The forest air, thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, felt heavy in Kael's small lungs. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig underfoot, sent a jolt of adrenaline through him. The "Hypothermic" status on his system display was a constant, uncomfortable reminder of his precarious situation. Sunset was a ticking clock.
[Objective 1: Find or build a shelter for the night. (0/1)]
Shelter. That was the priority. He scanned his surroundings. The trees were tall, their branches intertwined, offering some protection from above, but not from the cold or potential predators. He needed something more substantial. His gaze fell upon a cluster of fallen trees, their massive trunks creating a natural, albeit cramped, alcove. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
Dragging his weak body, Kael began to gather fallen branches and broad leaves. His STR of 3 was laughably low; even moderately sized branches felt like lead weights. He gritted his teeth, the memory of his former, much stronger self a distant, painful echo.
"Come on, Kael. Adapt. That's what 'The Reborn' title is for, right?" he muttered to himself, a habit from his old life resurfacing.
After what felt like an eternity, but was probably only an hour according to the slowly dimming light, he had managed to lean branches against the fallen logs, creating a crude lean-to. He stuffed the gaps with leaves, hoping to trap some warmth and keep out the worst of the wind.
[System Notification: Partial Shelter Constructed. Wind Resistance: Low. Insulation: Very Low. Objective 1 progress: 0.5/1]
"Partial? Very low?" Kael sighed. Better than nothing, he supposed. He needed to improve it, but the other objectives pressed.
[Objective 2: Obtain clean drinking water. (0/1)]
Water. His throat was parched. He remembered seeing a slight depression in the ground a little way back, where the earth looked darker, damper. Hope flickered. He cautiously made his way there, his AGI of 4 allowing him to move with a surprising quietness for an eight-year-old.
The depression was indeed damp, and after a bit of digging with his bare hands (which earned him a splinter and a mental note to find or make some kind of tool), a small puddle of murky water began to collect. It wasn't ideal.
"System," he thought, experimenting with the interface, "is this water safe to drink?"
[System Analysis: Water Source – Stagnant. High bacterial content. Risk of illness: Moderate. Recommendation: Boil before consumption.]
Boil? How was he supposed to boil water without a container or fire? Frustration gnawed at him. He looked around. Moss. He'd read somewhere that certain types of moss could filter water, or at least collect dew. He found a patch of thick, green moss clinging to a rock and carefully squeezed it. A few precious drops of clearer liquid trickled out onto a broad leaf he'd picked. It wasn't much, but it was something. He repeated the process, painstakingly collecting a small mouthful.
[System Notification: Trace amounts of potable water consumed. Dehydration status slightly improved. Objective 2 progress: 0.1/1]
This was going to be harder than he thought.
[Objective 3: Obtain food. (0/1)]
His stomach rumbled, a hollow ache. The forest floor was covered in unfamiliar plants. He had no idea what was edible and what was poisonous. His INT and WIS from his past life were useful for problem-solving, but they didn't include an encyclopedic knowledge of alien botany.
He spotted some reddish berries on a low bush. They looked tempting.
"System, analyze berries."
[System Analysis: Rubus mortiferum (Deathberries). Toxicity: High. Effects: Paralysis, followed by respiratory failure. Recommendation: Avoid at all costs.]
Kael shuddered, backing away from the bush. That was a close call. This system was a lifesaver, literally. He needed to find something less lethal. Grubs? Insects? The thought was unappetizing, but his hunger was a powerful motivator. He overturned a rotting log. A few fat, white grubs squirmed in the exposed earth.
His stomach churned, but the "Hungry" status flashed insistently. With a grimace, he picked one up.
Before he could bring himself to eat it, a faint chirping sound caught his attention. He looked up. A small bird, its feathers a dull brown, was pecking at something on the ground near the base of a tree. As he watched, it flew off, leaving behind a few broken nutshells.
Nuts!
Hope surged anew. He hurried to the spot. Sure enough, there were a few intact nuts, similar to hazelnuts, scattered among the roots. He cracked one open with a stone. The kernel inside was small but looked edible.
"System, analyze nut."
[System Analysis: Corylus silvana (Forest Hazel). Edibility: High. Nutritional Value: Moderate.]
Relief washed over him. He quickly gathered a small handful, his fingers fumbling with their newfound smallness. He ate them slowly, savoring the slightly sweet, earthy taste. It wasn't a feast, but it was food.
[System Notification: Small amount of edible food consumed. Hunger status slightly improved. Objective 3 progress: 0.2/1]
The sun was now perilously close to the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. He had made some progress, but the quest was far from complete. The shelter was barely adequate, he had almost no water, and only a handful of nuts. The "Exhausted" debuff loomed.
He returned to his lean-to, adding more leaves and branches in a desperate attempt to improve its insulation before darkness fell completely. As the last sliver of sun disappeared, a new notification popped up, this one tinged with an ominous red.
[Time Limit for Quest 'Survival for Beginners' Expired.]