I can hear Mother storm over to Mountain, even a few cracking noises echo out in her haste.

Somewhere, I can hear Pretty Shell letting out small whines and scampering around. I think that she's calling for me, but even if I could actually understand her fear-induced shrills... I can hardly answer with this furball in my mouth.

Luckily though, I have something to pass the time while I wait! You see, there is a thing! A Squigly thing! Different from other Squigly things!

CONGRATULATIONS! You have levelled up for the first time! You have defeated the First Born of the "Rulka Hunting Party"! For such a special and lucky occasion, all gains have been doubled! Due to the nature of your opponent's ability, you have gained a bonus of +50 AGI! Secondly, as this was your first time engaging in combat with your family members, as well as in general, the First Born bonus adds +5 to all other stat gains! I'm aware that you do not seem to care for long explanations or the like, and so will simply add all other bonuses as they come from now on. Lastly, due to the nature of your final attack, you have gained the skill ability spell compulsion capability to swallow! Now then, let me jiggle a few numbers aaaand....

Congratulations! You have gained the skill Consume! Take a bite, any sized bite! Now...swallow! With this skill, you may eat as you wish, a trait previously unecessary due to your race! However, as you have no need to...pebble, you will instead gain a roll chance to gain physical stats or size with every tenth mouthfull! (To help with this, you will be given small teeth. Can't expect you to fit eeeverything in your mouth,)

<*{ Note for Zen; Just as some background information I dug up regarding this strange level bonus Orchid aquired, it seems that the world she was raised on has some form of...honor system, I suppose would be the best way to put it. Basically, the mana of the world automatically uses the order of birth as a method to distribute power. It seems that when two 'First Borns' battle, it is likely that they are the two strongest potentials of their generation. As such, the autonomus interloper (A.I.) of the world has decided to make the rewards of these battles a sort of special occurance. I'm still looking at the underlying mechanics of this system, but it certainly seems to favor strong souls like Orchid as they are often pushed to the front of the birthing order. I should be able to find out more after a few astral searches, but it will take time.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Also, I definetely see what you mean about the A.I. of this world being exceedingly strange. I don't think I've ever seen one so willing to reward people. Not to even mention how friendly it seems to be getting with Orchid. You should see some of the things they talk about behind the scenes! Hold on... Wait...these numbers...how...the creatures on this place...impressive. Oh, anyway, I'll keep working on the translations in just a bit. For now, I HAVE to look at the scaling algorithms for this world. Pity it's gone now, but I could probably mine out some decent intel. I'll have that little human that thinks he's an author write all this out for me on that Earth planet. Funnily enough, it'll probably just seem like some huge meta moment.}*>

Looking at the Squiglies, I only have a moment of warning before pain slams into my body with FAR more force than these dumb rocks holding me down. Something in me...changes. I feel like the inside of my shell is slowly being melted into a liquid before being left to cool. Not to even mention my mouth, this is even worse than that time I dove into an insect hive!

As the minutes tick by and my mother finds her way to me...I am left shivering and cold as the consequence of this 'Level up' sucks every bit of warmth and comfort from my body. It's just...the...the body stuck in my throat...

It's warm.

Once again, that strange craving rises up in me. Like a buzz around the mind, trying to claw to the forefront of my skull and...and......consume.

Gradually, I feel my neck...constrict. Ever so slightly, the dead Rulka begins his final journey. If I needed to breath, I would be dead. Luckily though, I don't. Instead...I need to eat.