Scene: The Woods Are More Dangerous Than Expected — Stonebark Expanse, 6:50 PM
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The golden sunlight shimmered between the dense foliage as Oliver made his way deeper into the Stonebark Expanse. The air smelled like sap and moss. The stone underfoot had a subtle pulse, as if the forest itself were alive.
Then came the snorting.
Not far from the trail, a group of Stonebark Hogs ambled through the low grass. Each was a plump, tuskless pig-creature with stone-gray patches on its tough hide and small, glimmering eyes full of curiosity. Despite the rough name, they looked... friendly.
Oliver slowed, pulling a shiny red apple from his inventory.
He tossed it gently.
> 🍎 Thunk.
The closest hog snorted and waddled over, chomping on the fruit. A soft glow appeared above Oliver's head.
> 🏅 Achievement Unlocked: Making a Good Impression
"Sometimes kindness opens doors… or mouths."
The rest of the hogs gathered in interest, their stubby tails flicking in delight.
Feeling encouraged, Oliver reached for another apple and tossed it again toward the water's edge.
> ⚠️ Systematic Alert:
[‼️ DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS]
"Unintended environmental interaction detected."
Oliver blinked. "Wait... what?"
The hogs didn't care. One trotted excitedly toward the new apple — until—
> 💥 CRACK—SNAP!
From the lake's edge, a massive Stonebark Gator erupted from the water. Its body was long, plated in mossy stone-like armor, and its jaw clamped around the poor hog with brutal force.
A horrifying squeal echoed through the woods as the gator thrashed and dragged its prey into the depths.
Ripples calmed. Silence followed.
Oliver stood frozen, hand still half-outstretched.
The remaining hogs stared at him… wide-eyed.
He awkwardly brushed his brown hair back, face flushed.
"…Sorry, little guys. I didn't know."
Turning, he quietly walked away, leaving the stunned hogs behind, their happy munching forever interrupted by the forest's reality.
> 📘 Lesson Logged: Stonebark Gators are Ambush Predators
🌊 They disguise themselves as submerged rocks near bodies of water. Highly aggressive toward moving prey — including curious hogs.
🛑 Feeding non-domesticated wildlife can attract apex predators.
The forest wasn't just alive — it was watching.
And it didn't forgive mistakes.
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Scene: Rushing Through Twilight — Stonebark Expanse, Approaching Nightfall
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The canopy above dimmed gradually, blotting out the golds of dusk with the deep blues and purples of approaching night. The Stonebark Expanse was starting to change. No longer just a forest of birdsong and rustling leaves—it became something deeper, quieter, more primal.
Oliver's boots padded softly across a worn trail, sword in hand, senses heightened.
So far... no wooden imps. No demons. Not even a breeze.
Just the subtle tension of the forest holding its breath.
From the underbrush, there came a soft snort.
Oliver halted.
Emerging with cautious curiosity, a Stonebark Hog sniffed at Oliver's feet. It looked younger than the others—rounder, smoother in hide, with odd teal-colored eyes. It was alone. A straggler?
Oliver froze, unsure if this was another trap or a misunderstood gesture of nature.
He slowly extended his hand and gently brushed its skin—cool, textured, but peaceful. The hog snorted, sniffing once more at his boots, then wandered away quietly, vanishing behind some ferns.
Just as Oliver considered reaching for another apple—
> Snap. Crunch.
His head turned sharply.
Three Stonebark Wolves emerged from the darker edge of the woods.
Larger than any wild wolves he'd ever seen, they carried a natural grace and danger. Their fur was thick, marked by patches of dark stone-like plating, and their yellow eyes scanned the trees with intent. Predators, no question.
Oliver didn't breathe.
But they didn't look at him.
They didn't growl.
They simply moved past him like shadows on a hunt—seeking prey elsewhere.
Only when their figures vanished into the trees did Oliver release the breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"…Okay… still alive."
The Systematic Guide flickered briefly in the corner of his view:
> 🐺 Bestiary Update: Stonebark Wolves
Predatory, semi-intelligent. Will ignore non-aggressive, low-output Travelers unless provoked or hungry. May hunt injured or exhausted creatures instead.
Oliver tightened his grip on his stone sword, now damp from his earlier splash magic. He pressed forward toward the sound of rushing water, louder with each step.
The last of the light danced on the rippling river ahead.
And somewhere in the distance... a branch cracked.
Nature wasn't finished yet.
Not tonight.
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Scene: Dusk Encounters — The Stonebark Bears
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The twilight deepened to a moody indigo as Oliver carefully treaded through the thickening woods, his steps muffled by moss and layers of old pine needles. The Systematic Guide flickered softly beside his vision, dimmed in color as nightfall approached.
> ⚠️ Investigation alert: Nearby lifeform — Large mammal presence. Classification: Stonebark Bear.
Oliver froze.
He scanned his surroundings—the deep shadows, the broken branches, the distant scent of damp fur. The Stonebark Bear stood ahead, just behind the brush.
Its posture was cautious. Not aggressive. A silhouette more akin to a black bear, but slightly broader in shoulders, its stone-patched fur giving it a jagged, armored texture.
Oliver remained still, clutching the stone sword loosely—not as a threat, but a last resort.
He took a step forward.
The bear grunted, reared slightly—then, to Oliver's surprise, turned and lumbered away, crashing through the brush and vanishing into the darker woods.
"…Huh," Oliver whispered to himself, his pulse still high.
> 📘 Bestiary Observation Logged: Stonebark Bear
Behavior: Passive unless provoked. Avoids conflict with solo white-ranked Travelers. May be startled easily in forested areas.
Relieved, Oliver pressed on—navigating the trees with more care now. Every shadow looked alive. The moonlight finally began peeking through the thinned-out canopy.
That's when it happened.
A sharp rustle just ahead.
Oliver stepped into a small clearing—and both he and a smaller Stonebark Bear cub locked eyes at once.
"Wh—!"
Both startled, both wide-eyed, they turned and bolted in opposite directions, the moment perfectly mirrored—Oliver to the left, the bear cub to the right, crashing through two separate lines of trees.
A beat passed.
Then another.
Oliver came to a slow halt behind a wide tree trunk, breathing hard, heart pounding... and then let out a shaky laugh.
"Okay… maybe I'm the bear now."
The forest behind him was quiet again. No growls. No pursuit. Just the gentle whistle of the wind, carrying the scents of pine, distant rivers, and the peculiar stillness that came just before night fully set in.
And so, Oliver adjusted the straps on his inventory bag, muttered a small apology to nature once again, and continued forward into the unknown, the Systematic Guide softly glowing at his side.
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