I stand frozen, steadying my breath as I grip my bow. The arrow, its head coated in a black and glistening goo, rests against the string, aimed with great precision at the nearby bird that's perched just within range.
I glance at the bird once more. Its white feathers ruffle gently in the wind, it's soft movements adding to its image of fragility. The thought of what i'm about to do churns my stomach.
With a deep sigh, I release the string, watching as the arrow whizzes through the air, releasing a high-pitched screech. For a moment, everything slows-the speed of the arrow as it cuts through the wind, the breeze caressing my face, and even the sound of the ocean's waves.
Then suddenly, everything snaps back into reality. The arrow misses, sailing just left of the bird, inches away from its small, and delicate body.
The bird, now aware of the danger, freezes for about a heart beat.
It scans its surroundings, Its eyes locking onto mine as panic flickers across its tiny face.
Then, with a flash of white feathers, it shoots off into the sky, its wings beating hard against the wind.
I stand there, motionless, watching in defeat as the animal disappears into the horizon.
"God, Im such a loser." I mutter to myself, releasing a sad chuckle as I bend down to retrieve the missed arrow. The arrow's gooey tip glistens as I pull it from the ground, inspecting it for damage.
"I guess I'll have to test my theory some other way..." I mumble, slipping the arrow back into my quiver with a resigned sigh.
Despite the frustration, I can't help but feel a flicker of something else-a strange sense of contentment. Sure, I may suck at using the bow, but i've got an artifact in my bag, along with a continuous supply of food, and even water.
Im surviving. In fact, I'm thriving!
I take a deep breath, letting the salty ocean air fill my lungs as I let my gaze wander across the landscape. Unlike Tundara, this island isn't stuck in some sort of perpetual state of cold, rain, and misery.
There's actually warmth here. I can actually feel the sun hitting my skin, its warmth radiating inside of me. The air here is warm, and for the first time in a while, I actually enjoy being outside, and taking in the world around me.
I walk along the empty beach, finally leaving the corpse of the 'first planted seed' behind.
I love taking in the beauty of the island. The rock formations that scatter the shoreline are strangely perfect, placed in such a way that perfectly frames the oceans turquoise water, along with the endless ocean that stretches out beyond them in a way that feels almost surreal.
Apart from those deadly creatures that roam at night, the daytime seems deceptively peaceful. The rhythmic sounds of waves crashing against the shoreline and the distant calls of seabirds seems to fill the silence. It's quite easy to forget that anything could go wrong here, but I know better. Just because it's daytime doesn't mean that the threats are gone. I must remember that over 190 humans roam this island-criminals, exiles, and enemy soldiers, all carring a deep resentment toward the great houses of the Aeperium, the very houses I am apart of. If any of them find out about my origins, their resentment can quickly and easily turn into something dangerous.
I pause for a moment, taking another deep breath. I must've been walking for hours by now, yet I still haven't seen another soul. I know this island is large, but damn.
My eyes shift inland, drawn to a large wooden tower that protrudes out from the dense forest.
Even from this distance, I can see that the structure is quite old, being made of worn, and darkened wood, with moss creeping up its large pillars. Looking at it from here, I notice that it leans slightly to the left, as though it's been standing for tens of years and is about to give out. It stands tall, just above the tree line, rising above them like some sort of forgotten monument, whose aged timbers seem to almost blend in with the forest around it.
It sparks my curiosity. I can't help but wonder about the history of this place. Is this some real island on an Earth like planet, Or was this just randomly generated? I had so many questions, many that would probably never be answered.
I wonder what loot the tower contains. It seems to be some old lookout tower, meaning that it's got to contain some weapons right?
I pause for a moment, torn between the urge to explore the tower now, and the more sensible idea to come back later. I could head there now, and loot the tower by myself. But what if it's already inhabited? If that's true, they're likely to attack me. Wouldn't it better to contact the tree house group, and explore it with them instead? That would be a much safer option, but I'd have to split the loot...
I wrestle with the idea. Either way, it would be quite dangerous. Even if I bring the tree house group, what if a different group already occupies the tower? Would they want to fight us? Would they blame me if someone from the treehouse group dies? Would that even be a bad thing? I mean, the less competition the better... right?
The more I think about it, the more complicated it becomes
I pull out my map, drawing a rough outline of the tower, estimating its position on the map. Even if im off a little, a structure that big shouldn't be too hard to find.
"Ugh," I groan
I'll wait. It's safer. And besides, tomorrow, the treehouse group will be able to see that Im actually doing my part, and who knows, they might even reward me...
...
I don't know how long I've been walking, but the sun is beginning to dip, painting the sky with its orange hues. The temperature is dropping, and the breeze seems to be turning colder.
The zombies will start to arise soon, spawning in seemingly out of nowhere, and crawling out of the ground itself.
I should get back. The normal zombies may not bother me, but what if I run into another 'seed?'
I break into a light jog, running back along the coast line. My backpack, weapons, and quiver seem to be weighing me down. I really need to find someone else from the gang like John, or Oliver, someone I could talk to and trust with my back.
I know I can't trust anyone, but as long as no one finds about my lies, nor secrets, I should be okay.