A buzzing over my shoulder told me Tootsie had respawned from the pit. “What did I miss?”

“Something is watching us,” I whispered. Then I looked back at the human-faced hummingbird, “I’m glad your back.”

Tootsie lowered down in the grass with me. “You need weapons and you need to get out of this area.”

“Good idea Tootsie, now how do I get their stuff?”

“You need to gather their things before they respawn,” Tootsie said. “Check their inventory by slipping your hand in their pouch but do it quickly. I will keep a watch out.”

I crept over to the orc first I saw a pouch appear at her hip and slipped my hand in. A menu opened in front of my eyes.

Ordinary Trousers

Generic Blouse

Rapier Beretta

Ammo: 3 hollow tip rounds

Average Short Sword

Coin: 275

Each had an option to take or leave and there was an option to take all. I chose to take all and the orc appeared in ragged undergarments. I crept over to the Latta Lizard and checked his.

Staff of drunkenness: render opponent drunk for one game hour

Leather Kilt: Protection against fire damage, armor 2

Satchel: First aid kit

Beginner crossbow

Ammo: 13 bolts

Coin: 90

I gathered all of the equipment. The feeling of being watched had faded. I began to relax. The sun was rising up ahead and I stood to look at it. It wasn’t the normal orange orb. It was blue. A brilliant blue. The warmth washed over my face and I closed my eyes for a moment. There was a slight breeze in the air and I could smell apple pie. It smelled warm and fresh. I opened my eyes. I was suddenly very hungry. The pie smelled so real. It was coming from behind me. West I guessed. Assuming the sun in this world would still be rising from the east.

I looked down at the two bodies and bowed my head. I wasn’t sure if I should pay respects to the dead but it felt right. I knew they would be returning soon but they were experiencing a kind of death. It was rather tragic to think about. Death was still a serious matter in this world. Not something to take lightly. I swallowed hard thinking of their screams. I remembered the hate and anger I carried with me as I ascended out of the flames.

They would be returning soon and assuming they knew this world better than I do they would head right back to this clearing. They would want to secure their stuff. I didn’t feel like waiting here for them to ambush me again and the food cooking smelled delicious so I set out west down a steep hill.

I found a creek that fed into the forest and washed the blood off then continued climbing up another hill until I looked down at a small village. It sat on a lake with each dwelling made of wood built on pillars coming up out of the water. There were plank walkways as sidewalks going from one dwelling to the next and boats tied to the sides of the walkways. One large structure was set in the center. A two-story round building with a roof much like a cone. People were milling about on the walkway. Some were stopping to talk and others were trading. An old man that looked like a rat was practicing strikes with another man that looked to be part owl.

A breeze blew from behind me and I ducked back down behind the hill. I had forgotten I was naked. Nothing but a flapping loincloth. “How do I get dressed?” I asked Tootsie.

“Just open your inventory on your data pad and equip whatever armor or clothing you want.” Tootsie remained floating up above the hill looking down on the village.

I opened my inventory and equipped the leather kilt. I decided the blouse wasn’t for me. I would see if I could trade it in the village. I equipped the gun and it appeared in a holster on my hip in an image before me. I could adjust it, so I slid the gun holster up on the side of my ribs. I looked over the image. This big hairy pigman with bulky muscles and a kilt with pouches around the hips. Two pull strings dropped down the front of the kilt from where it tied at the waist. I looked both sinister and ridiculous at the same time.

Six Soul Points to spend.

An alert flashed on my screen. My stomach rumbled at the same time. I needed food. It felt more desperate than real life. I was starving. I didn’t feel like scrolling through endless skill lists. I also wasn’t sure how the townspeople would respond to an orc wandering in from the hills. I opened the Furious Feline perk again.

Spend six Soul Points to upgrade?

Why not? It had helped me with the raiders. It might make me even faster or last longer. I accepted the upgrade without much thought. I glance at my mana.

Mana: ⅗

“How do I restore manna?” I asked

“You can sleep until fully restored or wait a day,” Tootsie responded. “Are we going down to see those people?”

“Is it safe?”

“They seem like pleasant people,” Tootsie responded.

“Are they real people?” I asked walking back up to the top of the hill. My eyes fell on a group of children running down the wooden sidewalk. One of the kids was shoved off into the lake and came up laughing and splashing the others. Several more leapt in and the kids began wrestling and dunking one another. Soon the play looked to be too much for the others to miss out on and the rest of the kid’s dove in. There were kids of all kinds of creatures playing together. A frog boy jumped up out of the water and landed on the back of a fox girl dunking her under. I watched in wonder.

“Some of them are real people.” Tootsie answered. “Some of us are programs, but we have grown quite sentient.” She glanced over at me as if looking for approval.

I pretended I hadn’t noticed. “Well, I guess watch my back Tootsie.” I set out walking down the hill.

“If you mean catch another bullet for you then I got news for you Pig Face, you are not all that nice.” Tootsie zipped along beside my head.

“You would die for me again though right?” I grinned.

“If I tire of your unpleasant company Pig Face.”

“Well,” My eyes scanned over the village, “shall we go down?”

Pig Face

Level 3 Orc

Strength: 16

Dexterity: 10

Charisma: 6

Intelligence: 17

Manna: 5

Constitution: 14

Perception: 14

Exp: 4475

Soul Points: 6

Skills: Furious Feline: cost 2 mana,

Dex: +3, Claws, time: 1 hour

Carapace Skin: +4 Constitution,

Cost: 2 Mana, time: 1 hour

Coin:

$715

Gear:

Loincloth

Ordinary Trousers

Generic Blouse

Rapier Beretta

Ammo: 3 hollow tip rounds

Average Short Sword

Staff of drunkenness: render opponent drunk for one game hour

Leather Kilt: Protection against fire damage, armor 2

Satchel: First aid kit

Beginner crossbow

Ammo: 13 bolts