18 Path Chartered

He kneeled down next to the stream like a man who found a higher calling and cupped water and drunk heavy gulps without care, as the water slicked his through it was refreshing and crisp.

Looking into the water at his own reflection, Caleb's hair was disheveled and eyes drooping .he cupped the water and threw it into his face.

"Now let's get this little buddy clean" with a grimace he knew he needed to now do a grim task of gutting it and he would not allow the sacrifice of the creature to be in vain.

Placing the carcass in the stream the water washed away debris blood and dirt all the same ,the fur now had a luster like sheen which Caleb admired , Caleb placed his horn in the stream to clean and admired how the horn did not dull as it was as sharp as when it first came out, he was thankful.

Placing his hands tightly on the horn with a wavering hand he pushed in and a gut-churning squelch resounded as it pierced and it smelled horrid, without daring to look he pulled and a disgusting tearing churned Caleb's insides, Caleb stirred his confidence and looked at the newly cut open carcass.

He ran with a qweesy pace and puked into the rushing waters, as he his stomach upheaval of its contents a distinct burning through his mouth and throat was feltand with a few heavy breathes he steadied himself ,he approached the now opened carcass and brought it to the stream ,as he placed it in the stream he slowly removed the delicate insides by hand not wanting to pierce anything and spoil the meat ,the soft pink fleshy organs were slimy and hard to remove, as Caleb touched them he cringed but he soldiered on he pulls hard they came loose and not long after from the with a ghastly precision each and every organ was removed and the cringing face now caused his face to feel sore.

After the removal of the insides, he removed the last bits of skin which lay on it but allowed the now-gutted flesh lay on it so it did not be tainted by the dirty floor

Looking at his work he looked at the stream ,he stared upwards to the streaks of crimson water flowing down the stream and stood up ,he needed a distraction and getting a fire started was the best choice ,he gathered sticks and stones, with the horn a long stick was carved to have a point like spear to it and 2 Ys of wood formed just outside a stone circle with some wood inside with dried leaves .

Caleb grabbed a log and split it with the horn and made a divit in the middle and took a stick which fit snug into the divit

"Hope this works"

Clasping the long stick in 2 flattened hands he spun the stick.

He continued fruitlessly and looked at the blackened wood which smoked and nothing came of his effort and he was annoyed, he raised the stick from where it lay , an ember with a faint glow lay there in the blackened wood like a diamond in the rough.

With a ping of realisation and internal swearing at his mistake with a scoop he picked the ember with his bare hands carless to the pain and ran towards the hearth he created, with a clumsy fall the ember gently flew down, swaying in the winds which wissiled within the forest onto the dry leaves, with a fast ignition the fire started .

Caleb still laying down flat on his chest looked at the fire , listened to the cracking of the wood and watching as the leaves blacken ,it was soothing seeing its orange glow ,with a quick pace he picked up the spear and quickly washed it and pierced the rabbit end to end and placed it on the Y's on each side of the fire .

He was spit roasting the rabbit,

After that he continuously fed the fire listing to the craking and watching stray embers which were blown up by the winds ,He turned over the rabbit every so often, his mouth watered with impatience at the meat,the meat went from a pearlescent pink flesh and the whitness of the meat enhanced until a burnt crust formed .

Sitting there impatiently after 30 minutes the meal was done ,hastily he moved the rabbit hide as a makeshift plate and took out the spear from the Ys but as he tore the rabbit off it was now just charcoal,he tore into it and with a bite he savored the taste ,it tasted like chicken but more gamey,it was funny though and his mood which was still heavy by the killing lightened up a little like the shell which covered his joyous attitude broke ,he smiled and just sat there crosslegged watching as the fire cracked .

[Good to see the host has come to terms with what has transipired]

"Yeah i have happy to have me back? "

[Debatable]

'i need to get to civilization,or i am going to go insane with just the system as my lone companion, i dont think im cut from the right cloth to thrive in this environment or maybe ill have to adapt to this new home '

A terrible realization struck Caleb, how should he be sure that there is human or a civilization of humans, how would he communicate,would he be treated as a vagrant and ostracisedor what if outside the forest is more hostile than the forest itself with a heavy sigh he pushed his racing mindworries to the side as he would address those problems then ,he needed to deal with the current ,not the past ,not the future but the present

"System, civilisation is normally near water, by following this stream will i find a town?"

[Most definite outcome is the one which the host has stipulated]

Caleb stared down into the distance of the stream ,he could not see the end of the forest or the stream, even with these uncertainties one thing now was set out in his mind .

His path through the forest now has been set .