Chapter 15

I saw enough to know that whatever had just killed that animal was far larger than me. Even if my species isn’t one that would generally be considered prey, I doubted it cared. It wasn’t quite as big as my Mom, from what I could see, but it had a catlike leanness to it, and I saw firsthand just how fast it was.

Suppressing a frightened whimper, I began moving again.

A terrifying idea struck me, that I was not the only creature in this forest with a Pulse Sense.

Whatever its victim had been, it was hiding in the undergrowth just like I was trying to, and yet the predator knew exactly where it was, diving right on top of it.

I knew lying low and waiting for it to leave was too risky, so I started moving. I kept my head low and focused. I no longer cared if I was heading in the direction of my den or not. I just wanted to live.

I could still hear it chomping on its meal somewhere behind me, but I did my best to ignore it. I felt tempted to check my {Pulse Sense}, but realized it would be a better idea to first check my mana.

Vitals

Health: 75 / 115

Mana: 21 / 65

Stamina: 80 / 100

Okay, I had two uses left. It seemed Pulse Sense took 10 mana per use, which didn’t seem like much at first, but it definitely added up. I didn't have any other skills to use that consumed mana so far, which meant that I didn’t have to use it too sparingly, but at the same time, I had a very long way to go, and from what I could tell, mana recharged quite slowly. If I did end up running out, I would be as good as blind.

I kept moving until the undergrowth thinned out. Steeling my nerves, I lifted my head and cautioned a glance around. I was not nearly as far from the predator as I hoped. I saw its muscular, lean back arced as it continued to rip and tear at something. Its tail flicked excitedly, and then, it lifted its head.

I only got the briefest glimpse of its bloodstained maul before I threw myself back to the forest floor. It was definitely some kind of giant cat, but it also had nubs of horns on its head, not dissimilar to those squirrel things.

What’s worse, it seemed it was done with its last victim and was now looking for its next meal.

I looked ahead. The undergrowth had thinned in front of me, but there was another patch after a clearing set near the side of another of those thick grey trees.

I used {Pulse Sense}.

Everything else that had been hiding that may have been prey had already had the good sense to hightail it out of here while the Horned Cat was eating! I realized I may have been overly cautious, and now that might just end up costing me.

Focusing back on the Horned Cat, I could see its pulse moving. It was on the prowl again, and this time it was undeniably heading in my direction.

Can it see me? Does it know I’m here?

If I make a run for it… I-I mean, is it even possible? My short puppy legs are way too small! If it came down to being chased, there is no way I could possibly outrun it!

I again suppressed a whimper, thinking of all the rabbits I had hunted and wondering if this is how they felt. They were slower than I, far weaker than I, and all they could do was hide and hope they were not found.

But screw that! I’m not a rabbit! I’m a Hell Hound! I’m a Hell Hound, and my Dad’s the stronger being in the entire vale! I’m not supposed to be prey!

But I had to be smart.

I obviously could not beat that thing in a fight, and running into the clearing was certain death. Maybe hiding was my only chance. I only thought that it couldn’t actually see that last thing it pounced on, so maybe—

[Achievement! Hunter Becomes the Hunted!]

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

They say no new experience is a wasted experience, but in your case, you’d better run.

+5 dexterity

That was way too on the nose!

I wasted no more time arguing with myself over what exactly my situation was. I burst out of the undergrowth, heading for the side of that giant tree. I didn’t have a plan, all I knew is running across the clearing was certain death.

Already I could hear its powerful steps behind me, bounding it forward with each long leap.

I looked back, saw its snarling fangs, and dove around the curve of the tree.

I heard its jaw snap air, then it kicked up dirt, sliding against its momentum as it tried to turn back towards me.

The tree was like a giant wall alongside me that bought me a few moments, but what was I supposed to do now? I couldn’t just run in circles with it until it got bored! It could probably catch me like this anyway.

I heard a deep snarl of frustration and another long bound of its legs.

As I curved around the tree, I saw something that might just be my only saving grace.

There was a hollow in its thick trunk, the opening just a couple of feet off the ground. It gaped open, its edges like scar tissue, and half hidden by dangling moss and roots.

How deep was it? I had no idea, but it was my only chance.

I veered hard towards the wall, just as the Horned Cat pounced. I felt its claws scrape just short of my tail.

I jumped for the hole, my paws scraping at the roots, climbing messily to pull myself up and into the hole. This was the first time in my new life that I fully felt the hindrance of not having opposable thumbs to give me a firm grasp on the root.

As soon as my paws found solid wood to hold onto, I pulled myself up and in with all my might, chest scraping the rough wood as I kicked frantically with my back legs.

I heard those jaws snap shut just short of my tail once again, but I was inside. I was inside, but not safe yet.

I pressed myself against the far wall of the small opening, standing on my hind legs, arms at my sides like an escaping prisoner clinging to a wall as a spotlight passed by.

A giant claw lashed into the air, its razor-sharp nails just short of my belly.

The Horned Cat let out a snarl of frustration. It backed off for a moment and then slammed into the tree. My whole world shook, and I saw its claws digging at the sides of the opening, breaking off splinters. It was trying to widen the opening!

After batting at the wood with a few strong swipes, it adjusted itself, then looked into the hole with its two yellow, feline eyes, its fangs smiling widely at me with an expression that said, “You can’t hide for long, and once I got you I’m going to take my time and really enjoy my meal after all the difficulty you put me through.”

Then, it was gone, and its claws were swiping at the opening once again.

Now would be a really great time to learn a new skill or something!

Uh—System! New skill, please!

Skill Tree!

Spend points!

Give me a hint!

AAAAAAAHHH!

I did not know if this world’s System actually came with any of those things, but it was worth a shot.

[I’m sorry. Unrecognized commands.]

Thanks! I already figured that out!

[Please visit the help menu for a list of available commands.]

Another claw dove into the hole, testing its progress. This time, it just barely managed to scratch my belly.

No time for that!!!

There was nowhere to go but up, I realized. The hollow wasn’t just a domed area; it seemed like either something had tunneled up into the flesh of the tree or a spot of rot had grown larger with time. It was too dark to guess which, and that was the least of my concerns at the moment.

MY paws scrambled, trying to find grooves in the wood to pull myself up. I slipped at first and felt that this was just desperation at this point.

But I kept trying, because it was the only chance I had.

In my mad scramble, I managed to find an angle with my hind legs pushing against one wall to lift myself up, then as the opening narrowed, I believed for the first time that I might actually be able to survive this ordeal.

I continued to scramble upward, claws scraping and slipping, splinters stabbing into the soft pads of my paws. My chest heaved, my ribs squeezed tight against the narrowing walls of the hollow.

Another slam shook the tree. Bark rained down on me. Below, I heard the Horned Cat’s claws carving deeper. Its guttural growls rumbled through the wood, vibrating up my spine.

I dug harder, forcing my paws higher, jamming them into cracks and grooves. My hind legs pushed, and with a desperate grunt, I shoved myself up another foot.

Light vanished. The moss-draped opening below was now just a faint slit where yellow eyes glared after me. The Horned Cat hissed, frustrated, its claws reaching up for me but not even coming close. I tucked my tail in anyway.

Finally, it turned away, and the bit of light at the bottom of the hole was undisturbed, allowing a soft glow to light the area below me.

My arms were trembling, but I adjusted myself, turning my back against the wall and pushing out my hind legs, so I was in a suspended sitting position that would be easier to hold.

I listened carefully, not hearing the Horned Cat anymore, but I did not trust that it had given up.

{Pulse Sense}.

No, it hadn’t given up at all. It was pacing back and forth, sizing the tree up, probably trying to figure out a plan.

Come on! Just leave me alone, I don’t even taste good, I promise! Wouldn’t you want to find a rabbit or a squirrel instead?

MY nose tickled, and for a heart-stopping moment I tensed myself as I suppressed a sneeze. It shook my body, but didn’t cause me to lose my leverage. I was very dusty and uncomfortable.

I watched the Horned Cat’s pulse through the tree; it was moving further away.

Please leave! Please just leave!

But I was not so lucky. It hunkered down somewhere, probably hiding itself in the undergrowth, and just continued to stalk me from a distance. It probably thought if it just waited long enough, I’d eventually come out, and as much as I didn’t want to admit it, it was right. I couldn’t stay in here forever.