~Aurora~

　　While waiting for the pines to roast on the fire, suddenly, I sensed something moving behind me. Instinctively, I grabbed a thick and long branch that I've accompanied myself with. It could be used as a spear with its pointed tip as well.

　　Turning around, I saw a pack of wolves. Thick fur, teeth snarling at me.

　　"Can't I just eat in peace…?" I asked them, as if they could understand me! There were four of the wild wolves, each bigger than the other one. Since I had no wolf of my own, I could not talk to certain species of animals. That was a major downside for me! However, that didn't stop me from trying to approach this new troop who were ready to jump me.

　　"Fine then, I'll teach you guys who has entered your terrain." Saying, I spun the long branch to set it to a proper angle. I took a good stance, staring down at the beasts each.

　　With a growling bark, one of the wolves quickly pounced over me! I nudged it in its chest with the blunt end of my makeshift, natural spear! The wolf whimpered and whined like a dog! Although, I feel bad for it.

　　"You wanna be jumped like your friend too, huh!?" Screaming at the wolf that tried to attack me, I saw it cowering in fear.

　　"That's right, you coward! Hide your tail between your legs and leave me alone!" Screaming once again, I planted the spear head side up into the snow. The wolves scammed away! Leaving me at peace, somehow.

　　After feasting on a bunch of the fleshy, tender cores of the pines, I felt energetic again. Licking my lips, I set myself out to find some water. Water that I'd have to boil and drink from a container or something. I laughed at myself. Where would I even find a 'container' in these snowy terrains of the Outer ring!?

　　"You spent almost half the day already, Aurora. Good job." I pat myself on my back, halting to look at the sun glaring into my face. It was a rather clear day, with the sun not so strong enough to melt these glaciers, but had lightened up the surface pretty well. Until it looked up and saw a thick forestation of winter trees.

　　"Well…behold the creatures from here now." I pumped myself up for the umpteenth time. Well, this would be nothing compared to the other creatures which dwell on the specific mountain that Captain Kingston showed me. It had a luscious greenery along with valleys of doom below. I could expect nothing but danger and treachery looming within and around that mountain!

　　For the worst part of this challenge, I'll have to travel around that mountain to reach the top of it…during midnight! If my calculations are correct, I'll have reached that mountain by nightfall. I'll have to hunt and eat as well. To keep me going through the night, all the way until when the sun rises to the same position as it was when I was dropped here.

　　The same time. At the end point.

　　Pretty easy, right?

　　Wrong.

　　As a survivor, the person might try to hide themselves from predators and beasts. But the beasts here are quite literally built for hunting with the purpose to finding their prey by hook or crook! Naturally, they'll be darn good at this, even if I have more cognitive abilities than an animal like themselves! Suddenly, I felt a chill run down my spine.

　　What was it this time…?

　　Frozen in my spot, I flinched a little when a liquid, slimy substance landed on my foot. It was pointing towards the trees, as if I was ready to run away from whatever was standing behind me!

　　My heart was pounding out of my chest as I dared to turn around.

　　And there it was…

　　A predatory, almost extinct…sabertooth leopard!

　　That's right! A SABERTOOTH LEOPARD!

　　With a hunting rate of more than 97% I'm pretty sure I'll become it's meal today if I don't run the hell out of here!

　　Oh Goddess…I WISH I HAD A WOLF WITH ME!

　　There was no way I could outrun this beast! And the proximity it's kept between us…he had an upper hand already!

　　"AaaAah!!" I didn't know what else to do that scream. I simply stood my ground…and screamed.

　　Unlike bears or werebears which seek satisfaction from mauling its prey to death, sabertooth leopards love the chase. So when I stand my ground and scream at the top of my lungs, the prehistoric leopard will find me uninteresting and leave me alone!

　　It just so happened…that my stupid theory didn't work!

　　It's paw was the size of my chest, as it sprung its claws out and tried to shred me to pieces!

　　I've been in duels, alright.

　　But the speed of this beast and the strength of its hit was thrice, or even higher in comparison to most trained men I've fought with! It is naturally more powerful than me! I'm just glad that I dodged its hit, right on time!

　　Sliding under his paws, I confused the beast and took a detour into the woods at the speed of light! My life almost flashed in front of my eyes when I heard the beast growling! It's set me as his target, his lunch.

　　Why couldn't I just preserve my energy until I got to the real heck of a threat around that mountain!?

　　This time, unlike the yeti encounter, I decided to swing across the branches while having the advantage of fast movement! The anticipating hunter beneath me was trying to climb up a tree, but I've already skipped from that tree to another and another!

　　After a few moments of the beast chasing me, it had realized that I wouldn't get my head into his jaws. Growling lowly in disappointment, the sabertooth leopard left me to pursue another potential predator.

　　And this was JUST the beginning…