His body ached, and the fear of the snake still lingered like a dark shadow in the back of his mind, but something else was gnawing at him now. Something primal, undeniable.
Hunger.
It crept in slowly at first, just a dull emptiness in his gut—if he even had a gut anymore. But that feeling quickly grew, spreading like a wildfire through his tiny body. His insides twisted, a strange, almost painful sensation that reminded him how much he had changed. Everything felt different, unfamiliar, yet somehow this hunger felt all too real, all too human. He couldn’t ignore it.
I need to eat. But what do I eat?
He wriggled out from under the protective leaf he’d hidden beneath, his body sluggish from the lack of energy. The towering blades of grass and sprawling leaves around him seemed more imposing now than ever. He glanced at the foliage, dread rising in his chest.
Leaves? I’m supposed to eat leaves?
The thought made him cringe. The idea of chewing on something so plain and... raw felt wrong. He remembered eating real food—burgers, pizza, anything other than this. But the hunger clawed at him relentlessly, leaving no room for preference or disgust. His new body demanded sustenance, and instinct whispered to him that this was the only option.
His many eyes scanned the environment, catching sight of a wide, dark green leaf not too far from where he lay. His body moved toward it almost without thinking, driven by an internal pull he couldn’t resist. When he reached the leaf, he hesitated. It looked so... unappetizing. The kind of thing he would have ripped off a salad and thrown away without a second thought.
But the hunger gnawed at him again, and he couldn’t fight it any longer.
Here goes nothing.
He leaned forward—or what felt like leaning forward—and his strange new mouthparts moved, almost automatically. A soft crunch echoed in his ears as he took his first bite of the leaf.
And then... everything changed.
The moment the leaf hit his mouth, it was like his entire body lit up with pleasure. The taste wasn’t what he expected at all. It was fresh, crisp, and surprisingly delicious. His hunger urged him to take another bite, then another, each mouthful more satisfying than the last. The leaf was... perfect.
Why does this taste so good?
He didn’t know, but it didn’t matter. He tore into the leaf, devouring it like it was the most gourmet meal he had ever tasted. The more he ate, the stronger he felt. His sluggish body seemed to gain new energy with each bite, his mind clearing as the hunger was finally sated.
As he chomped down on another section of the leaf, a strange sensation washed over him. It wasn’t just the satisfaction of eating—it was something more. Something... different. Words, no, information began to form in his mind.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
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[Appraisal Activated]
Leaf of Wild Root
Type: Edible
Nutritional Value: Moderate
Taste Profile: Fresh, slightly bitter
Properties: Provides basic nourishment for small creatures.
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He froze, mid-bite. What... was that?
The words appeared in his head out of nowhere, clear and distinct, like reading a page from a book. Appraisal? The word echoed in his mind, and a sudden rush of realization hit him. He had just appraised the leaf—like in a game. Somehow, he now knew exactly what it was, its nutritional value, and even how it tasted.
Appraisal? I have an appraisal ability?
His mind raced with the possibilities. Was this one of his new abilities as a caterpillar? Could he appraise anything? The discovery filled him with a strange excitement, even if it was buried beneath the weirdness of his situation. If he could appraise things, maybe he could learn more about his surroundings, find things that could help him survive.
Curiosity getting the better of him, he shifted his gaze to the leaf again and focused, willing the ability to activate.
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[Appraisal Activated]
Leaf of Wild Root
Type: Edible
Nutritional Value: Moderate
Taste Profile: Fresh, slightly bitter
Properties: Provides basic nourishment for small creatures.
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The same information appeared in his mind, just as clear as before. A small smile—or at least the mental equivalent of one—formed. He could actually do this.
His eyes darted around, looking for something else to appraise. He scanned the dirt beneath him, focusing on a small rock.
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[Appraisal Activated]
Rock
Type: Non-edible
Properties: Basic, inorganic matter. No useful qualities.
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Well, that's helpful, he thought sarcastically, but the thrill of the discovery remained. He wasn’t entirely helpless. This new ability, strange as it was, could be the key to surviving in this world. If he could appraise food, enemies, maybe even potential dangers, he’d have a way to navigate this nightmare.
The feeling of helplessness that had clung to him since he woke up started to fade, replaced by a small spark of hope. This wasn’t just some cruel, random fate. He had tools—abilities—and he could use them.
His eyes flicked back to the remaining leaves. The hunger had lessened, but he was far from full. Might as well fuel up.
He dug back into the leaf, chewing through the greenery with renewed vigor. As strange as it was to be feasting on plants, his body responded gratefully. The soreness in his limbs faded, and his mind grew sharper with every bite. And as the leaf slowly disappeared into his body, the weight of panic lifted just a little.
He didn’t know why he was here, or how long he would stay like this, but one thing was clear: he wasn’t as powerless as he thought.
I’ll figure this out, he told himself between bites. One leaf at a time.