I'm not foolish enough to think I can just walk up to people and everything will be OK; as far as they know I'm just a monster.

Even if they didn't try to kill me it's not like I can talk with them.

Instead of attempting a direct approach I turn into a spider, activate Stealth and Disguise, climb high up in a tree, then build a sort of parachute out of web and float on the wind to a lower branch of a closer tree, climb up, and repeat until I'm able to get a view of the first actual people of this world.

What I find, however, is a nightmare.

Below I see two fires burning, one person curled up in a ball occasionally screaming, one standing holding a sword in their hands, and three motionless on ripped up bloody ground, all contained within a wide stone circle that occasionally sends a ripple through the air.

But they're not alone.

Outside the circle, strange creatures roam. Imagine a Great Dane with all black fur- but with a human looking head and hands.

And when the light catches it right, their eyes and teeth seem to glow. Now imagine they smile at you- mouth stretching ear to ear filled with sharp teeth.

And they talk.

I'm pretty sure they're the voices I heard on the way here; I can't tell what they're saying, but it's like they're having, or repeating, a conversation that seems to increase in frustrated tones. Occasionally different ones speak a word, each in the same voice, and the man with the sword looks in their direction. I can't help but assume they're saying his name.

I watch and it takes a bit to realize these people can't see in the dark like I can, meaning unless the monsters get close the only thing they can occasionally see are the disturbing smiling faces, floating in the dark.

After observing the creatures long enough Identify tells me their name:

Flesh Hound: a canine with a Humanoid appearance.

I don't know what happened: did the monsters kill three people before the circle was put up? Did something happen inside the circle? Or did the monster do something to them, or make them do something themselves?

I want to help, but I don't know how: whatever is keeping those things out would probably keep me out as well. I bet those things would leave if the sun came up– but here in a land of perpetual night, that will never happen.

As I watch the man with the sword moves over and kicks the one screaming, then starts shouting at him. The things watching start repeating a word in that man's voice which causes the man curled up to scream more.

'You're just making it worse.' I think as I watch, racking my brain to come up with a solution. There's no way I could fight the six dog like creatures and win; I barely survived fighting the Chupacabra. The two seem safe while inside the circle, but the destruction inside it questions that logic.

My thoughts of helping them end when the screaming man stands up and grabs the one with the sword, shouts something at him, then pushes him away and darts towards the edge of the circle. As he nears the border the dogs begin to head around in that direction until the man's foot kicks one of the stones as he runs; the air ripples, then stops. The dogs notice immediately and attack both men.

I wish I had eyelids so I wouldn't have to watch, because turning away is impossible as their screams fill the air.

—

A few hours later as the two fires die out there's nothing left of the men but their possessions. The "dogs" ate everything- skin and bones. After consuming the men they changed: their waistline thickened, their ribcage widened, and they awkwardly stood on their hind legs, still smiling.

The monsters evolved.

And I wonder which is worse: these or the deer.

I wait an hour after they leave to be sure they are gone, then climb down the tree, ever watchful for the beasts to return. When I reach the circle I get inside it and move the last stone back into place, the air rippling in response. With a cautious sense of safety I set about gathering their possessions, then shift to Mimic form to Consume it all. Once done I check for danger, then take one stone to end the circle effect before consuming all the magic stones themselves.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

With nothing left but two ash piles and blood soaked earth I leave, seeking to distance myself from the area of the strange creatures.

—

Gluttonous Gut Additions

Clothing

* (18) Shirt

* (18) pants

* (24) underwear

* (24) sock pairs

* (04) backpack

Armor

* (2) Leather Armor

* Steel Heavy Armor

* Steel Medium Armor

* Ring of Damage Reduction

Weaponry

* (1) Longsword

* (3) Shortsword

* (6) Dagger

* (1) Wand of Fire

* (2) Bow

* (1) Steel Shield

Misc Items

* Small Iron Skillet

* Small Iron pot

* (04) Waterskin

* (01) Infinite Waterskin

* (05) Bed Roll

* (24) Dried meat rations (misc)

* (60) Gold Coins (mixed faces)

* (53) Silver Coins (mixed faces)

* (03) Copper coins (Maze faced)

* (12) Slime Acid Extract (vials)

* (16) Empty vial

* (1) Rosary of Life

*

Animal Parts

* (01) Stone Stalker Skin

* (01) Deer pelt

* (01) Rock Deer Pelt

* (01) Black Fox Pelt

* (02) Basic Rabbit pelt

* (04) Horned Rabbit pelt

* (08) Armored Rat Pelt

* (01) Horned Rabbit Core

* (01) Water Salamander Core

* (21) Iron Spider Core [tiny]

* (12) Armored Rat Core [small]

* (06) Monster Ward Stones

It seems like a lot, but it was carried between five people and most are small items. I am a little surprised I was able to swallow the heavy armor, though I did have to do it in pieces. Most of this isn't a surprise considering they were adventures.

'Were.' I silently echo, the thought haunting me. I can't help but try to place who carried what items, the thought interrupted by the memory of the two mens deaths.

In hope of distracting myself I wonder if I'm able to absorb an Iron Spider Core and it be added to the form. 'Considering I can already turn into one, it shouldn't be a problem, right?'

Doing so however simply gives an error message.

Error: Object is incompatible as a target for Mimicry.

I question if I should try to Devour some of the cores: while the magic may give me a boost it could also force me to evolve, robbing me of the chance to get Victory Points, which I desperately need.

I am absolutely going to absorb the Steel Heavy Armor: right now I can only use a super thin layer of steel if I spread it over my body, so this should provide better protection for bigger forms.

'Matter of fact, let's just do it now.' I decide, watching my weight tick up 65 pounds.

I consider Disgorging the clothing and furs: they're not useful to me and I'd rather not have to mentally scroll though such a long list all the time. To my surprise the menu responds to my thoughts, collapsing sections down to a (+) tick and adding subgroups for others. It seems the longer I'm here the more in line it becomes with how I prefer it to work.

I am surprised the ward stones are listed under Monster Parts, which is a little concerning regarding their origin.

"Waait wait wait wait." I garble out loud with a delayed realization: if they had "Iron Spider cores" and "armored rat cores", that means they defeated both Iron Spiders and armored rats. Which means they already exist in this place. 'So does that mean I just recreated them?'

That's kind of depressing; I thought I came up with them. If that's true it also means I AM being influenced by this place.

'In contrast, does that also mean any choice I make for a new form is guaranteed to work because it already exists?' That seems likely; I have had moments where I didn't feel adding in something was right.

'Still though,' I think with a huff 'I kind of feel like my creative freedom is being blocked if I'm just following someone else's designs. Not that I can do anything about it, but hey: might as well go hog wild making new forms and see what's out there.'

Feeling somewhere between contempt and content I wallow deeper into the gap under a tree root and settle in, lulling into slumber.