Chapter 20

The burning in my eyes eventually simmered down to where it was more of an uncomfortable itch. I figured I’d need to wait to find some water to flush it out for it to fully go away.

I had forced down several bites of the Scoursnout but did not risk eating the whole thing. Even those few bites were enough to put a bit of queasiness into my stomach. It certainly wasn’t a meal I planned to try again unless I was very desperate… Well, considering how my luck had been, that kind of desperation was probably just lurking around the corner whether I liked it or not.

After darkness had fully descended on the forest, I saw a very faint glow further away and decided to head for it. What I found was an area where many of the trees had softly glowing mushrooms attached to them. They were not the round-capped types of mushroom, but more like little fans stacked on top of each other.

Before proceeding too close to the light, I used {Pulse Sense}.

Nothing concerning came up. Once again, most of the heartbeats I sensed were hiding out higher up in the trees and far out of my reach.

Still, I didn’t go into the light, and instead hunkered down in the undergrowth and just watched, tracing the heartbeats, hoping to get lucky and have some prey present itself to me.

I decided I wouldn’t go blindly attacking anything in the dark again. The Scoursnout tasted as unappetizing as it looked, and maybe I could have made that judgement had I gotten eyes on it first.

What I really wanted now is for something more palatable to come walking along the lighted area.

I caught two odd heartbeats that were fluttering faster than even a rabbit, and they were airborne. I searched them out in the dim light, until I saw two shapes twirling around each other until finding interest in a particular thick and luminant patch of those mushrooms. I tried to focus my eyes which were still watery from the itching.

They were hard to make out for how fast they were moving, but finally one landed on the mushroom. It was similar to a hummingbird but it had a little tail, and it’s chest was furry, kind of like a bat. Its face was not like a bat or a bird, however; more like an insect’s. It’s mouth opened in three directions, creating an inverted cone of strange lippy flesh, and a long pointed tongue suddenly shot out of it and stabbed the mushrooms.

I tilted my head curiously, watching as the second creature landed near the first and did the exact same things, opening its strange mouth and shooting its tongue into the mushroom.

They seemed to be sucking, as if those pointed tongues were straws. Funguses weren’t suppose to have liquid though, right? It seemed wrong to me.

Then, I noticed the glow of the mushrooms dimming and as if their light was being drained out of them. Once the mushrooms were completely drained of their glow, the weird insect birds retracted their tongues and their months closed shut before they flew off, fluttering circles around each other as they went.

I looked around for more heartbeats, but my eyes were drawn to a lower patch of the mushrooms that were in reaching distance from me. Curiosity got the better of me, and I ventured out of my hiding spot to go investigate.

I approached the mushrooms carefully, sniffing it first. It had a wet and earthy smell, just like any fungus. Carefully I opened my mouth just enough to nibble the end and tear off a tiny chunk. It broke off easily, but instantly fell apart on the ends of my teeth like it dissolved into powder. It was chalky, causing me to huff and spit it out, but the chalky feeling remained on the end of my tongue and lips as I began licking obsessively.

Just what the heck were those insect-bird-things sucking out of it? Looking at where I tore the chunk off, it looked as dry and fibrous on the inside as it had tasted. It certainly didn’t contain any liquid that would be sucked up through the straw-like tongues.

Whatever the case, it wasn’t food, so I left it alone, walking back to hide in the dark undergrowth and still licking my lips uncomfortably along the way.

However, strangely, as I hunkered back down I realized something.

The itching in my eyes was gone!

Not only that, the slight queasiness in my stomach had gotten somewhat better as well.

Did the mushrooms do that? Maybe they had healing properties.

My ears flopped flat across my head as I thought about testing what a mouthful of that stuff would do to my vitals, but the idea of putting that chalkiness on my tongue again dissuaded any more experimentation.

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Involuntarily, I let out a yawn, and my stomach grumbled. I was both hungry and tired, but I didn’t want to waste this boost to my attributes and experience gains. Besides that, I’d also need to find somewhere safer to sleep for the night.

Reluctantly, I picked myself up, activating another {Pulse Sense} as I began to circle around the lighted area.

It seemed that it was just this one patch of trees that had those mushrooms growing from them. The light, though dim, was comforting compared to the nearly pitch blackness everywhere else. But, light also drew attention. This would not be a safe place to stay.

As I traveled away from the lighted area, I spotted another heartbeat that was small enough to be prey. Whether it was another Scournsout or not though, I had no idea.

I tried sniffing the air. I definitely was picking up some kind of scent but it was hard to say if it was the same scent as the Scoursnout. Either way, there were no other oppressive scents around so I figured this would be another opportunity to try to hunt with my nose.

I realized that I was hindering my abilities by not learning to use my sense of smell. Pulse Scene could tell me something was there, but not what was there. I could only rely so much on the size of a heartbeat to know what it was, but if I could combine that information with a trained sense of smell, I’d have that much more information at my disposal when I was out on hunts.

I lowered my nose all the way to the ground on occasion, picking up the trail again, and continued to follow. Then, when I heard a rustling in the undergrowth ahead, I hunkered down and watched.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t very large. I heard…

My ear twitched.

I heard chewing.

It was eating something, maybe leaves or some plant. The tiny crunch crunch was unmistakable.

Okay, lets do this the old fashion way. I better get an achievement for this!

I prowled forward very slowly, at one point stopping and hunkering inconspicuously when a shape revealed itself in the darkness. I let my eyes adjust to it, and realized I was in luck because its back was turned to me. I didn’t think it was some nasty Scoursnout either because the smell was completely different.

Okay here it goes, hope I don’t end up regretting this again!

Without warning I leapt out from hiding, pouncing toward the small creature.

It barely had time to twitch its ears before I slammed into its back. My teeth found the back of its neck almost instantly, sinking right into the sweet spot that was a death sentence for any bunny I had managed to get in the same spot.

The thing let out a sharp squeal, thrashing its little legs, but it was too small and far too weak. My jaws locked tight, and I shook with all my strength.

Snap.

The sound was faint but unmistakable. Its body went limp in my grip, the flailing legs falling still with only a twitch in their toes.

I stood there panting, muzzle around the warm, bloody fur, waiting to be sure. No heartbeat. No movement. This time, I had done it right.

Prey Eliminated! – Lvl 3 Leaf Crawler

Experience gained!

I set it down and took a step back, staring at my kill. It was a small, rodent-like thing, about the size of a rabbit, with long ears that drooped sideways and needle-like claws at the ends of its fingers. Its hands were like a raccoons, when I looked closer, and probably dexterous enough to do many things. Its fur was a mottled green and brown that I imagined would make a nice camouflage against the forest floor.

But, most importantly—

I licked the blood from my lips.

It tasted GOOD!

I shuddered with appreciation as I lowered myself down on top of the creature and began sinking my teeth into it. I tore off bite after bite of the still-warm flesh.

The skin split easily under my teeth, far easier than the leathery Scoursnout, and hot blood coated my tongue. It was metallic, salty, but also rich in a way that made my stomach gurgle with desire. My jaws worked instinctively, ripping and tugging, swallowing pieces down whole.

Unfortunately, its body only had a few reasonable bites to it, then I was down to picking meat off its thin limbs that were not nearly as tasty. Even its bones were too thin and easy to snap to truly feel any great appreciation for.

I stared at its mangled remains when I was done, still licking my lips. It tasted good, that was for sure. Even better than rabbits. But, it was just too small to satisfy me.

But maybe… I could find another one.

My tail wagged at the thought and I activated {Pulse Sense}.

The one I had killed had a rather calm heart beat, before pouncing it anyway, I'm sure. Soon I singled out another small calm heartbeat and began to prowl.

I was a little disappointed I once again didn't get a level up or an achievement from my last kill, but at least it tasted good! The only downside is I felt I'd have to eat three or four of them to get rid of my hunger, but five or six would be preferable.

Once I was closer to my next target I deactivated Pulse Sense and let my nose do the work as I moved forward.

Soon, I heard that same family crunch crunch of something gnawing on vegetation.

These things truly had little survival instinct, I thought, for crunching so clearly out in the open. Or maybe I was just too good of a hunter!

Thinking of the tasty treat that soon awaited me I moved forward a little less carefully and heard a snap of a twig under my paw.

Oops!

I instantly heard the rustling of undergrowth as it began to flee. I'd never find it in the dark with just my nose now, so activated {Pulse Sense} again as I began to give chase.

The pursuit didn't last long. Its heartbeat was visible to me, making the darkness matter little and soon I was pouncing.

My paws came down on it and my muzzle dove for the back of the neck. I got it right on the sweet spot once again and with a quick shake and snap it was over.

Prey Eliminated! – Lvl 3 Leaf Crawler

Experience gained!

Still no level ups and still no achievements but I really didn't care at the moment.

My tail wagged happily as I laid down with my kill and b

egan to tear off the same tasty meat I was already coming to crave.