I have not described it before, but I’ve found myself in an aquatic or insectile form on many occasions. When it comes to aquatic forms, I just don’t like it much. I’ve been large marine creatures, tiny prawns, deep-sea creatures… Every piece of the spectrum. And still, I don’t like it. The reason is very simple. Whenever I make it to sexual maturity, I die within around a few minutes. The reason is simple. I can’t breathe underwater. Sometimes, the pressure makes me explode. Sometimes the lessening pressure from going up makes me die. Usually, I just drown. In select instances, I’ve been able to survive to reach the surface, but then I usually just die from exhaustion since I’m too far away from land. Or I get eaten.

It’s not pleasant, and although it is very interesting to take the form of a massive sea-beast to eat smaller things whole, it’s just not as interesting as being on land.

Ah, and then, the matter of insects. I found that my chances of survival here were similarly low, but more so because very few insects ever reached maturity. This depended from insect to insect, especially since some were rather large, but all and all, I rarely became human. And when I did, it felt very unearned, since it happened so quickly, often within mere weeks.

Though, still, a few experiences were worth mentioning. At one point, I was actually swallowed alive by a large creature, only to reach maturity within its stomach and transform into my human form there. Needless to say, the creature died after having its stomach explode. I would probably have survived longer after that if the creature hadn’t poisoned me.

At another, I was followed by another insect for two weeks until my death. It felt like I had a stalker. The insect wasn’t even of my own species.

That all aside, following my friendship with the hatchlings, I spent most of the time simply living and acquainting myself with various species.

Although I make it sound as though almost every new birth is in the form of a new creature, that is only half true. The amount of species there are is simply enough for me to spend a million years living through each lifespan, so every time I’m born as a creature I have already been, it has evolved past the point of recognition, only vaguely being the creatures I had once known. This way, even though the changes happen extremely gradually, each time I’m born in a new form, I see it as a new creature, not as a changed old one. Of course, I keep track of all of these in my mind, allowing a dynamic family tree to form in my mind.

And so, I lived rather pleasantly. But everything changed when the flowers started blooming.

Until then, nothing that grew had flowers. I had grown pretty used to it, but the presence of flowering bodies promised the arrival of more familiar growths. I looked forward to it even as I ate and familiarized myself with the new flora. Along with this, lots of new dinosaurs began appearing, which made me very excited. Had I been the type to take photos (and had I had a camera) I would surely have snapped at the new dinosaurs with all my might. Instead, I simply watched them from a distance, relishing in their interesting forms.

Also, there were now what looked like birds.

Many creatures I had seen (and continue to see) don feathers, be they simple or complex, so it is nothing too new. However, these creatures are now startlingly bird-like.

At one point, after transforming from an insect to a human, I was able to catch one with the use of a vine-trap. It tasted like chicken. It was all at once disappointing, satisfying and nostalgic. Ah. Pleasant.

Furthermore, although I have only barely touched upon it as of recently, Pangea really has broken up now, huh. It’s almost completely disconnected from itself. I would have liked it more if it didn’t make it so much harder to move around. Moving on water is next to impossible even with an aquatic body. My only option is to do so with the body of some flying creature but they mature too fast for it to be a viable option.

You might be wondering why I have the need to travel. That is simple.

I want to go to Sweden.

Now that the world has been able to form clear tectonic bodies that almost fully resemble that of the modern world, I feel a great need to return home if only to see it in its prime.

That is my current goal. I have been trying to get there for three million years. Each time I start to get close I get killed by something. I’m starting to think Azrael and Michael are deliberately trying to hinder my process there. Ah, but they aren’t sentient beings, so they can’t do anything on their own. I wonder if making them sentient would be funny. I’d wager Michael would be very exasperated with how un-Godly I’m acting. Exasperated people trying to convince laid-back people to do something is very funny.

However, I’d be scared of him being upset at me, so I’ll let it be and keep my route.

This continues for a while.

Around me, life prospers. It’s kind of warm, though. Also, I don’t think I’ve seen any large ice glaciers in a couple dozen million years. That’s a bit wack. Various forms of mammals and dinosaurs pop up around me. It’s great.

And then, right as I arrive in my homeland, Michael informs me of an event.

This is nothing new. During these years, he’s been very helpful to me, pointing out specific instances where rare and interesting creatures appear or the advent of natural disasters. He even helped me find and see various comets, astrological events and eclipses. The information regarding the newest event flows smoothly into my consciousness and my avian body tenses where I sit perched in a tree.

The C-P extinction event.

Now this is interesting. Fear and excitement swarm throughout my body and mind. Until now, I had experienced many such extinctions, whether they be on a large or small scale. Exploding volcanoes could wipe out entire ecological systems. The largest extinction event was already 184 million years behind me. Man, time really does move fast. When that had happened I had been a bit nervous at knowing so many species would be wiped out, and I wondered if I had truly experienced each living creature enough or if I should try to pull back the clock once more.

In the end, I decided to let time move as it would. That was simply how it was.

Though, even now, I can't help but fear that I have not done enough. Still, there was no choice. Briefly, I wonder how the future might be changed were I to hinder the extinction and let dinosaurs rise to sentience instead.

I obviously decide against it. Instead, I vow to put every detail of the C-P extinction event to mind. It is important to remember exactly how easily an entire world of life could fall. It is all so brittle. Though, even then, I will not let life die. It was far too valuable to lose.

It happened quickly, compared to the amount of time I have lived. However, the amount of time it lasted differed heavily from continent to continent, ecosystem to ecosystem. I, of course, made a great effort to be present for every part.

In some parts, a massive disaster would cause a domino effect of extinction, with herbivores dying first and predators following closely after. In other cases, the deaths were more direct. The shortest time spans of death were only a thousand years at most, while the longest lasted several hundred thousand years or even more if you counted the time it took for ecosystems to recover. I did not die as much and as quickly as I had during the Triassic-Jurassic extinction event. I did not consider this a bad thing, although it was a tad disappointing.

In the end, around three-fourths of all species were fully exterminated. I mourned their loss. Some of the dinosaur steaks were very delicious, making their departure a true loss. Regardless, at the end of the day, I’m simply looking forward to the rise of new creatures.

The dinosaurs are dead. That much is true, and it’s regrettable. I spent much of this past time going around and petting dinosaurs. It was very important to me.

I have now been on this earth (barring my mortal years) for over 250 million years. And now, humanity was in sight. Specifically, they would begin to appear in Africa in around 59 million years. Plenty of time. Then, why did it suddenly feel so soon? Furthermore, what would I do once I met a human? Surely we wouldn’t understand each other. But I would have to make an attempt regardless. Hrm. As of now, the racial features of my human form has depended largely on the climate around me. My appearance will probably not scare them off. Ah, unless my appearance is horrid. There’s a fair chance that I look disfigured beyond belief. Hrm. Troublesome.

I still have some time. The Mesozoic age had only just ended in calamity, ushering in the Cenozoic period. Until humans develop, I will be watching these mammals with great interest.

It’s getting colder. I really should have expected this, but now that it’s actually happening, it feels really strange.

Also, the sudden rise of mammals has made me more ostracized than before. It usually takes my egg anywhere between five minutes to an hour to hatch depending on the size of the infant form I must take, and within that time, a confused mammal will usually either have destroyed the egg or abandoned it. Thus, I now die much faster than I usually did even during mass extinctions. It’s not very pleasant.

Furthermore, monkeys have started appearing, among other modern mammals. Generally, I would have considered this a good thing since it meant humanity was on the horizon, but any time I meet one of them, they usually react rather adversely to me. Specifically in my human form.

Usually, the meeting goes something like this:

I’m in a forest. As of recently, grass has started appearing which I’m pretty happy for since it makes my feet hurt less when walking. My body is squat and stout with a face resembling that of a malformed bulldog. Several of my horribly crooked teeth poke out from between my teeth. If this body hadn’t been around 17 years of age, only barely used, I would surely have many wounds around my mouth caused by the teeth. Even worse, they make it hard to eat. I don’t have long for the world in this body.

Then, I encounter a primate. Smaller, more monkey-like primates usually just ignore me, but these ones, almost upright and as large as me - in other words, apes - react much worse.

The one now staring at me is frozen in place. It emerged from the brushes, where I can hear many others moving carefully.

Another thing about apes is that, unlike almost every creature that I have encountered in the past several hundred million of years, they have clearly defined facial movements to signify their emotions. Most dinosaurs could be read by the movements of their eyes, the various sounds they made and, most strongly, their body language. Apes are more obvious in their social behaviour as a result of having such a large focus on socializing.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

It is through these obvious facial expressions that I can clearly understand how the ape’s face twists in fear and horror. A mere glance at me was able to override the effects of Barachiel, apparently plunging it straight into the grips of Samael.

It gives an ape-like screech before turning and running, leaving me standing like a doofus. The other apes appear from within the brushes, most turning and running the instant they spot me. A single larger male begins approaching me, bearing his teeth in a low growl.

My eyes fall to his limbs. He’s trembling. A single movement would probably send him fleeing into the brushes even faster than his kin. However, knowing the state of my body, there’s really no reason to go on any further. I take a step backwards, rousing the confidence in the ape. Then, I turned around and began running. Had he been a little less terrified, he would not have pursued me. Had he merely been as scared of me as he was to any larger predator, he would have watched me leave with relief in his heart that it was over. However, because he was so much more scared than that, he couldn’t afford to do so.

He burst into pursuit. My stubby, malformed legs could not bring my speed anywhere near what he was keeping, and so, he soon caught up to me. A single massive blow to my back broke my spine, and seconds after that, playing to the chorus of the massive ape’s screams, I was ripped to pieces.

Such things happened numerous times more until I simply vowed never to approach an ape again. Or even a primate. Indeed, when pressed, even the smaller monkeys would attack me en masse, no matter what I did.

So, I edited the effects of Michael to make sure I never had to meet a primate. Ah, this also included never being born to one such creature. I had never actually lived long enough to experience being nurtured by one, so most of the time if I wasn’t destroyed as an egg, I would wake up as a small baby monkey. Suffice it to say, I died remarkably quickly.

Ignoring all of that, I quickly found myself presented with various interesting mammals that hadn’t existed before.

Of course, I rode a mammoth.

At one point I actually broke my own vow to keep my usage of my powers to a minimum in order to manufacture a certain situation. I made a sabre-toothed tiger, a mammoth and a giant sloth all come together at a certain point and meet a human baby. I just wanted to see what would happen. This was just as an ice age began taking hold, so the baby died pretty quickly, while the sloth attempted to escape and the mammoth killed the sabre-toothed tiger after a somewhat long battle. It was a little disappointing, to be honest.

And so, time passes.

I prefer being a dinosaur rather than any form of mammals. The human form is a bit of an exception, but being instantly cast aside and killed is really a bummer that I can’t quite get over. In the case of large cats, I can usually get by with being born a little after the others. In that case I’m still accepted, which is a very good thing since I’ve missed cats more than I expected. Petting them is a joy incomparable to petting any dinosaur, although I must admit the pleasure in caressing the snout of a T-rex (doing so took a few hundred tries since they were mostly unwilling to submit to me) was comparable.

At one point during my tenure in the Paleogene period, I actually tried to survive for as long as I could as a human. This was no easy feat.

Of course, I always made something of an attempt to live, but I usually avoided creating any weaponry or clothes unless it was completely necessary for the survival of any followers or friends I might have made. However, for one glorious run, I would put all these apprehensions aside.

My form was that of a small, herbivorous mammal that lived upon the savannah. I chose this animal specifically to play on the strengths of humans, which was the exceptional eyesight at long distances. I almost died a few times while in this form since the niche of small solitary herbivore was not one I favoured. In fact, so far, my favourite forms have been ones that allowed me some form of social connections, be it with members of my own species or otherwise. Yes, even if I am in a symbiotic relationship with some larger fish or animal, I prefer that to this solitary lifestyle. However, I do have a leg up on my fellow species members since I’m very much aware of what plants are edible or not for this specific species of animals.

This is of course due to the simple fact that I have followed the evolution of this specific creature for years. Although it has changed much compared to the last time I took its form, I am well aware that it contains the same list of edible and inedible foods. And so, I can confidently eat things that my fellow species members would frown upon (had they had the ability to frown, that is).

This is what allowed me to live to adulthood, upon which I - while perched in a large tree - suddenly took the form of a human. Luck was on my side, it seemed, since my form was both tall and beautiful, with a body type that favoured slim musculature over soft curves. Indeed, I had the form of a man. This was advantageous for my goals since I held no interest in reproduction, not that it would have been possible if I had wanted it. Humans were still many years in the making.

Well then. First, I shall leave this tree, though only after having a good look around me.

Very few creatures were in sight. Those I could see were herbivores by nature and due to Barachiel, they would be hard pressed to bother me in the least. I swiftly descended. As I set foot on the ground I recalled how I may wish to survive. Procuring food would be no trouble, but since my aim was to live well past my past record of around 55, I would need clothes, tools, and, most importantly, a hut in which to live. All of this was simple enough, assuming I could create them.

And even if I did create these things, the possibility of disaster or attacks from creatures were high. For now, I should focus on making tools.

The last time I spent any amount of time making weaponry, I had focused on making a knife. This was to abuse the effects of Barachiel by first getting the trust of the prey and only then kill it. However, this puts me in immense danger should it fail. I had been able to use this strategy before since I knew I would have creatures to protect me even if the prey attempted to escape, however, now I am alone.

Thus, I begin the arduous work of sharpening flint into sharp things.

Then, once I have one such knife and I remain assured that no predators or dangerous prey animals have come near, I break off a stick from the tree I was previously in. After using the flint to give the handle an even surface, I attack the flint knife to the pole with various vines and such. Thus, a simple spear is born.

Of course, Barachiel remains my strongest card in survival since it means even when I sneak up on things they won’t feel any fear. Alright then. Let’s set out.

Since I have yet to create any form of residency, I have no fears about straying too far. Reaching maturity as the small prey I had been before took around 12 years, so I know quite a few parts here by heart. So, even though I have the ability to stray, I should avoid doing so.

Movement in the edge of my peripheral vision pulls my attention to a fleeing herd of larger prey animals who seem to be running from a smaller pack of dog-like creatures. I hunker down into the tall grasses, keeping my eyes and ears trained on the surprisingly common scene. Considering the situation, even if the dogs saw me they would probably avoid me and so would their prey, however, since I can’t be sure of it, I’ll have to avoid a confrontation.

One of the prey animals is downed, prompting all nearby dogs to pound on it. They will only need one or two of the large beasts in order to eat well.

With a martyr sacrificed, the panic of his former comrades is relieved somewhat, though they continue their sprint at a slightly more subdued pace. I jog a few paces away, keeping a sharp eye on their ranks, looking for the opening I need to strike. Alone, I will not be able to induce a fraction of the terror or damage a whole pack of dogs would. However, I don’t need to do that damage. And, even more so, I only need a specific situation to cause the fear I need in them.

As their panic subsides, so too do they grow tired, a few solitary ones falling off the larger group, advancing a few steps behind. These are the young and sick. A lone one stands a bit further away than the others. As relaxation befalls the group, I strike.

My spear pierces the throat of a single, loudly panting creature, inducing a loud cry of pain and terror. The other members of the herd, be they young or old, far or near, turn to us with an immense startle, ready to run at an instance. When they find only a single predator, each and every one of them has the same dull thought: We can take him.

Then, as the creature at the end of my spear pants heavily, thrashing weekly, it’s blood pulsing to the beat of its heart, I plunge my hand into its fresh and fatal wound. Blood sprays over my dark hands, tainting my pale palms a deep crimson.

I run my hands over my face, and then I roar a deep growl, the same sound one might hear from a dying tiger.

That was enough to override the effects of Barachiel, plunging the entire herd into terror as Samael took hold of them.

Needless to say, they fled. Those who had yet to recover from their previous escape fell to the ground and were promptly trampled underfoot by their more vigorously fleeing comrades. This created many wounded, but as I would be unable to eat them before their flesh rotted, I let my mind leave them. However, I had to leave quickly, since the corpses would soon summon predators and carrion-eaters.

So, all the while dragging my prey behind me, I headed for the place I knew would be best for my future prospects. It was a river. Out on the savannah, it was hard to find watering holes, much less rivers, and even if one found a river, actually drinking out of it was almost more dangerous than going without.

However, unlike most creatures, I had never feared any river-dwellers. They didn’t bother me, and hence, I didn’t bother them. Simple enough.

My largest problem now would actually be the presence of any other predators who might come to drink. I would need to work quickly. Firstly, as I set up the beginnings of a relatively large fire, I began butchering the prey. As I did so, I suddenly felt a sense of recognition at its face. It might seem strange, but after having lived entire lives as most animals that walked the earth, I was now quite proficient in telling faces apart. Especially from my own flock. After all, before being a small predator, and before being the sea-slug that predated it, I had been a creature just like this one.

It was actually in that form that I had come to the idea of trying to survive. However, I had died before maturity, and so I put the plans on hold. Still, I did quite like the members of my own herd, as I usually did.

This creature I was currently butchering - this individual - had once been the leader. He had been strong and proud, never fearing to fend off any large predators that encroached on their peace. Now, however, he was just another sickly old thing, left to run at the back of the herd where he might act as bait for any pursuing predators.

And now I was one such predator.

The thought set off a strange series of emotions within me of immense power.

After I had finished skinning and butchering his body, I decapitated his head. Ordinarily, I would have removed his horns to use for various tools and items, but I could not possibly bring myself to remove the pride of my former leader. So, instead, I took his head and brought it down to the river. Many semi-aquatic creatures resided within, though only a few were visible at a glance.

Venerably, I placed the head into the flow of the river. I could not grant upon him a soul, but this was the most respect I could give for such an individual.

When I returned, I placed a few pieces of the meat upon the fire to sear. Although the creature had been old and weak, he had not been sickly and I could not smell the scent of infection around him. Since these creatures rarely carried parasites, I felt no fear about consuming their flesh. Furthermore, since the creature was not infected by any disease, I chose to grill it rare, as per my preferences.

As the meat began grilling atop rocks sat above the fire, I began the arduous process of tanning the hide I had strenuously removed from him. This was done by rubbing the reminder of the flesh from the skin with a large rock. I took great care not to harm myself. Halfway through the process - all the while keeping lookout all around me - I paused to eat some meat. I would like to cure the meat in salt, but I have no salt, and the river is a freshwater one. My only real option in that sense is to dry it to keep it from rotting before I can eat it.

It will be risky and will likely draw the attention of many creatures, but it is my only real option. There is still a bit of time left on the day, so I stretch the hides out over a pair of large, broad rocks before preparing to dry the meat.

Surprisingly, this goes rather well.

While everything finishes being done, I spend my time by sharpening flint rocks. The larger flints will be made into daggers and spears while the smaller ones will make for arrows once I have a bow.

Time passes without incident, and once the hides are tanned, I waste little time softening them with fat I saved from the former herd leader before finally - after many, many hours, cutting it into appropriate clothes. I will need more clothes as I go on, but for now a simple loincloth and a blanket will be the best use.

Night falls. I keep the fire alive throughout the night, sleeping in periodic bursts.

One might expect Barachiel to protect me well at night, but it is a bit treacherous. After all, a predator who feels comfortable while in the presence of a sleeping prey will simply feel assured in their hunt and strike as soon as possible. It directly causes my death. Not very cool.

So, I must take great care.

As the next morning rises, I begin by making a rudimentary base. Making it in full will take several days, so for now I just try to make do. My food problem is momentarily solved, and so, I quickly make haste towards the savannah. I am not hunting, though I carry every weapon I have. No, I am foraging for various things.

There are some herbs which, when dried, become tasty seasonings. Others do the same when crushed. Some need to be boiled before becoming edible and tasty. There were also plenty of grasses the human body could feed off if prepared right. Such was what I was looking for.

After a bit of searching, I find it. Once I return home though, I begin searching for dry straw. There is plenty of it on the savannah and I have plenty of uses for it, such as straw baskets or straw hats.

Thus, my life begins to fall into place. Within a few weeks or so, I have a fully functioning dirt home created. There is little within it apart from a table and two chairs. In a corner, a pile of straw and a pair of hides atop each other make for a bed and blanket. These are surprisingly important, since it gets very cold at night.

Months pass as I accumulate food and resources.

I create a smoker to preserve meats and make pots and jugs out of clay to keep food and seasonings within. I begin having ways to purify my water. If I had a sustainable way to tend wheat, I would likely make beer, but I don’t have anything to tend with. Furthermore, since I’m only a single person, it’s not like I actually need to make use of any agriculture. Foraging nets me anything and everything I need.

Hunting goes well as well. There is nothing to report on the subject, although I am a bit worried about the dogs coming too close to my dwellings.

A few more months pass.

I create a storage to keep foods and water in. I begin to live somewhat comfortably.

As a matter of fact, I live rather comfortably for several years without meeting many hardships. Of course, I experience such situations where meat is contaminated, or I fall sick, or some animal raids my storage, but I survive. At the age of around 30, I successfully tame a dog, after several years of trying after I thought it’d be funny to do so. I call him Buddy. Sorry, I’m not very good at naming things. He’s a good boy, though.

After a few years I tamed a mate for him to breed with, netting me a litter of puppies, two of which I gladly raise. The rest are fed to the alligators outside since I can’t support too many dogs.

Out of curiosity, I make Buddy breed with his children, just to watch how inbred the creatures can get in a matter of years.

After only a few generations, at which point I’m at the tender age of 78, the dogs have become so inbred that they are no longer able to reproduce. Bummer.

Though, I suppose the same could be said for myself. I am weak now, unable to hunt on my own. The best I can do is to shoot down birds which the dogs fetch for me, but most of the dogs left are inbred to some degree, so they’re all stupid and usually eat the birds themselves. Oh well.

I’m at the end of my rope. Were I to die this very moment, a charitable doctor might call it “natural courses”, ignoring the various damages to my gut and joints. Oh well.

I die at the age of 81, surrounded by the malformed dogs I raised myself. To erase any problems that might arrive by having their deformities conjoin with the rest of their species following my passing, I kill all of the dogs apart from a single one, still in pristine condition.

Then, I die. New high score.