Gasping for air I awoke, grimacing in my usual mind numbing pain before pausing in unimaginable shock; I felt for the first time in eons the gritty malleable texture of dirt between my fingers as I lifted my body up, sitting down with my hands caressing the textures at my side. I dared not yet open my eyes, feeling as if this was but a cruel dream, one I’ve experienced many times before when lost in hopeless delusion.

Yet when I finally peered out towards the world, a blinding light scorched my eyes as I raised my hand to ease off some of the suns luminosity; though as the moments went by, the surroundings became clearer and my body quivered. I remembered the meeting, what felt like mere moments ago, the stranger in the dark and the foretelling of my long awaited freedom, yet at the time I dared not believe a single word.

I clamoured to my feet, before dropping to my knees in otherworldly agony; my strength sapped and undermined by the cruel machinations of the Pantheon; even with my accursed immortality, gifted upon me as the first of the beasts, it would take great lengths of time to recover even a fraction of my vitality.

“No better than a pup, mewling for its mother’s protection” I uttered with a laugh of self-deprivation, struggled to even stand.

Glancing around myself in morbid curiosity, I was beneath an opening in the forest canopy; surrounded by rich flourishing greenery and merely a stone’s throw away from a pond of glistening water. I dragged my burnt and scared body across the coarse dirt as I struggled to bring my cracked lips towards the water.

Soon as I arrived, I submerged my head, drinking greedily from the fountain of life that presented itself to me, oh how long had it been since I felt such soothing relief; time passed and my head burst forth from beneath the waters shallow, panting heavily as my eyes closed and a content smile flittered across my face as I collapsed at the ponds edge.

My vision grew dark and fatigue overtook me, I struggled as I could to stay awake; but my body writhed in agony and my mind faltered as the feeling of vulnerability truly made itself apparent. So much to do, but my body needed rest and I could no longer hold on; and so the darkness once more overtook me.

Sometime later I awoke in a fit of coughing, as I wretched up a vile mess of coagulated blood that had rested deep within my lungs; out of breath and still tired, I looked around seeing the sky had grown dark and the night was alight with small creatures of fiery light flying upon the water’s surface.

I struggled my way towards bushes within the opening, voraciously grasping at the strange berries hidden beneath as my stomach growled like that of a ferocious beast. Every moment was agony, but with that agony, there was hope for the first time that I can remember in countless ages.

I crawled upon the ground like a sick dog, soon to be put out of its misery; eating roots, berries and even bugs. Anything I could get my shaking hands on in order to feed this insatiable hunger and grant me respite from its infernal nagging.

Soon when my stomach was full, I once more returned to the water’s surface; drinking as the strange creatures of light danced around me in curiosity, before once more I fainted at the water’s edge.

This continued for longer than I cared to think back on, my wounds they slowly healed and my strength began to renew; nothing like my former vigour, but soon enough I was walking again and the pain a mere trifling annoyance compared to its maddening past.

Soon it’d be time to leave this haven, which seemingly stayed at peace within the forest itself, undisturbed by beasts and chaos; but for now, I slowly continued to recover and fed my starving body. Deciding tomorrow would be the day I venture out into the long awaited world.

Waking up from my slumber, I stretched my sore and stiff limbs, a strange smile plastered to my face as I peered at the shrubbery; then within moments my body morphed and disfigured, bones snapping and reforming as I transformed.

My body appeared to twist and distort in unnatural ways as hair sprouted from every corner of my flesh, fangs morphed from my teeth and bones shaped my body anew; within moments I had become that of a great silver wolf bolting into the forest ahead.

With every step, I became faster, stronger and more confident in my stride. I ran and I ran, never pausing to stop for a moment, the surroundings blurred as I unleashed my frustrations upon the soil below. Finally, I was free once more.

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At some point I tired and halted to a stop, deciding to instead pad through the forest as I began panting lightly with my tongue protruded. Yet as I casually walked upon the forest floor, I heard movement in the bushes to my side and as soon as I turned, a group of haggard Goblins burst forth with shoddy wooden spears in tow.

Meagre and famished, they stood at the height of a human child; fangs jutting from the corners of their mouths as stalked closer even with their bodies trembling and weapons unsteady. Blessed as the king of beasts, I understood all natural tongues and listened to their shrieking with interest.

“Look, an old wolf abandoned by the pack, quickly, quickly, go now, surround it and we eat!” roared a slightly larger goblin in the back, his skin a dark hue of green, with patches of black and his face sporting a dirty blood stained rag covering one eye.

I could smell it, the primal instinct of fear, they all crept closer inching themselves by the moment; yet none dared charge first. They all reeked of it, quivering as they attempted to corner me, only taming their fear with the agony that was their eternal hunger.

Shaking my head lightly, I glanced to the Goblin in the back and stormed forth; evading the panicked goblins as they thrusted towards me. Almost as if it was an elegant dance, I flitted through the two in front of him and within but a moment, I had him pinned. My maw leaning close as drool dripped upon his petrified expression and then I whispered.

“Truly brave, daring to hunt the hunter” I uttered in a strangely human voice, causing all of the Goblins to freeze.

Suddenly the sounds of weapons dropping sounded behind me and as I lifted my head glancing back with interest; I was surprised to find all of the goblins prostrating before me on the ground. Their bodies shaking like a leaf in the autumn wind, as they mumbled something under their breaths. Though as I attempted to listen upon what they said, the Goblin beneath me began to panic and beg.

“G… g… Great Spirit, please spare us, we didn’t know that this was your territory; please forgive us, please, we are just hungry and didn’t know it was you” The Goblin spoke in a hurry, pleading as his heart threatened to burst forth from his chest.

Great Spirit, what on earth does that mean; I wondered.

Lifting my head and glancing back down towards the goblin, I placed one of my paws on his chest; then tilting my head, I asked in simple curiosity.

“Tell me, what is a Great Spirit?”

The Goblins around me ceased their mumbling and glanced upwards, confusion displayed on their faces and they continued to grovel; yet none of them dared to utter a single word, not even their leader whose face twitched, staring at me with disbelief and confusion.

I growled, bearing my fangs and barked at the Goblin

“So, are you going to answer my question or shall I instead eat my fill?”

Gulping loudly, the Goblin suddenly forced a twisted fear stricken smile upon his face and he spoke with urgency and swiftness.

“No, no, no; Great Spirit, this Goblin was just… just shocked at your majesty, of course this pitiful one knows what you are. Great Spirits are beasts who have been once ruled for countless years, peerless and unrivalled, even learning to speak… yes, yes. Then when they die, they roam their territory guarding the forest as spirits, only one every few thousand years, may become Great Spirit, for Great Spirits are former Kings of beasts chosen by the Gods… like you great wolf…”

Former rulers of the great forest, spirits, what exactly is all of this I wondered as I once more spoke.

“And how do you know I am not the current ruler of this forest little Goblin?”

Now appearing truly confused, his mouth opened and closed several times as he dared not speak for several moments; before quietly mumbling, shrinking back his neck into his shoulders as he answered ready to be punished.

“That’s… everyone knows the King of beasts is the great serpent…”

A snake, how interesting; in the time I have been gone; a mere snake whose belly is destined never to leave the ground dares call itself the King of beasts?

Lifting my paw from the Goblin, I take one last glance at the group before decided to leave; perhaps it’d be best to return to the pond for now. Though as I was walking away the Goblins began to follow with their heads bowed and postures low as if they dared not stand tall before me. So I stopped and turned around to face them asking in an unfriendly tone.

“What is it?”

In unison they all stopped, trembling as always, seemingly the only thing they do; but the leader appeared to step forward before crawling on his hands and knees and prostrating himself before me. After properly positioning himself, he placed his forehead in the dirt and begged.

“Great… Great Spirit, we willing to serve and to call you our boss; you are strong, but we can do many things, any things you need. We just ask for scraps… if, if that’s not too much…”

Letting out a light chuckle, the Goblins reminded me of the first men; helpless and tragic, hanging onto life but by a thread. Surrounded by beasts far greater than themselves, yet still struggling to survive and grasping at any chances, taking all risks, how reminiscent.

“I need not those who serve…” I spoke with dignity, turning and continuing on my path.

The goblins dropped to their knees, feeling hopeless and lost, and their leader grasping at the dirt between his fingers as my voice suddenly echoed once more.

“But I will teach you how to hunt, if you’re so willing.”

Moments later the Goblins ran like excited children, following in my steps as we entered deep into the forest; then I began wondering to myself, I was curious of how things had changed since the times I last roamed this world…