《Guardian Of Nature》 Announcement! (Important) To start, I''m sorry for the lack of chapters. If you don''t follow any of my other stories, you wouldn''t have seen any announcement relating to my absence. I would like to say that I''ve felt like the direction of the story has strayed from where I originally intended and I have decided to rewrite it. I gave it some thought and from what I can see I think my biggest weakness with first-person POV is the delivery of information. I seem to struggle with what''s obvious to both the character and the reader. Things like foreshadowing and subtlely have been especially different writing when compared to a third-person pov. I definitely want to continue this story, but with the way it is currently I don''t feel it''s as good as I can possibly make it. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. The good news is, I already have a foundation for the story and many chapters for reference, so it shouldn''t take long to get things back on track. Thank you for your understanding. Prologue Thousands of men stood in a line. Equipped with swords, shields, spears, and bows, they were more than prepared for battle. In spite of that, most of their faces were ridden with apprehension and hesitancy. A few of the younger men were even covered in a cold sweat. It wasn''t nervousness of their first battle, but fear that was spurned from something greater. Whatever lay ahead was daunting to unsettle all but the bravest of men. And what was it that lay ahead? A still forest that carried a stagnant air. Not a single sound escape from within the trees. In the warmer seasons, the buzz of insects and cries of birds would be frequent, unlike now. It almost seemed as nothing living was within the trees, but that simply wasn¡¯t true. Upon a closer look, hundreds of pairs of eyes were glinting from deep within the shadows. Whatever manner of creature those eyes belonged to was one that chose not to make a sound, simply staring at the humans ahead. ¡°Leave,¡± A breeze broke through the forest, carrying a clear voice with it. The army of men jostled, breaking out into a chorus of hushed whispers and murmurs until an older man, who appeared to be leading them, raised his hand. After ordering his men to silence, he marched forward through a few of his adjutants tried to stop him only to be ignored. ¡°I came here because I want to speak with you,¡± The man said. ¡°Was I difficult to understand?¡± The voice asked with a tinge of sarcasm. ¡°Is it not true that you were friendly to the villages that were once in this area?!¡± The man shouted in reply, glancing at his men. ¡°I admit, we were ignorant in the way we approached you in the beginning. Thinking you nothing more than a simple creature was pure foolishness, however, now that we know you are something¡­ else- can we not find a reasonable solution?¡± There were a few moments of silence before condescending laughter filled the air in reply. ¡°If you wanted a reasonable solution, you would have come by yourself and you wouldn''t have brought so many weapons.¡± ¡°Would you have personally appeared if I had taken a different course of action?¡± The man countered. ¡°No, I suppose I wouldn¡¯t have,¡± The voice replied. ¡°Then¨C¡± ¡°We have nothing else to discuss,¡± The voice suddenly interrupted as the trees began to shift. The forest became filled with sharp cries of animals creating a horrendous symphony. Flocks of birds took to the sky as the treetops began shaking in tune with heavy footsteps. The man who attempted to hold a discussion smartly created distance between himself and the forest. While the men lined up nervously clenched their weapons tightly. Breaking through the tree line was a magnificent creature that towered over them. An elk-like being with near-translucent, pearl-colored, antlers. The creature itself boasted a soft white coat that extended toward a pair of reddish hooves. Its eyes were completely grey but that didn¡¯t seem to affect its sight. As it raised the creature raised head, the forest became silent once more. ¡°This is your final chance to leave,¡± The creature spoke, but its mouth didn¡¯t move, rather the air seemed to act as its voice. As if undaunted, the man met the creature¡¯s gaze. In the villages removed from the vestiges of religious doctrines, they praised the beast in front of him as an old god. It drew scorn and skepticism, but seeing the aforementioned being firsthand now seemed to lend those accounts some credence. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°Is this situation truly irreconcilable? Can we not find common ground?¡± The man asked, unwilling to give up. ¡°What did you just say to me?¡± The creature¡¯s tone suddenly shifted, something hostile growing deep within. "Common ground?" ¡°You''re willing to stand in front of me and spew your hypocrisy!¡± Its thundering voice was laced with venom that caused the man to finally shrink back. ¡°I stopped the famine that threatened to end your country! I curbed the tide of beasts that would¡¯ve trampled your cities! I cured the sickness that would''ve killed thousands of your people! And what have you done? You killed your own people because of it, calling them blasphemous because they accepted my gifts. You killed my children, the fae, that I sent to help you disgusting creatures. You hunted the animals of this forest with wanton greed, to line your fireplaces with trophies and fill your stomachs with exotic meals. So why is it now that you come searching for peace?!¡± By the end of its tirade, the creature¡¯s voice came as a spine-chilling growl. ¡°We¨C¡± ¡°QUIET!¡± The creature roared as sparks crackled around its antlers. ¡°I know how humans behave all too well. You require the resources that I have and can¡¯t bear the losses that come with intruding in on this place. That is the only reason you seek peace... I see now that I was wrong to ever try to bridge the gap between man and nature because you all are nothing but beasts yourselves. Through all of my years in this world, I have learned that the greatest solution to rein in rabid beasts is to cull them. You no longer have the option to retreat, human. You all will die here.¡± As it finished speaking, a thunderbolt was sent out from between its horns, landing right within the front line. Cries and screams filled the air and an overpowering stench of charred flesh came right after. ¡°Light the arrows!¡± The man yelled as he rushed back. Without hesitation, archers lit their oil-drenched arrows and fired toward the forest. However, the wind suddenly blew the arrows back, causing them to fall without hitting anything. Even worse, the ground began trembling as massive roots erupted from the soil and lashed at the men. There didn¡¯t seem to be a man who wasn¡¯t torn apart after being whipped with the monstrous roots. And from the forest, a tide of beasts came rushing into the fray, attacking the army in a frenzy. Riding atop large wolves were child-like beings with antlers who launched an unending assault with arrows. ¡°Fire the catapults!¡± Covered in blood, the leader of the army intoned his orders. ¡°And where are the sorcerers?!¡± His shouts were drowned out by the continuous screams and disarray of a shocked army. Through some miracle, someone fired catapults at the towering elk creature, but the projectiles were deflected by a gargantuan stone structure that rose from the ground. It wasn¡¯t as tall as the white elk, but it was made of solid stone arranged into the shape of a human and held together with vines. A strange creaking emerged from its body as if it was letting out a war cry before it began its charge. Each step caused the earth to shake as it headed straight for the army. Any poor soul unlucky enough to be caught in its wake was crushed into a reddish paste without a second thought. ¡°The sorcerers! Where are they?!¡± The leader of the army asked as the scene of terror unfolded before them. He snatched up a quivering old man by his collar and interrogated him as things grew increasingly dire. ¡°T-They left before sunrise! T-To inform the grand magus of the situation!¡± The elderly man clearly wasn¡¯t a soldier as he wore thick robes. ¡°You lying bastard!¡± The leader tossed him aside and rushed to one of the few horses left. "Retreat!" He climbed atop and urged it to go, but it bucked wildly before rushing in the opposite direction, straight toward the giant elk. ¡°Damn it!¡± The man attempted to jump but as vine rose from the grass and snatched his body out of the air, pulling him toward the elk creature. ¡°I won¡¯t allow you to die here. When they ask you what happened here, I want you to tell them that I am the guardian of this forest and I will allow no one to trespass.¡± As the vine tightened around his chest, the man stared into the creature¡¯s eyes, seeing his own horror-stricken reflection. As the air was squeezed out of his lungs, the man slowly lost consciousness. By that time, there were no more screams left, just torn bodies and discarded weapons. The carnivorous animals involved in the battle gorged themselves on the warm flesh that was left in abundance. Still, there was simply too much for all of them to eat, so what wasn¡¯t being eaten was instead devoured by the ground leaving no trace. After everything was said and done, the unconscious man was placed onto his horse, secured with vines, and sent away. As for the white elk, it watched the horse disappear before retreating into the forest with a tide of animals and strange humanoids following close behind. The forest regained its peace and birds could be heard singing in the distance. Chapter 1: The Natural Order I found myself standing in a pond, unable to recall the moments prior. Beyond the violent recollections of a car crash, my memories were a tangled mess and the only thing I was completely certain about was my name, Genesis Roberts. I think it would¡¯ve been right to feel some alarm toward the giant chunk missing information, but for some reason, I felt strangely calm. My body was¨C Looking into the reflection of the pond I was no human. What stared back at me was a small elk with a tiny pair of red, underdeveloped, antlers. On the other hand, the coat of fur covering the elk was a shade of olive that stopped just short of its dark red hooves. ¡®Strange,¡¯ I thought. There was something odd about seeing myself as an animal, but at the same time, attempting to recall my life left me with a listless feeling. If I couldn¡¯t remember it, could I say it really happened? After all, I of the present was a creature I couldn¡¯t recall. And this place I was in¡­ I raised my head to survey my surroundings. This place felt different. I wasn¡¯t able to explain what exactly was different about it, but there was something inside me that resonated well with my surroundings. A gentle breeze caressed me and I breathed inwardly. Just as quickly as uncertainty began to rise within me, so did a sense of peace. You have learned ¡®Meditation.¡¯ With each meditation, your mind will become clear. Repeated meditations can assist with growth as well as offer insight into mystical power. ¡®This is all very odd,¡¯ I read the translucent lettering filling my vision and felt astonished. There was something very lacking about the lettering, but just as I was about to ponder more, new words appeared. You have been selected as the bearer of the Spirit of Nature. Due to your previous life, your current interpretation of all things related to the Spirit of Nature will appear in this form unless you decide otherwise. The Spirit of Nature is formless, boundless, and immeasurable, carrying no discernible will as it is the force of nature itself. In your past life, you met enough prerequisites that made you a candidate to bear the spirit and attracted it to you. Although nature is both chaotic and unforgiving, it is innately neutral, conforming to no set standard. As the spirit¡¯s bearer, you are able to make use of this unique power to grow. Carefully reading the information revealed quite the startling revelation. It was hard to picture the words in my vision being a result of my own mind processing what I assumed would be felt instinctively if the bearer had an animal mind. Maybe because my memories were muddled, I didn¡¯t feel rejection toward what was spoken of. I couldn¡¯t just comfortably settle into the role thrown at me but I had no overt rejection toward the idea of it. Was it because there was no alternative? Or that I could barely recall my life as a human being? I had to wonder if my lack of recollection was in part due to being the so-called ¡°bearer.¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. My ears twitched, clearly picking up on the sound of something rushing toward me. My body reflexively jolted out of caution and I turned to face the direction of the disturbance. Breaking through the shrubbery was another strange looking elk. Rather than show curiosity toward me or feel threatened, it sprinted away as if it didn¡¯t notice me. ¡®Hey.¡¯ My thoughts were very much constricted to my mind so it there was no way it would hear me¨C Just as I said that it briefly stopped, looking at me as if it understood me. After spending a few seconds maintaining an uncomfortable amount of eye contact, it continued running off. I wasn¡¯t able to process what happened as the sensation of something stampeding reverberated through the ground. More elk leaped through the brush and moved forward in a single direction. I was stunned at first and simply watched as they moved past me, but then I heard the sound of dogs aggressively barking not too far away and joined the fleeing herd without hesitation. I stumbled as I ran in the beginning, but I eventually managed to keep pace with the elk. Between the snarling dogs that could be heard just out of sight and the feeling of danger, I didn¡¯t think too much about the situation. My instinctive reaction was to run away from the source of danger, but I suddenly had a shift in focus. Peering over my shoulder, I could see dogs keeping up the chase. The thick leather collars on their necks made it obvious that they weren¡¯t wild dogs. ¡®Hunting dogs then,¡¯ I thought. As soon as I noticed that small detail, I split from the herd instead of just sprinting straight ahead. My choice turned out to be the best one as high-pitched whistle filled the air, the dogs slowed down, heading for the whistle while the herd of elk fell into a field of pitfall traps. They tripped over each other and crashed into the ground. A rain of arrows came next and made quick work of them. I spied human figures standing among the trees from an elevated position, but all I could think was getting far away from them. I ignored the cries of the elk being slaughtered and pushed deeper into the woodland. ¡­ I overestimated the endurance of my new body, quickly learning that in exchange for being fast, it was extremely hard to cool down. Having no pores to release trapped heat in the form of sweat turned into a huge downside. After running for so long, I wearily slowed to a crawl in an attempt to regain my stamina. I was troubled from the near-death experience I just had, but I kept my cool. If I didn¡¯t become aware of the situation when I did, I probably would¡¯ve died since I was the smallest. I had to wonder why I was placed into a body that was clearly more immature and as a result, weaker than a fully grown elk. Your current form is a ¡®Bloodhorn Elk.¡¯ If you wish to ¡®evolve¡¯ into a different form, the proper prerequisites have to be met. Each form offers varying benefits but an immense amount of energy is required to facilitate the transformation. In your current state, evolution is not yet possible. An interesting tidbit of info appeared in my view. My newfound curiosity wiped away my exhaustion as I wondered what ¡°evolutions,¡± I could get. As long as I managed to survive, the amount of time needed to get one was no problem. Then, understanding what I wanted to see, new words appeared in order to answer my question. There are both physical and arcane evolutions which can occur. The former can be achieved by the consumption of a large amount of organic matter. The latter is only achieved by meditation as well as the development of elemental control and/or magic. Speaking of organic matter, I was quite hungry. I lowered my head and consumed tufts of bland grass. ¡®If these responses are based on my own perception, how is that I know these things?¡¯ I couldn¡¯t help but think. By bearing the Spirit of Nature, a certain amount of wisdom related to the natural world is revealed to you. Your interpretation of that wisdom is presented in the form you see before your eyes for ease of understanding. ¡®So I¡¯m essentially speaking to myself?¡¯ The lack of an answer was a confirmation in and of itself. If there was some sort of sentience to it, I could¡¯ve got it to answer. ¡®How much organic matter is needed to initiate a physical evolution?¡¯ I questioned. Once a total of 200 kilograms of organic matter is consumed, you will be able to gain the form of an ¡®Elder Bloodhorn Elk.¡¯ As it is a physical transformation, only your physical traits will be enhanced. I was a bit shocked by the amount of plant life I would have to eat. The only good thing was that it didn¡¯t appear I needed to eat it all at once. If I did, I think I would die well before I even got close to 200kgs. With my first goal in mind, I carefully traversed deeper into the woodland while making sure I wasn''t followed. Chapter 2: A Mountain To Climb I began consuming unthinkable amounts of vegetation as I pushed deeper into the wilderness. The discovery of new species left me speechless, not that I could actually speak. Large birds sporting a bright plumage as colorful as the rainbow itself. Boars the size of small cars and hares the size of toddlers. There were even ants that were 30cm long, which was plain frightening. Fortunately, they seemed to be docile, picking at fruits and fungi rather than chasing living creatures. I felt a strange sense of peace as each animal or insect seemed to fit into a distinct role. Like cogs in a machine, the active creatures seemed to perform their own tasks while not disturbing the other. The only thing was, I found that most living creatures would often look towards me. ¡®Hey!¡¯ I called out inwardly. A sizable ant stopped its march, turning its beady eyes up to me. It gave me a second of its attention before completely ignoring me. ¡®Hello?¡¯ I tried to communicate with a large boar that simply snorted, turning its snout up before walking away. Grow your connection with the Spirit of Nature and you will be able to command and communicate with wildlife. As I pondered the phenomena, an explanation appeared in front of me. ¡®I understand now,¡¯ I thought. As of now, the most I was able to get out of most forms of life was a brief glance. I think meditation would be the best course of action once I finished eating. The mushy consistency of grass filled my tongue as devoured clumps of grass. Since I have devoted nearly all of my attention to it, only a few hours were needed for me to reach the evolutionary milestone. I felt the instinctive urge to rest, so I found a small clearing to lay in. My eyelids grew heavy and the calming environment was disarming. I lowered my body and fell into a sleep-like state, vaguely perceiving the changing of my body. ¡®I wonder what will happen next?¡¯ ¡­ When I opened my eyes, a curtain of night had cast itself over the now quiet forest. I raised my body, standing taller than before. I had become stronger, but it wasn¡¯t as if I was able to overturn trees with my horns. I was impressed with the rapid growth, however, there wasn¡¯t an extreme difference. Simply put, I had become an adult ¡®Bloodhorn Elk.¡¯ Extra layers of fur, muscle, and fat lent me a bulkier appearance. My horns extended to a deadly length. My eyesight, hearing, and sense of smell felt sharper. While there wasn¡¯t something exactly jaw-dropping about my change, I thought it seemed a bit too easy. If all transformations were like this, I think I could easily transcend the food chain. ¡®How much biomass needed for the next physical evolution?¡¯ I asked calmly. To achieve your next physical evolution, Alderhorn Elk, three prerequisites must be met. -A total of 60,000kg worth of organic matter must be consumed. -One plant infused with the energy of nature spirits must be consumed. -You must spend at least 300 hours inside of a heavily forested area. After achieving your next evolution, more options for physical alterations will become available.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. I blinked. It¡¯s all I could do as I processed the hefty requirements. It completely circumvented my expectations, leaving me stumped. To start with, the most difficult aspect was finding a plant infused with the energy of nature spirits. I had only arrived in this world and hadn¡¯t even gotten a grasp on myself let alone nature spirits. The notion that I had made considerable progress to start with was wiped away as I concentrated on the words in front of me. ¡®Wait¨C¡¯ I looked up, finding the darkened woodland had become deadly quiet. I was too absorbed in the guidance that lay in front of me to notice, but now the deafening silence sent chills up my spine. My ears twitch, rapid footsteps headed toward me, aggression laced steps echoed striking my eardrums like an alarm bell. I followed my first instinct and ran while keeping a close eye on my surroundings. Then, a stampede of hurried steps filled the air. Large boar, bloodhorn elk, and strange types of deer formed a tide. The beating of hooves sent the darkened woods into a commotion. It felt like an apocalypse as the incessant cries of birds spread through the trees as flocks took to the air. I understood why as I gazed over my shoulder. Hundreds of glinting eyes caught the light of the moon, revealing countless predatory forms. Charging through the foliage was a stampede of wolf-like creatures whose forms were just barely visible. The exhaled steamy breaths of air as their desire to hunt became palpable. ¡®Holy shit!¡¯ I wasn¡¯t ashamed to admit that I was frightened and the image of some hulking mass of muscle leading the charge scared me even more. That thing was not a wolf. It was the very definition of a predator. If my current form was around 3.7 meters, the wolf in the lead wasn''t much smaller. Standing nearly shoulder to shoulder with, its sleek grey fur only served to outline its sheer physical prowess. Its maw hung half ajar like a bear trip, lined with teeth that seemed sharp enough to tear through steel. Its large eyes were bright, zeroing in on the slowest of our number. If the wolf in the lead caught up to me, I would die. There was no doubt in my mind that letting it catch me spelled an immediate end. Vicious snarls followed our heels as all of the fleeing animals combined into a tide. It was reminiscent of my run-in with humans except for the creatures behind us were faster and stronger. A deafening howl reverberated and nearly sent me stumbling. The bloodlust laced howling stunned a portion of the fleeing animals. As they tumbled, shell-shocked from the sound, clouds of dust and dirt filled the air. Relieved that I was not among those who fell, I looked back one last time and saw a pile of fallen creatures being consumed. A bloody stench filled my snout as pained animalistic cries rang out. The calm and peace of day had shown itself to be the antithesis of night, where predators seemed to reign king. ... I followed the herd before we split. My large body lent itself toward ascending steep hills so I opted for higher ground while most rested in open plains where ambushes were unlikely. Looking down on them, I calmed my beating heart, inhaling and exhaling in a calm manner. Other than my human intellect, my advantage over all the creatures here was my ability to override my instincts. I concentrated on my breathing and retained stillness. The cool night air helped dissipate my internal heat. The ability to sweat was something I envied in humans as my stamina recovered slowly. ¡®I need to adapt to this life and quickly.¡¯ I bore the Spirit of Nature, but that did not make invincible. If I died, it would search for another candidate which meant my life was not under any special protection. I needed to take matters into my own hands. Rather than feeling appalled by the savagery of nature, it served to remind me of my own mortality. I needed to make use of the advantages I did have to avoid running from everything. Once again, the tranquil feeling that could only be experienced through meditation filled every part of my mind. It granted me clarity and I listened to the wind glide over each leaf, branch, and blade of grass there was. ¡®Elemental control and magic.¡¯ Putting aside the distant physical evolution, magic was a good way to supplement the protection it would offer. To gain a beginners insight into the understanding of elements, the following is needed: -1/100 hours of meditation (Air) -0/200 hours of meditation (Wood) -0/200 hours of meditation (Earth) -0/500 hours meditation (Water) -0/1000 hours of meditation (Lightning) -0/5000 hours of meditation (Fire) -0/5000 hours of meditation (Metal) Necessary hours are based on your current affinity with each element. Locations that are related to a specific element will drastically increase the rate at which you gain insight. To commune with Spirits, you must gain insight into at least 2 elements. ¡®Wonderful,¡¯ I thought, feeling a genuine determination in immersing myself with nature. With the hectic event still fresh in my mind, I could only maintain a light concentration while keeping an eye out for danger. Chapter 3: Calm Morning, Stormy Night Within a few days, I had spent at least ten hours following the flow of air. Meanwhile, the structure of this world became more apparent. During the day, most predators were asleep, no doubt saving their energy for their nightly hunts. I found it strange seeing that there was an obvious balance. It was rare to see those large wolves roaming outside of their den. I saw a bear the size of an ambulance before, however, it paid no mind and instead stripped a bush of its fruit. ¡®I wonder if the size of these animals is based on the influence of nature¡¯s spiritual properties.¡¯ To start with, the larger an animal is, the more it had to consume to sustain itself. Meaning that the population of dire wolves which seemed to be no less than a hundred strong had to mean that there was a larger number of herbivores present, else they¡¯d starve pretty quickly. Ignoring the possible influence of humans, nature itself would be balanced. ¡®Though, if human expansion increases the natural order would shift.¡¯ It would take years for the effects to be meaningful, so I could ignore it. Especially as there was nothing the current me could do. Even though I bore the Spirit of Nature, the time where I could interfere was far off. With a deep exhale, I returned to my daily meditation. I needed to understand the element of wind better. As a breeze brushed against me, I did my best to measure its place in the world. When meditating, the small intricacies of nature were more apparent. The importance of even the slightest gust of wind while unintrusive was not to be underestimated. Wind shaped the land. I could its subtle influence everywhere the more I immersed myself in it. The ever-shifting landscape would be changed as nature dictated. Whether tremors split the ground and created ravines, or a fire turned it into a dry plain, even a powerful storm could uproot everything. To understand the various small parts that created the chaotic order of nature. Where happenstance and seemingly well-calculated phenomena clashed. I inhaled. The air was pure. I exhaled. A six sense started to form a few meters around me. Even with my eyes closed, I still felt as I could vaguely locate things in my immediate surroundings. My mind navigated through this fog of sensory stimulation. The peculiar sensation evaded my grasp the moment I felt it become clearer. Just like that, I was awakened from my meditative state. I furtively grasped at the odd sensation, but I ultimately failed to get a hand on it. It didn¡¯t seem as if I could just force it to happen, so I decided to be satisfied with a clear sense of progress, as slow as it may have seemed. Turning my attention to the other matters, I felt into a herd of Bloodhorn Elk who grazed without reserve. The tall grass was cut down to a tenth of its height and it didn¡¯t seem as if they¡¯d stop there. The Male Bloodhorn seemed extremely aggressive if approached without care. Within the huge herd, certain males lead their own group and didn¡¯t allow any transgression. I watched many fights occur due to daring young male bloodhorn attempting to earn a place in the grand scheme of things. Some older elk were stripped of their titles as leaders and some upstarts failed to accomplish anything, either way, the loser usually walked away with broken horns and shattered pride. While a few ended up dying, suffering a fatal kick to the skull, overall, full-grown Bloodhorn were sturdy. A few hundred kgs of muscle and fat dispersed the would-be deadly impact of a head-on collision. I kept that tidbit in mind for any confrontation. I had no interest in taking part in the brutal ¡°courting¡± rituals, choosing to consume as much vegetation as possible in order to supplement my growth. When I didn¡¯t eat, I meditated, falling into a rhythm that went uninterrupted during the day. During the night, I sought out steep hills and hid, using mud to cover my scent as much as I could. I gained a few hours of meditation in between the faint sounds of stampedes that occurred every few nights though the safety of the daylight proved to be more fruitful. ¡­ A week passed with little uproar. Just staying alive was enough for me, so I didn¡¯t complain about the lack of excitement. In fact, the feeling of meditating among the calm of peace didn¡¯t leave much to be desired. In that little time, I felt that, more than anything, I had grown as a being. The hours I spent in contemplation had served to temper my patience. My understanding of the wind had reached a tipping point, but I didn¡¯t pursue enlightenment. ¡®Whenever it happens, it will happen,¡¯ I thought, recalling the unpredictability of nature. While bearing the Spirit of Nature offered the opportunity of control, at the moment, I needed to accept my place in the flow of events. To gain a beginners insight into the understanding of elements, the following is needed: Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. -93/100 hours of meditation (Air) -15/200 hours of meditation (Wood) -7/200 hours of meditation (Earth) -0/500 hours meditation (Water) -0/1000 hours of meditation (Lightning) -0/5000 hours of meditation (Fire) -0/5000 hours of meditation (Metal) Necessary hours are based on your current affinity with each element. Locations that are related to a specific element will drastically increase the rate at which you gain insight. To commune with Spirits, you must gain insight into at least 2 elements. I had tried to gain an understanding with the three elements I was most in tune with but attempts to spread my focus weren¡¯t useful. It reinforced the idea of remaining even-tempered toward growth. As I descended from my outcrop, I returned to the protection of the herd and trekked in some uncertain direction. We grazed in an almost mindless manner, but I couldn¡¯t help but feel something was off. The closer I moved toward fulfilling the requirement for insight into the element of air, the better I could track its flow. As a gust of wind blew past, rather than catch any strange smells, it felt¡­ odd. As wind traveled, its flow could be broken and altered by a variety of things. Cliff faces, mountains, trees, buildings, and if enough were present, people and animals. Though, with greater sensitivity toward its flow, I could faintly feel as if the wind was being altered by something. I became suspicious, letting out a call of an alert through my nostrils which gained the attention of those near me. ¡®Careful, guys,¡¯ I said. Whether they understood me or not was a different problem. Like a ripple, my slight paranoia spread over causing every elk in the herd to stand alert. Our heads swiveled at every crunch, tremble, or slight movement in the brush. It felt as I stood among dozens of security cameras. The herd unknowingly relied on one another to provide a safety net, as the moment one ran, everyone else would join. We stood, underneath growing tension, we remained stationary. The odd elk would lower their heads cautiously, gnawing on the plant growth. As the mood settled, it seemed as if we would return to eating. The sound of rope or cord being retracted filled my ears as the herd broke into a sprint. Without knowing who or what was responsible, snares unfurled wrapping up unfortunate elk. They bucked wildly, inadvertently exhausting themselves in a fruitless struggle. I sprinted for another direction and then I felt my legs caught. I collapsed to the ground before using my front legs to pull myself up only to see several humans hunkered in the grass, creeping toward me with braided rope. ¡®Calm down,¡¯ I told myself, searching for any sharp weapons but only finding tools for capture in their hands. Though, the blunt clubs they carried were less than comforting. Human intellect reminded me of its advantage to me at that moment. I remained calm, preserving the energy I would need for a potential struggle. ¡°This one is easy, eh?¡± A rough voice rang out as they revealed themselves to me. With rough clothes made from fur and linen, men who appeared almost nordic advanced slowly. They spread themselves thin, attempting to distract me or draw my attention, but I kept my eyes on the one with the braided rope in his hands. My mind quickly raced, with two of my feet trapped, I wouldn¡¯t be able to fight well. I glanced to my side where other Bloodhorn had thoroughly spent themselves in an effort to break free only to fail. Since our physical abilities were more or less the same, I doubted I would have any success. ¡®I give in for now if I have to.¡¯ I only needed seven more hours of meditation to achieve insight into the element of air. I had no notion toward whatever awaited me, but if my death wasn¡¯t immediate, I had no choice but to bide my time. I didn¡¯t resist as the rope was wrapped around my neck which surprised them. ¡°A bloodhorn with no fight?! We have the luck of Gods with us!¡± One of them cackled, his crooked yellow teeth and horrid laughing brought me annoyance. Remaining calm, I allowed them to pull me as more and more revealed themselves around the area. I was surrounded and with no hope of cooperation with my fellow captives, I could only wait. Even with the danger, the tribe-like humans near me presented, I wasn¡¯t disturbed after running from those giant dire wolves led by a single monstrous one. I settled my breathing which regulated my heartbeat, allowing me to concentrate on the flow of air. For the moment I may be a captive, but I can free myself. As I allowed myself to be pulled along, I looked at the men surrounding me, listening close as they spoke. Whatever language it was, I understood it. ¡°Can¡¯t believe Jorgun wants a feast, even demanding fifty bloodhorn as tribute was pressing his look.¡± ¡°Aye, he¡¯s still a boy looking to take his father¡¯s place. Wasteful, that boy is. Oughta straighten him out if the elders didn¡¯t dwell over him so fondly.¡± ¡°True enough, but he fights as wild as a bloodhorn that one does. He''s more warrior than a leader, I say.¡± ¡°If he¡¯s anythin¡¯ like the bloodhorn we caught, won¡¯t be much of a problem den¡¯.¡± They laughed as one prodded me, goading me to gore him with my horns, but patience was key. ¡®Laugh all you want now,¡¯ I thought coldly. ¡°Whaddya¡¯ lookin¡¯ at, beast!¡± Perturbed by my still gaze, one smacked me with a wooden stick. I felt the sting of pain as a blunt object struck my snout which was the most sensitive part of my body. It hurt like hell, an ache throbbed throughout my skull. The pain drummed up instincts that collided with my sense of rationale, the urge to punish his arrogance was strong enough to disrupt my breathing. ¡®Don''t react yet, I just need to wait.¡¯ I understood the source of my growing aggression which made it easier to control. I steeled myself against the abuse, knowing any time wasted fighting would lower my chance of escape. ¡°Aye, this one is the most cowardly bloodhorn I eva¡¯ seen!¡± Another one slapped my side. Once I got past my surge of anger, I began to look at these men like naive children playing near a fire. ¡®Discomfort and pain breed caution and without caution, you act without knowing the potential danger that accompanies you.¡¯ I felt no kinship with these humans around me and that was liberating because I knew when the time came, I would find no issue with hurting them. I committed their gloating faces to memory before returning to my meditation. I felt a calm wind drift over me as we moved further toward an unknown location. Chapter 4: Breaking Free We were guided into an encampment which featured a gathering of hide and cloth tents. Most of the bloodhorn were corralled into a sturdy cage made from fallen trees and logs. I rested within the center of the panicked Bloodhorn who let out aggressive cries, breathing wildly as fear and panic took hold. ¡®Could you all be quiet for a while?¡¯ I wanted to ask. My intent earned me a few moments of silence and they turned to stare at me, instantly making me regret it. My eyes looked toward the humans outside of the makeshift pen they made for us and I was relieved to see none had noticed the brief occurrence. They were too busy celebrating the spoils of war so to speak, I could hear the enthusiastic tales of how each man wrestled with the Bloodhorn they caught. Scratches, scrapes, and bruises were like trophies, a testament to their bravery and endurance while those without injury boasted of their strength in subduing the large elk with little issue. I watched as children ran around the camp, giggling excitedly. I watched several bonfires were lit and large iron cauldrons were brought forward. ¡®Delightful.¡¯ I thought, with the idea of being cooked confirmed by their preparations. Regardless, I settled myself and entered a state of meditation. Even as it grew darker and the smell of burning wood became more prominent, I hardly let my concentration slip. My connection with the wind grew stronger with each moment and I could feel that my chances of escape shot up exponentially. ¡°Is that Jorgun?¡± said a clueless child, his eyes aimed elsewhere. His innocent question was followed by low exclamations and hushed whispers as the mood grew serious. To gain a beginners insight into the understanding of elements, the following is needed: -99/100 hours of meditation (Air) -15/200 hours of meditation (Wood) -7/200 hours of meditation (Earth) -0/500 hours meditation (Water) -0/1000 hours of meditation (Lightning) -0/5000 hours of meditation (Fire) -0/5000 hours of meditation (Metal) Necessary hours are based on your current affinity with each element. Locations that are related to a specific element will drastically increase the rate at which you gain insight. To commune with Spirits, you must gain insight into at least 2 elements. ¡®The exact number of hours,¡¯ I thought, watching as the letters and numbers shifted before me. -99.7/100 hours of meditation (Air) I was nearly there. ¡°Hear me!¡± A bellowing voice broke through my thoughts. Turning to the source revealed a towering figure wearing pelts of animals. I could even smell the dried blood he used to paint himself with. A brutish smile hung on his face as he surveyed over the hunting tribe. I heard a few of the hunters refer to him as a boy, but he was obviously a full-grown man. ¡°While the elders and my father attend to other matters, I seek to challenge the best warriors from the bog tribes further south. This tribute you have delivered to me will grant me strength and I will take the heads of any tribe which seeks to overturn the rule of my father and elders. Begin the slaughter!¡±The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. His shout spurred dozens of men into action as they surrounded the cage and tugged at the robes, slowly retrieving bloodhorn one by one. The design of the cage was ingenious as its entrance was just big enough for one bloodhorn to fit at a time. It ensured that none could rush out in an attempt to be free, but I wasn¡¯t worried. I closed my eyes and returned to my meditation, feeling that insight toward the element of air was within my reach. Minutes flew by as the stench of blood became heavier, sharp cries of beasts being slaughtered echoed through the night. ¡°What¡¯s with this one?¡± Jorgun asked, having approached the cage at some point. I could feel his intense gaze on me, but I ignored it. I only need a few moments more. ¡°Ah, that one? Yer¡¯ not gonna believe it, but it didn''t put up a fight at all,¡± one hunter snickered while another tossed a small stone at me. The wind felt clear as if glided through my fur and dug into my bones. An epiphany struck me harder than any rock could and I could feel it. I could feel the air within several meters of my body. Sometimes it was calm and others it grew turbulent or faded altogether. ¡°That true?¡± Jorgun asked. ¡°Sure is, Jorgun!¡± Someone quickly replied. ¡°Then I want that one, I want to know if it taste of cowardice.¡± I could hardly hear them as my fur rippled, a current of air was generated as I focused on my intent toward the building storm inside of my mind. You have unlocked insight into the element (Air). As the Bearer of the Spirit of Nature, you are the most in tune with natural elements. Gaining insight allows you to wield aspects of nature in whatever way you wish for a time. A basic understanding allows you to offers increased sensory, increased speed, and even the ability to conjure brief but powerful gales. To further advance your insight into the element of air you will need to meditate for a greater period of time. -100/500 hours of meditation (Air) My gaze was focused as they tried to pull me out of the pen. I was confident now, the wooden confine looked weaker in my eyes so I called the wind to me. I felt a surge of air erupt from underneath me as I kicked forward. My body shot forward as I put my horns to the ground, with a burst of speed, I charged forward. ¡°Ahk!¡± A brief scream entered my ears as whoever was pulling the line around my neck was thrown forward. I felt the impact travel through my horns as I burst through the wooden walls enclosing me, setting not only myself but also the remaining bloodhorn free. ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°Spear them!¡± ¡°Bows, grab your bows!¡± The hunters panicked, never expecting a sudden escape to take place. Meanwhile, I didn¡¯t run immediately. Feeling unexpectedly brave, I charged the hunters before they could react. Bones were snapped as I hit like a truck. A crisp impact filled my ears with each hunter I struck. I searched for those who taunted me so I could settle my grudge. ¡°Beast!¡± A shout rang out as a spear whipped past me, just barely missing my head. Jorgun glared in my direction, his eyes spilling over with rage and shame at the disrupted feast that was in his honor. Armed with a short sword and a wooden shield, he bashed them together as if to goad me. I kicked the ground, but I wasn¡¯t dumb enough to risk being stabbed. I conjured up a gale, experiencing a new sensation as the wind howled and pushed Jorgun. The moment his footing became unsteady is the moment my antlers gored him. The astringent scent of blood covered my snout as I felt added weight on the horns attached to my head. Jorgun writhed around in shock as he was pierced through, but I flung him upward without mercy. ¡®Greedy bastard,¡¯ I wanted to say to him. To even attempt to slaughter 50 bloodhorn elk for a stupid feast was taunting nature itself. It would far less insulting to stand in the middle of a thunderstorm wearing a suit of copper. I watched as his body crashed into the ground before I delivered a series of rapid hoof kicks at him, battering him into the dirt with as much force as I could produce. Bones cracked and his body stopped moving before long. Even then, I didn''t relent until his bones were visibly broken and that''s when I finally ran off. It didn''t take long, in fact, it was a little surprising to see how fragile he was in comparison to me. Arrows sailed toward me as several hunters, tried to pursue me while the others rushed over to him. The fear plastered to their faces wasn¡¯t from me. From what I gathered, there would be hell for them to pay once Jorgun¡¯s father or the elders who doted on him found out, but that wasn¡¯t my problem. I wasn¡¯t sure if I killed the pelt-wearing hunter, but one last glance revealed and unmoving body. I faced the horizon and sprinted deeper into the woodlands, aiming for nowhere in particular. Chapter 5: The Hunt Brodir entered a tent under the watchful gazes of the tribe members. Fear and caution fell over them as they eyed him, but he didn¡¯t pay any attention to them. Throwing open the tent flap, Brodir was met with the image of his son, Jorgun, beaten and broken. An elderly woman wearing trinkets of animal remains held his hand, whispering incoherent words as if communicating with spirits. Brodir patiently waited for her to finish, and when she did, his eyes shifted with expectation. ¡°No good,¡± The tribal shaman shook her head. ¡°How long will he live?¡± Brodir asked he lowered his face, casting a shadow over his expression. His tall and imposing figure rose with anger he had trouble containing. Between his long blonde hair, there were scars and marks of experience that began to contort as he frowned. ¡°He has a strong heart, but he will not make it through the night,¡± the shaman said, showing a regretful expression. ¡°This is no way to die,¡± Brodir growled, his chest rose with each breath. ¡°There is no honor in being beaten by a mere beast!¡± He clenched his massive fist as his expression warped. ¡°The hunters said the beast could move the wind, did they not?¡± The shaman replied. ¡°I care not for the stories of the cowards who allowed this to happen,¡± Brodir barked, stepping out of the tent in a huff. As he stomped outside, there were men lined up and forced to their knees by Brodir¡¯s warriors. ¡°TWELVE TRIBES!¡± Brodir shouted, looking at their disheveled faces. ¡°I lead twelve tribes! Men, women, children, and elders from as far as the fens to the mountains. Of those tribes, there are thousands who fall under my name. I have sent my children to each tribe from the largest to the smallest.¡± Brodir stretched out his hand and several men struggled to lift an unwieldy battle-axe before placing it in his hands. The weight of the weapon was beyond what an ordinary human could hope to handle. ¡°So tell me, why is that one of my sons meets his end here? In this small tribe of mewling bastards and cowardly men!¡± His roar caused those in question to flinch, eager to flee, but not brave enough to attempt it. ¡°Come, all of you¡­ Jorgun may die here, without a shred of honor granted, but I will at least ensure that you all do not suffer the same fate.¡± The warriors and hunters of the small tribe were given weapons and then urged to stand. Brodir raised his axe and grunted, one hand struck his chest and then he sauntered forward like a lion. His eyes were narrowed but spilled with aggression. ¡°Aaaah!¡± One man rushed out, his brave charge was cut short by the edge of an axe that split him in half. ¡°I wish to grant you an honorable end and you hesitate? Are there no men among you?¡± Brodir asked. His question spurred the hesitant fighters into action who rushed forward with loud war cries. Brodir met them head-on, each swing of his axe turned his targets into piles of much. He separated torsos as if they were made of twigs. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Even as dozens of men charged him, there were few who made it within 1 meter of Brodir. His axe took their lives without mercy. ¡°Die!¡± A man screamed as he sprung up from Brodir¡¯s flank and thrust a blade into his exposed back. ¡°Heh.¡± Brodir laughed as he looked upon his attacker¡¯s face, finding the look of terror to be slightly appeasing. The dagger meant to kill Brodir couldn¡¯t poke through the layer of muscle covering his body. Brodir lowered his axe and gripped the man by his skull, lifting him into the air with no effort at all. ¡°A coward will die as he lived.¡± With a squeeze, Brodir¡¯s hand crushed the skull of the shivering man like a melon. Unmoved by the gory display, Brodir marched forward and cut down the remaining men. When all was said and done, there was little left of anyone. It was hard to tell who was who exactly as visceral piles of guts and limbs were entangled together like a pot of stew. Turning to one of the shaman elders who showed no reaction to the brutal killings, he spoke. ¡°Send the word out, I want each of the remaining eleven clans to send one of their best hunters out. I want this so-called magical beast to be found and killed. When that¡¯s done, I will eat its flesh and make trophies of its bones. Whoever manages to strike the beast down will receive a bowl of spirit sap for their clan.¡± The shamans nodded and quickly went on their way, in preparation for whatever ritual needed to call to the other clans. Brodir spat on the ground before wiping his bloody forehead. He returned to Jorgun¡¯s bedside, planting the axe on the ground before crossing his arms and sitting stoically. ¡­ A week later, eleven hunters stood shoulder to shoulder, men and women with looks of determination. All of them peered in the same direction, looking west as a strong wind blew past them. ¡°The best the Tribe of the Great Bear could send was a tiny boy like you?¡± A woman cackled, a long spear rested in her powerful arms. ¡°Y¡¯ think you¡¯re much better?¡± said a teenage boy who let a short bow and a quiver of arrows rest on his back. ¡°I could kill before ya¡¯ even noticed.¡± ¡°Both of you talk too much,¡± a man with a wild appearance growled. A large wolf pelt rested on his head while two hatchets hung from his leather belt. ¡°Let¡¯s just go,¡± The woman with the spear said, ¡°I¡¯ll be the one to get that spirit sap from Brodir.¡± ¡°Aye, you just might, but do not think you can mislead Brodir and bring just any carcass you find. The shamans have pondered on it and they think the beast we hunt for is blessed by wind and heading toward the west. If you try to fool him, Brodir will have your neck as well as those from your tribe.¡± ¡°Shame ¡®bout Jorgun, I wanted to be his wife,¡± Another woman said, war paint obscured her true appearance. ¡°Then you best hunt with all the fury of a widow,¡± The teenage boy replied before sprinting away, each of his steps spanned the length of 3 meters in what was an incredible display of agility. ¡°Damned brat!¡± The woman covered in war-paint barked before quickly moving in the same direction. No matter which one moved, each of the elven hunters showed inhuman movements. They traversed the woodland with frightening ease, showing exactly why they were the best of their respective tribes. After an hour, the first to come across something was the spear-wielding woman who discovered a massive boar. She charged right into it and forced her spear into its side, before pulling it back and delivering several more thrusts in the blink of an eye. The boar squealed, the sudden sharp pain of an attack it hadn¡¯t seen coming frightened it, but as it tried to run two arrows struck its eyes. The boar raised its body, moving erratically, but a man wearing a wolf-pelt leaped out of the brush and struck its body with two hatchets, spillings its insides onto the ground in an instant. ¡°Tch,¡± He clicked his tongue. ¡°I rushed over thinking you found the beast already.¡± ¡°S¡¯ too bad then. I only wanted to test my spear arm, been a while since I had a good hunt, y¡¯see? Never thought you¡¯d be so eager to stake your claim on the best. Suppose that it''s good that I know now.¡± ¡°Listen close, there is spirit sap to be won from this hunt. Do not think I will hesitate if the chance to earn a bowl is in front of me.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± The woman waved her hand. The few hunters who stopped, thinking they missed their chance turned their attention back to navigating the forest and dispersed. A group of accomplished hunters fervently searched for Genesis. Chapter 6: Bright Feather Gaining insight into the element of air was no small thing. I didn¡¯t just gain a sense of power, but rather, a feeling that was almost indescribable. Air represented freedom, it was an expansive force of nature that, when given direction, could become immensely destructive. The nature of a gaseous substance was to expand, not restricted to any mold or form. I took that knowledge to be significant in any progress I sought to make from here on out. I leaped forward, easily clearing twenty meters of space with the wind at my back. My hooves reached the ground, softly pressing into the grass before I lightly sent myself further. For now, there was nothing I couldn¡¯t scale, no matter how steep or uneven terrain, I could move as quickly and spryly as a gazelle. For an animal that had to weigh hundreds of kilograms, the speed and agility that the wind granted me were deadly. Of course, it was not without its drawbacks. In exchange for my burst of speed, I needed an adequate amount of food and rest. In the case of the former, nearly 3 times as much vegetation was needed than I usually consumed for an hour of travel while making use of the wind. There was also the matter of tight spaces, where clusters of trees made quick and sharp movements especially draining on my mental and physical endurance. ¡®Again, there it is!¡¯ I spotted a flicker of a wispy light for a moment. It had been happening recently, ever since the night I had broken free, I had begun to catch glimpses of light, what I thought to be spirits. As I passed other animals, none of them seemed to take notice and if they had, I guess they weren¡¯t smart enough to realize the importance behind it. I stopped at a watering hole where several other creatures had gathered. A group of foxes, several rotund squirrel-like creatures, a solitary bloodhorn, and a¨C ¡®Woah,¡¯ If I had the ability to, my jaw would be dropped in awe. A bird that stood nearly half of my height was dipping its beak into the water. The massive creature of avian origin didn¡¯t seem predatory as the foxes ignored it and it, in turn, did the same. ¡®So just what do you eat?¡¯ I pondered, asking inwardly. The bird turned its head, shaking its colorful feathers that ranged from orange to blue. Its beak was bright yellow while its eyes were two dark orbs that took in the surroundings. It stared at me for a few moments that turned uncomfortable, but it eventually flew off. ¡®I wonder¡­¡¯ I called the wind to me and began my furtive chase, keeping my eyes on the bird that ascended further than I could ever hope to reach. It became a small dot in the sky, but I didn¡¯t let myself lose sight. The treetops nearly turned me around, but since the bird hadn¡¯t changed direction I continued in a straight line, only moving to avoid an oncoming tree. I broke through the tree line and came to a halt, my hooves scraping through the mud as I made a complete stop. What greeted me was a large mountain, devoid of any obvious plant life. A steep wall full of sharp assemblies of jutting stone and footholds hardened soil lay right in front of me. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Overhead, I could see birds of similar color, a gradient orange that slowly turned blue toward the end of the feathers. They circled around the cliff¡¯s peak, letting out shrill cries before landing somewhere just out of sight. ¡®The question is do I attempt to climb or do I just leave.¡¯ A spark of curiosity led me here. Logically, animals that were of an extreme size needed a source of food able to support them. Now, that didn¡¯t necessarily mean the volume of whatever they consumed needed to be high, it could be something small with plentiful energy. This was a world where I, who had been a former human, was now in the body of an elk. ¡®Show me my progress on my next physical transformation.¡¯ To achieve your next physical evolution, Alderhorn Elk, three prerequisites must be met. -A total of 60,000kg worth of organic matter must be consumed. -One plant infused with the energy of nature spirits must be consumed. -You must spend at least 300 (100/300) hours inside of a heavily forested area. Now, I don¡¯t know if I was much a gambler in my past life, but I wagered that there might be heavy spiritual energy up there. ¡®Just what are those birds anyway?¡¯ The Bright Feather Screechers are birds who make their nests in high elevations, typically mountains. Their diets consist of a very specific fruit that, when consumed, increases the intensity of their colorful plumage as well as the power of their calls. ¡®Oh?¡¯ I discovered a nifty little feature to bearing the Spirit of Nature. I sort of regretted not looking for it sooner. It was only then did I remember that anything related to the Spirit of Nature was on the table. The knowledge was within me, but it didn¡¯t appear without being prompted. ¡®A very specific fruit, huh?¡¯ I rushed ahead and tried to scale the towering mountain, my hooves touched a foothold, but I was far too large and I tumbled downward. My body rolled on its own as I lost my footing and I stood up, slightly dazed from my fall. I shook myself, clearing the dust from my fur before making another attempt that ended in failure. ¡®Maybe I need to try somewhere else?¡¯ I stayed positive and made attempt after attempt. I climbed, jumped, and crawled a little bit further each time, but my efforts were short-lived, never actually resulting in any real success. I was forced to give up after since my body was too exhausted to try anymore. To gain a beginners insight into the understanding of elements, the following is needed: -120/500 hours of meditation (Air) -50/200 hours of meditation (Wood) -15/200 hours of meditation (Earth) -0/500 hours meditation (Water) -0/1000 hours of meditation (Lightning) -0/5000 hours of meditation (Fire) -0/5000 hours of meditation (Metal) Necessary hours are based on your current affinity with each element. Locations that are related to a specific element will drastically increase the rate at which you gain insight. To commune with Spirits, you must gain insight into at least 2 elements. As I dragged my body to a well-hidden hollow, I figured that there were two obvious solutions ahead of me. To gain insight into the element of earth or wood. I assumed that wood encompassed all plant life while earth dealt with soil and stone. With either of them obtained, I could try my hand at ¡®elk rock-climbing¡¯ and rig up some sort of method to ascend the mountain. However, they weren¡¯t my first options since I had only approached the mountain from one side. For all I knew, there could be an easy path upward if I just went around it. So, for now, I decided to at least explore my area before sinking myself into constant meditation. Without the protection of the herd, I was wary of letting my attention wander in a new environment. As night fell, I hunkered down with my back to a large boulder. Each breeze revealed my surroundings to me and I could rest easier knowing that I could at least feel if something charged me. I¡¯d have at least seven or so seconds to mount a response which was a large amount of time given the nature of this world. Where giant wolves roamed. And who was to say they were the only things around? I shuddered when I realized that there was much more that I hadn¡¯t discovered. Though, from my previous conflict, I also felt a sense of relief. I, as a non-predatory animal, could protect myself with greater ease. I made myself comfortable, settled down, and closed my eyes. Tomorrow, I would search for an alternate route.