My tribe was down the hill in minutes screaming and throwing rocks at the wolves or dingos. I swung the spine above my head like a ball and chain and the dingos, taken by surprise, retreated into the tall grass. Everyone present gathered around the downed frog rhino and I allowed Goar, the minotaur, to use the hook end to harvest the flesh of the dead beast. The outer skin was tough like an alligator but the inside was tender and pink. I held onto the spine and kept my eyes on the tall grass in case the dingos returned for their kill. After chasing them off I was feeling paranoid that they would return for their kill.

I glanced at my data pad. I had yet to use my soul points. I considered it several times in the night when I couldn’t sleep but couldn’t settle my mind on how to use the points yet. I wanted to see how the ended grace period would affect me first. Yet I couldn’t stop thinking about the points. Was I making a mistake by not using them now while the going was easy? I forced myself to look away again and watch the grass.

“Everyone has to participate except Shia?” Mia smirked, stepping up beside me.

I looked back at the twelve others waiting to carry the meat back to our hilltop. The three dwarves looked over the kill pointing out other prizes to be kept. Goar nodded and allowed them to pry bones free as the meat was cleared off. The three falconites were arguing with the Centaur over the best cuts of meat to carry back and attempting to convince him to carry extra meat as he had the back of a horse, so was by default a pack animal. He shot a glance at me at the insult and I nodded to him to respond as he felt the need. He responded by grabbing the accuser by his throat with one hand and balling up his other fist. He lifted the falconite from the ground and held the bird man’s beak to his face. “Call me a pack animal again and I will tear the beak from your face and crush your skull under my hooves.” I shot the other falconites a stern glare and they stood down.

Tootsie buzzed around my head. “If you don’t start fulfilling the needs of your tribe soon you will have a mutiny on your hands.” She warned. “I think it would be best If you start delegating duties.”

“What do you think I’m doing right now Tootsie?” I said through my teeth.

“You are still talking to your invisible friend?” Mia murmured.

“Tootsie saved your lives back there in the veil. I would have beat my head off the wall in madness if it weren’t for her advice.” I answered.

“About time you gave me the honor I rightfully deserve.” Tootsie exalted herself in my ear. “I am pretty great after all. I thought you were too dumb to realize.”

“She told you to unite the clan?” Mia asked.

“Well no.”

“She helped fight off the Shade?” Mia glanced back as the two goat women stepped behind her with timid glances at me. I gave the two old ladies a nod and turned back to the grasses.

“No,” I answered again.

“Sounds to me like you saved us from the Shade and you give the credit to your invisible friend in an effort to remain humble.” She turned from me and talked quietly with the two women at her side. They soon nodded and bowed back over to the harvest of the frog rhino.

“I’m starting to not like her.” Tootsie hissed.

“What about Shia?” I asked.

“I adore her,” Tootsie bubbled, “you should tell Mia.” Her creepy little humanoid face smiled too broadly.

“Finished,” Goar said in his deep respectful voice.

I looked back at the mess. All was harvested besides the head and hooves. The falconites could hardly stand under their load of meat and the centaur had a heavy load of meat and pelt on his back as well. I laughed for the first time since entering the game.

“What about these?” I heard the softer voice of one of the elves call to me from around the tall grass. I made my way around curious. On the ground, before the two elves were two whining dingos. Both were injured by the frog rhinos. When I squatted down to touch them they growled at me.

Mia hissed behind me. “Take them both,” I answered.

The dark-haired elf reached down cautiously and the dingo snapped at him. I laughed again. “Wrap their mouths in tendon straps from the frog rhino and then carry them up.”

The red-headed elf nodded and jogged over to the departing clan to acquire the tendon strap.

The dark-haired one stood back a moment shaken up. The dingo probably weighed more than the elf. “Are you going to be able to fulfill your duty?” I asked.

He steeled himself then looked away from the dingo. “Yes, Chief.”

I wondered to myself how old he was for a moment and concluded he must be young for an elf. An adult surely but a young one. I patted him on the back for encouragement. “Bring them to me when you have them secured.”

“Yes, Chief.” He said again.

I walked up the hill. My tribe ahead of me. I felt a sense of pride. I kind of liked being called chief. It just seemed right. I was already taking command. I smirked thinking of the grace period. This will be cake, I thought.

“What are you gloating about?” Tootsie buzzed up beside me.

“I think things are going well. I have a loyal tribe. Warm sun. Open fields. Food. I think I’m starting to get the hang of this.”

Tootsie laughed, “are you going to eat the meat raw? Maybe you can rub your linen clothes together to make a fire.”

I stopped short, “What the french Tootsie!” I stamped the ground and tugged on the tusks protruding from my ugly face. “What the howling humpbacks am I supposed to do you stupid little buzzard?”

Orc

Chief Barker

Pig Face

Level 19

Strength: 22. Hunger 19

Dexterity: 10 Thirst 07

Charisma: 5 Entertainment 5

Intelligence: 18 Concentration 18

Manna: 5 Shelter 0

Constitution: 14 Energy 11

Perception: 14 Hygiene 12

Exp: 19,610

Soul Points: 27

Skills: Furious Feline: cost 2 mana,

Dex: +3, Claws, time: 1 hour

Carapace Skin: +4 Constitution,

Cost: 2 Mana, time: 1 hour

Phantom Cloak: Cover a target area of three square-meters for 7 minutes (Stage 2)

Cost: 2 Mana

Coin:

$0

Gear:

Shade Tail and Spine

World Map