Kael stood on the crest of the hill for a long time, the vast expanse of the grasslands stretching before him like an uncharted sea. The wind, unimpeded by the dense canopy he was so accustomed to, whipped at his leather-clad frame, carrying unfamiliar scents – dry grass, distant water, and a faint, dusty aroma he couldn't identify. The sheer openness was both exhilarating and intimidating. In the forest, danger often lurked close, hidden by trees and undergrowth. Here, visibility was almost limitless, but so was his own exposure.
Corvus, after circling overhead a few times, landed on Kael's shoulder, his claws digging in slightly for purchase against the wind. The crow let out a series of soft caws, his head swiveling as he, too, took in the new landscape.
"Well, Corvus," Kael said, his voice almost carried away by the wind, "it seems our world just got a lot bigger. And emptier."
The pang of loneliness he'd felt earlier returned, sharper now. For three years, the forest had been his entire world, a challenging but ultimately knowable environment. This… this was something else entirely. But the question that had driven him here – the search for others – remained. He couldn't turn back now, not without at least exploring a part of this new frontier.
He descended the hill, his supple boots finding purchase on the grassy slope. The transition from forest to grassland was abrupt. One moment he was surrounded by the familiar gloom and close comfort of trees, the next he was stepping out into bright, open sunlight, the sky a vast, unbroken dome above him.
The grasslands were not entirely flat. Gentle undulations rolled across the landscape, and the grass itself grew in thick, waist-high clumps in some areas, shorter and sparser in others. Strange, colorful wildflowers he'd never seen before dotted the terrain. His 'Basic Herbalism (Rank D)' skill tingled with potential new discoveries, but he didn't stop to investigate yet.
His 'Advanced Survival (Rank B)' skill immediately began to process the new environment. Water would be a primary concern here, unlike in the forest where streams were plentiful. The distant river he'd spotted was his best bet. Shelter, too, would be different. No dense trees for A-frame huts; he'd have to rely on natural depressions, rock outcroppings if he could find them, or perhaps even learn to build sod shelters if he stayed here long.
Hunting would also change. The Scaled Grazers he'd encountered at the forest's edge were likely common here, their tough hides a challenge for his arrows. There were probably new predators too, adapted to this open terrain. His 'Stealth' would be harder to maintain without ample cover, but his 'Tracking' skill would be invaluable on the open ground.
Corvus took to the air again, soaring high above, his keen eyes scanning the plains. In this open environment, the crow's scouting abilities were even more crucial. Kael relied on him heavily, their silent communication a well-practiced art.
For the first few days, Kael followed the general direction of the distant river, moving cautiously. He hunted the Scaled Grazers, finding their tough hides did indeed test his 'Improved Arrows' and 'Aimed Shot'. He learned to target their softer underbellies or aim for their eyes. The meat was lean and slightly tough, but nourishing.
[System Notification: You have successfully hunted 1x Scaled Grazer (Level 11). XP Gained: 110. 'Bow Proficiency (Rank D)' proficiency increased.]
The XP gain was decent, but not as spectacular as the rune-fueled bonanza. Still, it was steady progress.
The plains were full of new life. He saw herds of strange, long-legged flightless birds that the System identified as "Plain Striders" (Level 7, fast, non-aggressive). He also spotted massive, beetle-like creatures with iridescent carapaces ("Sunstone Beetles," Level 3, source of durable chitin). His inner crafter was already considering the possibilities.
One evening, as he was making a small, discreet camp in a shallow depression, Corvus returned from a long scouting flight, unusually agitated. The crow landed on Kael's outstretched arm, cawing insistently and nudging his head towards the southeast.
"What is it, Corvus? What did you see?"
Corvus couldn't speak, of course, but his urgency was clear. He took to the air again, circled, then flew a short distance southeast before returning, repeating the action. He wanted Kael to follow.
Kael, trusting the crow's instincts implicitly, packed his meager camp and set off in the indicated direction, moving with caution. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the vast sky in hues of orange and purple.
After nearly an hour of brisk walking, Corvus led him to the crest of a low rise. The crow landed, his feathers ruffled, and let out a soft, almost reverent caw. Kael peered into the twilight.
There, in the distance, almost invisible against the darkening land, was a faint, flickering pinprick of orange light. A light that was too steady, too contained, to be a wildfire.
A campfire.
Kael's heart leaped into his throat. After three long years of utter solitude, after weeks of traversing this empty grassland, this was the first undeniable sign of other intelligent beings. He sank to his knees, his eyes fixed on that distant, hopeful glow, a maelstrom of emotions – hope, fear, trepidation, and a desperate, aching yearning – churning within him.