The footsteps of the sluggish travelers echo harshly through the environment. Vex silently curses at the crudeness of their steps. Each one, warning all animals they are here.

“How much further Lett?” Cal’s voice whispers into Vex’s ear. Nothing can get you used to the communication calls. She glances over to the group. Some talking in private conversations, others watching their footing on the steep rocky incline. The Bann and Hardak leading the way, Letty close to his side.

“Overlook is just up ahead. You can see the outpost from there. You should totally stop worrying Cal like I said it’s an easy target. Even I know that. Oh, and there’s a farm did I tell you that. ”

Vex pinches her earlobe, muting the party chat. The sound of heavy footsteps approaching from behind replacing Letty’s babble.

“I saw you mute,” Grey laughs out towards her. “I’m surprised it took you this long, Pup.”

Vex shrugs her shoulders in response.

“You never told me about outside,” Grey mumbles, his steps beginning to match hers.

“Nothing much to say, Grey. Same old same old. Doesn’t really change does it?”

“Mmmmm,” Grey contemplates the idea. “No, sounds about right.”

Abruptly, Pip halts in front of the pair. Ears pricking up, face drawing upwards to the trees above. Vex freezes, flying her hand towards Grey. Gesturing him to stop. Her eyes scan the branches, fixating on a red fleck of colour. A small bird.

Slowly, lifting her staff in her hand, she lines up the shot. Forefinger dragging on the body of the staff. A digital holographic scope flickers into the air, in line with her eye. The staff shifts in her hand, barrel opening as the scope reveals a small red cardinal perching. With a quick tap with her thumb, a tiny bolt of electric flies into treetops. Big enough for a lethal kill of the small bird.

Vex let’s go of her breath as the bird drops out of scope. The body hitting the ground with a faint sound.

Grey makes a sound of approval towards the kill as Vex lets out a small sharp whistle, instructing the fox to retrieve. Watching the fox bound off happily, the familiar system notification box fills her vision.

System Notification

Congratulations

You have gained a level in Hunting

You are now level ten

You have received five stat points

You are now able to identify footprints

“You leveled then?” Grey’s beams behind the text. Vex dismisses the box, raising an eyebrow towards him. “You’re smiling.” He laughs. “What level now?”

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

“Ten,” she replies shortly gazing towards the ground. Clear footprints imprinted on the hard floor visible. Her head spins as realization crashes into her. Footprints of Pip dashing up the incline. Old tracks, worn in the dirt. Deer possibly. A long time ago. Have they always been here or did the system just add it? Vex cannot help to wonder.

“Five stat points?” Grey asks, watching her eyes flicker along the landscape.

“Yeah, I can see footprints…” Her voice trails off.

“That might come in useful.”

The sight of Pip barrelling down the hill catches them both by surprise. Pip skids, trying to halt her speed. Crashing into Grey’s pillar of legs. With a shake of her coat, Pip regains her footing before dropping the bird’s corpse into Vex’s hand.

Vex inspects the bird admiring the kill. The bolt of electric leaving a clean shot through the bird’s eye. Definitely a critical. Vex muses to herself with a smirk. A sense of pride slipping over her.

“Grey, if this isn’t an outpost…” She lets her voice trail off, focusing on the bird. Plucking the tail feathers off one by one.

“Yeah,” Grey responds preparing himself for her opinion.

“I just don’t know how much longer I can take.” Vex pushes the feathers into her belt.

“I know, I’m thinking the same way, Pup.” Grey turns his face away as Vex twists the beak off the bird’s corpse.

“How much time have we wasted?” Vex asks rhetorically adding the beak into the pouch before throwing the carcass to Pip.

“Best take it one day at a time,” Grey responds, raising a hand to his ear. Silence lies between them as Vex watches the fox chew on the dead bird. “They’re at the outlook and waiting for us.”

With a sigh, Vex continues up the steep hill, hoping for a rest stop. Her legs aching, throbbing from the incline. It is not long before they reach the others. Each one standing close to the edge of the cliff. Vex pinches her earlobe unmuting the party chat. A bustle of voices bursting into her ears.

“It’s small”

“Yeah, but look there are actual houses.”

“Looks like a farm” The voices speak amongst each other.

As she reaches the summit, Vex can see the discussion point. A small bundle of buildings nestled in the valley below. Three sides surrounded by a sea of yellow fields. No doubt a crop. The other side bordered by a thick dense canopy of a forest.

Vex skims the top of the outlook. Itself circling half of the fields before disappearing into the horizon. We have an advantage. Her eyes rest on Cal and Grey talking amongst themselves no doubt discussing attack tactics.

“Doesn’t look like there’s many down there.” Letty giggles, walking towards Vex. “Where did you and Grey go?”

Vex ignores the question. Quickly raising the staff in her hands, activating the scope.

“Vex!” Cal’s voice shouts into her ear in a mixture of distaste and surprise. Vex ignores him, focusing the scope on the hamlet below. The movement of inhabitants catching her attention. Her forefinger drags along the staff, scope zooming in on one creature. Large, green and muscular. Sun reflecting off its steel armor.

“Definitely AI’s,” Vex calls out. Pip gives off a snap as Cal storms towards them. The motion causing Vex to pull away from the staff. Abruptly, Vex throwing the staff into Cal’s chest, causing him to drop the lance in his hand to take hold of it. “Orcs to be exact.” Vex snarls.

“There're no orcs in this…” Cal’s voice trails off as he raises the staff’s scope to his eye. Moving it wildly in the air trying to view the hamlet. Vex reaches for the staff, pulling it down towards the orc. “Shit.”

“Well, no-one said it was going to be easy!” Letty laughs, pulling her crossbow off her back, activating its scope.

“I’m pretty sure you did, Letty.” Vex mumbles.

“Does this change tactics?” Grey questions joining the small group.

“No, we rest for half an hour,” Cal speaks loudly across the now huddling party. “Then we attack. We need to take this place today.”

Murmurs fly out into the party before disbanding, finding places for rest.