Claw hadn't really expected his first foray out into the world to turn out this way. He certainly hadn't expected that his adventure was to begin before he even set a paw outside of the cave! Maybe then he could've hunted some of the forest creatures, drink some water, find a mate, and basically live out the rest of his days peacefully. He did not expect to run into giant floating eyes. Judging from "Gloom's" actions, which is what he decided to call the white creature he was following, he didn't think these things deserved any attention whatsoever with how calm it was being. And, after a while of walking behind Gloom, he started to feel something he hadn't in a long time...fear.

Something here was causing him to fear for his life. That hadn't happened since a very long time ago. He only ever knew fear from when he went on his first hunt. They had encountered something, he didn't really remember what the clan had called it. He just knew it ate a lot of his clan members whole before flying off. Ever since, the clan designated that forest as Apex territory. So feeling like this, here, seemed off to him, especially since deeper into the cave was as safe as could be. Then, he felt something breathing down on the fur of his back.

He turned around only to find himself face to face with a giant maw. It was wide enough that it could've crushed his head in one bite, and it took the opportunity to do so. Thankfully, it wasn't really strong enough to crush through bone, so Claw got a few swipes in, but it didn't seem to do anything to the thing wrapped around his head. Then he began to feel more teeth gnawing on other parts of his body. He started to run in a random direction, hoping to bash them off against the walls of the cave. but it didn't seem to happen. Wherever he ran to, there was nothing stopping him, and Claw had ended up collapsing to the ground, hearing shrieks go off in his skull, drowning out his own thoughts. Eventually, it all stopped, and he was left in darkness, being slowly fed to beasts that could fit his entire body on their tongues.

It was only when he woke up did he realize that he was dreaming. He did not remember ever going to sleep, and he couldn't really tell what was happening around him at the moment, nor why he felt like he was in pain. All he knew was that Gloom was in front of him. At first, he tried to get away, but he found he couldn't control his muscles at all really. It was like they wouldn't respond to his will. He didn't like this feeling whatsoever. In his teaching, 'becoming still means becoming someone else's food' and 'becoming still means starving of hunger and thirst'. He silently whimpered, as he couldn't even move his mouth. That didn't stop him from tasting something though.

Driven away from his misery, he finally noticed what Gloom was doing. It was feeding him, much like someone would feed a pup. He didn't give him water, but then again getting the food itself was probably as much as it could do for him, given how tiny it was. He was grateful for the things help. He didn't know how it had gotten him out of the situation it was in, but he promised that when the thing led him towards its pack, he would not eat all of them, only the scrawny or old. Caring for him in this weakened state had promised at least that much to Gloom and his kindness.

So, he sat there, biding his time till he was able to walk again. He spent it just sleeping or eating, at least until he was rudely awoken. When he came to, he could actually feel his body again. He could tell, because he was being crudely dragged towards a bush, while the ground let out the sound of thunder. Groggily, he tried to follow Gloom into the bush, surprised to find that his legs were finally back under his control. It took a bit of work to accomplish, but he was able to push himself back onto the ground to crouch next to him. Eventually, he noticed an extremity of Gloom's that was pointing at something off into the distance through the clearing that they had occupied. And then it had appeared.

When it first appeared, Claw thought it kind of looked like, well he wasn't too sure, but he'd say it was a big, weird faced, wingless, featherless chicken. He had seen one before from a travelling Bide that had brought their Beasts through the wood. Other than that though, he knew for a fact that unlike the Beasts who had followed the Bide, this one was definitely a predator. He began to suspect, due to its size, that it could easily overpower them at this moment, just due to the raw muscle that had to support that upper body. He didn't see that it had any eyes, so it probably relied on smell. He wanted to just leave, run and fight something more manageable. If he just ran downwind, he'd probably not get its attention. However, before he could leave, Gloom grabbed him. Claw looked down to discover that Gloom had drawn something down.

Claw wasn't particularly a good artist. He put a paw on the birth stone, same as everyone else, but he didn't find it that important. It was just a bloody pawprint after all. Seeing this though, it made him appreciate it. If anyone could draw up plans to hunt prey, or even mark down where they had seen it, that would make hunting much easier to do. From what he'd been able to tell, Gloom wanted to get on his back, stalk up to the thing, antagonize it, and then Gloom jumping and throw something debilitating at it. Well, Claw couldn't really tell what was being drawn there, so he assumed that perhaps that was just how Gloom fought. Claw looked down towards the pouch to see what he was talking about. From what he had been able to see, it seemed like those mushrooms had rendered the thing sick. He understood now. They were going to sick the creature to death. It wasn't how a hunt normally went, nor was it really honorable, but Claw was on his own now. He needed more wiles than he'd ever previously conjured up within his head. He no longer had his brothers and sisters supporting him after all. Well, he did have Gloom, but a pack of two was still a pack, no matter how small. So, with that brief thought, Claw did not see anything wrong with this plan, so he let Gloom onto his back, and began to stalk the creature as it ate some of its meat that Gloom had brought from someplace.

This, this was Claw's element. This was the reason he was alive. Sure, he used to do this with others before, but now he won't have to share any of the meat. Unless Gloom would like some. He wouldn't mind sharing. There was more than enough meat to go around. It would be fair to say, that Claw was more focused on the hunt, than his passenger right now. Sure, he'd made sure that Gloom was capable of staying on top of his back, but other than that, Claw was getting a bit bloodthirsty. He hadn't been on a proper hunt in months. His whole clan had to hide in a cave while feasting on the insects and fish that were in there. It wasn't like the good old days anymore. So, when the big beast had finally turned its head and roared in challenge, Claw had put the plan to action and met its attack with his own.

It started out in the best way for Claw. He struck first, dealing a powerful blow against the things face, leaving lines of blood dripping down across its nostrils, possible scent blinding it, the smell of its own blood filling the air. However, the first strike wasn't the definitive blow Claw had longed for. Instead of confusion that could be expanded upon, the beast responded with a yowl before moving its head with such ferocity to clamp onto its foe, biting his torso within seconds. Sure, it couldn't fit its maw entirely around him, but it still punctured a lot of important things within his chest, and Claw could feel blood pooling. The monster, for that was what it was now, that Claw could reason and think somewhat clearly in the battle, having his mind come in spurts through the pain. In despair, he saw that it had simply taken no damage, or if it was the injuries were to disappear just as fast as they had formed, leaving lines of blood simply becoming festering scabs of puss and putrid pestilence that burst, staining his eyes and burning his nose. He managed to break some of the beast's teeth, allowing his escape for all but a moment, but that was all he needed, even if the remains he left behind grew more jagged.

With a newfound energy filling his bones, his injuries did not bother him anymore. The limping leg had long since vanished, his head cleared with an intensity he had long since practiced in previous hunts, and his eyes were clear, filled with visions of the thing before him whimpering, begging for its life, only to find no mercy before it. He sent out flurrying strikes and bites against the monster's legs, trying to wear it down. Make it bleed so much that it couldn't possibly heal again. Make it HURT. Make it DEAD. Make it FEEL the PAIN it had dealt threefold. And that was when he saw it. His pride. His namesake. It was broken. Battered against the things hide, until they had been torn off in one baleful, spite-filled strike. That was the moment when the fight had turned against him. For his teeth could not pierce, and his strikes were the equivalent of a pup's first playfight in comparison to this behemoth of a predator. And somehow, it had known this. It had sneered in his face, before it had decided to do the same and bite around his neck in totality. And with a creaking snap filling his ears, he knew that it was simply over.

Claw was tossed aside like a hindrance. He could not feel anything anymore, not even the blood or guts that he witnessed were starting to leave his body. All he could manage to feel was a bone cracking slam against a tree, and the warmth of his body leaving him. Claw thought, that this was probably one of the better ways he could go out. It certainly wasn't the best end he could've received. He hadn't been fighting to protect his clan and dying with honor. He hadn't even secured himself a legacy, but at least he had someone fight by his side till the end. At least he hadn't died disgracefully to starvation or cowardice. He could barely see Gloom fighting for their lives. His vision was blurring and beginning to darken. From what he could see, Gloom was far more powerful than he had given credit.

In fact, he probably shouldn't have pushed aside Gloom to begin with. While he may not look all that impressive, neither do the white abominations they hunted in their original forest, and they could do much the same as Gloom could from their horns. This however, had far much more power behind it. Where the little ones had ones that shot out only a fair few paws away from their horns, Glooms could travel at least a grown clanmate's length while still retaining the power. All to soon, Gloom could see that it also had done nothing, much like Claws powerful strikes. Even though he couldn't see it, he was sure that Gloom was visibly smirking as the thing opened its maw to swallow him whole. And then Gloom tossed the mushrooms in. The foe swallowed it whole, like a fool, and had instantly taken to its sickening effects. The plan had been completed. They had taken it down. Even if it cost Claw his life.

This was a much better ending than he thought he'd receive otherwise. Rather than dying and being eaten by his foe, he had fallen in the hunt, a victorious one at that. No greater honor could be bestowed upon this lone warrior. He smiled a little bit. It was the only thing he could control with his limited muscles. He could see that Gloom had finally noticed his state and started to head towards him. Something was different about the way it had walked but that wasn't what Claw was paying attention to. Gloom's face held an eerily familiar emotion. Something that Claw felt time and time again as his brothers and sisters long passed, grief and anguish.

On death's door, he could only watch as he saw Gloom release tears. Claw's thoughts at that moment wanted to be put into words that could be understood by Gloom. Sure, he may be dying, but Gloom is alive, and with such a great victory over it. If he hadn't rushed in, in a glory-crazed state, no one would have had to die. It was his fault. Gloom no longer had to worry about him anymore. But these thoughts went unsaid. Especially since moving his tongue had become harder than ever, and his vision faded to black. He could no longer see anything.

He hoped that he might have made enough of an impression on the god's to let him have a place within his domain, having his fill of pheas and-

Due to Spell: Regenerate, Effect: Dying, has been reduced to Effect: Major Wound

....What? Alright then. It's not what was expected for the wolf, but it's still an acceptable outcome...Claw's vision came back in from the black abyss. Color began to fill his vision as he saw Gloom pour himself into him. He could finally feel below his neck, after the crack in it stitched itself back together. His organs began to flow back into his body, as the blood began pooling, and his skin and muscle grew back in. Claw couldn't believe his eyes. It, Gloom, was a [Shaman]. The grey ones' stories had been true! He could hardly believe it. He had always assumed that the stories were simply lessons. Tales woven out of dolls and shadows to forewarn about dangerous adventures or simply to try and bring glory to the here and now. Now, he understood what they were meant to be, [History].

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

After awhile he finally decided to check in on Gloom, but it looked like it had passed out. After making sure it wasn't an injury that caused his sudden slumber, Claw decided to get up. He needed to think and stretch his legs. As he stood up on his legs, and carefully made sure the shaman was not inconvenienced from his movement. Gloom had fallen asleep on top of him after all. He walked towards the beast that had decided to intrude upon his and the shaman's spot, and tore into him. It would be better to make sure it had stayed dead from the mushrooms rather than leave it to chance. It was twitching anyway, so he wasn't too sure whether or not it could recover from his strikes, but after it had stopped moving for a couple moments, he decided to actually feast upon his victory.

After eating his fill, he decided to find water. Once he had managed to get his fill, he would lead Gloom to it, of course, but right now he needed something to quench his thirst after the battle. As he walked through the forest, and smelled for water, he thought on what he had heard. It wasn't something that was unknown to clan history. A long time ago, the voice had spoken to a few of the clans, before they settled off into places unknown. Other times it was when a change occurred within an individual. He had never heard the Elder Voice before now. He doubted that he would ever hear from it again, so he had made a snap decision.

He would not eat Gloom's kin, not even the old or lame. Doing so now, after being saved twice only deemed him dishonorable in his eyes and perhaps Ounder's as well. He would follow Gloom, for a while longer. Wherever Gloom might live, it might end up being a good hunting spot. He took the Elder Voice as a sign of good fortune; a simple reward for following this creature. After a bit of wondering, he noticed that the sun had come up. Sure, it wasn't all too impressive, but to Claw it had felt like many moons had passed before being able to see the sky in its bright glory. Sure, he might've appreciated the night better, but neither of the moons were out that late at night, so he couldn't have cared much less for the darkness which had surrounded him walking through the woods.

Along his way to his destination, he began to feel something occur within his body. It wasn't the usual stomach grumble though. This felt like a stomach problem, a sickness. With an audible 'Oh', he remembered what had caused the beast's death. All too late it seems. It was the exact same sickness that coursed through him now. He had thought perhaps the sickness had acted too quick to stay within the meat after its effects. However, that thought was proven wrong in the worse way imaginable. Maybe if he was able to drink a lot of water, he might throw up the poisoned food. He couldn't know for sure until-

Event: You have ingested a magical agent. Since this is your first encounter with this specific agent, you are undergoing an Evolution Event. There's a chance of de- Error....

Due to Spell: Regenerate, specific agent does not appear compatible with current state...

Secondary compatible agent found...

Chance of death.....Error

Due to Ability: Lucky Influence, chance of death has been reduced to 0%

Would you like to evolve?

[Y/N]

This....this isn't supposed to happen. Why is this happening at all? His luck shoul-Claw was ecstatic at the message. Two occurrences of the Elder Voice within the same day. That was unheard of, even in clan history. This. This is what people talked about. This was the change! Claw couldn't even begin to say no, especially since for some reason, there was absolutely no risk involved at all. So, without any further hesitation, he barked an affirmative.

Affirmation Received. Commencing Body Modification.

Claw began to feel the changes occurring within his body. Flesh was rearranging, and his senses were changing. His injuries no longer mattered in the grand scheme of things, since his entire being was being shifted around a core concept, a core being, an Affinity. His limbs were changing shape and size. His vision had been enhanced. He could see colors and things which he could not before. Even his mind changed. Where before the wolf had been stuck upon the simplistic ideas that were part of the baseline of his world, now he was aware, all too well in fact, of what was occurring around him.

Where before he couldn't care less about his surroundings, now his surroundings were the only thing he could keep his focus on. He could see a flow of some kind. It was going through him, as well as, other things. The animals excreted it, the plants absorbed it. Most of all, he could feel more of this flow coming from the sunlight hitting upon him. Whereas before it was a warm sensation akin to a restful sleep it now felt energizing. It was almost like he could take on the world. However, becoming something new didn't just have its upsides alone. Where before he had simply felt thirsty for being so long without water, now he felt parched. Everything inside of him was dry and he could almost feel his bones cracking from it. He didn't know what that meant, but he knew it wasn't good. Usually blood was wet and needed to be kept inside the body, not dry and feeling like a syrup. He needed to get water, quickly.

So, with his new senses, he found a source of water much faster than before. It almost seemed like his fur itself pointed towards the right direction of water, which was confirmed when he laid down in it. His fur seemed to, for a lack of a better word within his lexicon, absorb some of the water below him. He still felt dry though, so he started lapping up as much water as he could. There was a bit of a strange new sensation though. Where before he could lap water straight to his throat, there was now no throat for the water to go to. He was significantly puzzled at first, but it went away when he noticed something new within his mouth. There was now a hole inside his tongue. He could suck water through it, and it felt like it was going in the right places.

Body Modification Finished. Congratulations on evolving into a Timber Mariphasa.

That's...why though? Why does this beast turn into a-Claw was excited to learn about what he is. He hadn't heard about this particular change that evolution brought before though. Usually, those within the stories would have a bigger build, sharper fangs, tougher skin, sometimes even longer legs and better hunting strategies. This wasn't like what had happened within those stories, which he now recognized were just simple stories and not actually history. Where before the history seemed like a sure thing, he now realized that tellings could have been changed over time. Maybe with some errors or things that which occur due to false memories or lost details.

In short, he had felt that he was significantly better in controlling his faculties. Where before he had thoughts wavering from one thing to the other, only knowing of the vague connections between objects, he now was able to focus more on the individual things and their singular bonds. However, even with that new enhanced focus, whenever he tried to form a plan for the future now that a new form had been bestowed upon him, nothing really came to mind. Now that his transformation left him without a stomach, he no longer needed to hunt, so what use was there in making plans? What would be his new purpose in life now that he couldn't hunt, couldn't mate, and couldn't lead others of his kind? Then, a quiet, a very quiet, voice inside of him said to try and fix himself. If he no longer felt hunger he was no longer natural. If he was no longer natural, then he should no longer be Beast. But another spoke up within him, bringing to mind a thought of something else, and it was a much bigger part of himself now, a much louder voice.

Why did he get this evolution, which he now realized was the proper wording for some reason? He ate the beast's poisoned meat, which he now also realized was a physical thing rather than a vague illness. There were a lot of things he now realized about himself and his surroundings he'd not thought of before. After eating it, the Elder Voice had stated he would probably die from eating it, if it had not been for the shaman, and then there was that ability that it had stated along with it. Claw was sure he didn't have that kind of ability within him. Nothing in him screamed at the concept of luck, of all things. He was sure it was, once again, his shaman's help.

'His shaman', he thought. The words struck a chord within him as understanding dawned inside his mind. He hadn't realized he had gotten so protective of that little creature. Then again, why shouldn't he be? Without the little shaman, he would be dead twice over, as well as, worse off in life without this new change. He modified his earlier plans. Without a need to eat, he would simply protect his little shaman within the remainder of his life. It was only fair, after all, for all that he had done for the wolf. So, without a second thought, he went back to drinking his fill.

It was only a little bit after that he realized, he could still drink a lot more within his body. Even if he had felt that the amount he was drinking couldn't possibly fit within him, it felt like even though the water was no longer being used against the dryness, he could fill a space within himself with water. With nothing better to do, and figuring that Gloom was probably already up and about getting food, given the new day dawning, he had resigned himself to continue drinking until this new cavern within himself was filled with water. And he would probably do so for the entire day, were it not for a faint tingling sensation that had formed within his head.

It wasn't really a physical sensation. It was more like the kind of feeling he had whenever something had seen him on a hunt, only far more pronounced than before. It seemed more heightened now, though, more sharp in a sense. Which, he supposed, was a good thing. Usually better senses lead to better chances at survival. So, he looked up, to find Gloom, alive and well, drinking his fill.

At first, Claw wanted to go over there and make sure that there was no debilitating injuries. Judging from his weirdly colored leg bit, he probably had a lot of bruising, or maybe he lost a lot of blood in the fight or his shamanistic rituals he performed. Then he realized something, would Gloom be able to recognize him? He did seem a bit different now. Where before he was barely taller than the shaman himself, now he seemed to tower over the little pale. He was also covered entirely in some....green stuff, and probably made up of the green stuff now, so he wouldn't be used to any of it. Thus, Claw got stuck on the problem of how he was meant to convey who he was.

Ability: Animal Companionship is taking effect

....Really. After all that has happened, after all of that buildup, you're just going to undercut the tension like that! You're not even giving it the chance to refuse it. This! This is why....I HATE luck builds! Why do...I even bother writing with tension in mind when-Claw didn't necessarily understand what was happening at that point in time. He understood that it probably was another thing that the little shaman had access too. It probably wasn't for ill either, considering companion was in the name of the ability. He wondered what exactly he should do at this point in time, when he heard something.

"Calm. Peace. Friend.....Stone?" Claw didn't understand what was going on, but he could tell that maybe Gloom didn't either, as his face stated that he couldn't really comprehend the barks and yips coming through his mouth.

"Yes. It's me, friend...Why are you calling me a Stone?"

"Together......STONE! Big now. What?"

"That's...that's not my name Gloom, but fine. You can call me whatever you like, I've been doing the same."

"...Stone...no....What name?"

"I was bestowed the name, Claw, for my sharp strikes. Then again, a new form probably requires a new name. What are your ideas?"

"You no name self?"

"No. That's wrong. If we are to name ourselves, it would be the biggest lie we could tell ourselves. No honor, or humility, would come from naming ourselves."

"Understand little, but no to naming?"

"Yes."

"...Plant....maybe."

"It is a little simple, but I suppose that is what I am now. I have yet to really develop any characteristics besides that with this new body of mine. I guess I should also ask in kind, Is your name Gloom?"

"...Gloom?...What gloom? Name, Friend." At this, the newly named Plant had to snicker. The one who has been following him, who has been caring for him, was named for what he was.

"So, how are you talking to me?"

"........ability." Yeah, Plant didn't really understand most of what he said. He probably wouldn't until Friend got a better hang of speaking. But, he understood he was doing this on his own. Plant would eventually have full conversations with Friend, but that point was long away in his eyes. However, now that he had someone to talk to, he could ask them about the confusion he had been feeling about the future.

"So, I'm kind of aimless, as most of the plans I've had usually revolve around getting food to eat. Now that I don't even need to eat, I don't really have much of a will to do anything. Any ideas, Friend?"

"..We leave forest. Find....make friends." Plant could tell a lot from the subtext. Friend had an idea to make more friends along with him. It was an acceptable plan, as more friends often meant more safety. However, even if the future was uncertain for him, he was still somewhat able to tell what would come. Whatever would happen, he'd stay with Friend. Even if he might not be able to have children anymore, which he assumed that he probably couldn't now that he was just a plant, he realized that there was a second way of living through others and for yourself. Stories. He was sure, that no matter where they went, he and Friend would go on many noble hunts together. Maybe even the clansmen would tell stories of his adventures if they were yet known by the Elder Voice. Yes, that was the word they had used once upon a time. That was the word in which he'd strive to fulfill. Adventure.