Morning came soft and golden, the way it always should. A warm breeze drifted through the trees, the smell of dew, grass, and embers from last night's fire dancing gently in the air. Birds chirped lazily, and the forest rustled like it was waking up with me. I stretched my arms above my head and felt a tiny weight shift at my feet. Kurokami was still curled up there, his little belly rising and falling steadily.
"So, I guess you are sticking around, huh?"
He gave a faint grunt in response, which could've meant anything from "yes" to "five more minutes."
Today was going to be busy. I had a long list of chores, build more onto my shelter, look for supplies, and hunt for food if I wanted to avoid eating wild herbs and regret. But first… the creek. I followed the trail down to the water's edge, where the sunlight shimmered like silver ribbons across the surface. I crouched, scooped cool water in my hands, and splashed it on my face. The cold bite was shocking, refreshing, like my body remembered something my mind had forgotten.
I stripped off my makeshift top, grimacing at the dried blood and dirt caked onto my skin. The scar across my chest, ugly and stark, glimmered faintly in the light. I touched it absentmindedly. A reminder. A second chance. Kurokami bounded into the creek beside me, sending up sprays of water as he yipped and chased his own splashes. His black fur stuck to his little frame, making him look more like a soggy rat than a wolf.
"Elegant as ever" I muttered. "Truly the beast of legends."
He barked and shook off, dousing me completely. On the way back, I gathered thick, sturdy sticks and lengths of old vine. There was no telling how long the meat from the last boar would last, and if I wanted to survive longer than a week, I needed to plan ahead.
"Good thing I was a fan of survival shows before I died" I muttered to myself. "Bear Grills would be proud. Or sue me for copyright."
Back at camp, I got to work building a frame out of the sticks. I lashed them together into a simple drying rack using the vines, angling it so smoke from the fire could rise up beneath it. Not perfect. But solid enough. Once that was done, I stood and dusted my hands off.
"Alright, hunting time."
Kurokami barked beside me, tail high.
"You're joining?"
Another bark.
"Okay, but if you try to ride me like a horse halfway through the fight, we're going to have a serious conversation."
The forest was dense, but not overwhelming. Sunlight slashed through the canopy, streaking across ferns, mushrooms, and tangled roots. I moved carefully, my sword sheathed across my back, every sense on edge. Kurokami stayed close, silent as a shadow, sniffing ahead. We moved for what felt like an hour, until he stopped. Hackles raised. Ears flat. Then I heard it.
Snorting.
A low, gravelly huff from somewhere just ahead. I crouched, parting the brush, There it was. Another one of those massive boars. Thicker than the last, with rough patches of scarred hide and one broken tusk that still looked sharp enough to split stone. Its red eyes locked onto me instantly.
It charged.
"Hello to you too!"
I barely dove aside in time, the wind from its bulk knocking me back even before the impact. My shoulder slammed into a tree, pain flaring bright through my chest. I scrambled up, sword out. Kurokami growled low beside me. The boar charged again. I blocked, badly. The impact nearly tore the weapon from my grip. My knees buckled. Another hit and I'd be done. Then, Kurokami moved. He leapt into the nearest shadow, and vanished.
Gone.
"Kurokami?!"
I twisted just in time to see him burst out from the shadow beneath the boar, jaws snapping at its hind leg. The creature screamed in pain, staggering. That was my chance. I threw my hand out, pure instinct. A shockwave of air erupted sideways, blasting the beast off balance.
"Wind beats pig!"
I rushed in while it was stunned, gritted my teeth, and plunged the sword deep into its temple.
Silence.
Then the beast crumpled. I stood there panting, trembling slightly. Kurokami trotted over, tail wagging, as if that was just another Tuesday.
"Okay. First off, what the hell was that shadow move?"
He barked proudly.
"Second, can you teach me that?"
Another bark.
"Alright, I am officially impressed."
He just nudged my leg and sat down. Dragging the boar back to camp was a whole workout in itself. But we made it. I spent the next hour carefully cutting the meat, hanging it on the new rack, and covering the firepit with a blanket of broad leaves to funnel the smoke. It wasn't elegant, but it worked, within minutes, thick smoke began to waft upward through the meat strips. Kurokami was already licking his chops. I tossed him a few of the choicest cuts, raw and fresh.
"Good boy."
He wagged his tail, chewing with all the pride of a god slayer. I sat down again, back against a log, watching the sun lower toward the horizon.
"What a hunt."
The forest, once peaceful, shattered.
Screaming.
Not the echo of an animal. Human. I froze for half a second, my muscles tensing as the echo bounced between the trees.
"Humans?" I muttered, my heart suddenly racing.
No time to hesitate. I jumped to my feet, grabbed my sword, and sprinted toward the sound. Kurokami followed close behind, his paws completely silent as they dashed across the mossy floor. The screams intensified, raw, guttural.
"AAARGH!"
The kind of sound that only came from pain… and death. Branches whipped past my face. Roots snagged at my feet. But I kept running. Ten minutes, maybe more, until I stumbled into a clearing and skidded to a halt.
"What the hell?"
A cart, shattered into ruin. Splintered wood and torn canvas. Blood soaked into the dirt, sprayed across trees and stones like paint on a canvas. Bits of armor, clothes… and limbs. Humans, what was left of them, were scattered like broken dolls. My stomach turned. I stepped forward cautiously, eyes scanning.
And then...
cling.
Metal.
I ducked and crouched behind a dense bush.
Through the leaves, I saw it.
A man, short and broad-shouldered, armored in scratched steel. His red beard was matted with sweat and soot. In his hands, a dented battle axe, held low but ready.
"Is that… a dwarf?"
I barely whispered the words, still half-doubting my own sanity. But in front of him stood something even more surreal.
A beast.
A massive, feline creature, its fur a brilliant snowy white, but smeared with dark crimson in patches. Like a cross between a panther and a saber-toothed tiger, muscles rippling beneath its stained coat. Emerald green eyes locked onto the dwarf like it was savoring the moment. Its claws were easily longer than my hand, and judging by the surrounding carnage, they worked.
The dwarf took a step back, jaw tight. Then, suddenly, he turned and caught sight of me, hiding poorly behind the bush. He blinked. Confusion flashed across his face.
I smiled awkwardly and gave a tiny, overly casual wave. "Hey there."
"OH, DON'T MIND ME!" he bellowed, voice dripping with sarcasm and rage "JUST FACING DOWN A BLOODY MAN-EATING CAT DEMON WHILE A CHILD WAVES AT ME LIKE I'M HIS LOST UNCLE!"
Kurokami growled low behind me.
"Right. Helping now!"
I stood up, heart pounding. This was definitely not how I thought my day would go and it was about to get a whole lot worse.