Chapter 2: Whispers and Warnings
The lavender dawn bled into a brighter, yet still alien, blue sky. Arthur, stiff and sore from his night amongst the roots, cautiously stretched. The dried meat from the survival kit was tough but surprisingly flavorful, and the water was cool and refreshing. With the immediate threat of becoming midnight chow for some monstrous wolf-thing seemingly passed, a new set of anxieties bloomed: What now? Where was he? Were there other humans?
[New Quest Available: Reconnoiter]
[Description: Knowledge is power. Carefully explore your immediate surroundings (500-meter radius) and identify potential resources or dangers.]
[Reward: +75 EXP, Basic Map Fragment (Local Area)]
[Hint: Utilize your [Stealth] and [Observation] skills.]
"Reconnoiter, huh?" Arthur muttered, shouldering his new backpack. "Sounds a lot better than 'become monster food'." He decided to put his newly acquired 'Stealth' skill to the test. Focusing, he tried to recall the System's description, wishing it came with a tutorial video.
[Stealth Level 1 Activated. Movement noise reduced by 10%. Visibility in shadows slightly decreased.]
It wasn't exactly turning invisible, but it was something. Arthur began to move, trying to emulate the silent steps of movie ninjas, which probably made him look rather ridiculous, but he felt a marginal decrease in the crunching of leaves under his worn office shoes.
He decided to circle outwards from the massive sapphire-leaved tree that had been his unwilling host. The forest was a riot of bizarre flora. Giant, pulsating mushrooms glowed with a faint inner light, vines thick as his arm snaked between trees with bark like hammered copper, and flowers bloomed in colors he'd never imagined, some releasing intoxicatingly sweet perfumes, others a pungent, warning odor. He made a mental note – and a prayer to the System for a future 'Botany' skill – to avoid touching anything too exotic.
His [Observation] skill pinged occasionally.
[Observation: Edible-looking berries (Unknown properties. Caution advised.)]
[Observation: Creature tracks (Small, herbivore?)]
[Observation: Distant sound of running water.]
The sound of running water was the most promising lead. Water often meant life, and potentially, civilization. Or, at least, a place to refill his waterskin.
He moved towards the sound, his 'Stealth' active. The terrain began to slope downwards. As he crested a small rise, he saw it – a stream, crystal clear, gurgling over smooth, grey stones. And beside it, something that made his breath catch.
It was a creature, roughly deer-sized, covered in iridescent scales that shimmered like oil on water. It had a long, graceful neck, a delicate snout, and instead of antlers, a fan of feathery plumes sprouted from its head, glowing with a soft, internal light. It was drinking peacefully from the stream.
Arthur froze. It was beautiful, otherworldly, and he had no idea if it was dangerous.
[Observation: Moon-Plumed Swiftfoot. Temperament: Skittish, generally non-aggressive unless cornered. Valued for its plumes and hide.]
"Valued for its plumes and hide?" Arthur whispered. "System, are you suggesting...?"
[The System provides information. User actions are your own.]
The thought of trying to hunt such a creature with his flimsy knife was ludicrous. Besides, it was the most beautiful thing he'd seen since arriving in this terrifying world.
As he watched, a flicker of movement in the trees on the far side of the stream caught his eye. Two figures, humanoid but definitely not human, emerged. They were shorter than him, with skin the color of mottled bark and large, luminous green eyes. They wore simple leather garments and carried short, sharp-looking spears. Goblins? No, they seemed more… fey.
They hadn't spotted him, nor the Moon-Plumed Swiftfoot yet. They were speaking in a series of clicks and soft whistles that Arthur couldn't understand.
[Linguistic Comprehension: None. Exposure to new languages may unlock related skills over time.]
The two fey creatures crept towards the stream, their movements far more practiced and silent than Arthur's clumsy attempts at stealth. Their attention was clearly on the Swiftfoot.
Arthur felt a strange conflict. The Swiftfoot was a wild creature. These fey-like beings were clearly hunters. It was the natural order, perhaps. But he also felt a pang of protectiveness for the graceful animal. And a healthy dose of fear for himself if those hunters decided he looked like valuable prey.
One of the hunters raised its spear.
Before Arthur could even fully process a decision, a twig snapped loudly behind him. He whirled around, heart leaping into his throat.
Standing there, not ten feet away, was another of the bark-skinned fey creatures. This one was taller, adorned with more intricate bone jewelry, and its green eyes were fixed squarely on him. It held a gnarled wooden staff that pulsed with a faint green energy.
The creature let out a sharp series of clicks, and the two hunters by the stream instantly spun around, their spears now pointed towards Arthur. The Moon-Plumed Swiftfoot, startled by the sudden commotion, let out a high-pitched whistle and bolted into the forest, disappearing in a flash of iridescent color.
Arthur was trapped.
[Quest Update: Reconnoiter - Complication!]
[New Objective: Survive the Encounter.]
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me," Arthur breathed, raising his hands slowly. His 'Stealth' skill felt utterly useless now.