Chapter 10: Exploring
Billy greeted the sunrise with bleary eyes. Despite his fatigue he had to admit that the subtle shades or reds, oranges and purple were quite glorious here even if it was a slightly different shade to what he was used to. The air was fresher as well. They may have called this place Infernus but if it had not been for the crazy wildlife he would have said it was more of a paradise.
His four hours on watch had passed in an endless blitz of questions and rants from Su Li. Even when she was supposed to be practicing the breathing exercises that he had demonstrated she could not keep still or quiet.
One of her main topics had been her fishing prowess after catching two tiny fish yesterday. She had also got the [fishing] skill too. Trevor was the one who had carved the hook and made the fishing line from a fibrous vine that resembled ivy. Yuki had been the one to find some worms. But Su Li was the one with the skill. Still if it made her feel she was contributing then Billy would not argue. Morale was going to be important over the next few years.
It was not long before Lorna and Trevor were up and bustling around. Yuki was dragged out of bed and replaced Billy on watch.
“Hey,” said Billy. “What you guys discussing?”
“How to waterproof this shelter,” Trevor said. “We have been lucky with the weather so far.”
“Also how to form some clothing,” Lorna said. “Unless there are some unknown towns out there, we will have to have some change of clothing. Plus, you really need something to stop your nads from flying around. It is distracting when fighting plus somewhat disgusting. As it is, I think you and Trevor should do some foraging this morning. I could do with a diet other than fish and meat. And while you are out the girls and I can wash our underwear.”
Billy had to admit he would feel more comfortable with some of underwear. He had thought about tearing up one of the spare robes but there were only four of them left and he had already ruined one. Another had been used to make a makeshift carrying bag.
“Are you sure it is safe?” Trevor said.
“You will be safe enough with Billy. Just don’t wander too far.”
“Well, we also need to complete the rat fiend quest as well as the exploration quest,” Billy said.
“Did you check the quest menu?” Trevor asked.
“No!” Billy had not really checked his other menus. He tended to only look at the main status menu.
“The exploration quest now says 43% complete.”
Billy quickly checked the quest menu. It showed the two active quests and Trevor was right. The exploration quest was marked as 43% complete.
“Well, I guess we definitely make some headway on that today,” Billy said.
***
Billy and Trevor immediately set off after a quick breakfast of dried meat. Trevor was still carrying the staff as he still did not feel comfortable with a spear.
They followed the river as they headed away from camp. Trevor was hoping they could find some edible water plants or some tubers in the ground near the river. While Trevor looked at different plants Billy kept watch. He also regularly checked the quest menu. The exploration quest updated slowly but after one hour the completion rate had only increased to 48%.
As Billy watched, Trevor put bunches of reeds and other plants in the carrying sack.
“How do you know they are edible?” Billy asked.
“I’ve no idea,” Trevor said. “For all I know they could be highly poisonous and kill us instantaneously.”
Billy looked at him in confusion.
Trevor laughed. “I am serious. There is only one way to find out for sure. And if it is poisonous then that could be useful too.”
Billy looked at him and then quickly scanned the area. There was too much undergrowth around for his liking. Anything could be hiding in those bushes.
Then a thought hit him. “You know I have an [analyse creature] skill?”
“I believe you have mentioned it – several times.”
“Well in some games there is are skills for analyzing items and plants.”
“And you think your skill will work on that?”
“Not me, Trevor, you! You are the one who knows about camping, cooking and how to make a rope. If anyone can pick up a skill here it is you.”
“And how am I supposed to do that? I know I picked up the [survival] skill yesterday but that was probably because of our campsite. I don’t even know why it increased to level 2.”
Billy crouched down next to him. In one game the skill for identifying plants had come from tasting the herbs. In another it came just from looking at it. “Have you tried really looking at the plant? Really looking. That is how I got my skill.”
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Trevor sighed. “What do you think I have been doing? I get nothing.”
“Ok,” Billy said. He was not going to give up on this. Then try to really look at the plant, its leaves – anything that makes the plant look unique. Look at the small features. If nothing comes then maybe just nibble a little of the plant. A little cannot hurt right?”
“If I spit it out, I guess not.”
Billy could tell that Trevor was not really convinced.
After a while, Trevor gave up staring at the plant he was looking at. After giving Billy, the stink-eye he reached down and pulled off one leaf.
“Just a little bit.” Trevor tore off a small piece of the leaf. “If I die, it is your fault.”
Without saying anything further he then put the piece of leaf in his mouth. He let it sit in his mouth for a little and then chewed. A second later he was spitting it out.
“Well?” Billy asked.
Trevor continued to spit for a while. “Man, that was vile. Tasted like ass!”
“Well ?”
Trevor looked at him and then smiled. “I got a skill [identify plant].”
“So what does the skill tell you when you look at the plant?”
“It says [Demon’s Kiss. This plant is edible and can be used in certain potions.]”
“That is all?”
“Yeah. Better than nothing right? I mean it is only level 1.”
“So, what happens when you use it on a different plant?”
Trevor pulled out one of the plants from his bag. “Nothing. I guess I have to taste it.”
“At least until it levels up.”
“Yeah.” Again, Trevor pulled off a little of the plant and put it in his mouth. He spat it out after a few seconds. “Ok that one is definitely not edible.”
They carried on like this for the next hour. They found a couple of plants in the river that were both edible and did not taste too bad. They collected as much of this as possible and then they started digging in the ground.
After a while they also found a couple of tubers that were also edible. There were not many of these around but they collected what they could. By now Trevor’s skill was at level 2.
“How about we try some of these tree fungus things?” Trevor asked.
Billy looked at the sickly green mushroom-looking stuff. “I think we should not tempt fate. We have some food and we have made some progress. Let’s return to camp. You can always try poisonous mushrooms later.”
Trevor laughed and then hefted the sack. “Alright, leader. Let’s go!”
***
When they returned to camp they found the others making mud bricks.
“I am taking mud from the river and hoping it contains some clay. If the sun is hot enough these will dry out nicely and we can start making a more permanent shelter. That will still take a few days.” Lorna explained.
Billy nodded. Mud was one thing in plentiful supply. They would have to range quite far to find suitable stones and stones would be better used for a protective wall.
Trevor showed them about his edible discoveries. They all seemed pleased at the thought of a change in diet. To the surprise of everyone they all received the [identify plants] skill after Trevor’s explanation. It seemed that some skills were easy enough to teach.
Lorna in particular seemed more pleased with the inedible plants. Billy could see her staring thoughtfully at the plants. He pulled her aside so they could talk.
“Poisons?” he asked.
“Poisons,” she replied simply. “Not for hunting as that would foul up the meat, but if we encounter more of these rat fiends… and who knows what else is out there.”
“Do you know how to make poisons?”
“I was good at chemistry. I did get into medical school after all. Without the right equipment and precise knowledge of the plants, it would be hard to make reliable poisins but with a bit of trial and error we should be able to make something from the plant juices.”
“It might be a good idea to level up the [identify plant] skill first,“ Billy said.
She nodded at that. “I see the exploration quest has progressed.”
“Yes. I checked it against the map we have. By my calculations, we need to explore a 2km radius from the Induction Centre. You can see from the parts still greyed out where we need to go.”
“And we need to deal with these rat fiends,” she added.
Billy nodded and they looked at each other. “We could explore more while the others prepare lunch.”
She agreed quickly. “But after you need to clean up.”
***
Billy and Lorna struck out moving away from the stream but keeping it in site. They went in the opposite direction from the one he had taken with Trevor. Along the way they discovered a few more plants, mostly inedible, but still found no sign of the rat fiends.
Billy doubted that they were heading in the right direction, but at least they had not encountered anything dangerous. Other than the chirping from a few small birds high in the trees it was eerily quiet..
They stopped in their tracks when they heard loud noises behind them. They could hear faint screams and shouts and then silence. They quickly hurried back. Billy’s heart pounded in his chest. If the other’s had been hurt …
They swiftly covered the short distance. They did not even try to be stealthy as they stormed into the camp. The place a mess. Their carefully built shelter was half-destroyed and some of the plants that they had brought back were strewn across the ground. From the marks in the dirt there had been some sort of confrontation.
“All of the weapons are missing,” Lorna said.
“I don’t see any blood,” Billy replied. He was not sure if he hoped they were still alive. If that had died they would respawn somewhere. If they were still alive … well pain was real here and there were other things that could be happening. He pulled his mind away from such thoughts. Whatever happened, he would get them back.
“Billy?” a small voice came from above him.
He looked up to see Su Li’s face peeking out from branches high in the tree. Tears streaked her face.
“I think I am stuck, Billy.”
It did not take them long to help Su Li down from the tree. Her arms were covered in small scratches but other than that she looked unharmed.
“What happened?” Lorna asked. Her face was twisted in anger and some other emotion that Billy could not place.
“I was climbing the tree when rat-fiends came,” Su Li answered. “Trevor threw himself at them but there were too many. Yuki just stood there shrieking.” She hung her head. “I stopped climbing and hid as quietly as I could. I should have done something. I should have…”
Lorna reached out and gave her a big hug. “Nonsense. You did the right thing.”
“Did you see what happened after that?” Billy asked.
“They knocked Trevor out. And then tied and gagged Yuki. They carried them that way.” She pointed with a shaking arm to the other side of the river.
“How many were there?”
“I’m not sure. I think five or six.”
There were only five or six. Billy thought that if Lorna and he had been there they could have stopped them. They had left the others and disaster had struck. Yesterday they had been so careful in keeping watch but today after their successes they had become lax.
“We are going after them,” Billy said. He could not keep the anger out of his voice.
“Su Li can wait by the Induction Centre,” Lorna said.
“No!” Billy said. His voice was measured and even despite his wildly beating heart. “We go together. Right now! We are getting them back.”
