Another slapping sound could be heard, while the daily rush hour began. Puppies all swarmed forward, some of the more fit puppies taking the lead while the scrawnier ones were unable to keep up.

Leisurely waking up, I explosively leap upwards while using the same momentum I overcome the other puppies and reach the food. Yeah....it was food. In here this daily food meant survival or death. We were fed only once or twice. Sometimes they even seem to forget us.

While munching on a third of the meat, I toss the rest to the puppies. After all gaining their animosity won't be a really good idea in this state.

The minute I throw them some of the meat they send a grateful glance my way before tearing into the meat like savages. Great I thought, I might die before even being able to explore this place. Since, being stuck in a frickin hole. You can't really spread your horizons.

While thinking about how to escape my situation. The answer appears.....my supposed parents. Yeah family is a bit shaky in here. Closely observing it. Even though I could only see its head. It was pretty much shaped like a wolf with dark brown eyes which were bigger than the average humans. The also had a long extending snout which was lined with dangerous looking teeth.

Suddenly a odd looking paw/hand grasped one of the pups by the scruff pulling them out one by one. When it was my turn, I was hesitant but I knew this was my only chance of escaping the cave.

Gripped by the scruff of the neck, I to was thrown out into a hard dirt mound. Heading towards the mound I used my new bodies manoeuvrability. To change direction in the air and elegantly land besides all the dazed pups. After the last pup was roughly thrown out. I noticed a irregular thing about the wolf like creature. One, it was standing on two legs unlike us pups. Second, it was wearing dirtied trousers and broken armour on its top half. Which meant it had some form of intelligence.

At least things were starting to look up I thought. As I followed the humanoid wolf. I assumed it would be quite easy to keep up with it. But it was quite difficult, the humanoid wolf had surprising agility and could probably out distance us. Still it held back, but we were still quite far off from being in the same league. I could have closed the gap, but I really didn't want to stand out.

After following the wolf at a leisurely pace I noticed the number of pups in the group were dwindling. Then it dwelled on me what this was. It was a test! probably a trial to test if you deserve to live. "Survival of the fittest." I thought.  It's the law no matter where we are I smiled evilly. After all the strong predominately will win. So you better get in the group or die. This sort of thing wasn't new to me, so I took it in stride but I did notice some of the pups looking a bit tired.

But wiping out all the pups necessarily isn't a good idea either I thought. Dismayed at the naive behaviour of the humanoid wolf, we finally arrive at our destination. It seems to be a village of some sort.

Entering through a bent wooden gate. The wolf glances back before continuing to walk along  the shacks of houses. They seem old, and some creaking sound could be heard when some of the humanoid wolfs in the shacks moved.

Oddly my senses were sharp enough to hear their step. I could hear things at least way better than a human and my sense of smell was extremely sensitive. I could even differentiate smells. They appeared as lines. All having different colours.

Ring!

Suddenly a light blue transparent window appeared in front of my snout. A little irked at the sudden ring, I looked at the odd shaped box. I was surprisingly able to read it. It appeared like it was written in english.

Lesser Track. Learned

"What is this a game?" I said out loud, only to hear weird gurgle sound come from my mouth. Some of the remaining pups stared at me weirdly, while the humanoid wolf even turned back to give me a look of dismay.

Shutting my mouth, I silently followed the humanoid wolf. Not willing to embarrass myself like I did then. Within time the window disappeared without a trace.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

But I didn't notice I was too focused on my findings. I could gain skills like within a game. Which really got my blood pumping, I may have been an Assassin. But, I too was a avid gamer. To relieve stress I played a lot of games mostly going with the rogue race. I even became a top player within some of them.

With my heart beating with excitement, the humanoid wolf stopped at a clearing. Another was standing in front of it and it was covered in ragged robes, with a poor looking staff that had a small blue gem at the end. When the other wolf like creature left, the one in robes raised his staff and mumbled some words. Suddenly a light blue mist surrounded us. Weary at the mist, I calm myself using the reasoning that they wouldn't kill their own kind.....indiscriminately.

The blue mist enters our bodies and travels to distinct presence beneath our navel. It was like a well, being filled up with water. Over flowing then draining by letting the water enter or very soul. Suddenly the familiar ring could be heard.

Evolution. Initiated.

Able to evolve into Rare Variant. Accept?

I didn't really care either way so I just said "Yes." The same gurgle sounds once more emerged but no one seemed to care. They too were undergoing a miraculous change.

Ke'ar Kobold. Evolution initiated.

Suddenly the blue mist permeated with my soft pup body, enlarging it and rearranging it. I felt surprisingly no pain like I was numbed with an anaesthetic. After the process was over my distinct presence stopped over flowing and my new body was revealed.

I felt an odd source of omnipotence. But I quickly buried it deep down. Rule number one of an Assassin overestimation of yourself will lead to death. I remember this rule like its my bible. It saved me many times in.....my old life.

Testing out my new body which was surprisingly much more agile and stronger.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

Kobold Language. Learned.

Human Form. Learned.

Lesser Track. Upgraded to Intermediate Track.

I inherently for some reason new how to use these abilities. But I was overjoyed at the human form . It would allow me to change my form to that of a human. This would let me live among them with no consequence of discrimination. Letting my kobold lips form into a smile. My canine teeth gleam dangerously in the sun.

For now I decide not to use my human form. I don't want to attract attention so I'll just assume my current form.  After flexing my  new leg muscles, I can tell this body is perfect for an Assassin. The perfect balance of speed and stamina. It was extremely lean as well Probably since I"m a variant I thought. I had muscles rippling through my body while dark, sleek fur covered ever inch of my body. The only downside seemed to be that I was a bit short. The other kobold I saw, was at least 6'1 feet tall. But I'm around 5'9  or 5'10 ish.

I let a small sigh escape my snout. My below average height will always follow me, I think unhappily. Suddenly the kobold mage. I'll assume he's a mage since this seems to be a fantasy world, started to talk.

"Young ones.... Welcome to the family! Our ways may be harsh. But our life law is 'A life saved. Is a life worth selling in return" he says while letting his canine teeth gleam.