Bright green leaves and rich brown trunks zipped by in a flash of colors. Freki darted between the trees, carrying us on his back unimpeded by the weight.

I knew he was large, and I had wanted to try riding him, but up until now, I just never had a reason.

That was a mistake.

"L-left. Be-hind twisted trunk!" White-paw stuttered.

Freki made a sharp turn that pulled us to the right. I squeezed with my thighs and pressed closer to his fur, managing to keep my grip as he jumped off his back legs and cleared a fallen trunk.

The landing was rough, and the impact bled up my spine. It didn't hurt, not exactly. Ever since that morning awakening to the new stats and perk, my body had been reinforced to a fantastic degree.

But still, I kept the fanged grin proudly displayed across my face. I let out another howl just as I inhaled deeply. However, instead of reveling in the scent of nature, I nearly coughed as a sour scent invaded my nose.

The sudden transition from fresh forest to musk and rot stabbed at my excitement. I let the mana rage down my limbs and embraced the heat pulsing from underneath my skin.

"Freki."

"Wulf!" he responded.

Freki slowed, going from a sprint to a light gallop within seconds. I closed my eyes as I spotted the twin trees wrapped around each other. I sniffed the air and separated the scents.

The fresh leaves and crisp air were overwhelmed by the smell of rot festering further in. The wolf's scent was recognizable, easily so. Musky, wet fur and urine filled my nostrils. It brought a sour taste to my tongue, and I spat to the side. Even the plant life surrounding the area started protesting as several plants wilted on the ground with black stems and shriveled leaves. A pungent odor similar to ammonia or smelling salts wafted along the breeze.

I leaned forward. "Is this it?"

"Y-yes. Behind there," White-paw answered.

Freki stopped at the tree and sniffed the ground. He turned away sharply, his head jerking to the side as he snorted. He then growled and backed away.

I smelled it too, so I raised my hoodie over my nose as we proceeded.

Green turned to yellow and eventually sickly grey before we stopped at a massive trunk cleared from plant life by several feet. It stood alone as the largest tree surrounded by other trunks leaning away as if trying to escape.

I hopped off and looked toward White-paw, who began showing his fangs and spike his fur.

It took a second, but I heard it.

Something growled, a deep, sharp thing that echoed inside the hollowed trunk. The whimpering cries of younglings followed before a new voice called out.

"Silence! Be silent, or I'll eat you!" Another series of whimpers responded to the threat, and a low, drawn-out snarl shook the air. "Your father better bring more food. Or you'll enter my belly!"

It was deep and masculine. But there was something wrong. Each word sounded wet. As if they had to be pushed through soaking cheeks and a thick tongue.

I grabbed White-paw; thankfully, he stayed silent as I lowered him to the ground. Freki stepped closer and sank into my shadow, filling the weight beneath me as I slipped my axe free from its loop.

"Are you coming or staying?" I whispered.

White-paw stepped forward but nearly collapsed as his foot failed to hold his weight.

"I…"

I shook my head. "Nevermind. Just stay out here; I'll be right back."

His ears flattened and he sank to the dirt.

Let's get this over with.

The enthusiasm I originally held for the task had greatly diminished. Still, a part of me wanted to bash something's brain in–something that wasn't a victim or an innocent soul forced into the body of a monster. Luckily for me, I could practically taste my target; all I needed to do was get inside.

I had to bend down to enter the hollowed trunk. Something had widened the entrance; large, rough claw marks had torn gashes up its sides. But it wasn't enough for a human to enter without having to bend over. I stepped on a pile of goop that squelched beneath my boot. It made a sound loud enough to silence the whimpering from within.

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"Fox? Have you returned? I smell something new! Give it to me!" the speaker rumbled.

My face was a mask as I pushed the smell out of my thoughts and let the heat bubbling in my core fill my veins. The world had stayed locked in its vibrant shades and hues, but now I felt fire in my throat. I pulled my boot away from the sticky substance and pushed a stack of bones aside. They had been sucked clean, gnaw marks scratched into the heads.

"Fox! Answer me! Don't keep me waiting!"

Pushing the last pile of what looked like sticks out of the way, I entered the tree hollow. As I stood up, I cleared my throat. "He's resting for now. Hurt paw and all that."

I locked eyes with the engorged wolf lounging around on a bed of tattered cloth. His stomach was extended, and his haunches fat. Amber eyes glared from in front while he had his ears pressed back and his fur beginning to stand. The grey untamed mess along his back glistened with strings of decayed meat and caked with dried mud.

The growl from the wolf's chest filled the spacious hollow, a deep guttural thing.

Pathetic. Devon's growled meaner than you.

I scanned the space littered with feces and stains among the piles of discarded bones and seemingly random junk.

A lone whimper pulled my attention to the right, where two tiny fox kits huddled in a dirty corner. They stood guard over a third who could only look up wide-eyed.

The sight of their matted fur and frail bodies ignited something within me. Like their father, their ribs stuck out, and the skin around their snouts was gaunt. Blood matted the third kit's front legs, and I breathed out steam.

"Who are you?!" the wolf demanded.

"I'm a Grimm. What about you?"

The wolf was huge, almost as large as Freki, as it slowly stood up on shaky legs.

I felt zero fear as it continued to rise and fill the space.

"I'm Swift-fang! How thoughtful of you to present my meal so willingly!" Swift-fang roared.

The bulging gut hanging near the floor made me chuckle.

Swift… that’s…

"Raargh!"

Despite his size, Swift-fang pounced, leaping off meaty legs and broad paws.

Fangs approached my face, and I flipped my axe around to the rough end of the head. With a single swing, the wolf crashed into the ground. Mud shot up the sides but my cloak kept me clean.

A claw came for my leg, and I jumped back before pouncing. I dropped my axe and gripped the wolf's limbs. We rolled and crashed, wrecking the den. I heard whimpers but ignored them and leaned to the side as large teeth came rushing for my nose.

Slam!

I pushed Swift-fang into the dirt, and then again, and again.

As I let up, I hopped up and positioned myself over his stomach, straddling the foaming beast as it squirmed to get away. My fingers wrapped around its thick throat and pushed. A wide paw landed on my chest and tried to push me off. It almost accomplished it.

Almost.

Tightening my grip, I crushed his windpipe and pushed down. Two feet struggled to secure against my hips, so I scooted up and applied pressure to his chest.

I glanced at the cowering kits, the two siblings still standing guard over their third, even as they shivered in place. One had peed itself, the ground around it wet. Slowly, I turned my head and brought my face close to the beast's face. Wild eyes scanned my own while gnashing teeth bit at my arms.

Using his matted fur, I slipped my fingers deep and dug my nails through the debris. They were on fire, and my nails itched. When I sliced too-long claws into his throat, I felt blood coat my skin.

Why?

"Why?" I asked again, this time out loud.

Swift-fang didn't respond, and the fury inside punched against its cage.

"Why?! Why did you do this?

Steam rose from my fingers, and sweet, fresh blood wafted into the air. Hunger made itself known, and my mouth drooled at the scent before revulsion washed it away, as I felt the wolf's right hindleg manage to place its paw onto my thigh and force it back.

With that brief distraction, I crashed to the floor as my hood covered my eyes. Sharp teeth sank into my arm as I held it up before they could close around my throat.

"Why…" I asked again, this time whispering to myself.

The children's faces came back, the damned souls bouncing off the golden thread. Small corpses were blown away by my own hand, the large ones only moments behind it.

My mana begged to be used. It needed to be used!

But the rage began to wash away under a tide of cold silence.

There was no answer. Not from them, and not from the beast.

Bones snapped, and I let the new feeling take over. Mana rushed to fill the new skin, my core having enough momentum left to seep into my muscles and rise to the surface.

Enough.

I lashed out with my transformed hand and wrapped them around the wolf's thick throat. This time, I applied my full strength and pushed up, forcing the wolf to tear its fangs out of my arm. Before it could react, I stood and grabbed it by the ear, jerking it closer.

Swift-fang yelped as I pulled up, bringing the wolf struggling into the air. He had enough time to see my eyes before I spun and slammed his back against the wall. The den shook, and something outside thumped the ground, eliciting a different yelp.

I released my grip and stood back, the bloodlust leaving me as I took in the sorry state of the wolf desperately trying to push himself up.

"If you leave now and promise never to return, I'll spare your life."

Swift-fang flattened his ears and looked up with a snarl. But his tail dipped between his legs, shaking.

"I bow to the strong. This one promises," Swift-fang grunted.

Gone was the authority and pride from earlier. Left in its place was a scared and pathetic beast who soiled himself before a predator.

"Then leave. Now."

He slowly moved toward the den's entrance, his body lowering gently. But I saw it in his eyes. It was all for show. In an instant as the wolf turned to leave, his legs tensed and it launched itself to the other side of the hollow.

Right to where the three kits were watching with wide eyes.

But my wolf was faster.

Large flame-covered teeth rose from the ground right as Swift-fang's neck began to retract. It was too late.

Chomp!

The entirety of the wolf's neck disappeared down Freki's throat. Black shadowy fangs sizzled as blood spilled free.

Swift-fang's body thudded against the ground, and I sighed.

"Children!" came White-paw's cry.

The adult fox rushed in and stopped to stare at the pool of blood filling the room. Freki turned and growled.

I smirked. "Good job, Freki. Hunt complete."