Skill-Eater: Prison World Saga-Chapter 2: Day Off

Edge slept in late the next morning. When he woke up, he stretched out in bed with his eyes closed, savoring the fact that he had nothing to do. That there were no urgent missions to complete or bloodthirsty beasts trying to devour him.

The sun was high in the sky by the time that he shed his covers and rose from the mattress. When he heard the other hunters talking in the next room, he broke into a broad grin. He was still getting used to the idea that he was an official member of Trapper’s crew. While hunting with the team wasn’t a full-time job, it was something far more important—a place to belong.

Edge was glad that he had decided to trust his friends with his secret. Most of it at any rate. Despite his reservations, the hunters had been happy to keep it. It turned out that after everything they had been through, they valued his company far more than the reward for his bounty. Especially after he had risked his life to free Trapper from the garax’s stomach.

He took a few minutes to enjoy the warm fuzzy feeling while running his eyes across his brand-new bedroom. It was a bit smaller than his room at the Pioneer—made from a blond wood with ornamental etchings. It had its own private bathroom, a comfortable bed, and plenty of space to store his gear. Trapper had told him to decorate it however he wanted, which Edge intended to do once inspiration struck.

Maybe I can pay Trapper to make a few carvings of the beasts we’ve hunted together. A padamas, jobo, and garax would be neat to have on the wall. A drawing of the Painted Lands or the Breadbasket would look nice too.

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After washing up, he left his bedroom and stepped into the front of the lodge, which held the common area, the kitchen, and an adjoining workshop. He walked into the kitchen to make himself breakfast, then took a seat at the big round table filling one corner of the common area—a spacious living room where the crew could congregate whenever they were feeling social.

The walls were adorned with lifelike statues of beasts, which were the product of Trapper’s woodcarving hobby. Between them were lifelike paintings of various biomes, only some of which Edge had seen for himself.

There was plenty of sunlight coming in through a pair of skylights, which granted the lodge a cheerful ambiance. One wooden wall was formed from sliding panels, which they usually left open so that Blue could interact with the crew. The massive dino couldn’t walk inside the lodge or she would tear up the floor.

The rest of the team was already gathered around the table, snacking while discussing one idea or another. They hadn’t taken on any assignments since making it back from their last mission. They had plenty of Credits, and everyone needed some downtime to decompress from the dangerous hunt and consolidate the gains they had made along the way.

Edge was sure that they would start working again soon, although he could head into the field whenever he wanted. The crew normally operated solo and in small groups for regular hunts—only coming together as the full team to deal with big jobs and dangerous opponents.

He took a seat between Violet and Jumo, then started to eat. While his mouth was busy, he ran his eyes across each member of the team in turn. He started off with Jumo, the crew’s dedicated brawler. Jumo was a heavy hitter who specialized in close-range combat. His job was to protect the others during an ambush, and to take down beasts whose natural armor made them difficult to deal with using traps and bows alone.

Jumo was the only member of the crew who was taller than Edge. He had deep bronze skin, broad shoulders, and rippling muscles. He had hazel eyes and a nose that had been broken on more than one occasion. He usually kept his head shaved, revealing intricate tattoos in a style that Edge didn’t recognize. Jumo was the older brother that Edge had never had. He was boisterous, direct, and honest. He always kept his head in a fight, and his personality was perfect for a night on the town.

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Sitting on the other side of Jumo was Riller. Riller was the team’s lookout. He specialized in stealth, Perception, and powers that could take down an opponent from range. The man had been thin as a rail before binding his core. Now his body was covered in well-defined muscles, although he would always seem lanky compared to Jumo.

Although the men were close, Riller and Jumo were a study in contrast. Riller had dark skin, curly black hair, and steel blue eyes. He was quick on the uptake and incredibly observant. Edge always had the impression that Riller’s gaze took in everything, and that he saw far more than he revealed. He was a man of few words. Quiet, conscientious, and straightlaced. While Edge hadn’t grown as close to Riller as the other members of the crew, there wasn’t anyone who he trusted more to spot trouble coming.

With the men out of the way, Edge turned his attention to the crew’s women, starting with Violet. Violet was the crew’s quartermaster and the oldest member of the team. At least as far as her puppet body was concerned. She did less hands-on hunting than the others, since she was usually busy handling logistics, finances, crafting, and maintenance. But he had learned on the last mission that she was invaluable during a multiday excursion in the field.

Violet had platinum hair, broad shoulders, and the striking purple eyes that she had named herself after. She was brash, life-loving, and sarcastic. While her sense of humor could rub people the wrong way, she had helped Edge out on several occasions, and he valued her judgment immensely.

Beside her sat Trapper, the crew’s leader. After reaching stage two during the last mission, she was their most powerful member and one of the most respected people in the settlement. True to her name, Trapper specialized in hunting by setting up various devices, although she was plenty dangerous in a stand-up fight. She had several powers to enhance her lethality and could track quarries via different mechanisms than Riller or Sasha.

Trapper had long brown hair with blond highlights, which was usually drawn up in a no-nonsense ponytail. She was tall and lean, with athletic curves. She had stormy gray eyes, a ready smile, and an easy laugh.

Her mind was as sharp as her blade—able to process complex situations in the blink of an eye. She was utterly reliable, and willing to risk her life to protect her friends. Edge couldn’t think of anyone who was better suited to lead the team.

Then he ran his eyes across Sasha, who was by far his favorite person to look at, with or without her clothes. Sasha was the newest member of the team, not counting Edge. She was an expert tracker and was learning the art of trapping from the crew’s leader. Sasha and Edge had wound up in each other’s beds on two separate occasions. For now, they were just friends, although he had no idea what the future might hold.

Sasha was brave and bashful. Outgoing, honest, and a little clumsy with her feelings. She loved life, and was able to appreciate the beauty of Ord, even in the middle of a crisis. Sasha had strawberry blond hair, bright green eyes, and a short, sharp nose that was dusted in freckles.

She was a capable warrior and had a body to match, including long, shapely legs that Edge could watch all day, along with several other pleasantly rounded parts. When Sasha caught him staring, they exchanged a glance that had more than a hint of heat to it. Then she smiled, looked away, and returned to devouring her breakfast.

That just left the final member of the crew. Blue, the combat-trained beast who pulled their wagon. Blue was even bigger after their last mission—on the cusp of reaching late stage-one. She was a tireless laborer and a powerhouse on the battlefield. The azure dino was friendly and curious, although she could be temperamental at times.

Edge walked over to the open wall to give Blue some scritches behind the horns, which earned him some nuzzles and a slobbery lick. Then he picked up his plate, washed it in the sink, and got ready to head into town.

After chatting with the others for a few more minutes, he grabbed his pack and left through the front door. He had several things that he wanted to take care of today. At top of his list was spending some of the Credits he earned from the last mission to upgrade his gear.