The Systems Challenge

When the sun rose in the morning, Kim wasn't sure why she suddenly didn't feel tired at all. Even after a day full of rest, she hadn't expected to have gotten over the effects of stepping through that pond so quickly.

She didn't plan on trying to move around much today, either, primarily because she didn't want to deal with the chance that this feeling of being so rested was either a temporary thing or that it was something fragile. That if she did too much today, that it'd go away, regardless of what she'd rather have happen.

However, despite that, she couldn't ignore what Jonas had seen the night before. From the description Elin had given them, it sounded like it might be the creature she'd seen previously. As the description seemed to match, although, by the time Kim had looked, it had disappeared. Either because it went behind a cloud or some trees, or something.

The only thing they were all able to agree on was that it seemed to be heading northeast. Or more accurately, east by northeast. A small distinction in Kim's mind, but Elwin and Patricia seemed adamant about it. Though, it was more Elin who was adamant about it and Patricia who had merely remarked about it more than anything else.

Kim had also given Owen her bow, since she hardly ever remembered she had it, and felt that it at least would be useful if he had the weapon he'd become accustomed to. Not that Kim cared much anyway. Just that if they had to fight anything, she knew she'd feel a lot better if everyone had something to fight with, even something as simple as a bow.

That way she'd need to spend less time worrying about protecting everyone, since she'd know that everyone would be able to defend themselves. Or at least in some way. Especially since she knew she'd be focusing on protecting Elin the most.

When they were finishing up eating their breakfast, Kim was about to suggest that they start heading towards the direction Jonas had seen the creature heading. However, before she had a chance to say anything, Owen spoke up.

"I know it might be bad timing, but I think I saw some deer when the sun came up this morning. So, I was thinking of seeing if I could track them and get us a deer. If we can, we'll at least have some more food to work with and we won't have to settle for just stew all the time."

"Great idea!" Elin said immediately after, her enthusiasm clear on her face. "That steak was so good!"

While Kim wasn't surprised to see Elin's support on the issue, she couldn't help but wonder what the others thought about it. She wasn't sure what Patrick thought of it, but she would hazard a guess that Patricia wasn't anywhere near as excited about it half of the level Elin was exhibiting.

"I agree," Bart said, quickly followed by Elwin.

Kim looked at Elwin, wondering just how much he was affected by his brother's death. He seemed much like how he had been in the past, but Kim was sure that there had to be some level of his brother's death that bothered him. She just couldn't tell how much it was right then.

"Might be good, but how long do you plan on spending doing that?" Jonas asked, his expression not telling Kim anything either.

"Usually when we hunt, I'm able to get something within the day," Owen answered.

"And when you're not?" Jonas asked, his eyes looking like they were trying to bore through Owen. "How long until we find out?"

Owen didn't respond right away. He looked like he wasn't sure how to respond either. Which told Kim that he really didn't plan on failing. Mostly because if he did, he'd just continue trying until he succeeded, no matter how long it took.

"If you want, I could try to help by limiting the escape routes of the deer," Elmo suggested. "Or in the worst-case scenario, I can use my magic to take out a deer or two."

"And what'll the rest of us do?" Patricia snapped, sounding more bored than annoyed. "We had a day of rest yesterday, why couldn't you have gone hunting then?"

Owen nodded, like he thought Patricia had a good point, though Kim wasn't as sure about it as he seemed to be. "Simply because I thought I'd give Elwin a chance to properly pay his respects to his brother. He's the one who knows how to track them, anyway. If he wasn't in my group, I doubt I'd have survived as long as this. Instead, I'm sure I'd have starved to death first."

"Wait, tracking was a skill on your system?" Patricia said, looking rather surprised.

Elwin shook his head. "No, I learned how to track when I was growing up. Not only is it good when searching out potential enemy traps, but it can also be used to help feed an army of mercenaries."

Kim nodded, understand that sentiment. Some skills in life had a pretty broad range of uses that could apply in multiple occupations. Which also meant that if any of them became Elwin's enemy, they might not realize he's following them if he can merely follow their footprints rather than needing to keep them in sight at all times.

Not that she was really worried about that. If anything, she found it strange that Patricia sounded like she was willing to accept Owen going hunting if everyone else essentially voted for it. She wasn't sure she really understood what was going on, but she had expected that their different groups would again go their separate ways at this point.

"So, I guess it'll be me, Elwin, and Elmo then?" Owen asked, pulling Kim out of her thoughts. "Anyone else want to come?" Owen the looked at Bart. "Bart?"

Bart shook his head. "I'd like to, but if you have Elmo with you, I'm sure you'll be able to be just fine."

Kim looked at Bart and wondered if he was feeling depressed that Elmo was going, or maybe that he seemed like he'd be able to contribute more than Bart had. After all, from what Kim had been able to tell about Bart was that his skills and abilities from his system were all melee-based, while Elmo's had some ranged-based capabilities as well. Which made Kim wonder if Bart was a little unhappy about that.

Although, there could also be the fact that Elmo would be able to help carry more as well, since Bart was still a boy rather than Elmo, who was a young man. Even though he definitely didn't do much working out in general.

Not that she was really sure about her assessment. He was male after all, so she couldn't really be sure if there wasn't any other motive as well. Or even any other feelings that Bart would likely deny if he was asked about it.

Still, she couldn't help but wonder if something had changed with all of their groups without her having realized it. A dynamic that would change the way that they might do things from here on in.

She couldn't say if it was something that affected her group as well, but it was almost like Owen's group and Patricia's group had joined. At least unofficially. As she doubted either of them had thought about it, or really even had cause to think about it just yet.

After all, aside from resting, there hadn't been a time where they had to consider about going in different directions or not. Though, with how they were all planning on following after the creature Jonas had seen, she wouldn't be surprised if all three of their groups became one.

"Kim? Are you there?" Elin asked, and Kim couldn't help but jump when Elin's face completely filled her field of vision.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Kim snapped, trying to get her heart to calm down from the surprise.

"Well, do weren't responding when I spoke to you," Elin replied, sounding a little dejected.

Kim took a breath, hoping to soothe any hurt feelings she'd caused with that. "I'm sorry," she said sincerely. "I guess I just got lost in my thoughts."

Elin nodded, like she already knew. "I was just wondering what you were going to do for the day. I thought maybe we could take a walk and maybe talk?"

Kim sighed. She'd really wanted to take a look at her sword again. She had a few things she wanted to test with it, but looking at Elin, she had a feeling this might be more important. Though, she couldn't say how she knew.

However, she stopped herself from taking that path, simply because she couldn't be sure that it would be better to do. After all, if she didn't know what to expect when she summoned abilities with her sword, she couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't create more problems. Assuming she could replicate the time the day before where she'd finally gotten one of the abilities with her sword to manifest.

"I'd like to, but I was wanting to test out some abilities of my sword first," Kim said, confused at the hurt she saw in Elin's eyes.

Kim wasn't sure what that was about. It wasn't like she told Elin that she wasn't going to take a walk with her. She just had other things she needed to take care of first. Ones that could potentially create other problems that she didn't want to have happen.

"Look," Kim added, not sure if this would help or not. "Let me run through each of the abilities and then we can take that walk, okay?"

Elin looked away as she sighed. "Yeah, okay," she answered.

While Kim was satisfied with that answer, she couldn't help but wonder if Elin's tone sounded a little flat. Like she wasn't as interested in the walk anymore. Which Kim was certain that she had to have just been mistaken about it.