I was totally beat. But with all the adrenaline coursing through my system I probably would not be getting back to sleep any time soon.

  After taking care of our wounds. I looked at the corpse of the tonguemaw. The plates might be usable. Maybe I could finally get some armor!

  I looked at Stalker laying on the side near the fireplace “Are you sleeping?” Stalker’s ears twitched and he emoted annoyance and tired. “Sorry, just full of battle energy” I smiled “Do you think tonguemaw tastes good?” This got Stalker’s attention. He emoted tiny and hunger and the bushy tail began to move in anticipation.

  I started butchering the giant monster. Taking extra care with the armor plates. When I had some good chunks of meat, I got the fire going. Soon the smell of grilled tonguemaw filled the cave! I sniffed at the sizzling meat and said, “much better than the smell of blood and sweat” Stalker, still on his side, yawned and emoted tired and hungry.

  It turns out that freshly killed and grilled tonguemaw is quite tasty! What started as a late night after fight snack turned into a full blown second dinner. As we were eating, I took the time to allocate my stat points. I put one point in vitality, because then they would all be at five. The last point I decided to put in perception. I figured if I wanted to walk a different path to power, I would need to boost my mental stats more.

  Within minutes of finishing his meat, Stalker was sleeping. I took a moment to enjoy the snoring sounds of my sleeping companion. Then I finished the work with the armadillo. Plates into the cave. Good meat hung in the cave. Carcass dragged out and ditched near forest.

  The carcass had left a bloody trail. But cleaning, making a door, looking at armor plates would have to wait till after I had some sleep.

  Noon came and went, before I finally got up. That fight had been gruesome, but the experience and the armor plates made it worth it! I stretched and looked around the cave, at the armor plates, at the shelf with meat, at the fireplace, at my skull china (what was my life even?) and everything else…

  Slap a door on it and we had a home!

  Last night had proven that with some minor adjustments, this could be very defensible. Stalker entered the cave. He looked at me with accusing eyes, emoting hunger and sat down at the fireplace. Laughing I said, “yeah yeah I’m sorry your highness!” Getting the fire going again, I continued “You try to spend the night moving a pig sized armor-plated carcass and see how you feel!”

  After some light breakfast, we went outside to clean up. Stalker kept sniffing the blood trail, it was then that I realized that other predators might find it interesting as well…

  Ahhh Fuck that! With the literal trail of blood and the carcass I had pulled all of 15 meters away. I had rolled out the figurative red carpet and made an announcement via jungle drums that the buffet was open at casa del cave.

  That put some pep into my steps, and I hurried over to where I had ditched the carcass. Only to find that it was gone! It had been dragged deeper into the forest, and I didn’t have to be a skilled hunter to guess the guilty monster… A giant paw print in the trail of blood. It was our friend the green panther!

  Stalker whined a bit and emoted danger. I carefully watched the surrounding forest and said to him. “Agree, this is bad!” I emoted danger and careful back at Stalker. I was not going to lie, that panther scared the stuffing out of me! Stalker, sensing my feelings, walked up the print and stood over it. The paw print was almost half the size of the fox. So, when Stalker started urinating, he had no problem hitting his mark.

  I was shocked, scared and about to break down in nervous laughter! This little devil! Stalker finished his business and looking very smug. He emoted strong, protect, pack and then with less emphasis hide?

  I couldn’t hold it in, and a peel of laughter broke out of my mouth… echoing around the trees and disturbing the birds. Stalker docked his head and looked at me with reproach emoting HIDE! Yes, yes probably not a good idea to ring the dinner bell again so soon!

  A blue flash indicated that something was up, and I quickly checked my status screen:

  Quest: Leaving the nest.

  Duration: 2 days (1 day 23 hours 59 minutes 56 seconds)

  Objective: Unwanted guests are closing in on your home. Seek shelter among your own kind.

  Penalty: Failure to complete this quest will alert more guests to your current location!

  Reward: Boon of the traveler

  Figures… I had just found a place where I could see us making a home. Did the system do this on purpose? Was it payback for me rejecting the kill quest chain? Maybe that was a bit too paranoid?

  Afterall the system didn’t force me to deal with the carcass as I had done, nor leave a red carpet of blood. The system had not tickled me till my laughter scared the birds either.

  This was on me and my stupidity!

  But it sure did feel like the system didn’t mind piling on with that quest and introducing a penalty feature….

  Back in our cave, I sat down with Stalker. “Ok, what do you think?” I paused. “Should we stay and fight?” or and I looked around the cave. “Do we leave and find shelter another place?”

  Stalker walked around the little cave and sniffed at his sleeping spot. With ears laid back and tail low he emoted home and danger. He went to the entrance and looking out emoted hunt, home, and anticipation.

  I sighed. “Ok, so we go hunting for a new home.” Stalker came over and bumped my knee with his head. I took a deep breath and then said: “The quest mentions my kind…” Stalker looked up, head tilted, listening.

  I continued “I’m not sure how they will receive us… receive you… But if there are people out there it could mean safety!” and a bit lower, almost a whisper “And answers too” I shook my head and looked at Stalker. “Are you still in?” Stalker huffed and emoted pack and strong.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Leaving the cave would require some preparations.

  First, we would need to secure some water, food and then the armor plates. Those were the things I felt we might be able to do.

  I started by slicing thin strips of the meat and hanging it to dry over the fire. I then cleaned the armor plates as good as I could and then they too got over a fire to dry out.

  This would take some hours, which I spend on hollowing out some pieces of wood. Making nature’s own tupperware, only uglier and way more sustainable.

  It was probably boring watching me try to craft stuff. Stalker was restless and circling around the entrance to the cave. I had to be honest with him “Stalker I know this might not be the best use of time.”

  I took a moment and continued “But I’m not ready to leave yet. This was the first place I felt safe since coming to Limbo.” Stalker stopped pacing and emoted home and sad. I smiled sadly and nodded “these preparations I’m doing is just my way of keeping busy while saying goodbye...”

  It was approaching dinner time when the jerky was finally done. It probably wouldn’t keep for that long, but for a few days hiking? It would do. Feeling like a regular Robinson Crusoe!

  Finally, time for the armor! I quickly realized that If I wanted anything approaching a usable armor. I would need to kill more of those tonguemaws. So, in the end I had to settle for arm guards, padded with moss and strapped with miracle bark.

  Stalker came back as I finished up and saw me posing with my new arm guards… A mirthful huf huf came from him, as he emoted Strong tiny protect. I looked at him with my pride hurt. “Everybody is a critic!”

  We got ready to spend our last night in the cave. I set up a few spears at the entrance and we spent the rest of the evening together at the fire. Stalker getting some quality napping done and me refining and checking my gear.

  The night went relatively uneventful, until a mighty roar sounded close by! A haunting HOAAAAOOOONNNK answered the, by now well-known, roar of the green panther. Followed by sounds of battle… It sounded intense out there!

  I moved to the entrance and with shaking hands I gripped one of the spears and readied myself for whatever came out of the forest. Suddenly almost as if by magic everything went quiet again…

  Then a ROOOAAAAARRRRRR sounded, victorious and challenging! Stalker, maybe regretting his little display earlier, hid in the back of the cave emoting Danger, escape, and hide! I emoted back hide, cave and safe. Hoping that comforting the panicking fox would help me fight my rising fear.

  Oddly enough it kind of did! I was still shaking, and I was holding on to the spear like it was our last and only hope. But I didn’t let the fear consume me, like it used to in my prior life. Huh? Guess progress can happen at the weirdest times!

  The rest of the night was spent watching the entrance, dozing of a few minutes at a time. It was like the forest was holding its breath. Waiting for something to happen. Yet nothing did. Dawn came and life returned to the forest. I looked at Stalker and said, “Ok we are out of here!”

  When we emerged from the cave. We could see that the battle had devasted a patch of trees near the pond. We didn’t go take a closer look. We knew the panther had won and we knew it was still out there.

  We decided to follow the creek. Partly because we hoped it would lead us to more water. But mostly because it was in the opposite direction of the battle. Packed with our belongings and a crude spear we began our escape.

  The first hour was tense! Constantly twitching at every sound from the surrounding forest. But we were making good speed and moving further and further away from the cave. We started to relax. Stalker began ranging in front of us. I started enjoying the forest. Listening to the birds and other sounds of wildlife. That is when it began!

  I noticed movement in some bushes to my right and stopped to listen. Nothing… After a few minutes I resumed walking. This repeated itself a few times over the next hour. Stalker came back.

  At first, I thought it might have been him! But then it happened again. We both stopped and that’s when we saw a long green tail disappearing into some bushes. The panther had found us!

  Stalker and I started to run along the creek. The panther easily able to keep up with us kept appearing and disappearing. The first time we tried to slow down. A growl from behind got us moving again.

  We continued this way for what felt like an eternity. Only my new enhanced stats and the panic kept me moving. At one point we came upon a deep clear paw print in front of us… As if the panther was daring us to repeat what Stalker had done the day before!

  Thump Thump

  The forest around us started to change from the overly vivid coloration to darker, softer colors.

  Thump Twack Thump

  My heart was beating so loud that I couldn’t hear anything else

  Thump twack Thump

  That panther was toying with us! I was almost ready to face it! I would die yes. But then it would be over! Running from the inevitable was what I had tried in my last life. Fruitless, stupid… But now I had Stalker. I couldn’t just give up!

  Thump twack Thump

  What was that?

  Thump Twack Thump Twack

  TWACK TWACK

  That sounds like axes hitting wood? Was I near safety? The panther certainly seemed to think so! As it chose this moment to attack.

  Without a sound the great green beast came flying from our right side. My Survival Instincts kicked in. I managed to duck towards and under it, as the powerful paws sailed over me!

  I started yelling for all I was worth. The panther landed and twirled around to face me again. I held the spear up in front of me, daring the beast to come at me again. With a roar it charged me and shouldered the spear out of its way, but not without getting hit! Unfortunately, I was too busy to celebrate, as it came close enough to me to swipe at me.

  The claws swiped across my right leg and crimson lines appeared almost immediately! Still, I hobbled towards the sounds I had heard earlier. Stalker darted in and out biting at the panther’s rear, moving fast. Trying to distract the beast from finishing me.

  The heavy Twack twack had been replaced with the sounds of many coming towards us. An arrow flew past me and hit the panther. Seeing the odds, the panther looked at me one final time -This is not over it seemed to say – Then it turned and bolted away into the forest as I saw the first group of living humanoids coming to my rescue!

  The leading man, thick set with muscles, a piglike snout, green skin, leathery ears and a tusk… In short not human and he asked me brusquely “Quem é você?”