The Systems Challenge

Jonas sorted out the fragments of the table according to size. Some of the larger ones would be good for torches if they needed it, but the smaller pieces would only be good for a fire. Although, he had to admit, the table wasn't going to go as far as any of them would have liked.

However, it wouldn't matter if they focused only on that. He'd learned the hard way, multiple times, that if you only focus on one small thing, such as what you didn't have, something would escape your notice that could take you out.

He'd been knocked out too often in fights when he would do something just like that. Kim had decided that she should continue her training Elin in unarmed combat while they still had enough light. Assuming it would get darker, which wasn't that stretch of reasoning to assume. After all, they had no idea what this place would be like anyway.

Although, thinking about the lighting, he suddenly thought about the food. Which led him to realize they hadn't eaten anything since they started. So, he began to rummage through the stock of food they had to see what exactly they had.

While he didn't see as much as he'd like, he had to admit it should at least tide them over for a few days. Since Elmo had been the one to stock them up on food, it was clear the kid hadn't considered that they really didn't know how long they'd be in this dungeon. However, on the other hand, Jonas hadn't thought of that himself, so he couldn't hold it against him.

At the very least, there seemed to be a good cariety of foods. It looked like dried fruit, what looked like it could be beef jerky, some dried vegetables. Then there was a few water skins. Which then brought to mind another potential problem: when they ran out of the water, how would they refill it? Especially since he couldn't remember anyone having a spell or skill that would create water for them or lead them to water.

He wasn't even sure this dungeon had a place they could get clean drinking water. Although, if that was the case, then they should be able to get through the dungeon faster than it seemed at the moment, given it didn't seem like whatever audience was watching this bizarre show that he seemed to have gotten drafted into, would like it if the contestants started dying from dehydration.

There certainly wouldn't be much action in that. Even if they were killed by monsters or something, if they couldn't fight because of dehydration, then it certainly wouldn't be as entertaining. It would be little more than a drama.

So, logically, there would need to be a source of water in there or it would need to be able to be cleared in time before they began to start to have a real need of more water.

Shaking his head, Jonas took out some of the food and water before he walked over to the others and began handing it to them. Each got a handful of dried apples, and a piece of the dried meat. Jonas hoped it was beef jerky, but couldn't be sure whoever got the food ready for them even knew what beef jerky was. Though, he cautioned them about drinking too much of the water, since they couldn't immediately refill it.

"I just realized I hadn't eaten anything at all," Kim remarked as she munched on the dired apple.

"Yeah, I only just thought of it myself," Jonas admitted.

"I wish I was home," Elin moaned pitifully. "I wish I had my bed and my room."

"Is there anything you like about being here?" Elmo asked, making Jonas wonder about if the kid was interested in Elin or if he was trying to be friendly and get her mind off of her troubles.

Elin sighed, still looking rather miserable. "I guess having met you guys was nice," Elin admitted. "And seeing something outside of my father's house was also nice."

"So, I guess it wasn't a total loss after all, huh?" Elmo asked.

Elin cracked a smile. "I guess not…"

While Elmo seemed to have cheered her up a little, it looked like it wasn't enough to completely dispel her melancholy.

"Well, how about Elin takes the last watch, okay?" Jonas asked abruptly, not wanting the atmosphere of Elin's depression to start affecting him in that way.

"I like that idea," Kim said. "Would that mean you or I takes the first watch?"

Jonas thought for a minute. "How about Elmo takes that?" he suggested. "Then when he gets tired, he wakes either you or me to take the next watch."

"Why Elmo?" Kim asked.

"Because I suspect that if something does happen, it'll be more likely to occur after we've had time to fall asleep. Besides, you were building your unarmed combat skill with the training you were giving us, so you need to recover your stamina if we do encounter a fight," Jonas reasoned.

Kim sighed as she nodded. "True, I probably should rest to get some of my stamina back. Who's to say that my training today was a bad idea?"

"Don't worry about it," Jonas urged. "If we can build up our skills, then that would mean we'd be that much more likely to survive whatever we encounter. Especially since we have no idea what we'll see next."

"What should I do if something does show up during my watch?" Elmo asked.

"Wake us up in whatever manner you think best," Jonas stated. "However, if the threat is still a distance away, try to wake us up quietly. If it's already in the room, wake us up no matter how loud you have to get."

Kim nodded her approval. "Nicely put. I've never been in a position like this before, but that certainly sounds like something I'd have come up with," Kim commented.

"Well, it'll only be good if it actually happens," Jonas said. "Otherwise it'll just be pointless."

"I guess you were never a boy scout, were you?" Kim remarked, sounding rather amused for some reason.

"No, I wasn't," Jonas replied carefully. "I didn't have time to do the preppy things those nitwits did."

"Don't knock it if you don't try it," Kim chided. "My older brother was a boy scout. One of the things I learned from him was the scout motte: Be Prepared." Kim sighed. "If only he was prepared to later turn into such a scumbag I almost pushed out everything he taught me."

"Want to talk about it?" Jonas asked, wondering what kind of story there was there.

Kim shook her head. "Not particularly. Especially since you and Elmo are men. Men are all scum anyway," Kim replied, although Jonas thought he heard a tinge of doubt in her voice, but couldn't be sure.

"Well, if you don't want to tell, then we'll just move one," Jonas replied. After all, he certainly didn't care enough to try and pry it from her if she didn't want to talk about it.

"Would you tell me?" Elin asked.

Jonas nearly laughed at the conflicted expression that crossed Kim's face. It was clear Kim wanted to, simply because Elin asked, but also that she actually wasn't ready to talk about it at all.

"Maybe another time," Kim replied after a minute of silence.

Then before Elin could say anything, Jonas spoke up, not wanting to have that conversation go any further. If only so it wouldn't create unnecessary problems. "How about we just go to sleep now? If something does come for us when it's fully night, I'd like to be better rested than I am now," he said, as he picked up a piece of wood and tossed it to Jonas. "Kid, use whatever magic you have to on the tip of that if something does come. I don't care if you don't light it you entire watch, but keep it ready in the event something does appear."

"Um, if you want me to use it as a torch, shouldn't we coat it in some oil or something?" Elmo asked.

"Sure, if you can find some to do that with," Jonas remarked sarcastically. "Wish I'd thought of that."

Elmo scowled at Jonas. "You don't need to be so mean about it."

"Don't care," Jonas replied. "It's the best I can do, so if you use it great, if not, oh well."

With that, Jonas laid down on the ground. Resting his hands behind his head as a pillow. A little less comfortable than he was used to in county jails and such, but not really that much more uncomfortable. Besides, he ackowledged it could still be worse. Even though they had the shifting light in the dungeon, at least they weren't likely to encounter rain or other kinds of percipitation.

"When you're don't with you watch," Jonas heard Kim tell Elmo, "wake Jonas up for the second watch. Don't come anywhere near me or my Elin unless you hear something coming towards us."

"I'll do that," Elmo assured Kim.

With that, Jonas sighed and let his mind wander until he fell asleep.