《The Outer Gods》Chapter 8
Advertisement
After waking up from a weirdly dreamless sleep, I went back to the fire to see once again the flames just barely keeping out the leeches, which I noticed as a lot of black worm like things on the edges where the cave ended. I was adding more firewood before I heard a bunch of high pitched shrieks. I turned to see the sun rising and the leeches rushing away from the fire and burrowing into the ground outside, which just barely became bright enough for me to witness this event.
I grabbed my frying pan which had been my main storage for everything for a while, which is now quite damaged and decided to try and make a simple bag. I was going to try a trick I watched one of the hunters do. I quickly went outside while it was still early dawn and the animals were tired and went hunting. I was leaving my pan behind due to how much noise it would create, bringing only my knife.
I quickly ducked down into the undergrowth and, while waiting for who knows how long sitting near a small pond I found a while earlier, I noticed a small boar taking a drink. I sneaked behind it and for lack of a better way jumped on it and started stabbing at its head. At first it tried to shake me off but it quickly lost motivation and tipped over. I partly lost my balance but managed to get away from the boar before it crushed my foot or leg under it. I then carefully cut it open, trying not to be phased by how disgusting it was. I then gutted it, saved the cattle gut, the string like piece around the gut which I will later use, and skinned it carefully. Being handy with a knife as a child it wasn’t terribly hard, but I messed up twice and once accidentally poked a hole in it where it doesn’t need one. It isn’t a big deal as long as I can patch it up which there is plenty of extra cattle gut and hide for, but it was still a pain.
Advertisement
I quickly took the remaining meat, but left some at the site hoping any predators will eat it first, and went back to my cave. The fire was dead again so I quickly collected some firewood and managed to get it started again rather fast compared to last time, with about an eighth of sunlight left. Before I hunkered down I remembered what I saw yesterday and thought I might try it. I rushed out and collected as many of those stalks as I possibly could and went back inside the cave.
…
After stoking the fire and refining the hide a small amount, I cut the excess pieces off and formed a bag of sorts with a small flap to act like a cover. I made two holes in both the base and the flap and made some tight loops to allow me to use the cattle gut to tie it together. I then cut some holes in the back and tied a few straps to it to allow to use it as a backpack, and tried to keep it near the fireplace for a while to allow it to harden a bit and let the cattle gut dry. I then moved on to my next task, which was trying to make paper.
I went to my pan and took all my things out of it, the stone that started this whole mess, a quarter of a healing potion, some meat that is already rotten, a bronze coin and two silver coins, the Gob’lak meat which was bundled in some leaves and well smoked, Franks ‘best selling’ book “Guide to the Wild”, the short sword and two bottles of holy water. I try to organize the potions and the food by wrapping it in a bit of hide, and I make an extremely crude sheathe out of the rest for the sword. I keep the coins grouped together and move on to what I wanted to do.
Advertisement
I took the pan, went into full sprint and ran to the nearest river. All the nearby animals heard me and quickly retreated and I filled my pan with water. The Gob’Lak meat was usually very watery so I managed to last a while with the previous days meal, but I couldn’t live of that alone. I went back into my hideout and put the pan on the fire held up by some sticks.
Quite a bit of the water fell out while coming back but there was more than enough for me to drink.
I let it boil and by the time it boiled it was well into the night. I let it cool down and noticed the Mana Leeches crawling back. I added more fuel to the fire and decided to try that thing I saw in my dream after I drank my fill. I cut all the stalks I found into thin strips, and threw them into the pan and let them soak. Then I decided to go to sleep so I didn’t get too drowsy in the morning.
…
The night was rather uneventful and repetitive. I woke up twice to stoke the flames and went back to sleep and in the morning the bugs retreated and I went to check on the stalks, which have become a lot more manipulable. I then used the water from the pan and extinguish the flames and turned the pan over while laying the strips first parallel then perpendicular to each other.
I used the bottom of my knife and pounded them for a while until they started to stick together. I then brought it to the stream and filled the pan with water with the paper like material in it, being careful to not let it get out. I then went to the cave and let it sit. Then after that I went to hunt for some more leather and the day went on, then the night came. I quickly gathered some more sticks to add to my barely alive fire before dusk and went back and repeated the day again, except without touching the paper and letting it sit.
This went on for another day, and on the third day of letting it set I checked the pan and got a great surprise.
Advertisement
- In Serial63 Chapters
Colossus' Dream
An ancient elemental is awoken in a time that is not his own. He sets off to finally complete the dream he has always had. Armed with the chance granted to him by the strange new system, he will set off on a journey throughout the ages.
8 353 - In Serial37 Chapters
The Hellish Incursion Part II: Canis Infernum
There was a loud sound of bang, then there was silence. Those were the final things Ifrit remembered before he woke up in a cold prison, naked and disoriented. He remembered a sharp, agonizing pain, then the shock of his body hitting a cold body of water. However, as he escaped from his predicament, he found that his revival came at the worst possible time. The Hellish Incursion had started, and it had been three years since the tragic event on the Bridge to Summinat. He found an unexpected help from a former foe, along with rescuing a new ally that would also find that he had a purpose in the whole affair, regardless whether he could see or not.On the other side of the story, Lilac continued her own adventure with Albert and Eshdar in finding more advantages for the surface and their allies to win the Hellish Incursion and save the world from demonic takeover. She became involved with the preparations of a war that could possibly determine the fate of the surface world, along with surprises from her past and help that crossed over boundaries of space and time. This is the second part of the Hellish Incursion, continuing the story of Ifrit Schelkz and Lilac Rezmirn.
8 206 - In Serial11 Chapters
Shivaay
A boy name Shivaay was born into a different world consisting of many powerful figures. Every 7 year old receives a blessing from different gods and goddess of hindu mythology acquiring different weapons and powerful skills.His blessing from a high-god becomes the reason for envy of someone really poweful. Can he really overcome his hurdles? If you are reading the note from this amatuer writer, thankyou for supporting me. I tried my best to improve the error and plot holes in the story, but if any reader finds out anything please inform me. Shivaay is a normal boy sometimes he is timid, sometimes brave and sometimes foolish. As bravery, cleverness comes from experience, together with you I will also follow Shivaay in his journey to acheive greatness. Please write your suggestion I will be happy to improve myself. Note: The image was taken from http://evolvinglaunda.com/2020/08/lord-shiva-images/
8 138 - In Serial50 Chapters
Unforgivable ✔️
Sage has been haunted by her past for years. She has been able to run away from it for a long time but not anymore. When Sage crosses Night Shade's territory there is no getting out of it. The one thing Sage fears is being taken back to confront her past. What Sage didn't expect was finding her mate, the Alpha of Night Shade. Shayne is connected to Sage's past and she'll soon find out exactly how. Sage will cause ties to be broken between families, and fights that will end any truce between two strong packs.
8 132 - In Serial122 Chapters
Essie's Critiques
Are you an undiscovered writer searching for ways to improve your work and get some recognition? Apply to have your story reviewed here and expect honest feedback, brutal critiques, and to return with a story that can't ever be forgotten. Cover by meha_k
8 173 - In Serial17 Chapters
The Blood Queen
The rain fell from the sky with ferocity and smashed into the pavement filling the air with the sound of a stampede. The noise was deafening as I struggled to stand up. The blood from my wound was covering the ground beneath me and I covered it with my hand as I pushed off the pavement. On my feet now I struggled to step towards the grass. Through the howling wind and pounding raindrops I could hear what sounded like a chant, calling me and drawing me towards the cliffs edge. "Vienna, my Queen, my blood Queen" I started to move my feet faster until I could run towards the edge. Only when I was at the edge did I turn and look back one last time at the castle behind me. I could see him standing on the balcony, he was screaming my name. I could just hear it over the rain. I unclipped my red cape and whispered goodbye to him. As he jumped off the balcony to run towards me I leaned backwards and let my body fall with the rushing water to the river far down below. I carried her whispers with me to the dark edge until they vanished.
8 168