That Which Devours

The frustration I felt was bordering on anger. After less than twenty minutes, I was able to hit the edge of the target with an arrow, but nothing. No class selection, I didn’t even get a Skill Category. I’d seethed, and having missed lunch hadn’t helped.

“It’s ok, Alex. You’ll find your thing. For now, I’ll keep an eye on you. You seem to be a natural with the bow, whether this system recognizes it or not,” said Adam.

“I know. Thanks, I’ll keep trying,” I’d said, trying to hide my bitterness. Handing him the bow back, I’d gone to find food. From there, I’d worked my shift with Abby, and finally returned home.

Now it was weeks later, and no matter what I tried, I couldn’t unlock the class selection. After archery had failed me, I’d cycled through everyone else who had a class, trying to get them to teach me whatever they could. I tried everything, but while I gained a few Skill Categories, nothing triggered that elusive Class selection.

In the mornings, before my work shifts, I focused on training with my father to increase my natural talents with the knife and spear. Even if it didn’t lead to Class selection, the jungle was not a safe place, and some ability to defend myself made sense. Life in the small settlement had settled down a little, as everyone worked together to build a fence toward the South. It was the only opening to the forest, otherwise the cliffs protected the area, and we had enough of the weird repelling crystals that, with a proper fence, we could have a little safety.

Still, here we were, Cass and I, the last two without classes. The only laborers left, with no end in sight. There was nothing we could do but keep trying, keep surviving, and hope. There simply were no other options.

***

The jungle was hot and sweat dripped down my back. My dark hair was pulled back out of my face, but a single strand tickled me by my chin. I ignored it, not daring to move. Today was too important to be distracted by something tickling me.

I clenched my spear in one hand out in front of me. A low hum traveled up the shaft coming from the crystal tip. That crystal spear tip was my most prized possession, and the only thing showing my importance to the colony. I could attune to crystals. Only around one in five of the survivors could, and attunement let you use the crystals in different ways. This one I could turn into something like a plasma tool, cutting through almost anything. Others could store inventory or even scare off beasts. The attunement skill ran through my entire family. My father had it, along with both of my brothers.

Others from the colony ranged around me, hidden in the massive undergrowth. A hand signal came from Len, the leader of the hunt, then it moved through the group and I took several steps forward. Time to move into position. I crept closer to the large fern, using it to cover myself. The many leaves helped hide my cotton uniform. It was a sun-bleached, dusty gray, torn and patched more than once, but I hadn’t earned enough goodwill to get anything more appropriate. Or more green and brown for traveling in the jungle. My boots were the same as the ones I’d had when we crashed. Thankfully, they were still in great condition.

A few hunters moved about the bushes, and Len crept closer to check on me, his green eyes seeing everything. His dark hair had a lot less gray in it than before we crashed, thanks to the system. I wished I had his leather armor that protected his body. Len was my buddy, since we were outside of the colony. He was a good guy, and a friend of my father. Everyone had to buddy up while in the jungle. He nodded, seeing I stood in cover and prepared, then he faded into the ferns, using some sort of stealth skill. A soft coo, sounding like a bird, echoed through the trees. Everyone was where they needed to be.

The rest of us tried to keep silent, waiting. Only a few of us were without the experience, or an assigned class, to use skills to help. Today was hunting day, and everyone who had a class related to hunting was in the group, plus two others. My friend, Cass, and I, were both classless, even though we’d been here three months. Cass was with the group who would funnel the correct creature toward us. It was up to them to make sure it was something we could handle, but that would also provide meat for the colony.

Today was the day. We both needed to unlock classes and start leveling. The colony depended on it. I was at the point that I didn’t care what class I got, only that I got one and could move up. Cass had been waiting for a hunt to unlock a hunter class, lately convinced it was her path. Meanwhile, I had almost given up hope, having tried everything I could get anyone to share with me. Without a class, I couldn’t even earn a profession. It was one of the few rules that the colony had figured out after the crash which the system enforced. Still, maybe hunting would be my thing, too. I could hope, at least a little.

I resisted shaking my head to clear my thoughts of that horrible time. A buzzing sound drew closer to my ear, but I focused on the bright leafy bushes ahead. Whatever bug wanted a bite of me, it could go ahead, I’d survived worse. Sunlight streamed down between the tall trees and vines in front of my spear. That was the direction that our prey sounded like it was coming from. Other members of the team would ambush the creature, forcing it into running toward our line. All we needed to do was encourage it toward the shallow ground pit, which was covered with a woven mat made by people back in the colony. The mat was covered with leaves, some standing up like they were growing out of the ground. Even though we were hunting beasts, a large patch of dirt would stand out too much in the lush jungle we were in.

My fingers tightened around the spear and I forced myself to breathe out slowly. Everyone counted on this hunt being successful. We needed the meat, and everyone needed the experience. Something bit my neck and I flinched, turning my head hopefully enough to encourage whatever bug it was to get off me. Or squish it. Either one worked.

Sounds of shouting came from afar, and then the heavy footsteps of something running toward us. My body tensed up as the leaves moved, then it was there, faster than I thought possible. Larger than any human, or even a cow, it had scales and ran on all four legs. It had a long tail that stretched out behind it, and a large rock-hard fin shape jutting from the top of its head. Stripes covered its back in green, yellow, and brown, while the large fin shape was a bright blue. I had to keep in mind it could walk on its back two legs just fine, and bring those front legs into a fight if it had to.

Everyone said they couldn’t be dinosaurs, but right in that instant, I swore it was a parasaurolophus. It wasn’t as large as the fossils on Earth had made them out to be, but it could just be young. I wished I could identify it and see its real name, but even that simple task wasn’t possible without a class. Some could even see the skills or classes of others. I just called these guys Paras for short.

It moved fast on all fours, but slowed down as it approached, lifting onto its back two legs. Each step echoed up through the ground. It headed toward the right side of the group and I frowned. That was the wrong way.

“Come on… come on…” I whispered to myself.

We had to make this work. My stomach growled, making the point. I was always hungry.

Len leaped out of the bushes, making large motions and movements. The not-a-parasaurolophus swerved away from him and his spear. That led it closer to me. Fear raced through me, but I didn’t waiver. It needed to go more to my left to stumble into the pit.

It was time. I would do this.

I jumped out of the bushes, yelled, and jabbed my spear in its direction. The crystal on the tip flashed brightly as I activated the plasma tip, and the creature twisted out of range. At least it turned the way we wanted it to, and I lunged forward again, pushing the tip of the crystal into the beast’s scales.

It roared in pain, lifting on its two hind legs and getting way too close to me with its tail.

I quickly rolled away, dropping my spear, praying the Para wouldn’t step on it. My father would kill me if I needed to replace the crystal.

Another hunter dodged out, stabbing at the creature that was still roaring into the air. That got it moving in the correct direction, away from me.

Concerned deep brown eyes met mine as I hopped to my feet. Len flicked my spear in my direction, and I caught it.

The sound of screaming caused both of us to twist about. The Paras had stumbled into the shallow pit trap, impaling one of its legs on a sharp spear. Len and I darted toward it, along with the others in the hunting party. The creature twisted about, trying to run away from the spear that hurt it. The spear broke off, but it stepped on another. Its scream rumbled through the trees.

Yet, no one moved to finish it. A few people split off to face the jungle, making sure nothing was going to sneak up and steal the kill. I couldn’t see Cass anywhere, but most of the other group hadn’t joined us yet. I retracted the shaft of my spear, telescoping it down to a large knife handle.

Len motioned for two other hunters to take the honor. Jas and Mary approached carefully from separate sides. Both looked the part of the hunters they were, with leather armor that covered their chests and legs. Jas jabbed a spear into the dinosaur’s chest, aiming for its heart, while Mary tried to slice across its neck. Those two hunters would split the bulk of experience from its death. The single slice I had gotten in should give me bonus experience, compared to others who didn’t hit the creature.

The Paras tried to roar again, but shuddered instead as it fell to the ground, blood pooling under it. As soon as it was dead, everyone else leaped into motion, yanking spears out of the ground and pulling sleds out of hidden locations.

Tension increased across my shoulders as I waited for the notifications. It would be now that I got my class, if this had worked. I’d finally unlock my stat sheet. I couldn’t wait!