He didn't sleep.
The night dragged. Wind howled through the trees. Every snap of the fire, every shift of the snow, kept him upright. Whatever was watching him didn't come back—or if it did, it stayed hidden.
By dawn, the forest was still.
He stepped out of the shelter into a muffled snowfall, and a second set of paw prints. Not the boar's—these were larger. Heavier. And not cloven.
"Something else is out here."
The system beeped.
New Quest: "Hunt the Watcher"
Mission: Track and battle the predator that is gazing at your hideaway.
Warning: Unkown danger level.
Optional Mission: Live through the battle.
Reward: ???
Axe studied the tracks. This was no system game anymore. Danger was mounting.
But if he survived.
Maybe he could become more powerful than what reigned here.
He stocked his supplies and followed the trail.