A Rattling Monster

Chapter 9: A new goal

The destruction of that den didn't really help me at all. The territory ruled by the dead end up in the claws of the other wolves. That means that my portion of prey stays the same. Not sufficient. And with the trouble caused by the adventurers, the boundaries of each hunting area are blurred. I just saw a bear for the first time where normally I wouldn't even see a wolf. The entire forest is in turmoil and I better stay in the trees for the time being.

The only good thing is, thanks to the adventurers and their discussion, I know where the city is. They said that they rushed to the undead cave, that means that I just have to follow the path they took to finally meet civilization. And since they look really well equipped, that means it's not some country town. It should be a good city, with a mayor, a lot of shops and maybe some sewers. But for the time being, I think that the forest is safer, I mean what could possibly happen t..

Bird skriiiiek

"-29 HP"

WHAT? HOW? AAAAAH!! My HP, a bloody bird just caught me on my branch. Those owls, I knew that they were bad for me. I am currently flying inside the claw of an owl. But, I didn't drop my spear, I can probably hit it with that. If I have a death wish since the gravity will kill me when the bird releases me. No, I have to wait for him to reach a branch tree or a nest, where he will probably try to kill me and eat me. But the most important thing is, he did 29 damage! Like I only have 21/50HP now. I want to apologize to the civilization. I think it is a lot safer than a forest. The lack of threat made me arrogant. That lich has saved me again. But for the moment, the most important thing is not to drop the spear. And wait.

"-3HP"

Wait, why I lost HP again? I think that untill those claws are out of my body I will lose HP. But that is a bad thing. Please fly quicker, please fly quicker. Look that branch it looks good, right? Why don't you just go there and try to eat me?

"-3HP"

The pain starts to be reduced. I hope I get a pain reduction or resistance. I was not masochist enough to hurt myself without guarantees. Since the System is still partially locked, I won't try all those stupid things, like eating poison, hurt myself, create thousands of spears. I wonder what my next evolution will be. I have time since I can't really do something right now.

"-3 HP"

It's getting a little scary. I have now only 12 HP. That's really not good. But I think he is slowing down. Yeah, great go toward that branch. Yes, keep going, keep going. And TOUCHED. Right in the rib cage. The skin of the owl is so much weaker than the rabbit one. Probably because the latter is leather. Now, am I safe? Scouting around and nothing. Cool, because I don't know how to regen. And I level up I think. 12.5/50.5HP. I really wanted the usual "refill your HP and MP when you gain a level". Not working apparently. Maybe eating the owl body will heal me. Let's try.

Wonderful, yes it worked. Full HP again. That is a really, really, really good thing. But I had to eat nearly the entire body to heal. And that takes time. I really want a self-regeneration. That would be better. Now I need to make a choice. Either I stay in the forest and maybe I get killed by a bigger bird. Or stumble on a cougar or something that I can't outrun. Or I try to go to the nearby city. The thing is, I can't kill human with my current power. But this city will probably have tamed beast. Like some birds in cage, cat or dogs. And against such low-level threat, I can trap them and silently assassinate them. And for hiding, I can always go in the sewers or some old abandoned buildings. The sole problem is how do I get in?

I don't think that even a rat can bypass the securities checks. I mean I am small but it's hard to avoid the sight of every human. Even a trader or a farmer can just spot me and speak about it. And if one saw me, the guard will maybe kill me for being a rat. In the list of the most hated creature in the world, I should be on a pretty good spot. At least back to Earth, the rat has provoked and spread one of the worst diseases of history. I can't be sure in this world but the possibility of a rat being considered a divinity is non-existent.

So I need to have a plan to enter. I can't just walk by, or even climb the walls or the ramparts. The only real way I can think of is sneaking into a cart full of goods from either some peasants or merchants. That way, I can be safe and hidden. A farmer one would be better especially if it is full of corn or something similar. That way I can dig to the bottom of it and there is no way that the guard will remove the whole load. They will maybe just plant their weapons in it so I have to be careful. If it is a trader cargo, those guards, if they are not bribed can unload everything and check the inside. If they do that, I won't make it. But in both situation, I have to be lucky. But the threat of the forest just gets bigger and bigger with the adventurers' presence. So no matter what, I have to try to go inside the town.

I just wonder what is the exact distance between here and the city. Let's just think about it, I have seen the same group with one full day and some hours between the two encounters. Normally, they had to sleep so since I saw them near midday if I was a human I could probably reach the city in 6 hours, more or less. Supposing they had left at dawn. Now, convert the time travel of a human toward a rat one. I have to walk across the trees to avoid all ground threat, slowly to check if owls or hunting birds are near. Within 2 days maximum, I will see the walls of that town.

Anyway, right now it is pretty late. I need to find a safe place to sleep. It's too late for going back to the undead cave. But the wolf den is still threatening for the other animals. Maybe sleeping in the tree above it? And that way, in the next morning, I would already have the adventurers trail right in front of me. It's an excellent plan.

(After a little more than an hour, a powerful and intelligent rat appears again near the wolf cemetery. After checking right, left, and right again, he couldn't find anyone besides himself.)

Wow, those wolves were entirely eaten. I can't find any bones. If I didn't know that I should find some carcasses, I wouldn't have guessed it. It's like every traces of the fight have disappeared. The only things broken were the plants and the grass that were stomped on.

Just like I said, either the animals are still scared of the wolves or maybe they feel threatened by the adventurers because I see no one. They are frightening, they slaughtered one of the strongest predators nearby. But in the end, both help me to find that sweet spot. Now let's try to find a place to rest. Since I evolved, my claws are more powerful, maybe I can dig a hole in a tree. Marc Cassidy uses Cut. It's is not really effective. But I still get rid of some of the wood. If I work fifteen more minutes I can really dig a hole big enough for me.

Chop, chop, chop

It really worked. Not that I doubt it. I didn't. And I can even use some of the remains of my work to block the exit of my hole. I just let a small window for air and perfect. Now let's try to rest again:

-Marc Cassidy rest

"Rest Time: 0 hour"

No enemies nearby, they are really scared of that place. Even the insects have fled. Or maybe the insects were not counted in the first place. But what was the enemy before then? Anyway, I should rest, 9 hours I would say.

-Marc Cassidy rest 9 hours

"Rest Time: 0 hour"

It didn't work? No, it only says when it has ended. I can see the sun rising. That is excellent. That means I can skip time more easily. A fine new day, excellent for traveling the forest. No one nearby. Toward adventure.