to fight for his life once again

The hyenas had spotted Ed before he'd seen them and stopped eating their meal, their hungry eyes examining Ed greedily. They laughed their distinctive hyena cry and charged forward together.

Ed braced himself and struck one snarling attacker but the second dodged past him and bit him on his heels then hastened back out of range before he could strike it, the wound hurt him badly as though his leg was crippled and the injury ensured he couldn't flee. Despite the pain Ed found a resolve to be victorious against his agile foes as they circled him darting in to snap at his heels before drawing back out of range of his sword. Ed retreated until his back was against one of the tall cliffs that dotted the landscape.

Now that the animals couldn't circle him to strike from behind Ed had a better chance despite their being two of them. When one tried to attack it was met with three swift blows from his stone sword, the other would wait and take its turn to attack and also be met by the sword. Soon it was over and Ed had defeated his laughing foes. He skinned them for hide and then butchered them for meat justifying the practicality knowing they would have done much worse to him had they been victorious.

Moving on he stumbled upon a striped hyena whelp mewling pathetically as it wondered back and forth seemingly lost. Ed felt a twinge of guilt, maybe he'd just killed the poor pups parents and it would be doomed to starve to **** or would simply be an easy meal for a passing predator. He scooped the defenceless animals in his arms and took it with him uncertain of whether he would be able to care for it but thankful for the companionship.

With his new partner in hand Ed explored the area further and came across some camps of people but avoided them as he continued to scout the area. Moving west he came across a long shallow winding river in a gully, he scrambled down and soon the walls of the canyon towered over him and he had **** but to follow the rivers edge north. He considered retreating back to his shelter but was determined to push onwards to discover more and hoping his preparations would suffice to keep him safe.

He came across crocodiles that he ran past before they could charge him and a new creature, Salamanders, which were large iguana-like lizards that when he tried to run past spat acid venom at him. The first time this happened it struck him in the shoulder and he felt searing pain course through him, another ball of spit hit him in the back and he nearly collapsed in pain but after that he zigged zagged his ran whenever he saw them.

Night began to fall and he continued to follow the river using a torch to light his way. He came across an area where the land widened and slops led to the top of the ravine. Plentiful gazelle bounded from his path and there were plenty of rocks and trees scattered around. He also stumbled across a strange looking boulder, when he used his pickaxe to break it apart he discovered it was iron ore.

This was a game changer. Ed had found a place to relocate to.