At this moment, my weapons are a rusty short knife that can barely cut anything, and a few somewhat sharp wooden spears.
My goal for now is to make some decent, long range weapons, because I'm still too weak to handle the beasts head on.
First off, I went down to the riverbank near the dam and looked for fist sized stones. Then chipped them down to the shape of a throwing knife. This took a week. The chipping of stone is a laborious process.
I realized that these knives are too short to throw properly. So I found another four rocks double the size, about 10 to 12 inches in diameter.
Then I smashed them down and chipped away the edges to make throwing knives. This takes about two weeks to complete.
I sharpened the edges of the set of knives, then practiced throwing with these four knives. Aiming at X, I carved into a tree. I practiced my aim and throwing speed.
Most of the time I missed and dulled the blades, so I have to re-sharpen them.
At some point, I was just getting tired of sharpening the knives. So I gave up sharpening them and just practiced throwing them. After a month of practice, I was finally able to hit my targets, most of the time…..
Then I produced some wooden sleeves from tree branches, so I could carry these knives around with me; when I go hunting.
Once I have extra leather, after making a new set of clothes, I'll make a new set of leather sheaths for my knives.
One day after finishing a hearty meal, and checking the net and traps.
I head out into the Deep Forest. My plan is to look for bunnies and practice my knife thrown skills.
I know I will improve a lot, if I practice on a moving target.
If I actually manage to hunt them. I can make their fur into leather, to make a new set of clothes. This sounds like a double win to me.
Krikos doesn't like my idea, but he trusts me enough to follow me on my journey.
The hunt for bunny rabbits is smooth sailing, since I have Krikos with me. He warns me about the potential dangers, whenever they're near.
This just shows how much he truly loves me. Once we're in the clear, I grab him and give him lots of kisses. He seemed so happy and excited that he was struggling and squirming in my arms.
The first day of hunting was a success, it was mostly just luck. I was aiming for Mr. Bunny's head so he would not feel pain. I got his leg instead. I had to chase him down for a while, before he gave up and went to sleep, forever.
Poor Mr. Bunny, if he had just let me catch him earlier. He wouldn't have gone through so much pain. Now I'm exhausted.
This is what you call a lose, lose situation. Anyways I head home, and rest.
Weeks go by and it seems like my early success was just a fluke or beginners luck.
After a few weeks of tanning the new bunny hide, I made a leather shoulder pad with some wood plating underneath and a glove. Now I can handle Krikos free of mind from injuries.
I'm so happy I grabbed Krikos and made him dance with me.
About two months passed by and I caught a total of 34 rabbits. The first 10 were lucky shots, the knives dug into their legs, stomachs and backs. Though I was aiming for the head. The next 10 rabbits were near the head, they dug into the necks and shoulders. The last four were all head shots.
Even though I met my goal I feel unsatisfied. I made a plan to keep practising until I hit dead centre in between the eyes.
With all this rabbit hide that I tanned. I produced a full set of clothes. A leather shirt, pants, boots, a belt and underwear.
For accessories with the extra leather. I produced a simple bag to store food. Some sheaths for my hand knife and throwing knives.
Even though I had a lot of leather, I made a lot of mistakes with my crafting. So most of the hide became waste.
Once I gather some more hide, I'll make another wood plated shoulder pad and a glove for my left hand.
The improvement of my knife throwing skill, made me more confident to hunt bigger prey, and so I headed deeper into the Forest, with Krikos by my side.
This develops into a game of cat and mouse, with the beasts of the Deep Forest.
What normally happens is I try to get close enough to throw my knives, but before that happens they notice me and charge at me.
Then the obvious happens, I run away screaming looking for a big tree to climb.
After I climb the big tree, I wait until they get tired of waiting for me and leave. Then climb down and I restart my practice.
I'm quite smart, since I brought smoked meats with me just in case, I needed to spend the night out in the trees. Though because of all the running, climbing and waiting.
I didn't get much knife throwing practice.
After a few weeks of doing this. I make a decision and start to throw my knives from the tree top.
Even though I should be happy, I'm making progress. The danger amplifies, because when I kill the target. The smell of blood is so strong that it gathers predators under the tree that I'm standing on.
After thinking for a while I made a decision to make more throwing knives just to be safe, I produce four more. Now that I have 8 throwing knives I can try to kill the predators too.
This only takes about a week and half, quite shorter than before. I guess I've gotten more skilled with my hands.
After a few days of much needed rest and playing with Krikos. I head out to the Deep Forest to execute my new plan.
I found a group of 3 wild boars surrounding a bush, they must be a family.
I heard a wet munching sound, near the bush. They seemed to be eating the berries. They are shoving each other and snorting.
They didn't seem to mind the thorns on the bush. After eating the bush in full. They then dug up the roots of the berry bush and started eating them too.
I whispered in a hushed tone."What greedy little pigs."
I hunched over and threw a rock then screamed. "Come get me you fat pigs!"
They seem to understand me and fly into a rage.
They ignored the half eaten roots and came charging over to my direction.
I stopped looking at them and sprinted to the nearest, thickest tree to climb.
I quickly made this decision because if I chose just a thin tall tree, like I did with deers they'll quickly mow it down and tip it over.
Huffing and puffing, I climbed the thick tree. When I felt I was at a safe height. I took a short rest for about 10 mins. After gathering my strength, I fired three knives and all of them were a bullseye, right in between the eyes.
I waited for a few hours before a family of bears came over.
When they started to eat, that was when I took my first shot. With two knives thrown I killed the largest Papa Bear.
The Mother Bear noticed immediately that there was something wrong with her partner, and called out to him "Roar!"
The Mother Bear was looking around and sniffing the air. Then she looked up and noticed me. She started to climb the tree and that spooked me, so badly that I missed my first shot. Well it wasn't really a miss.
I hit Papa Bear again this time in the crotch…..
My second throw was successful. It hit her in the eye, but it didn't put her down.
Maybe it was from the rage and adrenaline. Or maybe the fear of knowing her baby will be in danger if I'm left alive.
After getting a damaged eye, she cried out again "Roar!!" She kept her one good eye on me and kept climbing. At this point I was really nervous.
My palms were sweating, and Krikos anxiously screaming, that wasn't helping.
With my hands shaking, I take another shot. This time I didn't miss either, but she quickly dodges the knife. The knife goes flying hitting Father Bear's crotch...
(Well at least he's already gone, if he was still alive. He wouldn't want to be, after all that was done to him.)
With my last knife I climbed to her blind side and threw my knife.
It hits her and she's gone, her muscles relax and her body lets go and she falls down. 'Thud'.
I smile and climb down. I do a dance and Krikos flies around me chirping. I grab him and we dance together…..
At this point while celebrating, I had forgotten about the third bear, the Baby Bear sneaked up behind me and grabbed and bit onto me.
With its claws seeping into my love handles and teeth drilling deeper into my shoulder blade it holds me in place. I can feel my own blood gushing out of the wounds. It's warm, my blood is warm.
After snapping out for my shock. I try to pull myself out, but he just rips deeper into my flesh.
I look around and catch a glimpse of my rusty blade and quickly grab it.
While gripping with my right hand I swing my arm to the back of my lower neck. Right in between my shoulder blades. I stab and stab again. I keep stabbing out of fear. At some point the baby's body goes limp. After a few seconds I take a moment to realise I was bleeding out.
I quickly tell Krikos "Home, NOW!"
He chirps and flies forward. I ran after him. After a while I feel myself getting cold and my body losing strength.
It gets harder to breathe because of all the pain, Krikos is chirping loudly to keep me awake.
Eventually we arrived home. I waddle over to the campfire and try to place the logs in the pit to re-light the embers, but I'm too weak now.
I call out with a weak voice "Krikos, wood, fire, wood, fire…."
I passed out near the campfire….
A moment later I felt warmth from the side of my face, and I heard a scream, it's so loud and annoying. It won't let me rest.
Eventually the screams stop, finally I can rest.
Then I see a large beak in front of my eye. He forced my eye lid to open. I gather my strength and open my other eye, and I just lay there.
Krikos then pokes my face with his beak, and I remember what happened.
I try to crawl my way to the fire but I don't have any strength left. It's taking a toll on me just to keep my eyes open.
With a croak I tell Krikos "me, fire, burn, heal," as I try to point to my wounds.
Krikos shakes his head side to side.
I repeat myself, since I know he understood me the first time. "Me, fire, burn, heal"
He shakes his head again.
I scream with all I have "Me! Fire! Burn! Heal!"
Then I passed out.
Time passes and I wake up feeling a sting of pain, and pass out from the burning pain. It's never ending.
Pass out from the pain. Then wake up from the pain. I think to myself
"Is this hell? Just void and pain?"
After some time the pain dulls. I can finally rest.
I wake up from time to time, from sharp pokes to my chest. With a beak on my lips opening my mouth and then something is put inside.
Sometimes water, other times food. When I came to, I realized I'm still alive.
That Krikos truly does love me. He saved my life.
When I find the strength to open my eyes. I see Krikos's beak all deformed. He must have gotten those injuries from treating my open wounds. I call him over and hold him in my arms crying. He doesn't move at all, just accepting my love. Then I start to kiss him and he just rubs his face against mine.
"I tell him you're ugly now, how are you going to find a mate? I guess you're staying with me forever."
Then Krikos proceeds to peck me on my face for my comment, It was painful. Though I guess I deserve that. You can't call someone ugly, after they got a major burn on their face for saving your life.
I'm recovering well but because the cauterization was done by a bird and not a professional in a sterile environment. I got a few nasty infections, so the best thing I can do now is cut out the infections and re-cauterize the wounds.
It takes me a few months to fully recover. In the meantime Krikos still takes care of me. Since I can barely move or speak.
He has become my caretaker and baby sitter. The only thing I can complain about is that the food is raw and it is always fish. With my luck I might actually get some parasites.
When I had enough strength to stand, the first thing I did was cook myself some fish, because every time I asked for food. He always brought fish. I think he might be trying to torture me…..
Anyways, cooked fish never tasted so good. Having warm food for the first time in so long really changed my perspective on life.
Things I took for granted before, now they feel like a blessing. Like taking a bath, going to a proper washroom, instead of doing it in my pants. All things I've learned to appreciate.