Screeeeee!

Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck

I stumble over my own feet as the talons of the massive bird score lines down my back.

-4 HP

The bird pulls ahead of me as it finishes its dive, and I quickly duck under an Ixagaef bush to buy some cover and time. As it circles around to dive at me again, I pull up my status and throw as much of my free points into agility as I can in about 2 seconds, before darting forward again, my wounds stinging as I run.

This...is not how I saw my first official day with magic going. The morning started OK, nothing had found my hidey-hole despite how awful it was. I know I was tired last night, but it's honestly a miracle I didn’t wake up in something’s stomach. My luck didn’t last though, because I didn’t even follow the river for 5 minutes before I heard-

Screeeeeeeeeeee!

Yeah, that. A dark shadow engulfs me, and I duck down without even thinking as the razor-sharp talons barely miss me, taking a few of my feathers in the process.

This morning started so well too. I was healthy, well-rested, and I had just discovered I could do magic! Sorta anyway. One step out from under the tree I slept under and all the hot singles wanted to know my location. Lucky me.

I cower down beneath the next bush for a few moments, then peek out from under the giant leaves. Coast looks clear. I’d rather bunker down, but I don’t see any good hiding spots. I lost the river as I ran, and now I’m in a thinner part of the forest. I look around one more time before bolting to the nearest bush, about 10 feet away. It doesn’t sound far thinking about it, but in my panic it felt like it took hours to cross that distance.

So far so good, no sign of...whatever that was. I didn’t get a very good look at it.

I spend the next few minutes carefully darting between bushes, steadily making progress out of the area in short bursts of just a few feet, before I arrive in a clearing and make my first mistake. I got cocky, thinking maybe the bird might’ve gone for some easier prey, and I decided in the interest of actually getting somewhere before nightfall, decided to cross the 30 feet from one edge of the clearing to the other in one burst instead of going the long way around the edge.

Screee!

Dammit! That was dumb. I knew that was dumb, fuck! I’m already putting that extra little bit of agility to work, as I lose a few feathers instead of my head. As it passes overhead, I get my first decent look.

I don’t even know what to relate it to. Its body is long and lanky, reminding me of a monkey almost, but instead of arms, it has powerful wings that are many times longer than even it is. The feathers on its wings are black at the base, but fade into a vibrant green at their tips, and the beast’s elongated legs are tipped with 3 talons each as large as I am tall.

I...really wish I hadn’t looked. I pour all my focus into just running, not even focusing on where I’m going.

કાસ! તમે તે સાંભળ્યું?

Reincarnator language set to: Aessiyan

Congratulations!

You have been granted the Aessiyan Language

I dimly process that I heard a voice, and steer myself towards it. I burst into a clearing and try to process what’s in front of me. A man on the other edge of the clearing. Hasn’t noticed me. A woman, sitting by a fire. A bedroll. Promising, but too far. A sack, closer, open. Jackpot! I dive into the sack and pull the flap on top of me just in time.

Screeee-

I hear the rasping sound of metal on cloth, followed by a wet thump as the bird’s call gets cut off prematurely. I’m cautiously optimistic that this means one problem has been dealt with, but I’m now realizing I’m in a complete stranger’s camp, inside one of their bags. There's not even anything in here I can use, just a few of some kind of purple fruit and a small knife. I strain my ears against the canvas as I hear the lilting voice of the man pick up.

“The hell? What do you think that was that about Kass?” The man states to his companion, who I assume is named Kass.

I feel the sack I’m in shift as the woman responds, an odd rasp to her voice. “I’m not certain, but I think it was chasing something. I saw a creature run by just before that thing attacked.”

“Should we be worried?”

“I doubt it. If it was running from a foulwing, it’s probably not a threat”

Well, that's rude. I won't complain if it means you won't look for me, but be more considerate!

The two fall silent after that, and the bag I’m in starts moving shortly after. Yeah, I’m not sticking around to find out if you’re friendly towards chickens or not. Sorry about the party fowl leading that other bird brain to ya, but it doesn’t seem like it caused you much trouble anyways. Thanks for the help!

I poke my head out of the bag to prepare for my escape, and immediately collapse backward. Ohhhhh jeez. I am very high up, and they are moving very fast. Objectively I know I’m probably only a few feet high, but when you’re only about 8 inches tall yourself that's really high up! I guess I’m sticking around until they rest again...It’ll probably be easier to slip away unnoticed once they’re going to sleep anyways. With nothing else to do, I start pecking at one of the fruits. Nothing amazing, but certainly better than anything I've been eating.

I startle awake as my noble steed slows down. I steel my nerves, and poke my head out to figure out what’s going on.

I may have misjudged what their plans are.

Instead of a convenient clearing, or a small town, or anywhere that looks even remotely hospitable to campers, what I see before me is a large temple. The walls are made of a green stone, with statues set into gaps that curve inwards at regular intervals. This by itself wouldn’t be so bad, but the spook factor goes up a few notches when you notice how several of the walls seem to have been knocked over by something very big, and the place is overrun with vegetation and creatures. Nobody has lived here in a long time, and my unwary companions are heading right for the front door.

Spoiler: Status

Status Menu

Name: Grover

Age: 2 days

Race: Rooster (Juvenile)

Level: 6

XP: 328

XP to next level: 147

Profession: N/A

Seals: 1

HP: 18/20

SP 48/48

Mana: 18/18

HP Regen: 5/day

SP Regen: 10/hour

Mana Regen: 6/hour

Strength - 4[+]

Agility - 17[+](+7)

Constitution - 6[+]

Wisdom - 10[+]

Intelligence - 12[+]

Charisma - 6[+]

Luck - 4

Stat Points - 9(-7)

Skills:

Instincts (Chicken)

Chirp

Peck

Basic Appraisal (Lvl:2/10)

Sneak (Lvl: 2/10)

Claw (Lvl: 4/10)

Mana Manipulation (Beginner) (Lvl: 1/10)

Spells

Mana Sight (Lvl: 1/10)

Titles:

Reincarnated

Spiritual Bulwark

Survivor