster and faster. But as Michael quickly reaches the bottom, he runs out of ideas.
NO!
He had one idea and it was to make sure that the saberwolf hits the water first.
Michael grabs the saberwolf’s neck with his other hand and angles its body towards the large pool of water. The saberwolf tried to struggle but without its jaws, it couldn’t get rid of Michael’s powerful grip. The saberwolf turned to see the desperation in Michael’s eyes, equaling the saberwolf’s suicidal nature.
Yeah, if I die, I’m making sure you die first.
Then the two creatures struck the surface of the water. Despite being liquid, for the first moment of impact, the water was as solid and as hard as cement. The water exploded as the saberwolf’s body broke the tension and many of its bones. The force knocked the saberwolf out and its jaw finally lets go of Michael.
Michael opens his eyes when his body sinks and it was just as he expected.
Shit…
Underneath the large pool of water, Michael saw dozens if not hundreds of sleeping serpents. With the sudden commotion, Michael saw thousands of eyes open up, all of them staring at him and the unconscious saberwolf.
Michael swam.
Pushing his body to its maximum limit, Michael forced himself to move. It didn’t matter where, as long as he swims away from the water, he couldn’t care less. His fear of getting devoured by a river of snakes trumped the pain of a mangled arm and damaged leg.
The curtain of serpents descended on the two creatures. A single curtain went towards the sinking saberwolf and another swung towards the desperately moving Michael.
Michael continued to swim. It didn’t matter if he broke his other arm. It was a fate he preferred to getting devoured.
He felt a sharpness pierce his leg but Michael ignores it.
Then he felt another sharpness pierce his wounded leg, striking bone. It caused extreme pain but Michael continued to swim.
The waters slowly became dark as the curtain slowly closed. Michael’s opening was getting smaller and smaller.
Michael felt dozens of fangs start to pierce his flesh as the waters became darker.
The light slowly disappeared but finally, Michael’s hand touches the ground surface. Not caring for anything else, he crawls to the ground. Now out of the water, he could hear his mangled arm release sounds of cracking bones but he couldn’t care less.
Maybe it was due to luck or some unforeseen coincidence but Michael somehow reached the shore bank without being completely devoured. The saberwolf was not as lucky. Michael could see the water undulate as its inhabitants fight over the scraps. Looking back, Michael realized that the ones who managed to latch onto him did not continue. It seems that these creatures were mostly water-bound.
At… at least… I’m not going to die underwater…
Exhausted and tired, Michael’s vision darkens and he starts to lose consciousness.
Fudge… I can’t… sleep here.
Despite his best efforts, Michael loses track of everything and falls unconscious. When Michael came to, he realized he was on top of the waterfall once more. Trudging towards one of the nearby caves, Michael took stock of his supplies and started to treat his wounds.
How he got up here? He does not remember. In his pain-addled mind, Michael must’ve gotten up through sheer force of will.
With his wounds treated, Michael looks around.
The cave was damp but safe. There weren’t any creatures that endangered him for now. It also helped that this environment had a lot of items that he could eat.
For the first time since he entered Teremarae, Michael felt safe.
And with that, he slept peacefully.