After several hours of sleep, when I woke the ice storm had stopped, revealing a cloudless blue sky and the omnipresent sun.
Eating the remainder of the rabbit meat I had warmed, I felt ready to continue my journey.
I secured the knives and left the cave.
As always, there was nothing but the white desert and, every so often, a cold breeze that slapped my face. Fortunately, my clothes protected me from the cold, so the risk of dying from hypothermia was low… or at least significantly lower, provided a fierce blizzard didn't come and I wasn't caught without shelter.
My journey continued for several more hours. Finally, something changed on the horizon: almost imperceptible at first, but there were mountain peaks.
The mountains must be enormous if I could see them from this distance. If I walked toward them and rested along the way, I could reach them in about two months at the pace I was keeping.
Of course, that assumed no monster attacked me out of nowhere.
I kept walking. My stomach began to growl with hunger, but there were no animals or anything to eat. Looking around, I saw only white and the mountains in the distance. I needed a place to rest; I looked back at my footprints. The cave where I had stayed was already quite far, and going back would be a waste.
Besides, there was no guarantee it hadn't been claimed by some kind of terrifying monster like the winter bear or something worse; the risk was too high.
I let out a sigh; my breath turned to mist as it cooled in the air. Pushing thoughts of food aside, I tried to ignore my stomach's complaining every few minutes.
What I assumed was another four or five hours passed. The distance to the mountains shrank a bit, but not enough to reach them any time soon.
Still, I didn't despair. I kept walking until my luck changed.
Perhaps a god took pity on my soul… or laughed at my misfortune?
In front of me stood the entrance to a forest. The trees were dry, nothing but leafless branches; the ground was firmer than the desert. I was sure there would be safer places inside, but also indescribable horrors.
—Not like I have many options — I thought, glancing back once more.
My gaze settled on the forest entrance. With a sigh, I stepped inside.
As I entered, the air felt different: heavier, and the wind whistled through gaps and branches. My stomach growled again, demanding food.
If before I could move unnoticed, the noise from my stomach now set off an alarm that would surely alert any predators. I advanced cautiously, deciding to avoid the most dangerous areas — generally any path that went deeper into the forest. Instead of moving in straight lines, I would occasionally turn and go a few hundred meters before changing direction again.
It took me a while, but I finally found something to eat.
—A rabbit! —I told myself.
Yes, a rabbit… but it wasn't alone. There was a small horde of those animals. They looked the same as the first one I killed: identical size and similar horns. However, I noticed something different: in the center there was a larger rabbit, the size of an eleven-year-old child. From its head jutted two horns sharper than the others; its legs had sharp claws, and fangs protruded from its mouth.
The rabbits were devouring the carcass of at least two wolves. A chill ran through me: the wolves, though disfigured, were still recognizable; the leader-rabbit, however, was far more macabre.
I quickly hid behind a tree. I wouldn't make the same mistake of standing frozen like a statue to be seen. Also, unlike before, there were objects to hide behind now.
—Calm down, Abel — I told myself. —There must be a way to get at least one rabbit without alerting the whole pack, and especially not that thing.
While I thought, I heard something that made me go pale.
Of course: my stomach growled for not having eaten in a full day. The sound made the rabbits stop and look toward where I was hiding. I could only curse my luck silently.
For a moment the image of a body being eaten piece by piece by those rabbits terrified me. This world was merciless.
—No! —a voice in my head cheered me on— You have the advantage: you're human. You have intelligence and cunning; they don't.
I gripped the horn knives tightly. There was no point staying hidden any longer.
When I stepped out, a dozen eyes fixed on me while their whiskers trembled; some had mouths stained with blood and bits of wolf flesh.
Immediately the rabbits lunged at me, their horns ready to shred me.
The first rabbit launched a direct thrust.
These rabbits couldn't change trajectory once they leapt toward their target — the same applied to most creatures, except the winged ones that could adjust midair. I dodged; the rabbit plunged into the ground behind me. With a few seconds before the others arrived, I moved and drove my knife into the back of its neck, killing it instantly.
[You have slain a dormant beast: Scavenger Rabbit]
The voice echoed in my head, but I ignored it; there was no time for distraction when my life was at stake.
Two rabbits leapt simultaneously. I struck the first with my knife, sending it flying backward, while the second managed to bury its horns in my jacket; I braced for the pain.
But the pain never came: the rabbit slid down and hit the ground. Blinking once, I snapped out of my momentary daze and stamped on the animal with all my weight. I felt its neck crunch with a dry sound.
The rabbit that had dodged recomposed itself and charged again. Its horns failed to puncture the material of my jacket. I finished it by plunging my knife into its head. That made four.
I looked at the eight remaining rabbits, now halted. The leader glared at me with rage at the sight of his weaker kin's deaths. A battle cry erupted from his mouth — as if his fury spread to the others — and a red aura seemed to emanate from him; his eyes took on a blood-red shine with a dangerous glint in their pupils.
The eight rabbits hurled themselves at me with even greater speed.
The first struck my side, forcing the air from my lungs; the second hit my back. I staggered forward but didn't fall; a fall now would mean the end.
One rabbit flew straight at my face; I raised my arms to protect my head and the impact knocked me backward. Taking several steps back, I crouched and breathed through my mouth.
I felt something slide from my nose into the snow. Looking down I realized it was blood — my blood.
Glancing at the rabbits I had killed, I grabbed one of them.
The rabbits stared at me, furious that I had taken one of their dead. A smile spread across my face.
"You won this time, but I'll find you and eliminate every one of you. Especially you" I said, looking at the larger rabbit, which ran toward me faster than the others.
I immediately began to run with every ounce of strength left. Desperate and pursued by the rabbits, I saw a bridge and crossed it.
When I reached the other side, I used my fire ability to burn the rope, causing the bridge to collapse and leaving the rabbits stranded on the far side.
The leader stopped; his red eyes watched me with a hatred and rage indescribable for an animal. I met his gaze for a few seconds before heading deeper into the forest.
After I had put enough distance between us, I found a spot safe enough to rest. Gathering some dry branches, I lit a small fire and roasted the scavenger rabbit's meat over the flames.
My stomach continued to protest from lack of food; I was exhausted and my body ached. When the meat was ready, I ate most of it, leaving half for the next day.
"This world is dangerous; one mistake is enough to kill you. If I want to survive, I must become stronger" I thought, watching the fire dance as those thoughts passed through my mind.