Chapter 25
926 Words
"Don't feel too stressed. Just be careful!" Zoe said, her eyes slightly red and her face flushed.
I was surprised to see this shy girl being so active. I couldn't help but chuckle.
Stella snorted and turned her head away from me.
Mandy glared at me but still stepped forward to adjust my clothes gently, whispering concerned reminders in my ear. Her warm breath on my ear and neck felt comforting and ticklish.
Quinn saw this and wanted to help with my bullets and the gun. I was very wary of her; how could I let her handle such important items?
I scolded her, and she stood aside, trying to gain my sympathy. Of course, I wasn't that foolish and didn't spare her another glance.
Before I left, Eva handed me a bottle of medicine and reminded me to be careful.
I felt like a soldier being honored before going to battle. I hadn't even stepped out of the cave yet, and I was already surrounded by these girls.
Normally, I would have been delighted, but at that moment, I felt nothing but a heavy sense of responsibility.
Taking a deep breath, like a true warrior, I gripped my weapon and walked out of the cave into the forest. As I ventured further, my mood became heavier. The forest was eerily silent, with hardly any noise.
The weather had turned cold, and the animals had hidden away, making foraging difficult.
I roamed around my usual hunting grounds for a while but found nothing. After some hesitation, I gritted my teeth and headed deeper into the darker part of the island.
I had found traces of large animals near this forest previously, which I had always considered off-limits. But now, I had to expand my hunting area.
After wandering in this unfamiliar forest for a while, I finally had some success. I discovered a robust stag! The stag was at least 4.5 feet long and nearly 3.9 feet tall.
I estimated that it would weigh over 330 pounds! If I could bring it back, we could eat well for a long time. Its fur would also be great for making clothes. I approached the stag quietly, praying for success.
Even with a gun and a sharp katana in hand, hunting this stag was no easy task!
I aimed my gun at the stag's head and pulled the trigger. With a gunshot, the stag fell.
Overjoyed, I put down my gun and ran towards the stag's body.
When I was about 700 feet away, I heard a terrifying howl from afar. The howling intensified, and my hair stood on end. I hadn't expected the smell of blood to attract a pack of wolves so quickly! Several gray wolves charged out of the forest and began tearing into the stag's carcass.
Fighting an unknown number of wolves in an unfamiliar forest would be the most foolish decision one could make.
So, without hesitation, I chose to abandon the stag and retreated quietly to find another prey elsewhere. I became increasingly cautious in my actions. By noon, although I hadn't hunted any large animals, I had caught a few small ones.
When I returned to the cave around midday, the girls were somewhat disappointed that I hadn't brought back any huge prey. However, no one complained, understanding that I wasn't omnipotent.
I mentioned the stag and the wolf pack briefly, and their disappointment turned into concern.
Leo sneered and started gloating, "Oh, you can't catch prey anymore, so you’ve just started making excuses about wolf packs! Maybe you got scared off by a rabbit!" Leo burst into laughter.
I smirked inwardly. So much had happened these past few days that I hadn't had the chance to deal with him, but his time would come soon. Instead of getting angry, I smiled at Leo. "You're right. It's hard for one person to catch large prey in winter."
Thinking I had admitted defeat, Leo's arrogance flared. He believed I maintained my position among the girls through boasting and luck, so he saw this as an opportunity to replace me.
"What else can you do besides boasting and ambushing me?" Leo shouted, turning to the girls with a supposedly charming smile. "Look at me. Am I not stronger than Zack?"
My next words left him frozen. "I plan to set up traps, which can't be done alone. Since you're so capable, come with me. If we catch any prey, you can carry it back."
I smiled, "After all, you're much stronger than me."
Mandy, who had been angry at Leo's shameless remarks, couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, Leo, show us what you've got."
Leo's face turned pale. "I... I don't have any warm clothes. I'll get into trouble!"
"Your fat is thicker than my snow jacket," I sneered.
Leo continued to be stubborn. "Traps won't work! Do you think these animals are as stupid as you?"
Tired of the charade, I gave Leo a cold look. "You're going." Whether he sensed something or was simply scared of me, he refused to go alone with me.
Leo objected strongly, looking at others for support, but no one paid him any attention. Gritting his teeth, he sat down and declared shamelessly, "I'm not going with you! Do whatever you want!"
Narrowing my eyes, I picked up my gun immediately. With swift motion, I loaded and fired.
The gunshot echoed in the cave, shattering a rock right in front of Leo's crotch, missing his balls by just an inch.
Leo shuddered in fear, nearly wetting himself.
- Writer
