Ryan glanced around, the giant snake's corpse sprawled across the ground. No way he could haul something that massive, but he had to get out of there. The stench of blood hung heavy in the air. Howls echoed, growing louder, closer.
A surge of energy coursed through him, like a shot of adrenaline. The dull pain still nagged, but he didn't flinch like before. First time, it'd shocked him. Now? He was ready. Tougher. Sharper.
It'd been one hell of a day, and the night was dragging on. Back in the day, he'd thought of night as calm, the perfect time to kick back. Not here. In this forest, night was when the real hunt began—stronger beasts prowling, and endless fights for survival kicking into high gear.
A dangerous time, and Ryan wasn't exactly prepped for it. He figured he could at least run now, maybe even take down a foe. But if he ran into a pack—or something even nastier—he'd be praying for a miracle to stay alive.
Near the river, the air reeked of death, blood so thick it stung his nose. It was prime hunting ground for late-night predators. The water itself was a magnet for other creatures. He couldn't stick around—he needed a safer spot to hole up for the night.
He glanced at the snake's corpse. Shame he couldn't use it, especially after wrecking the wolf's body earlier. He started weaving through the trees, the darkness alive with creepy sounds.
Time passed, but no sign of civilization or even a decent hideout. Worry flickered in his deep blue eyes. He scanned the dark—nothing but towering trees stretching into the sky. Leaves rustled, a breeze carrying the fresh scent of the wild.
Ryan tilted his head back, staring at the sky. That's it. That's what he needed. The highest point would be the safest. Up there, fewer things could mess with him. Back home, he could barely climb a sapling, let alone a tree stretching dozens of feet high. He grabbed the trunk, using branches to haul himself up, slow and steady.
He passed thick limbs and thinner ones until he hit a sturdy branch—wide enough to lie on, maybe even roll over without falling. These trees were weird, but honestly, they didn't even faze him anymore.
He let out a deep breath. Finally, he could rest a bit. The air was crisp, and he soaked in the calm he'd just earned. Stars twinkled above, little bursts of light dancing like countless nightlights, giving him a spark of peace and energy.
At the end of the branch, a pile of twigs formed something like a big nest. Ryan eyed it, curious. Could be risky, but something nudged him to check it out. He crawled along the branch, inching toward it. The nest's walls were about a foot high, woven from sticks and bigger branches.
He peeked over the edge. A wide space, floor covered in leaves, a few scattered bones—and then something caught his eye.
Two big cream-colored eggs, speckled with brown spots, sat there, tempting him. He crept closer. They were about a foot long—ostrich-egg sized. But ostriches didn't nest in trees, right?
He didn't know, and frankly, he didn't care. Right now, they were food, maybe even a drink, and they'd kill the hunger gnawing at him. Why overthink it? After leaving the snake's corpse behind, he wasn't about to pass up another shot.
He tapped the shell with his hand. Nothing. He pulled out his dagger, cracked it open, and gulped down the contents fast. Tasted awful, but what choice did he have?
In his head, he was grumbling. *How long am I gonna have to choke down raw crap I don't even know is safe?* Even when his family was dirt poor, they'd had proper food. He muttered under his breath, "Damn these eggs—"
Before he could finish, a familiar sound cut him off.
*You have killed a Level K Horned Owl Egg!*
*1 Life Point gained!*
Ryan didn't even wait for it to finish. A huge grin spread across his face, and he let out a loud, wild laugh. If anyone saw him, they'd probably think he'd lost it. But he didn't care. He was thrilled—even if they called him crazy. In this world, the strong made the rules anyway.
He raised his dagger and smashed the second egg. The shell cracked, and the hungry beast in him devoured it.
*You have killed a Level K Horned Owl Egg!*
*1 Life Point gained!*
After that, he spent the rest of the night counting stars, chuckling now and then. It went on for a while. Without realizing it, Ryan drifted off on the soft bed of leaves. He was beat, and the stars, the soft nest, the safety—it all lulled him into sleep.
*Hooonk!*
*SCREEECH!*