Chapter 16: (part 1- The Beginning and the Unknown)
"Roasted cricket and mushroom slices sound good," I thought, but still hesitated because the cricket was as big as my fist.
As I remembered the last time I tried to cook crickets. It was during one of those hot summer afternoons when I was helping an elderly neighbor clear out his overgrown backyard. He had shuffled by with a twinkle in his eye, saying, "Young one, you should collect some crickets. They can be eaten, you know. We survived on them when there was nothing else." He chuckled, as if sharing a fond memory, and added, "Just fry them."
But still, this cricket is too strange to me. Its size was daunting, yet i hope it might still be good to eat or at the very least its edible enough.
"I dont have many option if this is the only type of meat I can capture in this place for now."
"Wait..."
I placed my finger on my chin, my eyes narrowing as I sank into deep thought. My mind wandered back to the past, flipping through memories like pages in a book.
"To think about it..." I muttered under my breath. "I remember reading somewhere that not having meat as a source of protein could be a huge problem. Without enough protein, my body would get weaker over time."
I let out a small sigh, feeling the weight of that knowledge. Surviving without a proper protein source would be tough.
"And if I only ate mushrooms for a week or two, my body might start to have serious issues, like swelling, stunted growth, a weak immune system, and changes to my skin and hair. I could even face bone weakening and muscle loss."
"Mushrooms are full of vitamins and minerals, like selenium, zinc, and vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, and B12. They're also a good source of dietary fiber and contain a small amount of protein. But still, mushrooms can't replace meat."
"And that problem will be solved if I am able to eat this cricket. Crickets naturally have between 65% to 69% content of complete protein. This means crickets have a protein content higher than beef, pork, or salmon, and they also contain all the essential amino acids that the body cannot produce."
"A normal cricket weights around 0.2 grams giving me about 0.13 grams of protein if dried. And if this cricket is 50 times bigger than normal it's weight might be around 10 to 25 grams, it means that 2 to 5 grams of protein. They were considered of the best sources of protein, but I still need to gut this cricket. Eating its big organs makes me feel sick. If it's smaller, then I'm ready to gobble it."
Then I once again scanned my surroundings, hoping to find more edible food. As I looked around, the forest felt even more surreal as I wonder. crickets called (great woods grass eaters) the size of my fist hopping past me, their legs crackling against the grass. Overhead, moths (aviagapes) as big as birds, fluttering through the air, their wings casting strange shadows on the ground. A centipede (Verdanthorn crawler), longer than a child, slithered up the trunk of a massive tree's, its countless legs moving in a slow, sinister like waves.
Then, something caught my eye on the rocky slope to my left — a strange, glistening shape crawling along the stones. I stepped closer and saw a snail called (stonecap mosscrawler), it's larger than human head, inching its way up the rock face. Its shell was thick and covered in patches of moss and rocks, blending almost seamlessly with the environment. A trail of shimmering slime marked its slow progress.
"Snails are edible, right?" I muttered to myself, my stomach tightening with hunger. "Looks like I found another food."
"Eating one would give me plenty of protein to keep my muscles strong — about 16 grams per 100 grams of snail meat. They were also loaded with iron, magnesium, and vitamin B12, all things my body needed to stay energized and sharp."
"Snails also have omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats were good for my heart and brain, which meant eating snails could help me stay alert and focused. Plus, they had collagen, which helped keep skin and joints healthy."
"And they were low in fat and calories, so I could eat as many as I want without worrying about feeling sluggish."
"The problem is I still had to think what method to cook this slimy thing. And If I could just get past the texture, this creature might be one of my secret weapon for survival."
I carefully picked up the enormous snail from the stones, feeling its weight in my hands. Then, I carried it back to the cave where I planned to stay and gently set it down, already thinking about how I'd cook it.
After gathering my food, I started collecting dried leaves and twigs near the cave to make a fire. But even the smallest twigs were as thick as a grown man's arm. So i don't have any other options but to use my sword to chop them into smaller pieces.
Once I finished, I spotted some (Brownbark Quencher fruits) scattered on the ground — the same ones I had seen earlier. They looked like they just freshly fallen from the tree's, so I picked a few to use as a drink later.
With the firewood and fruit ready,
I turned to prepare the food, gripping my sword tightly. But the sweat on my hands made it harder to hold the sword hilt. My fingers kept slipping, and I had to squeeze even tighter to keep my grip. The giant cricket lay before me, its legs curled and twitching slightly.
I placed the cricket carefully on the ground, holding it steady with one hand. With slow, deliberate movements, I slid my sword along its belly, pressing just hard enough to pierce the tough exoskeleton. The blade sank in with a faint crackling sound as the shell split apart.
A thick, pale greenish-yellow liquid began to ooze out. It was the cricket's blood. It flowed over my fingers, warm and sticky, staining my palm with its strange color. The blood didn't stop — it kept gushing out, dripping onto the ground in slow, steady drops. It smelled faintly sour, like damp grass mixed with decay.
I carefully pried the shell open, revealing the cricket's insides. Its organs shimmered wetly in the dim light, packed tightly together in a slimy tangle. I reached in with my bare hands, feeling the slippery texture as I gently pulled the organs out. They stretched and clung to the body, connected by thin strands that snapped as I tugged them free. The heart, small and pulsing weakly, beat a few last times in my hand before going still.
Next, I moved to the head. I gripped it firmly, twisting it until I felt a sharp pop. With a steady pull, I separated the head from the body, careful not to damage the fragile antennae. The mouth, lined with tiny, jagged teeth, hung open as if frozen in a silent scream.
Finally, I turned my attention to the wings. They were thin and translucent, like delicate sheets of glass. I pinched the base of each wing and slowly peeled them away from the body, careful not to tear the fragile membranes. They shimmered faintly, catching the light as it slightly fluttered in my hand.
When I finished, the cricket's body lay hollow — an empty shell. My hands were covered in blood and bits of flesh, but I wiped them clean on my clothes without hesitation.
"It was ready. Now, all that was left was to start a fire and cook it."
I carefully placed the rune stone under a small pile of chopped twigs and dried leaves, making sure it was in the center. Then, I gently collected some water from a cave stalagmite using a large leaf, careful not to spill a drop. Slowly, I placed the stone into the leaf filled with water.
At first, nothing happened. But after a few moments, the stone began to smoke and spark. Tiny flashes of light crackled around it, and soon, a small flame appeared. The water around the stone started to vanish, disappearing as quickly as if it were boiling away.
As the fire grew, I quickly gathered dried leaves and small branches, placing them close to the flames. I did this so that if the fire from the rune stone went out, the dry wood would catch fire and keep burning. That way, I could still cook my food without starting over.
Once the fire was steady, I carefully impaled the cricket on a stick, holding it over the flames like a barbecue. I skewered a few mushrooms on smaller sticks and placed them next to the cricket so they could roast together. Beneath the fire, I carefully set the snail, letting the heat slowly cook it in its shell.