HOT! Hot, hot, hot! Is it supposed to be this hot or is this yet another one of my mother’s ways of tormenting me? I swear if this is another attempt of hers to toughen me up, I’m going to snap. The boiling liquid clings to my body, scalding my skin, drilling into my pores, invading my flesh. As if tiny demons dance upon my skin, scorching the very fibers of my muscles and bones, setting everything alight, it burns! It BURNS! Make it stop, please, just make it stop!

I look up at my mother with pleading eyes, begging her to grant me a single drop of mercy, to take pity on her daughter. But I find no trace of compassion, only ice-cold determination gazing back at me, unrelenting, resolute. She reaches out to the cauldron and touches another damn rune on the side, increasing the heat further still. I bite down on my lip to hold back a scream, nearly drawing blood. I want to yell, to cry out for help, but I know that will only earn me her scorn, so I keep silent through the agony. Tears roll down my cheeks and drop into the herbal concoction surrounding me. No, every adult in this village has passed this trial before me, so how can I fail? I grit my teeth, locking my jaw, refusing to give in to my pain and suffering.

Another rune pressed and another increase in temperature, hotter and hotter still... How long have I been sitting here? A minute, an hour, a day, an eternity? I have no clue. My sense of time vanished the moment I entered this pool. Has my skin melted off yet? Oh wait, no, it seems it’s still there, judging from the excruciating sensation that travels across my entire body. I don’t even dare imagine how I must look right now. Nothing but a charred piece of meat with eyes. That’s all that I can possibly be by now. Why? Just... why? A single sob escapes through my tightly pursed lips as more tears stream down my cheeks.

No! I refuse! This is my moment, my chance, and I won’t let my weakness win. I WILL not fall here! I WON’T let that happen!

“AAAAAAARRRGHHH!!! STOP!!!“ A scream erupts from me, louder than I thought possible, when my mother presses another rune on the side of the wooden tub, raising the heat yet again. Every inch of me feels as if it were set aflame. My heart beats uncontrollably, thundering wildly within my chest, struggling to supply blood to organs that must be nothing more than charcoal by now. Is this it? Have I failed? Am I dying?

“Not bad, my dear Alice. Not bad at all. Maybe you inherited at least a bit of the resolve needed to become a true Huntress.“ The cold voice of my mother breaks through my anguish. I raise my head, glancing up at her, and find a hint of respect shining in her eyes, the closest thing to praise I have gotten from her in years. Has she decided to be nice to me in my final moments? “That means we can move on to the next part.“

Next part?! You mean there is MORE? Of course, there is... The herbs I brought still lay unused. Can you hurry, mother? Please? My limbs feel numb, barely responding to my commands. Yet the pain they cause me makes my head spin.

She lifts the bag of herbs above my head. “I beseech thee, Lord of the Hunt, protector, and guardian of us all, give thy blessing upon this humble servant of yours. Grant her your sacred presence so she can embark on the path of becoming one of your disciples. Open her mind and heart so she may receive the revelation of her class! Bestow her the power to walk by your side, to carry your will into reality through her actions. Let her awaken!“ With that, she rips the bag open and scatters the contents into the bath, mixing them with the boiling liquid.

The effect is immediate. The scorching heat burning my body disappears as if it was never there to begin with, giving me a moment of respite from the torment I have been going through. This, however, is a brief pause, a moment of preparation, an opening act for the main event. As the fragrance of the herbs floods my nostrils, the world around me begins to warp and change. Images flash in front of my eyes, violent scenes of vicious beasts tearing their prey apart, hungry eyes, glistening fangs, drooling jaws snapping at me. Colors shift, merging and dancing, taking the shape of monstrous shapes with massive fangs, long claws, and endless hunger in their glowing crimson irises. Their terrifying visage accompanied by a blood-curdling roar and deafening howls.

My senses sharpen and expand, my heartbeat grows stronger, my blood flows faster through my veins, and my muscles tighten. Something wild roars in me, and a primal instinct takes control of my body and mind, urging me to join the hunt, to chase down my prey and devour it, to feed and grow, to be victorious. All doubts disappear from my thoughts as I surrender myself to this impulse, letting it wash over me and drown my existence.

I run through the wilds, my paws digging into the soft soil as I rush between the trees, branches brushing against my fur, a fierce wind rushing past my ears, the scent of my prey’s blood filling me, driving me onward. I howl with delight, letting my voice carry forth into the night, a challenge to my enemies, a warning to any creatures who may think themselves worthy of hunting me. The smell of prey becomes stronger with every step until at last I catch sight of it! It attempts to hide itself amidst bushes, but it is futile! With another challenging cry, I pounce towards the beast and sink my teeth into its neck, crushing its vertebrae with ease, biting deeper and deeper still until it stops squirming in my hold. My claws rip apart its belly and I feast upon the fresh meat, gorging myself on the sweet taste of victory!

I lie in wait, camouflaged perfectly against the sands of the desert, my body still as stone, not even a hint of movement to give me away, waiting patiently for the perfect moment to strike. The prey is near! My body tenses, muscles ready to burst into action. Its footfalls are like thunder to me, vibrations of its movements rippling through the sands, coming closer, closer, CLOSER! Now! I lunge forward with blinding speed, sinking my teeth into the target, fangs pumping poison into its body. It thrashes wildly, throwing me off, but it’s too late! The venom has taken its hold! I spring back up, ready for another attack, but it is over already, its limbs quivering uncontrollably as it falls to the ground, breathing its last breath. I hiss in delight and slither towards the carcass, savoring the meal of my hard work.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

I soar high above, my keen eyes scanning the horizon, searching for signs of life, seeking my future meals. The cool winds whip against my body as I glide along the currents, using the thermals rising from the lands below to keep myself afloat with minimal effort. At last, I spot it! A movement far below me catches my attention. There, hidden amidst the tall grass, a furry creature wanders about, unaware of the danger lurking above it. I dive towards it, diving into a nosedive, aiming myself at the unsuspecting prey, and swoop down on top of it, seizing my dinner. My talons wrap around my quarry firmly and I pull back up into the skies, ready to feast, reveling in the thrill of the hunt.

I swim through the waters, my long tail pushing me forward with powerful strokes. The ocean is filled with countless opportunities, its vastness filled with life, some more appetizing than others. I look at the schools of fish swimming around me, ignoring my presence completely, though I pay them no heed. Those morsels are far too small for my tastes. Instead, I search for a bigger treat, a juicier meal to fill my stomach. Soon, my gaze settles upon a fat seal resting on an ice floe nearby. Perfect! I change my course and approach stealthily, hiding beneath the waves until I get close enough. I tip the icy platform, rolling it over and dragging the unfortunate animal into the waters with me. It struggles for a short while before I sink my fangs deep into its flesh, the delicious flavor of its blood filling my mouth as I tear into its body.

I stalk the dark alleys of the city, keeping to the shadows, staying out of sight. The streets are bustling with life, yet none notices my presence. I creep forward, my body hugging the ground, slinking between buildings and rubble. A lone traveler wanders off from the main street, taking a shortcut down a darkened alley. An opportunity! I launch forward, striking at his neck, pulling him to the ground. The man‘s scream for help dies down, silenced by my bite, silenced forever. The feast begins, his fresh warm blood flowing down my throat, filling my stomach with satisfying warmth.

I sleep on my hoard of treasures, curled around the most precious one of all, my unhatched egg. Enchanted items lying all around let out faint traces of magic, which I carefully guide into the shell, fueling its development. Soon, I will meet my new family member. But it’s not enough... It needs more. Reluctantly, I unwrap myself from my bundle of happiness and exit the cave. The world trembles as I take flight, spreading my wings to their full span and flapping them with force. I feel at the ambient mana, searching for a rich source of the substance I desire. Found it! I aim towards it, my mighty body ripping through the sky at breakneck speeds. Mortals have built a nest so close to mine? Foolish. But also convenient.

My roar shatters the fragile stones they used to build their structures, turning their defenses into rubble in a mere second. Crimson flows through the roads and corpses litter the ground, but I care not. Some figures appear to have survived my greeting. Good. It’s always more fun when they resist. I dive onto the ground, the impact creating a crater, the shockwave tossing the survivors aside like rag dolls. These toys are sturdier than expected. Excellent, I can have more fun with these! I reach out to the world and it heeds my call. Vines and thorns emerge from the ground, ensnaring the puny men, rending their flesh, and tearing their limbs apart. Items of power gather in front of me, flying to my grasp, eager to join my collection. They will aid her growth.

I stand in a clearing, dense fog obscuring the surrounding area, cloaking it in an impenetrable shroud. Sounds of hunting ring out all around me, echoing within the thick mist. Howls, roars, painful whimpers, and death cries reverberate in my ears, all too familiar to my senses. The scent of blood and death hangs heavily in the air. Something massive is approaching me, the earth trembling with every step it takes. The outline of a four-legged behemoth materializes in front of me as It emerges from the fog bank. Its form keeps changing with every movement, scales turning into fur, claws growing longer and sharper by the second as if Its body itself didn’t know Its own shape. But my heart knows. My soul knows. The God of the Hunt greets me in all Its feral glory.

“SUBMIT!“ The voice thunders out, assaulting my very essence, rattling me to the core. A pressure unlike anything else crushes my being, trying to smother my very self. Pain! I’ve never felt such agony in my life! It’s as if the entirety of Creation weighs upon me, pushing down, pressing, crushing, compacting, annihilating. I fall to my knees, unable to withstand the sheer force of Its divine command, my mind reduced to a bloody mess of terrified instincts.

“OBEY!“ Another command and I collapse even lower, my torso now touching the ground, my body completely paralyzed as It speaks to me. No, not speaks... CONTROLS! Its words force the world to obey and, thus, my soul as well. A single whim from It and the heavens cry out in reverence, the seas rise up in prayer, the mountains bend in worship. And now... now the God of the Hunt has spoken, and I... I... I HAVE TO OBEY! I have to follow Its will. To submit to It, to bow before It, to serve It with my entire existence. I await the next command, prepared to sacrifice my very life if needed, my entire being trembling in fear and anticipation, ready to obey and submit... I see It open Its maw, revealing the endless void inside, utter nothingness that swallows everything.

“...“ A silence... The God of the the Hunt clearly says something, but no voice reaches my ears, no sound, no meaning, not even the tiniest bit of information. Its form ripples and shivers, almost blurring in the edges. Something wet and cold touches my cheek, startling me out of my trance-like state. The sight of my God appears distorted before me, twisted beyond recognition, suddenly abhorrent to my eyes.

I turn my gaze away from It, ashamed of my heretical thoughts. What’s happening to me?! What foul blasphemy have I just imagined?! It is a sin! A sacrilege! It’s...

My thoughts stop as my eyes find the culprit of the earlier interruption. A small white rabbit touches its snout to my cheek once again, rubbing its nose against my skin affectionately. I stare at the petite fluffy ball of cuteness, so small and helpless, completely out of place in this realm of hunt and carnage. Its big, round, red eyes gaze back at me innocently.

And then, just like that, there is no rabbit. There is no thick mist surrounding me, nor is there any sign of the God of the Hunt. Gone are the sounds of the hunt, replaced by the birds’ morning song. Gone is the smell of blood and decay, overwritten by the refreshing scent of nature. No traces of battle or struggle can be seen, no sign of war or death. The sun rises over the horizon, chasing away the darkness, lighting up the world, illuminating everything in golden rays, piercing through the mist that just seconds ago seemed so oppressive and malevolent.