As the moon hung low in the sky, David skimmed the city streets, his wings casting a wide shadow on the cracked asphalt. The Riverport he knew had vanished, replaced by a nightmarish blend of destruction and rampant nature. Shattered skyscrapers loomed like broken teeth, their jagged edges softened by creeping vines and stubborn saplings. The air hummed with the sounds of an ecosystem gone wild, punctuated by distant cries of fear and confusion.
Fuck me sideways, what happened? It's like Mother Nature decided to redecorate with a wrecking ball and a bag of magic beans.
The Cuddlebugs swarmed around him in a furry cloud of worried chirps and probing thoughts. Captain, now the size of a small dog and twice as fluffy, projected a jumble of concerned images. David caught flashes of something important, mixed with an overwhelming sense of wrong/missing/danger.
"Yeah, buddy," David muttered, sending a mental nod of acknowledgement. "There’s babies down there lost and confused right now."
The effect on the swarm was instantaneous. Like someone had flipped a switch, the Cuddlebugs went from worried to laser-focused. Their playful swirling tightened into efficient search patterns, tiny eyes scanning the streets below with military precision.
Holy shit. Note to self: never underestimate parental instincts. Even in tiny, possibly imaginary bat-gremlins.
A sudden movement caught David's eye – a figure sprinting down the street in blind panic. As David swooped lower, he saw it was a creature that looked like someone had tried to turn a deer into a person with only the vaguest idea of how either worked.
"Hey!" David called out, braking hard in mid-air. "It's okay! There's a safe place nearby!"
The deer-creature looked up, hope flashing across its too-wide eyes. Then it saw David in all his nightmarish glory, backlit by the moon, surrounded by a swarm of vicious fluffballs. Those same wide eyes somehow got even wider.
"I know I look scary, but I promise I'm here to – "
David's reassurance was cut short by a shriek that would put a banshee to shame. The deer-creature's body seemed to outrun its brain, legs pumping at turbo speed before its higher functions could catch up. The result was spectacular – and not in a good way. One second it was upright, the next it was intimately acquainted with the pavement.
"Ah, shit," David groaned, landing nearby. He flickered out of sight, his fur rippling as it melded with the shadows. "Look, I get it. I'm basically a sleep paralysis de- You know what, forget it. But seriously, there's a safe place. Woodland Park, five blocks down, right, two blocks ahead. Try not to panic, okay? Everyone's in the same boat."
"W-what are you?" the deer-creature sobbed, still face-down on the asphalt.
"I'm David Fisher," he sighed, a note of irritation creeping into his voice. "And trust me, I've been exactly where you are."
"Am I dead? Is this hell?"
"Nah, just Earth. New rules, same shitty customer service." David's attempt at humor fell flat. "Look, just... get to the park, alright? You'll be safer there."
The deer-creature hesitated, then bolted in the direction David had indicated, leaving nothing but a fading sob of terror in his wake.
Well, that could've gone better. Maybe I should've led with 'Don't panic' instead of 'Hey there, I'm your friendly neighborhood nightmare fuel!'
Similar scenes played out as David encountered more newly-transformed creatures. With each interaction, the stark reality of his Mutagens' effects became clearer. He wasn't just scary – he was pants-shittingly, soul-crushingly terrifying to these fresh-faced hatchlings.
Every appearance sent waves of panic through the transformed populace. Creatures that looked like they could tear a cow in half cowered at the mere sight of him. Others, sporting natural armor that could probably shrug off small arms fire, trembled like leaves in a hurricane when David's shadow fell across them.
It wasn't just his appearance, either. Even when he tried to soften his approach, to make himself appear less threatening, the effect persisted. It was as if he radiated an aura of predation, tapping into some deep, instinctual fear hardwired into every living thing.
David couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt mixed with a perverse sense of pride. He'd known he was scary, sure, but this? This was on a whole other level. It was almost comical, in a twisted sort of way – here he was, trying to help, and instead he was traumatizing half the city just by existing.
David hissed anxiously to himself as another group fled screeching from his well-intentioned approach.
I knew I wasn't winning any beauty pageants, but this is ridiculous. I wonder if its a level thing? Nobody at Woodland was wetting their pants over the sight of me, even if they did jump and yell sometimes.
Realizing his current approach was doing more harm than good, David changed tactics. He took to the shadows completely, using his enhanced stealth to become nothing more than a whisper in the dark. As he did so, a stroke of inspiration hit him.
"Woodland Park!" he called out, channeling his Wildsoul into Siren's Call. To his surprise and delight, his voice seemed to come from everywhere thanks to the ability. "Safety in numbers! Head to Woodland Park!"
The effect was eerie but oddly comforting. His voice bounced off buildings and echoed down alleys, creating an almost supernatural atmosphere. It didn't terrify the hatchlings outright and seemed to carry a subtle note of reassurance.
“Huh,” David muttered, pleased with himself. “Who knew being a disembodied voice of reason would be less scary than being a physical manifestation of terror? Go figure.”
As he continued his airborne patrol, David used his Cuddlebugs to maximum effect. He sent them out in small groups, using their enhanced senses and his mental connection to gather intel on the city's state and the locations of confused hatchlings.
"Alright, my fluffy little spies," he hissed quietly as he dispatched another group. "Find me some lost souls to shepherd. And try not to traumatize them too much in the process, okay?"
Captain, ever the overachiever, returned with a particularly detailed mental image of a group hiding in what used to be a convenience store. David could practically taste their fear through the psychic link.
Good job, buddy, David thought at Captain. Now let's see if we can get them to the park without causing any heart attacks.
Hovering silently above the dilapidated building, David concentrated, channeling his will into Siren's Call once more.
"S’up peeps?" His voice echoed, seeming to slither out of the dark. "You need to head to Woodland Park. You are not alone, don't freak out. Remain calm."
Inside the store, the huddled group of creatures – a bizarre group – jumped at the sudden voice. He watched through Captains eyes as they looked around wildly, trying to pinpoint its source.
David, sticking to the shadows, slipped through a broken window. His new stealth abilities kicked in instinctively, his form blending seamlessly with the darkness. He moved like smoke, silent and nearly invisible.
"W-who's there?" a creature with too many eyes and chitinous plates called out, its voice trembling.
"Someone who wants to help," David replied, his voice seeming to emanate from the empty cash register. "Someone who's been where you are."
A being that looked like a cross between a tiny bear and a shark whirled towards the sound. "Show yourself!" it demanded, toothy jaws open wide in fear.
David's voice shifted, now coming from behind a toppled shelf. "Trust me, you don't want that. I'm not exactly... easy on the eyes these days."
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
"What do you want?" a third voice quavered, belonging to something that looked unsettlingly like a…totally normal raven.
Damn, tough luck on that one man, I feel you. Hopefully you don't force the issue like I did with my first Evolution.
David sighed, the sound seeming to come from all around them. "I want to get you somewhere safe. Woodland Park. There are others there, people who can help you understand what's happening."
The group exchanged nervous glances, fear warring with desperate hope on their monstrous faces.
"Why should we trust you?" the many-eyed creature asked.
David's voice softened, a hint of his own past fear and confusion seeping through. "Because a couple months ago, I was just like you. Scared, confused, changed. But I survived. I learned. I made friends. And now I want to help others do the same."
There was a long pause, filled only with the sound of ragged breathing and the distant cries of other lost souls in the night.
Finally, the bear-shark hybrid slowly closed it's jaws. "How... how do we get there?"
Relief flooded through David, momentarily drowning out his underlying anxiety. "Follow my voice. I'll guide you."
As the group cautiously made their way out of the store, David's disembodied voice led them through the twisted landscape of the transformed city. He kept to the shadows, an unseen guardian steering them away from dangers they couldn't yet comprehend.
"Left here," his voice would call from an abandoned car. "Careful, the road's all fucky up ahead," it would warn from a just out of sight on a rooftop.
The hatchlings followed, equal parts terrified and grateful for the mysterious presence guiding them.
Funny, every children's book worth its salt warns you not to follow disembodied voices out into the dark…but when shit hits the fan people take what they can get. Poor guys, at least they have people to help them through it. I got mauled by lizard-monkeys like day two.
As they neared Woodland Park, David felt a surge of protective instinct. These people were so vulnerable, so new to this harsh reality. He'd guide them as far as he could, but soon they'd be on their own – at least until he could figure out what the hell was going on with...
The thought trailed off, worry surging back to the forefront of his mind. David shook it off, refocusing on the task at hand. There would be time to sort out his own troubles later.
"You're almost there," he called to the group, his voice now coming from the park's entrance. "Just a little further. You'll find help inside."
As the hatchlings stumbled gratefully into the relative safety of Woodland Park, David allowed himself a small smile. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
"Good job, team," he murmured to his Cuddlebugs, who preened at the praise. "Now, let's find some more lost souls to shepherd."
With a powerful beat of his wings, David took to the sky once more, pushing down the anxiety that threatened to overwhelm him. The ruined cityscape of Riverport sprawled beneath him, a twisted mockery of its former self. As he soared higher, the full extent of the destruction became apparent.
Curiosity piqued, David swooped down towards a half-collapsed skyscraper that jutted into the night like a broken fang. His talons found purchase on the crumbling concrete, and he clung to the side of the building, surveying the scene below him.As he hung there, his talons anchoring him to the ruin, he couldn't help but notice the bizarre pattern of destruction. Every structure seemed to have one side more thoroughly damaged than the other, as if some toddler had decided to play dominoes with skyscrapers.
David's ears twitched irritably as he traced the path of debris with his eyes.
Building A pukes its guts into Building B, which then projectile vomits into Building C...
But the momentary distraction couldn't stem the tide of anxiety that had been building for hours. It crashed over him like a tsunami of dread, leaving him gasping for air he didn't strictly need.
Fuck, fuck, FUCK!
The events of the past few hours flashed through his mind in a kaleidoscope of weirdness. Waking up, getting the Shard of Supremacy, that mindfuck of a vision that felt like someone had stuffed his brain into a blender set to puree and then...
David's eyes flicked to his inventory screen, where his new Bloodline sat like a ticking time bomb of potential:
Bloodline: First Night [Unique]:
Your very essence embodies primal fears. Fear and control effects are 20% more potent. Wildsoul abilities that cause [Terror] have a 10% chance to inflict [Paralytic Dread]. Unique Passive.
Nightfall: Emit waves of concentrated dread, freezing targets in place for 3 seconds and leaving them vulnerable to mental influence. 20’ Range.
Note: This Bloodline empowers your innate ability to instill fear, amplifying your natural predatory aura.
But even this new, terrifying power couldn't distract from the gaping hole in his world.
Claire was gone.
Not dead – thank God for small mercies – but gone. That vague sense of her presence, usually as comforting as a warm blanket, now felt like trying to grasp smoke. Distant, elusive, maddeningly there but unreachable.
What the hell happened?
David's mind raced, piecing together the clues like a jigsaw puzzle designed by a sadist.
She was acting weird, then that muttered comment right before the wave ended...
The first system message after waking up flashed before his eyes, mocking him with its implications about Evolution.
Son of a bitch. She tried to Evolve right at the end of the wave, didn't she?
It made a twisted kind of sense. Claire was smart – scary smart sometimes, despite looking like she'd be more at home in a "Dinosaurs Gone Wild" video than a chess tournament. If anyone could game the system for a crazy Evolution, it'd be her.
Evolving at the exact moment a wave ends? That's some galaxy brain shit right there. Bet that "Lifestage Data" factors in big time for something like that.
The more he dwelled on it, the more worked up he became. Frustration tinged with a small amount of admiration built in his chest as he heaved in deep breaths. What if something had gone wrong? What if she was stuck in some kind of evolutionary limbo? What if–
CHOMP!
"Ack!" David snarled, whirling on the wall to face Captain. His talons sent a shower of debris plummeting to the street below with an ugly clatter. "What the hell, you fuzzy little–"
But the words died in his throat as he met Captain's unwavering gaze. The Cuddlebug's expression was a perfect blend of "I regret nothing" and "You're welcome, dumbass." Those beady little eyes stared back at David with an intense aura of smugness that entirely derailed his building freakout.
A jumble of images and emotions flowed through their mental link, hitting David's mind like a furry freight train of sass and loyalty. First came the crystal-clear memory of David, in a moment of ill-advised joviality, telling Captain to bite him if he was being stupid. The recollection was tinged with an unmistakable air of "I told you so."
Next flooded a sense of duty fulfilled, as if Captain had just completed a sacred mission handed down by the gods of fluff and chaos themselves. It radiated a smug satisfaction that only a creature who'd just outsmarted its supposedly superior master could muster.
Finally, and most forcefully, came an overwhelming feeling that could only be translated as "snap out of it, boss!" It was a emotional cocktail of concern, exasperation, and a touch of "get your shit together" that hit David like a bucket of ice water to the face.
The whole exchange lasted only seconds, but it left David reeling.
I'll be damned, the little savage actually listened. And remembered. For how long?
His opinion of Captain notched up yet another level, and he felt the panic start to recede. The furry gremlin had a point – freaking out now wouldn't help anyone, least of all Claire.
She's alive, focus on that. And on not letting these fresh-faced noobs become someone's dinner before they even figure out how to work their new bodies.
Still, the knowledge that Claire had likely done this to herself didn't sit well. Usually, he was the one pulling the risky, potentially stupid stunts. Being on the other side of that equation...well, it sucked. It sucked a lot.
“Is this how she feels when I do…David stuff?” he wondered aloud. “Note to self: apologize for... well, everything, probably.”
With a final deep breath and a forceful pat of affection that left Captain chirping happily, David launched himself off the building. His wings caught the air, and he glided back down into the maze of broken streets and confused monsters below.
“Alright, David,” he told himself, “time to put on your big bat pants and get back to work. These baby monsters aren't going to save themselves.”
Channeling his Wildsoul into Siren's Call once more, David's voice echoed through the ruined city:
"Attention, all confused and terrified creatures! This is your friendly neighborhood voice in the dark. If you'd like to upgrade from 'alone and scared shitless' to 'slightly less alone and only mostly terrified,' please make your way to Woodland Park. We've got mediocre company, dubious safety, and if you're lucky, maybe even some answers. Follow the sound of my voice!"
As newly transformed humans began to cautiously emerge from their hiding spots, David couldn't help but grin. It wasn't much, but it was something. And right now, something was better than nothing.
Hang in there, Claire, he thought as he guided another group of bewildered creatures. Wherever you are, whatever you've become... I'm coming for you. Just as soon as I finish playing pied piper to every lost soul in this godforsaken city.
With renewed determination, David continued his self-appointed mission. The night was young, the city was a mess, and there were monsters to save.