After walking for half an hour without any monsters trying to eat them, Fay felt truly glad for the first time in what must have been months.
Back on Earth, he had always needed to look over his shoulder, constantly on alert, and he hated it.
Like any other child, he just wanted to have fun. To make friends. Maybe even go to what they called school, something he had only ever read about in books.
He was self-taught; his mother only gave him the basics, so the harder-to-read subjects were never his strength, but he loved learning. That love of learning had shaped him, and most of his survival skills had come from it.
So far, the grasslands ahead looked safe, wide open, touched by a gentle wind, and in the distance, there were animals.
Actual animals.
The sight stunned them both.
Herbivores. He remembered seeing that word in a book. Grass-eating animals that usually didn't appear where predators roamed. If they were out and walking freely, then maybe he and his sister would be fine… at least if they stayed near the large herds.
Some of the beasts even looked like the extinct animals called elephants. They had long ears, huge bodies, and a swinging trunk, just like he had seen in those old pages.
Except these ones were different. Their backs were lined with thick, dangerous-looking spikes, and their tails ended in a stone-like shape that reminded him of a wrecking ball.
They looked so cool, like a mix between a dinosaur and an elephant, but it also made him wary.
Creatures didn't grow weapons like that just to look impressive. Something out there hunted even them.
Still, they seemed to live peacefully among the smaller critters around them, tiny deer-like creatures with short horns, shaped almost like goats.
It almost felt as if they were back on Earth, in a place like the continent called Africa, where many animals once roamed freely. The only difference was that some of the creatures here had strange variations.
For now, getting closer to the herd seemed like their best option. If they stayed near, the larger beasts might offer some protection from predators. Fay also needed to learn how to hunt them, and for that, he would have to study their habits.
He planned to take one of the small deer. The word antelope surfaced in his mind—a creature he had read about in a book. Just imagining it made his mouth water. He could almost taste how good it would be cooked over a fire.
"What do you think, Mira? Do you want to live here? So many animals we can eat forever… and so much green grass, long and healthy. Maybe we can plant seeds and make a farm..." Fay said, watching his sister.
A smile spread across her face, lifting her slightly chubby cheeks. The sight alone gave him the motivation to start crafting a spear and prepare for the hunt, maybe even try for one of the giant elephants if it meant feeding her well.
"Yes! Live here. Want lots of food… meat. Lots of meat!" Mira's voice was bright with excitement.
She already knew they had to kill to eat. That truth had long become natural to her, something Fay himself had taught.
He had hated the idea at first, but over time, he'd learned to see it differently. He taught her to value life, to be grateful for every kill.
For now, they kept moving forward.
Eventually, the grass grew so tall it nearly hid even Fay from sight. Oddly, he liked it that way.
Eventually, the grass grew so tall it nearly hid even Fay from sight. Oddly, he liked it that way.
But it also brought its own dangers.
He was still wary of what might hunt a creature so large it needed plates of armor to protect itself. The deep grass could be where such predators lay in wait.
And it was exactly as he had feared.
Suddenly, a large cat burst out of the grass and charged toward one of the ungainly deer.
It looked strange.
The air around it seemed to bend, blocking the light, and within a two-meter radius, the world dimmed into shadow.
The only thing visible was the pattern of blue spots along its body, glowing faintly in the dark.
But the creature's strange abilities or magic didn't end there.
Not only did the cat carry a shroud of darkness with it, but whatever those glowing spots emitted seemed to weaken the deer almost instantly, like a poison seeping through the air.
The hunt was over in moments.
The deer collapsed within seconds, and the large cat casually dragged its kill toward a nearby tree, its blue spots still shimmering faintly in the grass.
A leopard?
Fay had no words.
Fighting off oversized, mindless dogs had been bad enough; now he was watching magical predators hunt with unknown powers, swift and effortless.
The deer hadn't even put up a fight. It hadn't struggled at all, only managing a weak attempt to flee after the first few strides of the chase.
That gave him a small spark of hope; at least some of the animals here were still just ordinary creatures.
He crouched low, waiting. Only when the cat had fully vanished into the grass did he dare to move again.
"I think we'll be safe… the creatures are back to acting normally," Fay whispered to Mira, still scanning the swaying grass for movement.
But the path ahead felt more dangerous than ever, and they needed shelter fast.
Fay also needed to hunt soon. He hadn't eaten properly or slept well in nearly two days. His body ached, and his vision blurred at times. He was already on the verge of collapse.
"There, that tall tree," he said, pointing toward it in the distance. "Let's climb it. You'll need to stay up there while I go get food, alright?"
The tree looked thin, probably too narrow for a large predator to climb, but it was tall enough to keep them hidden and out of reach. That was good enough.
"Aww… I don't want to be in a tree again… I want my box," Mira whined, her voice carrying both frustration and the hint of a pout.
"Sorry, but the box is gone," Fay said, squeezing her hand gently. "But I'll make you a new one, okay? I promise…"
She didn't argue after that. They both knew they had to keep moving.
They hurried toward the tree. Fay's mind was already racing with what needed to be done next. First, get Mira safe. Then, craft a weapon.
Nothing fancy, just a simple wooden spear.
Twenty minutes later, they finally reached the tree.
Fay immediately began helping Mira climb, steadying her with both hands and guiding her feet until she had a firm grip on the bark.
They didn't have much, only their clothes and two thin belts. Fay tied the belts together, fashioning a makeshift strap to secure her to a sturdy branch so she wouldn't fall while he was gone.
"Now stay here and wait for me to bring food, okay?"
Mira stayed silent for a moment, pouting, but eventually gave a reluctant nod.
"Don't get hurt! Promise Fayfay, okay?" she said, holding out her pinky.
"Okay. Promise."
Fay hooked his own pinky around hers for a few seconds before jumping down.
From his pocket, he pulled out a small, thin blade, a jagged piece of sharpened metal only a few centimeters long, once part of an old saw. The edges were dulled with age, but it was still serviceable for carving.
He had long since learned the value of keeping tools like this hidden.
With it in hand, he searched for the straightest branch he could find. Once he had it, he began shaping it into a spear.