Chapter 3: It's a...
Bracing myself for the worst I await the predator. Ten seconds, twenty seconds, one minute… I can finally see the shadow of that deadly predator and the next instant I see its whole silhouette...it's a rabbit…. IT'S A FUUUUUU RABBIT! I jumped from behind the boulder and pounced at the rabbit as if my life depended on it. I swung the stick and I don't know why but the rabbit was so surprised it forgot to actually move.
BAAM!
The rabbit had no chances against that kind of attack whatsoever. This solved my anger a bit and I also had a rabbit… but it was raw not cooked. What am I supposed to do with a raw rabbit? I know, I know, cook it but with what! Then I remembered that you can make flame without using magic or matches. Yes, if I remember correctly. Long time ago my father used to take me out to camp near the village and showed me how to make fire with sticks. I can try that but first I will need more wood.
I've collected some sticks and branches as well as some wood. Now I just had to make the fire, easy! After ten minutes of trying my frustration levels got pretty high. After another ten minutes I finally succeeded, I had fire!
But I couldn't just cook the rabbit like that I had to take out all the gross stuff from inside. I thought I could maybe use sharp stone but I couldn't find anything sharp in the cave and outside was too dark already. Going around the forest with a torch was not the best idea so I could only use my hands. I made a mental note to find a sharp stone for the future.
Using my hands only, it wasn't easy to actually open the rabbit but after some fiddling I managed to open the belly and take out all the intestines. Next I placed a stick up its butt and placed it above fire… the smell was so intense I actually had to get out of the cave! When the fur caught fire it stank so much I almost vomited. I don't think any wild animal would appreciate that kind of smell so I thought I will be a bit safer in the night.
Finally after all the fur was burned and meat cooked I could enjoy my meal. It was burned a bit and hard but hell it was meat! Not those stupid berries! I decided to bury all the remains left from the rabbit and go to sleep.
The next day I resumed my journey not forgetting to look for sharp stones while I'm at it.
I got more used to traveling in the forest, I guess I was adapting more to this survival thing and after traveling for a bit I was able to finally find a sharp stone. Enough to cut up the rabbit as for sharpening the stick… I don't think so.
Early in the afternoon I got a surprise and found a group of hunters. I was elated at the thought of talking with fellow humans. When I approached them they didn't seem to be in a good mood. Nevertheless I came over and said hello. One of the hunters turned towards me and said with obvious anger in his voice "what do you want?"
I told them I'm from Freemount village and came out on a journey. I also asked if they could give me some tips and perhaps something sharp as I had no knifes or nothing, of course mentioning my lack of money. All the hunters just looked at me from head to toe and started laughing… hysterically!
I knew I was no hunter but shit at least be serious here when I ask you for help! Another hunter pointed at the stick behind me and said "Is that your weapon?" to which I nodded my head. Then again hysterical laughter… for five minutes! I waited calmly at the side, when they finally stopped laughing one of them said "Kid you have balls to actually travel this forest like that" So I asked again if they can be of any help.
One of the hunters finally broke the silence and said "Ron, give the kid that old knife. Even if he dies at least we did something for him" And so the hunter named Ron took out an old and tattered knife and threw it at me. Yes threw it not passed it. Fortunately I was paying attention and caught it. I thanked them and moved further on my journey.
I could only hear some stupid comments and laughs behind me but I didn't care, I now had a weapon! I could to stuff!
On my way I spotted more deer and rabbits and tried to sneak up on them but to no avail. My skills in this department were pretty much non existent. So I had to satisfy myself with more berries, correct ones of course.
I found another stream late afternoon and so decided to rest there. I guess animals need to drink too so maybe I will get a chance to hunt something. I took out the knife and started to sharpen my stick. After some time I now had pretty pointy wooden spear.
But this was not ideal for my plan I needed smaller sticks or at least small enough I could throw. Yes my plan was to hunt those rabbits with throwing spear and now that I had a knife I could do any weapon… from wood of course.
It took me some time to actually create wooden throwing spears but it was worth it! I can try them out the next day. Now I needed a shelter. Again in search of one I wasn't so lucky this time. I couldn't find anything that would be suitable so I decided to gather some branches, sticks and leaves and maybe I will be able to construct my own shelter.
I did as I thought and started to construct my shabby shelter. It wasn't very sturdy but it was mine! I was more tired today than usual so I went to sleep after I ate some more of my favourite food these days… berries.