In a strange world as a Doppelganger

Chapter 11

There is no way that I can make it back safely. I need to find somewhere else to rest, not only because my energy is running out but because I don't want to make even more obvious tracks that lead toward the burrow. I have to lead them away from it somehow. Maybe I can make a fake trail by breaking branches and making marks on odd places. How smart is a goblin anyway? They seem to have some intelligence but how do they compare to the frogs? The goblins have metal, is that their own or just items they have found or stolen? I am so tired. Though the level of fatigue isn't increasing, it's like I am stuck in a near-fainting state. The fact that there are levels have convinced me that this world functions similar to a game. Even though I can't recall exactly what game means I still have this feeling that most things should be quantifiable and based on numbers. If that's the case, I assume that I am in some sort of critical state where my life is close to zero. Not good. 

An hour or so of just aimlessly wandering and making tracks I stop marking. Instead I start to carefully move in a direction that should lead toward the location the goblins have been coming from, my path making a triangular pattern. The canopies here are thick and full. Great place to hide from small ground dwelling beings. I climb an especially thick tree, making my way as high as I can. When it's getting hard to see the ground through the branches and leaves I finally start to relax a little bit. There's nothing I can do to fasten myself to the tree but I still need to sleep. I lay down on my stomach on the thickest, available branch and let the exhaustion steer me into slumber. 

This time the sad person is small and not so sad. They seem almost happy, playing with someone who could be a parent. They fit well together. Playing with blocks they build houses and then destroy them with a large monstrous toy. I think I am smiling while seeing this. A moment later the sad person is alone. The grown up is gone and the room is dark. Why are you so lonely sad person? What are these dreams? The sad person picks all of the blocks up and puts them away. An adult comes in and the sad person beckons for attention. This other adult gives no inclination of even noticing the child. Almost like they are deliberately ignoring the little one. The dream comes to an end with a hungry child sleeping on the floor. 

I slowly come to, still on the branch, thankfully. The haziness is gone, just as expected then. I focus on myself, trying out a theory. Doppelganger, level zero. Okay, I am not getting anything else. There is no way of telling what my current health is besides the physical feeling of my own body. Thinking on it a little I think it could be related to the level of the [Observe] skill. There's probably a system where higher levels will show me more information. Another thought strikes me. I do have one skill that I should be able to [Observe] directly. I look down on my hands and focus my eyes on them. [Claws] level one. There we go, that's good to know. Skills that affect my physical body can be checked by simply looking at the body parts that relate to the skill. 

The last of my food reserves are depleted after having some breakfast. I wonder if eating restores my health, though I don't think so. So far, only sleeping has alleviated any feeling of pain or soreness. Splashing water on an injury or dabbing it with damp moss has helped some, but only temporarily. Sleeping more in the same place seems unsafe as is. The goblins are probably out there, trying to track me down right now. 

I clamber down the tree slowly, constantly keeping an eye out for any movement on the ground. It looks clear. Maybe my diversion worked after all? I drop to the ground and feel around in the bushes for where I hid my knives and club. It would have been hard trying to climb with them. Untouched they lay exactly where i hid them, another good sign. What do I do from here on out? Do I keep looking for the goblins base of operations or do i return to the burrow to rest even more? 

I decided to keep going, trying to find out where the goblins live. Knowledge is power as they say. Knowing where they come from could be very helpful. I don't necessarily have to attack them right away, I could just scout them out and then bide my time. If I am being honest, they're also very likely to outnumber me by a ton. Luck has been keeping me alive, having me only run into numbers I can deal with. 

Staying low and stopping a lot to listen and look around, I slowly make my way further into the woods. The trees are older here, lichen-covered and dry. It's hard to stay quiet when the ground turns muddy and swampy, every step is followed by a sucking sound. The canopy is also very thin around these parts and would not offer any shelter if I climbed the trees. What little foliage i have as cover on the ground is also starting to dwindle with every step I take. Clever goblins, I can see their camp now. They have built a gathering of small makeshift huts in the most dead parts around. There is no way I am getting closer without being spotted. I hunker down near some bramble, the only bushes around, and take a long look at the settlement in front of me. I can spot 20 or 30 goblins moving around between tents and huts. No way can I take them all out.