Dimly I tried to roll my numb body onto my side, quickly failing and attempting to open my leadened eyelids. Giving up for the moment I sent my senses through my dim body. Small… The thin hairs on my body bristled as I became aware of them. My face was oddly structured, similar to that of a wolf’s. But I definitely have both arms and legs…

Fufu… Reincarnation eh? The lips on my face twitched into a smile. Renewing my efforts I stretched my body, my lower wolf-like legs slowly stretching, my arms reaching along the hardened ground, fingertips, small claws, faintly brushing against someone else’s fur.

“Auuura~...” A faint high-pitched whine rewarded my efforts. I really want to see… Concentrating on my eyes I managed to get a small crack open, and promptly shut them as blinding light poured in. Gritting my teeth- which I now noticed were mostly carnivorous fangs with molars in the back- I opened my eyes again and ignored the pain of the light, which gradually settled down so I could see the cave I was in. ...Cave? An entrance spilling blinding white light stood off to one end, glaringly illuminating the various oddly shaped grey-brown furballs in the room with me.

Bodies like that of a humanoid wolf were ten or so furry babies, my siblings. Looking down at myself I was temporarily blinded by the glowing white glare of my fur. Looking away to regain my sight I contemplated my body. Albino? It would explain my sensitivity to light if I have the symptom of photophobia… I growled and struggled to move my stubby body. At least I don’t have some of the other vision impairments… I looked at my siblings to make sure the images weren’t unnaturally distorted. At least that I can tell.

A shadow crossed the blinding entrance, temporarily tempting me to look towards it. Heavy footsteps approach my area and rough furry hands are shoved under my body, yanking me into the air and turning me to face my first visitor.

Yellow wolf eyes disapprovingly looked me up and down before the being snorted in disdain. A series of fed-up growls echoed from his throat as he shoved me under his armpit and started carrying me towards the bright light. Rude. Pain coursed through my eyes as we stepped into the entrance, causing me to hurriedly shut them.

Dozens of growling conversations took place around us as he carried me out. Quickly the conversations faded behind us- my eyes still screwed tight- as the one carrying me started to run.

Briefly wondering where we were going I hardened my resolve. It is common in nature for beasts- even humans- to abandon children they thought were different, unwanted, or wouldn’t survive easily. Survival of the fittest and all that. Considering none of my other siblings were albino like me the question became how I was going to be disposed of.

If the person was going to personally kill me then I was screwed, I doubt I could fend him off with the body of a baby. Being left to die would be a much better alternative, actually it was probably the best I could hope for short of being given to an outcast family.

Slowing down slightly the muscles in my captors arm tensed, then promptly grabbed my understomach and hapzhardedly threw me. Briefly I noted him running back towards the direction we came from. Twisting in the air I positioned my lower body underneath me, then slammed into the ground with a grunt, my legs slightly softening the painful impact.

Stumbling I quickly sat on my haunches to balance myself. I grit my teeth with my eyes still shut to the blinding light of the sun. This is going to be troublesome… Straining my ears I easily picked the whisper of rustling of leaves near me, the place I came from being a grass plain. Forest=shade. Turning towards the rustling leaves I awkwardly walk forward, quickly getting used to my new limbs.

In moments I was smoothly walking towards where I heard the forest, and I also noticed my ears becoming more efficient, easily distinguishing the different sounds and forming them into shapes in my mind. Huh, rapid evolution much? Ignoring the changes for now- that let me easily tell the location, size and shape of the thick spindly trees less than a couple meters from me- I continued into the forest, avoiding the rocks and roots easily found in my soundscape.

I snorted in amusement. Now I don’t even need the shade. Well who knows when I will suddenly go deaf… Not to mention my clear range only seems to be 10 or so meters- I can ‘see’ farther but it becomes indistinct-, though I can feel it growing slowly. Actually this is probably a centimeter every couple minutes, in an hour it will be 30 cen larger. A day it’ll be over 7 meters larger… I shook my head and ignored it. Any cheat I get at this point will be useful.

Now then, where will I be able to find food… Hunting probably isn’t the wisest choice at the moment. Well, maybe fishing? My body seems to be speedily adapting. I smirked as I tilted my head to listen to several insects flying through the air, a butterfly flapping its wings came near me, fluttered around for a few seconds, then left. I wonder what would happen if I went swimming for a while…

I shook my head and sighed. I need to find food. Some insects might be poisonous, heck this is another world. For all I know everything could be poisonous… Well no use standing around, I traveled further into the forest, the light thankfully being obstructed by shade so I could crack open my eyes without too much pain.

Faintly I pick up the sound of a river and quickly head towards it while preparing myself for conflict. A few minutes later I finally reach the wide bubbling river. Shutting my eyes fully due to the sparkling suns glare I listened carefully for predator’s that might take the chance to snack on a 20 cen tall baby… whatever the heck I am.

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

Finding none I turned my focus to the hard packed dirt ground. If I can enhance my hearing by focusing then I should be able to do the same with vibrations. After all it is basically the same thing. Tapping one of my toes on the ground I focused on picking up the slight vibrations in the ground.

Slowly but surely the vibrations became clearer and distinct. Grinning I stamp my foot on the ground, the vibration working like echolocation to find something to eat. I felt various bugs and a few small worms. Kneeling on my four legs I dig my claw into the ground and pull out a wriggling worm. Well… Food is food. Grimacing slightly I throw it in my mouth and eat it. I just hope I don’t get sick. For the next few minutes I found and ate more worms and meaty bugs till I was full.

Sighing I listened to my soundscape for a place to make a base. Spotting a little alcove hidden by the surrounding land I hurriedly moved to it, doggy paddling through the water to reach it. Damn I hate being small… Inside I could actually open my eyes and look around. Faint light shone down between a mesh of roots in the ceiling, illuminating the dusty hardened dirt interior. Vibrant green moss grew near the watery entrance ontop of miscolored grey stones.

Peaceful… I nodded to myself. It will make a decent home, though something has been worrying me for a bit now. Why isn’t such a place taken by another creature? There was no visible signs of activity, at least none that could be recognized by me. If anything once lived here, it has long since left. Well nothing I can do but make use of it for now.

First things first, I need to know the limits of my current body. Breathing deeply I started stretching, easily twisting my waist unheeded till my upper body completely faced backwards. I snorted in amusement, I have a spine an owl would be proud of. Continuing I found I can easily control my upper waist easily and twist in nearly any direction, though it might be due to being a baby I can flex so much. My arms had almost as much flexibility but were slightly more muscled. Also whatever my species was, it was fully built for combat. On top of small knuckle spikes I had snap movement similar to a mantis shrimp, able to punch outwards with considerable force producing an audible crack like a whip.

My legs on the other hand each had six toes tipped with claws that easily gripped the ground and rapidly rapidly propel me forward or quickly change direction.

Well then, Next… I need to secure a weapon of some sorts, preferably a spear or dragonfist considering my body's shape. Let’s see, to make a dragonfist I’ll need some sort of rope- vines probably- and heavy weights. Spear on the other hand can be a sharpened stick for now. Turning towards the glaring entrance I shut my eyes and rely on my soundscape to see. Heading outside I searched my surroundings for a long, mostly straight stick. Luckily wood reflects sound well. I hefted the stick I found and tried using one of my claws to chip away the end of the spear. Nodding in satisfaction I collect several other long sticks and bring them to my base where I sharpened them to a point.

Next goal should be stone tools and the collection of clay to construct a furnace. I snorted in amusement while inspecting the last makeshift spear. Who knew that looking up random things like that would be useful. Though making the furnace would take a long time, especially without adequate sunlight to heat the clay. Maybe I can make hardened clay with magic? Fire Kiln?

Curiously I scratched my chin. Magic is definitely a route I want to explore, though several disastrous things could happen if I use it without a teacher. Ath! But I really want to use magic… I snorted. For now I’ll just try to grasp mana. Though I don’t even know if magic exists in this world… That reminds me of something I haven’t tried yet. Status!

*Ping~

You have opened your status window! Access unlocked! Notifications activated!

*Ping~

~ No Name ~

Level: ( 0/5 )

Evolutions Available: ( ∞ )

Titles: Reincarnator

MP: 0

MpR/s: 0

Race: Ferrus Lupinai (Baby)

[ Boons ] :

[####’s Blessing] - [Reincarnator]

[ Traits ] :

[Advanced Body] - [Albino] - [Noble] - [Steel Fur]

Huh, so there is a status. Briefly I looked it over, glancing at the blessing and Reincarnator perks before moving on. I’ll check what they do later, for now I have to figure out how to use mana.

Folding my legs underneath me- sighing in relief at not being female- and closing my eyes I search inside myself with my mind. Now then, where exactly would I find magic, or mana in this case? Would it be the soul? The head? The stomach? Would it be in the material plane or immaterial? Does immaterial plane actually exist?

Ah right, meditation is the emptying of thoughts so… Unfocusing I simply let my senses wander through my body. Gently I feel myself nudging something near the top of my spine. Focusing on it, looking through a lens into a vast spherical lake made of pure rapidly shifting energy. Gently I feel the sphere shift and the energy is pulled through- *Snap! “Gah!” I yell violently as pain courses through my nerves, gradually getting hotter as it persists. I try to move my hands to clutch my neck but I find my muscles made of stone, slowly being chiseled by the energy pouring into my body. Molten lava seeped into my veins, burning through my petite body. Unable to move, the sphere in my neck throbs painfully, blinding my vision. Next I felt something in my chest stirring- *Snap!

I can’t even scream as another sphere in my body is forcibly broken open, doubling the pressure threatening to break me into countless pieces. Faster than before the magma drops into my lower half and I can only helplessly wait as I feel a third sphere near my stomach, larger than the other two, giving away to the unstoppable power.

My blood is boiling, the pain dying all my senses white. Dimly I feel a fourth sphere- smaller, near the base of my tail- finally giving away. An instant later my senses went black, leaving me in the blissful darkness.