Totem Warrior

Gosh! Am I Dying So Soon?

"You want it?" I asked the boy.

For a moment, the boy stared at me. He looked like he was going to say 'yes' but he didn't. He shook his head slowly then handed the bowl back to me.

“You need it more,” Ben said.

I took the bowl, then Ben went to his own stone bed.

"Thank you," I said and he nodded briefly before laying down on his bed.

I stared at the contents of the bowl with a frown, but I didn't have much of a choice. I was very hungry and my body was very tired. Like it or not, I have to eat it. In the future, I vow to make better food for myself. I put it in my mouth and swallow it fast, so I don't have time to taste it.

After I put the bowl on the edge of my stone bed, I was surprised by the light that suddenly seemed to illuminate the entire cave. I looked up and realized it was moonlight shining through the open hole in the roof of the cave. The moon in this world is huge, much bigger compared to the moon in my world. Maybe about six times bigger. That's why the light was very bright.

However, a moment later there was a small red moon on the horizon. I frowned in surprise and stared at the red moon more closely, but it made me feel uneasy. I noticed the occasional appearance of dark red spots on the surface of the red moon and it made me feel very weak. I thought I was the only one who felt that way, but when I looked around, all the children in the cave seemed to feel the same way. They groan and gasp for air, as if they were having severe breathing problems.

At the same second, I suddenly felt like I was sinking. I panicked, because it was like being in water, I couldn't breathe at all. My head hurts a lot, like being stabbed by thousands of needles. I groaned, thinking I would die right away in this little boy's body. However, I saw a flash of fire flooded over all of us in the tribe. I'm getting panicked. I thought the fire would kill me, but the opposite happened. The flash made me feel better. I sat up, looked around. All the kids around me seemed to feel the same way.

I opened my mouth, wanted to ask what happened, but I held back. That would sound really weird and stupid. I can't tell anyone that I'm not Rex Hito because I don't want any new problems. So I decided to lie back down, like all the other kids and try to extract information from Rex's memory.

From Rex's memories, I could tell that the flash of fire was a Totem power to relieve pain, stress, pressure, or physical weakness. I then looked up at the sky through the big hole in the roof of the cave and saw the red moon again. Now I know that those dark red spots on the red moon are called Bloody Marks. They often appear on the red moon during the middle ten days of a month and whenever they appear, all normal people suffer physical weakness, while the majority Totem Warriors suffer power weakening. That means Totem Warriors can't fight the same leveled beast they were able to beat before the appearance of the red spots. This is why most Totem Warriors come back to the tribe after sunset.

Knowing all these facts made me even more afraid of this strange world. It's like a nightmare but I can't wake up from it. My head started to hurt and I was exhausted. Soon after, I fell asleep.

It felt like I had only slept for a short while, but I felt someone shaking my body. When I opened my eyes, I was so disappointed that I was still in this strange world. There were two people standing by my bedside. One boy and one girl. From Rex's memories, I know that they are two orphans who have joined the Hunting Logistics Team since a year ago.

“Hurry, Rex! We're going to be late!” exclaimed the girl.

She had long black hair with yellowish skin and slanted eyes. She looks like a beautiful Japanese girl. Her name is Rea Lethi. The names in this foreign world are quite strange, but I can still pronounce them just fine.

“Get up and get your equipment! I don't want to be late because of you," said the boy.

He looks quite tall compared to his peers. His fair skin was covered in brown freckles and his hair was wavy light brown. His name is Noe Taris.

“I-I…”

I was about to explain or say something, but they immediately pulled my body to get up. There was no time to have breakfast, even to change clothes though. I have to join the Hunting Logistics Team this morning. The three of us then immediately ran to the Hunting Logistics Yard, where there were lots of sacks filled with equipment available there.

“Here is your equipment,” Noe said as he handed me a sack of equipment that I didn't get to see inside. But from Rex's memory, I know those are some tools like weapon repairing tools, cleaning tools used at hunting spots, and other useful tools that can help hunters bring back the beasts they hunt.

I received it from Noe's hand and was surprised that it was quite heavy. With this small body, I don't know how long I can carry it. But I didn't have time to complain, I knew I couldn't be late.

Today, there will be three groups of Totem Warriors setting off on a hunt in three different directions. They were at the gate, ready to go. I quickly followed Rea and Noe to one of the groups assigned to us.

I ran as fast as I could while trying to extract as much information about this hunt as possible from Rex's memory. I'm grateful because it turns out that Rex has learned all about being part of the Hunting Logistics Team. He had learned all the skills needed.

As we ran closer, I saw the group of Totem Warriors slowing their pace to allow us to catch up. We knew if we fell behind we would surely die. Like in a herd of animals, if one was left behind, the wild beasts would definitely attack.

We started out from the settlement gate and entered the wild forest. I widened my eyes, seeing all the amazing things my uncle said. The trees here are very tall, around 500 meters. Strange fruits with striking shapes that might be as big as baby elephants. It's impossible, but I'm experiencing it myself.

I kept running, because from Rex's memory, I knew there were lots of terrible beasts here. I shuddered as I continued running, trying to hold back the heavy sack I was carrying on my back. As I was running, I saw a mosquito the size of a hen, flying towards us.

However, the mosquito was driven away by the Totem Warrior who was at the forefront. He uses a flaming tourch that spreads light and aura, protecting everyone behind it. But the light seemed to only reach a certain distance.

I was increasingly afraid of falling behind, but my little feet hurt and started to swell and my shoulders hurt sharply from the heavy equipment. I was getting slower and almost left behind.

Unfortunately, my foot hit a rock and I fell.

“No! Wait! Argh!!” I cried, groaning in pain.

I tried to get up to my feet to catch up with my group, but they were moving too fast. However, like an answered prayer, suddenly the golden tree tattoo on my left hand glowed and immediately I felt a rush of power filling all of my veins. All my tiredness and pain disappeared instantly. Now I feel myself very fit again.

I was very curious about the golden tree tattoo but no time to think about it. My group is already far ahead. 

I ran as fast as I could and diminishing the distance between us, only about five meters left. However, I suddenly saw an enormous beast running at full speed towards me. Subconsciously, I let out a deep howl and hastened my run towards my group.